What is the real secret to cheap international
travel? It is the same as the secret to doing anything for less.
Learn to be an opportunist. Opportunistic travelers get to travel
more, see more and do more. Of course, you can ignore this advice
if you have unlimited funds.
I went to Ecuador because it was cheap. Honestly, aren't there
many interesting places in this world? Why not choose one you
can travel to inexpensively? The other places will be there in
the future, and you may have an opportunity to go to those places
cheaply at some point.
Cheap Countries
Ecuador is my favorite international destination. You can still
get a decent meal for two dollars. U.S. dollars, by the way, since
that's conveniently the official currency of Ecuador now. From
the beautiful snow-capped Andes mountains, to the Galapagos Islands,
you'll never run out of places to explore in Ecuador. Travel there
is safe and inexpensive.
South America in general is inexpensive, and the most affordable
countries are, in my opinion, the most beautiful. These are the
countries along the Andes mountains; Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Argentina, thanks to it's recent economic troubles, is once again
a cheap place for travelers as well.
In Central America, it costs very little to travel and vacation
in both Nicaragua and Guatemala. Nicaragua, in particular, has
become more stable and safe for travelers in recent years. Costa
Rica is a wonderful too, and though it is one of more expensive
counties of Central America, that probably still leaves it cheaper
than Europe.
In Asia, India is still low-cost, especially if you stay in the
numerous hostels and boarding houses. Thailand and Indonesia are
also very cheap. With all international destinations, the plane
tickets will be your single biggest travel expense. This is especially
true with the asian countries. Being there is cheap, but getting
there may not be.
Cheap International Travel Tips
Wherever you go, there are things you can do to keep it cheap.
Eat where locals eat, for example, instead of at the tourist restaurants.
To keep it really cheap, eat fruit from street markets (wash it
well) and packaged snacks from grocery stores.
Visit the free and cheap attractions first. It's possible you'll
have so much fun that you'll never get around to doing the expensive
things. A higher price means better quality with travel bags,
but not with travel experiences.
Busses are cheaper than taxis in any country, but be careful of
crowded city busses, where pickpockets hang out. Walking is even
cheaper, and it's a great way to learn about a city. Just ask
the locals where the dangerous parts are before you wander too
far.
For cheap accommodations find out where local visitors from within
the country stay. Negotiating room charges is common in some areas.
In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our room rate down from $12 to
$6 per night, by paying for several nights in advance. Consider
hostels, if you don't mind sharing a room. They're much more common
overseas.
Cheap international travel is often only as cheap as your plane
tickets. Use the techniques outlined on our site to save big on
tickets, or search the fares to several interesting countries.
If one is $500 less than the others, consider going there. $500
can buy a few extra days, or an extra mini-vacation some other
time.
About the Author
Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S.
and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana,
whom he met in Ecuador. To read their stories, tips and travel
information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
|
Health, Wealth, Travel and Technology Magazine