When I look back at my travels, I wish I had known some of the things that I know now. I learned from my mistakes, and I’ve also picked up some tricks. I have also been lucky and experienced good luck.

The thrill of travel is the sense of adventure and the fear of the unknown. If you are on a tight budget, check out these travel tips and tricks.

Although some unknowns are necessary, I hope to give you some tips and tricks for your trip to help save money, avoid making mistakes, and add some fun to it.

Experiences, not beaches?

My best moments were not on the beach in Thailand or Fiji but in the jungles of Chiang Mai and Sapa. I spent time in the rice fields, around the mountains in Sapa, or in the local market, absorbing the culture.

I’d choose a week at Luang Prabang in Laos over a beach vacation in Fiji or Thailand. The Cayman Islands are beautiful but seem to be an extension of Florida. I’d rather go to Puerto Rico, Jamaica, or the Dominican Republic for the cultural experience.

The best example…I went to India, and it was the worst vacation of my life, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The things I experienced in India are etched into my memory forever, and many of them for the better. It was the most uncomfortable journey I’ve ever taken, and I probably won’t return.

There are many beautiful places in India, like Goa. But I have never met anyone who disagrees that it’s their least favourite. I’ve sat at the beach 100 times, but I will never have those memories, stories or experiences I had on my trip to India.

You have probably been to the beach before and know what to do. You will have a better experience and memories if you explore the culture and authenticity of a foreign land.

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Add some R&R and beach time, but also add experiences that will last a lifetime, even if the destination isn’t a paradise.

Flexible Flights and Purposeful Latencies

It’s my favourite activity because you can see more of it. Flying direct is not always the best or cheapest option.

Imagine you wanted to fly from Greece to Cambodia, but the flights were outrageously expensive and took 30+ hours. Instead, consider flights to/from Barcelona, London, or Bangkok, as they’re cheaper and more direct.

You can also fly within Europe and Asia for as little as $40. Do you get where I’m going? Change your itinerary and spend a few days in another city before you reach your final destination.

Double down on your flights and book one-way tickets in and out of multiple cities. This will allow you to tour a different major city during your vacation. If you’re coming from a smaller hub airport, be willing to fly a different airline from there to LA, New York or Miami.

Stay a day or two in a city you’ve never been to before, like NYC. Some flights have long layovers, so you can take a day to explore the city.

Volunteer Travel

Volunteer travel is a life-changing experience.

You may not want to travel any other way.

This podcast is about volunteer travel and the many reasons you should do it. From giving back to meeting life-long friends to changing your life, this podcast will give you a lot of great ideas!

Make friends with locals and tourists.

You may run into someone who can make your trip incredible, offer you some tips, or even become friends for life.

I befriended the Da Nang Beach soccer team and played with them for about a week. They then gave me a send-off dinner in the style of a family.

The experience was surreal, and I have never had anything like it. The following year, they also won the Asian championships in Vietnam.

I spent $200 (which was a lot of money) on drinks and dinner for the guys that I met in Vietnam during one of the most memorable experiences of my lifetime. One night, a stranger bought me a lot of drinks at a bar because we were friendly and outgoing.

Visit Countries where Stocks Have Dropped Recently

It is a terrible thing to admit, but I unintentionally travelled to Thailand and Puerto Rico within a month of the Tsunami. The same goes for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico within a month of the Hurricane.

The countries were trying to bring tourists back into their country. This was not intentional. Travel sites provide cheap flights and accommodations to help them get back on their feet.

It is great that you can help the economy recover while also convincing your friends to visit. Travelling to countries with a bad economy, such as Greece in the past when the US dollar was incredibly high compared to the local currency.

Look at countries that aren’t faring too well. A quick Google search for “biggest dollar drop in 2019” revealed the Australian Dollar had hit its lowest level in 10 years.

You may find it morbid, but you can take advantage of the timing. Also, know that your travel will help, so you’re not just taking, but also helping.

Netflix & Chill

Some airlines offer a limited selection of entertainment, and others don’t even have any. Netflix and Disney+ offer a section where you can download movies or series to your laptop, iPad, or phone.

Experience is Worth Spending More For

You can ignore this if you’re trying to stay within your budget, but if you’re really struggling, then maybe it isn’t the best idea. It’s a fine balance between paying a little more or staying within your budget, but sometimes it’s worth it to spend a bit extra to enhance your experience.

When will you return to Bali? Spend the $100 you don’t currently have to avoid a 12-hour bus ride and lose one of your ten days there.

Spending $100 on your credit card is not worth it in the long run. You will save more time and enjoy a day in Bali.

When I was a student backpacker, I would have paid $10 more a night to get air conditioning or be in an area closer to the action. I once decided to save a day by taking the bus instead of flying for $50 extra. In retrospect, I regret not spending that extra money. The money I saved will never be repaid, but I will always remember the wonderful memories I could’ve had.

Get lost

Keep safe, of course… But take a right rather than a left. You’ll never learn anything new by following others.

You’re familiar with Chiang Mai, where you can drive one way around the square. One time, my friend was on a scooter, and we got tired of moving left and decided to take a right. We ended up being one of the only Whites for miles when we came across the soccer equivalent of Rucker Park.

It is still one of my top five travel memories. We played pick-up soccer for 5 hours under string lights, not knowing each other’s language. My camera was also stolen before then, but… oh, well.

Would you do it if a Local jumped from a bridge or ate a Snake? Yes… please do it

It won’t make you change if it doesn’t scare you. Trust your gut, but when will you ever get the chance to eat scorpions or jump off a South China Sea cliff?

You will never forget the stories you create and the memories you make.

Reach Out To Your Network

You may not know anyone who can help you find a place to stay. Many people think like me. I have hosted strangers for drinks, arranged a hotel room and invited them to a party.

They had travelled 8 hours to attend an NFL match, and I met them when I sold my tickets online. They both missed the game because one of them got arrested.

You can also ask your friend to put you up for a few days to get you started on your travels. They will then give you advice about the best places to stay and things to do, as well as a local guide and perspective.

You could get a free local guide or even a place to stay for the night if you put out a call. Travellers are always willing to help each other. You’re probably reading this article right now because your friend’s best friend runs a travel blog. Please share it with your friends and leave comments to improve the Google ranking.

Download Google Maps Offline

It’s a game changer, as you can now download an entire country or region to Google Maps. You can then access the maps without having to use your data or Wi-Fi.

Travel by Yourself at least once in your life.

Take it with a pinch of salt. I’m not saying this, but I wouldn’t let my daughter do that (if I were to have one). Travelling alone can be as much fun as travelling with your friends.

You can do what you want on your schedule. You can sleep late when you like, exercise when it suits you, and generally do anything you want without consulting anyone else.

Stay at a hostel

The movie Hostel is scary, but the reality of living in the USA today is even more terrifying… You will meet so many new people and get amazing advice from those who are going through the same experience as you.

You can usually get a private room if you are getting older, boujee or boujee-like like me. I don’t want to share a room anymore with strangers and need my bathroom.

Slow down, and don’t worry about small things or things you can’t control.

You should be aware that hiccups will happen if you are in a country of the third world. It is important not to let this ruin your vacation, even if it’s for a few minutes or an hour.

You are not in a hurry, and you’re lucky to be in paradise. It is only a matter of time or money that you might have lost. They are in a hurry to get there, or they panic if something goes wrong.

When travelling abroad, it’s time to let go of all that. Go with the flow, and don’t worry about the little things or the things you cannot control. Don’t rush, and enjoy your time in that place.

Don’t overplan Your Trip.

Being flexible, open to spontaneity, and embracing unique opportunities is also important.

When you arrive, you never know what you will learn. Based on the tips you have learned, you may decide to go somewhere else.

Copy A Tour Guides Itinerary

You can do the tours yourself without paying for a guide or tour. Just use this site or Google “top Barcelona tours” to find out what’s on offer.

I hate taking tours—waiting for people, the time it takes, and everything else. I prefer to see the sights myself and run or walk if possible. This allows me to see more of the city than just the places where the buses stop.

Eat Local

You can eat anything if the locals do. You may not be able to eat the food because of your stomach, but you can still enjoy the culture and the cuisine. The food is not only amazing, but it is also much cheaper than what you might be looking for.

Use Instagram as a Reference

Instagram or Tiktok are my two favorite apps for finding the best places to eat, stay, or visit.

This is also great if you’re trying to choose between restaurants or locations! You can also use other travellers to be your bloggers. Scroll through their photos and posts and decide what you cannot miss.

Jet Lag Is For Babies, Ways To Fight It

You should only experience jet lag on the return flight when you need to get back to work and feel like Tommen did after his mother killed his wife.

Preparing yourself for the flight is a great way to avoid jet lag. Take a sleeping pill immediately. Or, if you are on a plane at 7 p.m., drink espresso martinis or Red Bull vodkas and ride the excitement of travel until 4 a.m. or 5 p.m. Watch some movies and then go to sleep. Use the time you spend travelling to adjust, and try your best to do it.

Be Flexible

You can travel anywhere in the world at any time, whether it’s a weekday, a monthday or yearly. You may have played the game at school in which you spun a globe and put down your finger to find out where you would live as an adult.

Do that right now, but use search engines to plan your trip. Flexibility can help you find cheap deals and places to visit.

Picture-Taking

Offer to take someone else’s photo instead of standing in the shot that everyone wants. It’s not cool to sit in the exact spot where everyone wants their photo taken. Offer to take a group or individual’s picture at the same time. They will reciprocate.

Middle Seat Trick

Are you travelling with a buddy? If you are travelling with a friend, purchase the window seat and aisle seat in hopes that no one else will take the middle. Ask them if they’d like to sit in the middle and then switch seats.

Favourite Travel Deal Websites

There are hundreds of travel websites. Compare prices on a few to get the best deal.

It’s great! This was great! I used it to get to the NCAA Championship Game in Minneapolis the day before. My flight had been to Buffalo, and I got out on my layover. The bags can’t be checked, but the flight was $250, and I saved $300. It’s unreal!

It is stressful to get the worst seat on board, and your bag will be checked if it doesn’t fit.

Great escape.co combines skip lags to find the cheapest possible way to travel to any destination. I’ve used Kiwi and Skip Lagged before, both of which worked well but not without some scary moments.

Take this advice with a pinch of salt. Please don’t blame me for anything that goes wrong.

Check the Boat or Bus before Purchasing

Before you buy, it is best to check out the exact bus or vessel you will be travelling on.

I consider myself a reasonably intelligent traveller, but I have also been cheated or given a false impression.

When you leave your hotel, take only what you need

Bring my ID, credit/debit cards and cash.

Pick-pockets are not common, but they do happen. The last thing you’d want is to lose your passport or the $1,000 that you had withdrawn before leaving.

Also, bring some emergency cash with you on your trip. Store it in a safe place just in case your credit card is lost or your debit card doesn’t work. A safe bet is $200-500.

Try to be as outgoing as possible.

If you are shy, you should try to make friends when you travel. You never know what kind of help you might get or what experiences you might have.

You can also play games or have a drink on the beach if you want to. Meet some wonderful people who have lived there for some time and can give you great advice on things to see or do. You and others are like bears. They are both equally afraid to speak to you.

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is

Use common sense and double-check anything that seems too good to be true. Ask around or make sure that you get what you expect, especially if you are in a country of the third world.

The $75 LV bag is probably not real, and the sailing trip, at half the price of the other trips, may be on a fishing boat made from tin.

Experience the local culture.

You will never forget these experiences! Go to their temple or church or eat in their homes.

Pack light

You will be able to pack lighters, and no one will care if you wear the same three items. You will also probably purchase a lot of things on your trip.

Bring a lightweight, foldable backpack with you or purchase a cheap one and bring it back when you come home to pick up the shopping items you bought along the way.

Enable Private Mode or Incognito Mode in Your Browser

You can be assured that your purchases are tracked, and you will receive cookies the moment you visit a website.

It’s not a coincidence that popular destinations like Cancun or the Super Bowl are more expensive at busy times. The algorithms are based on past purchase history and supply and demand. To avoid price increases, you can help yourself and others by opting out of tracking.

Credit & Debit Card

Use the right credit and debit cards to save money on your travels and possibly pay with points.

You can open a new card every year and cancel it without damaging your credit. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best. Other cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Card.

Check if you can save money on withdrawal fees by using a debit card from a bank that has partnered with another bank. The airport pop-ups will charge you the highest percentage. If you can’t use a sister bank, then borrow more money to avoid paying the fees.

Make copies of your license and passport

This is a smart thing to do.

Get Travel Insurance

I can’t believe it. My health insurance in the USA costs me $500 per month, but my travel insurance for Asia costs only $25. I asked if my travel insurance could be used as my USA health care insurance, but I was denied.

You should definitely get it, as it’s so cheap. I always tell you to push yourself to the limit. I don’t want to see you with a $10,000 medical bill.

Berkshire Hathaway offers some incredible plans. I had to ask the agent 15 times because they were so cheap and covered so many things.