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How to Travel Abroad on the Cheap

Air Miles

Traveling to points of interest around the world can be a very rewarding experience, but international travel can be a quick way to deplete the checking account and rack up debt. It doesn’t have to be that way though as there are plenty of ways to save money on these trips. Listed below are several tips on how to save money when traveling to overseas destinations.

Airfare
There are many discount air travel websites that will help you find a great deal, but if you are a frequent traveler you may already prefer one airline over any others offered at such sites. For me, it is worth it to spend a little extra money in order to gain 15,000 air miles on my frequent flyer program on a round-trip ticket to Asia. The discount websites are often useful to find flight itineraries, particularly when flying multiple airlines. You can always find the flights you want there and then check the airlines directly for the cheaper fare.

Even with great websites and online booking available, don’t underestimate your local travel agent. Your travel agent is often able to find better deals than anything I have found searching the web, even with the added cost of the commission paid to the agent. Additionally, if you really want to travel the world, your agent may be the best way to get an “Around the World ticket.” I’ve seen these tickets for as low as about US$1,200 and typically start with stops at six destinations. The rules for the tickets usually say that you always have to travel in one direction, either East or West. The other thing is that you have to have two travel tickets with you anytime you go to the airport- one for your current flight, and one to show onward travel from the destination country. The tickets are generally changeable, so on a three month journey you might find yourself in New Zealand and spend two weeks longer than planned, but maybe another place isn’t having great vacation weather, so you can leave to the next spot early.

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Accommodations
Getting cheap accommodations will partly depend on how long you stay. If you are staying in one country for an extended period, try to base yourself out of one location. Hotels will often have several rates available, better rates going to guests who stay for longer periods of time.

Getting to know some of the locals is a great way to save money as well. Particularly in developing nations, some families may have a home available for rent. Even in the poorest of nations, there are generally some nice homes to stay in and will be much cheaper than staying in a hotel for the same period of time. Check into long-term rates for these places as well. If you’re staying in one location for several weeks, the family will give you a better rate knowing that they’ll receive a guaranteed income during that time.

The locals can come in handy again if your leaving “base camp” to another location for a few days. Again, they may have friends or family that have a place to rent in the location you are going to. If you’re heading to a big tourist destination for a few days, there’s a good chance of your local friends saving you money.

For even bigger savings on long term trips, consider volunteering with any number of international aid organizations. There are various aid organizations located all over the world, and each participating in different types of projects from medical aid to construction to orphanages to disaster relief and more. These projects often survive on the help of volunteers, and they have incentives worth your while. Some organizations will charge low fees for room and board while others offer it to you for free. What it comes down is that the same money you pay for a week in Hawaii may afford you a few months in the similar climate of Fiji.

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Recreation
First off, I have found a good travel guide to be indispensable in finding various activities, and they cover all budgets and most areas of various countries, even in remote regions. These guides will be able to point out the best areas to take a hike, the best SCUBA diving, or the best shopping. They even include tips on how to do activities that require certain cultural rituals first. Again, don’t forget to ask your local friends. As good your travel guide may be, the locals will have other ideas that weren’t published. Furthermore, you may quickly find your travel guide a bit too dated when you discover the hidden paradise you were looking for was washed away in a flood six months ago.

Finally, for those big activities that you saw in the brochures at your travel agency, ask if there is a local rate. Often times the companies will have an unpublished rate for those who ask for it. Sometimes the company will require proof that you are actually a local, or at least working in the country you are traveling in, but often times this is just looked over. A friendly attitude with the staff at the same resorts will sometimes get you a discount on the paid extras such as SCUBA diving.

Souvenirs
As a general rule, but not a hard rule, avoid the big tourist shops, as the prices are usually much too high. You will find better prices in market places and cities just outside the major tourist centers. In appropriate cultures, haggling the price may be expected. Decide what you want the product for, and what you’re willing to pay. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal… sometimes starting to walk away will get the price dropped to your range (this applies to transport costs in some countries too). If there is an item that you really want, but walked away from, try again in a day or to and adjust your price range if necessary. Unless you made a particular impression on the vendor, chances are he won’t remember you and will start haggling as a brand new customer.

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The exception to the rule on big tourist shops would be items that you think might need some documentation in order to get into your home country. The lovely photo album made with banana leaves and other local plants might not make it through customs so easily unless you can show that the product has been treated. Some items might not make it back in your home country at all, so before buying expensive souvenirs you think are questionable, check your countries customs policies first. If you are travelling through the USA during your return flights, you’ll want to check the customs for there as well, since you will be going through US customs even if you never leave the airport.

One rule I’d follow more strictly is try not to do business with street vendors who approach you. Too often people that are easily spotted as foreigners are also easily spotted as suckers for a scam. Even in the market places, you will sometimes find people bestowing “gifts” on you as they grab your hand and try to drag you to their stall. Be wary of your surroundings and the people around you, and don’t buy anything you don’t actually want.

Hopefully you will find some of the suggestions above useful on your next international trip. Fare well on your journeys and bon voyage!