Want to travel the world but don’t have a bank account with a 6-digit figure?
Well, most of us don’t have that much money, and that’s perfectly fine considering the countless options to travel on a budget. I don’t include skipping a meal, but it does mean reducing the cost of transportation, and accommodation. I recently decided to leave my comfy career in Alberta and embark on a journey of self discovery in Latin America. This is just the start of my coverage for Mindthis Magazine on what hurdles, life lessons, and mishaps I discover along the way.
Shall we start?
Keep your itinerary flexible
AirCanada, WestJet, and pretty much all the airline have seat sales every month. You can also sign up for email alerts for the cheapest deals from Ydeal.com (for my fellow Canadians).
There are tons of other resources, for instance signing up for Credit Cards that include a sign up bonus of AirMiles or Aeroplan Miles. I was able to book 3 flights using my bonus miles, nothing feels better than getting a cheap flight to another country.
Ditch the hotels, and stay at the hostels
Many of the South American hostels can cost less than $12 per night, some with breakfast included. This is a great way to meet other travelers, and make new friends.
This is my $10 stay in Caye Caulker, Belize.
Many of the hostels are looking for volunteers to help with renovations and improvements, and in return they will give a reasonable discount for your stay.
Check out WorkAway.info – for a small sign up fee, it allows you to search for hostels, local families, and schools that are looking for volunteers, and in exchange they will provide accommodations and often 3 delicious homemade meals per day. This is a great way to experience the luscious local culture first-hand. It also allows you to excel in the language of that country. In my opinion this could give a meaningful purpose to your travels.
Become part of the Couchsurfing community. It is a global network of hosts offering a space to sleep for the travelers. You can make friends and connections in every part of the world you visit, now that’s priceless.
Alright now there is no excuse… pack your bags, hit the road, and see the world.
I will leave you with this wonderful quote from one of the greatest teachers.
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu