Cheapest ways to travel

Traveling is an essential to all of us and form part of our life. Every year we plan for 1 or 2 short trip spanning like 8 days. These kind of trip always book at travel agency and have tour guide. However these trips always regards as flower viewing from horseback. We can’t really touch down to the country most genuine faces and touch in-depth to their customs and cultures.

New traveling trend now is traveling by our own. We plan our travel routes ourselves, and no need to rush for the next destination. We can stay longer at the places we feel like, before move on to next destination.

For in-depth traveling, it always takes longer time, and is more money spending. To travel on this way, we need to know how to save the money along the journey so that our money worth for every penny we spend and allow us travel longer and reach more destinations.  Cost of travel mainly comes from 3 basic requirements; accommodation, transportation, and foods. Here list down few methods for cheapest ways to travel.

Stay

Couch Surfing

Couch surfing is a popular way to find free accommodations in a destination by arranging to sleep on a local's house owner. One of the most popular couch surfing networks is CouchSurfing.com, where citizens of the world meet and arrange couch stays with other travelers. Sleeping in the home of a stranger naturally raises issues of safety, so the review for the host is important. 

Home Exchange

Swapping your house with someone else is a good way to find a comfortable yet free accommodation for your trip. Home exchange participants typically stay in each other's house at the same time, or they may even stay as guests in each other's homes. There are various websites that provide online classifieds for owners to advertise (homeexchange.com, homexchangevacation.com or homebase-hols.com). Check the review and chat on the phone with the home exchange partner is important to avoid your house being in evil use.

House-sit

Laboring to exchange for free accommodation is another good way. You can help owner to clean the house or cutting the courtyard grass in exchange for free accommodation.

If you are looking to house-sit, check out these online boards websites at www.housecarers.com, www.mindmyhouse.com for postings in different countries to advertise your services.

Hostel

Hostel is the cheapest accommodation. In hostel, we share room with different travelers from different countries.  Hostel room are different based on this room type like 2 bedroom type, 4 bedroom type, 6 bedroom type and other. Remember to take care of your personal belongings, or keep value belongs in the locker.

Transportation

Budget airline

Budget airline are essential for long distance travel. Europe and USA have mature and cheap budget airlines, and Asian budget airlines are mushrooming recent years. Sometimes we can spot for a free ticket for a short distance flight, just paid for the taxes and fuel surcharge. Ex:  Malaysia budget airline Airasia. 

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is popular especially Europe. Just show your thumb up at the roadside. Some drivers will stop and ask you where you go and they will give you a free ride if going to same destination. Consider your personal safety before hitchhiking.

Public transportation

Use public transportation instead of using cab. If really need a cab, try to share the cab with other people and make sure the fee is counting based on meter. Southeast Asia countries’ cab drivers especially don’t like to use meter when taking foreigners. They can take you take a big round for a short distance location.

Book early in advance, buy weekly pass

Book 1 month in advance for bus ticket or train ticket can be half price for the actual day ticket prices especially at Europe countries like United Kingdom. Plan your plan and book early. Buy weekly pass for your train services and bus services. It will definitely save a lot.

Bicycle

If you are tough enough, bicycle is a good option to travel around with zero transport cost. You will able to make a lot of same interest friends along the bicycle trip. Use Craiglist or Gumtree to buy or sell the bicycle when you moving away.

Foods

Eat the local food. This is the best way to enjoy local authentic food and it is cheapest. Never eat at restaurant.

Groupon and other deal sites

Best way to find hidden gems at awesome deals. You can find many dining and drinking options at very attractive and cheap price, saving up to 70% at Groupon and other popular deal sites.

Other ways for cheap travel

Volunteer 

Participant in the charity organizations to provide volunteer job like help to build houses for typhoon victims in Phillipine or build school in China or teaching in China rural area. Most volunteer organizations may help you out with room and board and flights. Some organizations that request for volunteering jobs may require a significant commitment of time as well as specialized skills and experience. 

 WWOOF it up

World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms is an international network of organic farmers who from time to time offer opportunities for volunteers to join them. Contact the WWOOF office in the country you wish to travel.  A small membership fee is required to gives you access to lists of member farms in that country. Check it out at see www.wwoof.org.

 Organize a group tour

Most time we can get cheaper price if we purchase or book in big amount of quantity. We can negotiate with the sellers to bargain the prices especially hotels and flight tickets.

Haggle

Haggle is important especially at Asian countries. Many thing or services can be bargain and cut to half price and even more if you are good to bargain. Water sport activities at Phuket can bargain up to 70%. 

Work short term job

If you’re looking to stay a little longer, then consider picking up some short-term work overseas. Many countries provides short term jobs for foreigner like picking fruit at farm, become nanny at Denmark among others.