Traveling and overpaying for your trips can cause you to have a great deal of debt in your adult life. Younger Canadians are seeing this happen quite frequently due to the high cost of travel that exists within Canada and the distance that Canada is from many parts of the world. When planning your travels from Canada at a young age, it is important to save money whenever possible to be able to see more of the world while adding to your savings account. When considering how to save money when traveling from Canada, consider the conversation below.
15 Tips on How to Travel Cheaply
Traveling cheaply is essential in order to avoid getting into debt from your vacations. Here are some tips for traveling while on a budget:
Stay in Hostels
Staying in hostels is an excellent way to save money while traveling. You can choose to have a private room with your own bathroom or a shared room with a shared bathroom. These are great ways to get your cost of lodging done and meet fellow travelers. Many times, hotels organize affordable tours or host unique cultural events.
Take Free Walking Tours
Many cities have free walking tours with an optional tip at the end. This is a great thing to do on the first day of arriving to a new city. You will be able to walk around the main historical places and learn about the culture you are visiting. Many cities around the globe now offer this option as it is good for local tourism and a great way to connect travelers to the locals.
Enjoy Complimentary Breakfasts
Many hostels and hotels come with breakfast included. It is highly recommended that you eat their breakfast daily to save a meal cost. Additionally, the coffee, tea, milk or fruit juice is included in the breakfast as well. If you are fortunate enough to find a hotel that adds elements of the local culture to their complimentary breakfast, then you will be able to learn even more about the culture of where you are visiting.
Don’t Buy Too Many Souvenirs
Souvenirs are delightful; however, be sure that you are buying meaningful ones. It is quite tempting to shop at local craft markets; however, some of the souvenirs are identical from country-to-country, which makes them become repetitive. When saving your money, only pick up a couple of things that can only come from where you are visiting.
Work in a Hostel
Working in a hostel is a great way to get your rent paid for and a few meals as well. Hostels are always looking for travelers that are willing to supervise when the guests check in at all hours. Take them up on their lodging offer and it is a great way to work your way around the world on a budget.
Know Visa Laws
Visa laws, if used to your advantage, can lead to great savings. Be sure to read up on current visa regulations. Visa regulations are always changing due to political factors and if you are able to go somewhere that doesn’t cost a lot of money or has an e-Visa option available that is easier to apply for, then you will save a lot of money.
Pay Up Front
Many times, if you reserve your flights, hotels, and tours up front, you will save at least 20%. You will also not be as stressed while you are traveling because you will just have to worry about food and additional sightseeing.
Travel Off Season
Particularly in Southeast Asia, resorts go 50% off in the Summer months because it is the low season. Be sure to take advantage of this and you will get far more for your money.
Use Frequent Flyer Miles
Frequent flyer miles are a great way to pay under $100 for your roundtrip flight. Be sure to learn which alliances the airlines are on that you are taking and sign up for one mileage program on that alliance. If you are able to do that, then you will rack up the miles on one airline’s mileage account while traveling on many airlines on the alliance.
Don’t Check Your Bag
Checking your bag has gotten expensive. When possible, check only one bag or use a carry-on wheelie bag. This can save you up to $50 per bag checked.
Use Public Transport
Taxis are quite expensive. Use public transportation when you are in major cities. Also, many hotels have discounted or free group shuttles from major train stations and airports. Use these to your advantage and you can save up to $100 on taxis.
Take Advantage of Free Entry to Museums & Monuments
Many museums and monuments have a discounted or free entry day. Read about these dates and plan your trip around them. This can help you to save on pricy admissions fees and use your money towards other expenses.
Get Credit Cards with Low Foreign Transactions Fees
If you are going to get a credit card from a Canadian bank, it is wise to get one that has low foreign transaction fees. This will greatly cut down the cost of the money that you are spending while traveling.
Pay Attention to Exchange Rate When Exchanging Money
There are certain places that charge a lot of money to exchange currency. Be sure to carefully research which agencies have the best rates so that you spend the least you can on currency exchange. You will be surprised at the difference this will make on your travel budget. That’s why we recommend going with one of the big FX companies.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a great way to travel on a budget for those interested in meeting the locals and making friendships all over the world. There have been many travelers that have used this that have had incredible travel experiences.
Trips from Canada that Can Be Done on a Low Budget
There are several trips that can be done on a low budget from Canada. Currently, the most affordable flights from Canada are to: New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Cancun, Orlando, Tampa, San Juan, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Las Vegas, Miami, Puerto Vallarta, San Francisco, Guatemala City, Mexico City, and New Orleans. Tickets to these destinations can average between $348 and $586, which is a great cost for a younger traveler from Canada that is on a budget.
Final Remarks on the Subject
It is a common misconception that travel has to be expensive. It is important younger Canadians to carefully calculate their travel budgets in order to see where they are overspending. These calculations can lead to more savings and even the opportunity for more trips around the globe. Be sure to make a realistic checklist of what you spend on travel and you will truly be amazed at the savings that you can achieve by being savvy about how to travel on a budget effectively.
Very informative! I will share this to my friends who wanted to start their nomad lives :)
Great article! Travel is not cheap anyway. But if you know how to save on entertainment and souvenirs, you can have a good time in travel.
Thank you for your recommendations!