How to be Travel Smart on a Tight Budget?

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

So you want to travel, but you don’t want to blow a hole through your pocket. Lucky for you, travel these days is possible even for cheapskates. Not that you are!

You might have already done your research and found out that there are people who travel the world on a budget that’s no bigger than the price of an iPhone. Incredible, yes. Crazy, possibly.

At one time or another nearly everyone has considered bootstrapping to travel, saving up a pittance and then going wherever the wind blows. Those who do it come back to write a book. Or pen a blog that millions of people (other diehard budget travelers) read.

Honestly, travelling on a shoestring was a big joke that turned out to be really good and funny for a lot of folks. Because it can be done. Here are some ways you can make a tight budget work:

1. Do your research properly

Many popular travel websites offer good deals for hotel and airfare. If you do a bit of sleuthing online, you can probably find packaged options that save quite a bit on airfare and land transport. For your sleeps, it would be best to plan for night journeys on trains and planes that allow you to save on room cost as you sleep through the journey. Not only that, you can also get off the beaten track by going with websites that connect you with houseowners willing to share or loan out their space.

2. Be frugal, not stingy

Be a frugal traveller and not a compulsive tightwad. Budget travel does not mean living on bread and water, cramming two to a bed meant for one, or hitchhiking for hours just to save bus fare.

Some of the best tips that you can find on the internet teach frugality, not stinginess. If you are careful with meals for example, you can stretch a budget a loooong way. Lonely Planet often says things like spend on lunch but save on dinner… sometimes if you don’t eat a few proper meals (in Italy, France, Japan, wherever) you will miss out on a defining part of that destination. You still have to eat!

3. Always have a back-up plan

Finally, always prepare a safety net in case something goes horribly wrong. The last thing you’d want is to find yourself penniless in a foreign country, crying over lost luggage or having a medical crisis with no money to get help. These things can happen despite the best-laid plans.

Most travel insurance plans come with 24/7 assistance services. And they don’t cost much at all, which is perfect because you are ON A BUDGET! For a small price, insurance plans like the one AXA offers will give you complete and comprehensive coverage for unpredictable and scary events.

Think about it, what if you need evacuation? Lost your documents? You know you’d feel better knowing that you have some form of protection. So don’t starve, don’t beg and don’t sleep in bus stations. Always have a backup plan.

After all, you do want to come home and write that book.

Find out more about how AXA can help keep you safe and secure on your travels, budget or otherwise. Call 03–2142 0399 or visit AXA Annual Travel Insurance today.

How to feed your travel addiction without quitting your job

Are you one of those people who is addicted to travel? Do you sit at your desk all day dreaming about where to go next? Have you ever wished you didn’t have to work? If yes, you’re not alone.

Many people catch the travel bug but have too many life responsibilities to do anything more than dream about travelling. They would be mad to quit their jobs and run off at the drop of a hat.

What can YOU do then, if you love to travel but don’t have enough freedom because of work? If you are a work professional looking for some balance between your love of travel and your career, here are some ideas you might find useful:

Find a job that makes you travel.

There are ways to combine business with travel, and this is mostly possible with positions that require assignments abroad. There are jobs that do have a high turnover simply because they are given to people who hate to travel. Imagine if you joined a company that requires you to travel and pays you for it! The experience of meeting new people, exploring different places and tasting amazing local cuisine is almost worth the pain of “living out of a suitcase”. Seek out roles that include travelling as part of the job description.

Work in the travel industry.

Want to mix business with pleasure? You don’t have to look far beyond jobs within the tourism industry. Ask any travel writer, photographer or airline company employee. When travel is a part of your work, it becomes part of your responsibility to keep journeying.

Learn how to manage your leave.

Plan your calendar and look out for chunks of public holidays to make the most out of your annual leave block. If you have a high-intensity job, figure out a way to plan your time-off early and announce your intentions ahead of time to avoid last minute objections from your boss or team members.

With careful planning and some ingenuity, anyone can maintain a healthy balance between work and their travel needs. However, acting responsibly is also an important part of this process — when all is said and done, how do you make sure that you report back to your desk in time?

When you daydream about holidays, everything is perfect. In reality, sometimes it is not. The right thing to do before you leave is to get covered by travel insurance. If the dream holiday turns out to be a disaster, you still want to get back to work on time and in one piece.

After all, how else will you plan for your next trip?

Going on a big trip soon? Find out how AXA Smart Traveller Annual Insurance can protect your health, your safety and your wallet during your trip. Call 03–2142 0399 or visit AXA Annual Travel Insurance today.

Best Ways to Carry Money While Traveling

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The way you travel will greatly influence the way you carry your money. It is never a good idea to carry a lot of CASH when you’re travelling, but if you must, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of losing your money!

1. Separate Money in Different Pockets


Ever heard the saying: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? During a trip, resist the tendency to keep everything important or valuable in one place just because it’s convenient. Smart travellers distribute their currency bills into different compartments that can be carried, worn or stowed. If you are pickpocketed or robbed, you can always fall back on your remaining stash.

2. Go With The Right Attire

Choose to travel with comfortable, versatile clothing with multiple pockets such as cargo shorts or jackets with inner pockets where you can keep your money securely. You can also invest in accessories like belt bags or neck sacks that allow you to separate your money and keep them hidden and yet within easy reach.

3. Keep Small Bills


Prudent travellers prepare for a trip by changing some local money before they depart for their destinations. In many cases, a trip to the moneychanger will result in large bills. Request for smaller denominations or find a way to break the large ones before you set out from the airport, hotel or station. Large bills will slow you down if you’re paying for a short taxi ride, buying street snacks on the go or bargaining at the souvenir market. They also attract unnecessary attention.

4. Carry an Anti-Theft Bag

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One of the coolest accessories in the market today are bags designed to thwart thieves who target travellers and foreign tourists. A quick search on the internet will result in a range of designs for smart anti-theft accessories meant for keeping cash, devices, passports and other important items safe during a trip.

5. Alternatives to cash bills


If you intend to travel for long periods, a steady supply of staggered funds is ideal. Avoid carrying large sums of cash by using other travel money options such as cards (debit, credit and pre-paid) and traveller’s cheques. So, if you lose your cash you will still have some money left to spend. It’s worth checking if there is an ATM and whether traveller’s cheques are accepted where you are going.



6. Buy travel insurance

Travel insurance is an intangible protective tool that helps travellers in many ways. Besides protecting your health and safety, travel insurance protects your wallet as well. Comprehensive packages such as the one offered by AXA Smart Traveller Annual Insurance will cover you up to a certain amount of cash if it is lost or stolen. You only pay a small price (called a premium) of RM195 to be eligible for a full range of coverage in case an unexpected event occurs.

Many people are not aware of the potential financial difficulties that can arise when travelling. AXA Smart Traveller Annual Insurance is a form of protection for your money, health and safety when travelling. Don’t leave home without it.

Planning a trip soon? Find out how AXA Smart Traveller Annual Insurance can protect you and your money during your trip. Call 03–2142 0399 or visit AXA Annual Travel Insurance today.

How Travelling Changes Your Life in 3 Amazing Ways

The Dalai Lama once said: “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”

Why does he say go somewhere new and strange? Well, sometimes experiencing a new destination can completely change your worldview. If you combine that with a need to break out of a rut and get recharged, incredible things can happen!

Why should you do it? Travelling is a wonderful experience that one should not miss in his/her lifetime. Travel changes your life by opening your eyes to places, cultures and people.

You don’t need magic to disappear. All you need is a destination.

Here are 3 amazing ways that travelling can change your life forever:

1. Change perspective

Travelling to different places exposes you to new cultures and strange customs that will broaden your mind and make you realise how little you know of this world. When you start seeing the beauty of another culture, you will learn the ability to respect other people’s values and embrace the differences in society.

Self-discovery happens when you step out of familiar surroundings and immerse yourself in the local experience. Whether you travel to visit ruins, beaches, famous landmarks or museums, the journey will always end as a personal one with special memories. You will arrive home a different, more enlightened person.

2. New perspective

As you travel, more people will cross your path and give you a different perspective on life. Travelling is beautiful because of the variety of encounters you will make, be it with the local guide, the vendors, the friends you make along the way, or normal folk who will delight you with their hospitality and kindness. Their personalities will be the best part of your travel story. Seasoned travellers are more easygoing and less concerned with material things – the more they see and experience, the more they know that the world has infinite possibilities for feeling, giving and experiencing.

3. Independence

Real independence and freedom is more than just moving away from home. Travelling puts you in a unique position wherein you literally have no one to lean on. You will learn how to look out for yourself, compromise in your daily dealings and make good decisions on your own. Decisions, even in simple matters such as what food to eat, how to handle emergencies, avoid getting lost… are crucial. Smart travellers invest in travel insurance that acts as a backup plan in case something unexpected happens. When you’re alone in a foreign country, you can count on a travel insurance provider to be your safety net.

Looking for a comprehensive and budget-friendly plan? Check out the AXA Smart Traveller Annual Insurance. Because of its good price and wide coverage, AXA is a popular choice for both frequent travellers and young ad-hoc travelling groups.

Final thoughts

The experience you gain from travelling, meeting new people, learning how differently a society can function and many others is simply wonderful. It can really change your life.

Happy travels!

Planning a trip soon? Find out how AXA Smart Traveller Annual Insurance can protect you and your money during your trip. Visit webpage@ http://bit.ly/AXA-Travel-Insurance today.