“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.
