Traveling is one of the most wonderful things in the world; there’s nothing like that feeling when you explore new territory and feel like the only person in existence to know about it. But unfortunately, from time to time, we find ourselves in situations where we can’t afford to do all that a place offers, or we feel like we are in a bit of a financial pinch. However, that can often be the starting place of some of the biggest adventures and here we are going to share just five ideas for when the piggy bank begins to dry up!
Geocache
A cross between orienteering and treasure hunting, Geocache is a smartphone-enabled adventure that costs little to nothing! Follow the handy phone app to search for, and find, caches all over the world; from the sunny beaches of Florida to Paris’ enchanting streets… you can find geocaches pretty much everywhere! They vary from being hidden in trees to hiding inside magnetic tubes on pedestrian signs. It’s addictive, fun, and costs you pretty much nothing to do.
Don’t eat out – buy like a local!
Eating out is often one of the biggest costs attached to traveling, and so many times we hear that if you ‘eat like a local’ and eat where they eat that it’s far cheaper. It is, but there’s another option too. Buy like a local. What does that mean I hear you ask?
It means that you should check out the food markets and shops where the locals go and stock yourself up on food. Imagine sitting in a inner-city park in Paris eating traditional bread and cheeses or sitting on beach in California with your own BBQ. The options are endless .
Airbnb
Airbnb is an exciting way to stay in some pretty amazing places on your travels. Airbnb offers travelers places to stay, with something to suit everyone’s budget. Although a castle in Scotland might be out of the price range there are plenty of money friendly options. Many of the lower-end options are rooms in someone’s house or apartment, but don’t be put off by this as you often get to experience the culture of a place even more as your host cooks for you and fills you in on all the best local haunts!
Where’s free?
If you’re traveling in a city, or even a tourist area, you can pretty much guarantee there will be places to visit for free. Take a look online before you travel and see what you can find. All sorts of festivals and museums cost absolutely nothing, but it’s often all about just knowing what’s out there. Many attractions and museums have certain days or times when entry is free or discounted, so don’t forget to look that up too.
Set yourself a goal!
Set yourself traveling goals. It makes your trip personalised and gives you a burst of excitement. Perhaps you want to photograph the local culture and architecture, or maybe you want to make friends with at least 3 locals. You might want to stop and try your hand at drawing different buildings or hunting down collectables. Some people write songs, blogs, or poems whilst others complete quirky goals, like visiting every road on the Monopoly board or using dice to help them decide where to go. Be creative and set your own personal goal that costs nothing and will make your trip that much more exciting.
There are so many ways to still have an amazing trip when the money dries up, so don’t let it stop you…let it fuel you!
Copyright © 2015 by the Dauntless Jaunter Travel Site. This article was written by Bethan Newman and originally published on dauntlessjaunter.com.
