Traveling on an Emaciated Budget

Before I begin, I wanted to say a little something to the readers. When I originally created this site I did not have massive expectation for it to grow. The truth is, this website was actually just an example site to show a client what I could do. I wanted to demonstrate what I could create on short notice and to show them that their business could benefit from something similar using their own subject matter. However, it has recently come to my attention that there are quite a few readers that seem to enjoy my writing. I'm not sure if it's the tone I use, or the subject matter that I write about, but I have received a surprisingly positive response. I've recently had people contact me to inform me that they like reading my posts and would appreciate more writing. Among those emails are multiple subjects that people would like to hear about, and some of the most common subjects asked for are tips and tricks to “travel on the cheap.” This is no surprise because almost everyone loves to save money, but there are so many ways to save money while traveling that I will need multiple posts to really discuss the subject thoroughly. That being said, today I plan to grant some of those requests with my first post in a series of posts about saving money while traveling.

Hungarian Forints can make you feel like a king, until you try to spend it.

For those readers out there expecting a new article every day, sadly I have to warn you that I do have my own editing business with a large client list. So, I'll have plenty of other work that I'm busy completing on an ongoing basis and I can't make these posts a daily occurrence. However, I can make sure that when there is a free moment, I'm writing and continuing to create new content for the readers.

One of the most important things about having a successful and enjoyable trip is planning correctly so that you can maximize your time seeing the things you want to see, not sitting in traffic. Very often, travelers don't take into consideration how important their hotel location will be for ease of travel while getting around the city. The difference that a well located hotel can make is measurable in many different ways, like how well you will be able to sleep and how far you will need to travel to see the sights of the city. More importantly, it will save you a bunch of money in transportation costs if you can walk to and from your destinations. Certain cities around the world have amazing public transportation and in these places making sure that you're located near a subway station or tram stop can be a lifesaver.

Public transit map in Prague. These can be found at any station or on any train.

Obviously each city will have different attractions and run on different schedules. The busy times of year can vary due to the geographic location of the city and options for day and night activities will vary as well. If you visit Amsterdam, you may want to be wary of any hotels too close to the centers of entertainment because it is a town that runs very late into the night and you may never get to sleep. So you would be better off finding a hotel out of the city center but very close to a train that runs to Amsterdam Centraal. By doing this, you can sleep at night, and still get dropped off at Anne Frank's house within ten minutes on a tram. On the other hand, a city like Munich quiets down very early most nights. So in a city like this, it is advisable to find a place to stay in the city center because it will be quiet enough at night for even the lightest sleepers and you will be able to walk to a variety of attractions.

The location can save you a ton of money on transportation cost, but make sure that you don't just assume a hotel near the city center will be close to everything you want to do. My personal preference is to find a place to stay that is outside of the tourist areas. Usually it will actually end up being a much quicker trip to and from the places I want to go. Generally they are also cheaper nightly rates because they're not inundated with tourists. On the flip side, be wary of that amazing deal on airbnb, because it might be less than amazing when you find out it's a 30 minute walk to the nearest metro station. Take a look on google maps and find out where the closest public transportation hubs are, then get directions using pubic transport versus taxis from your location to a few of the sights you want to see. This little tactic can save you countless dollars and hours spent moving around the city rather than seeing what you want to see. In the case of Prague, the “old town” area, a great spot for tourists, has much less room in the streets and in some areas cars are not allowed at all. Also, public transportation is more sparse so it's possible to end up walking a mile or two while dragging your suitcase down old cobble roads. Then, any time you need to leave the hotel, it is a long walk to the first area where you can find a car or any type of transportation. It's really nice to be able to walk out of a hotel and have a subway or metro station right down the street from you. It unlocks all the destinations in the city since nearly any tourist hot spot will have public transport stops very close to it.

The location that you stay will also dictate the types of food options and nightlife that you have, which in turn can save you some cash. If you book a place directly in the city center, or any other tourist hot spot, expect to have touristy options and more importantly, prices to match. Expect to find all the American food chains and restaurants that cater to the tourist. Starbucks, McDonald's, KFC, and other chains will be around every other corner and they are happy to charge you extra when they can. Even the local restaurants will charge more in these areas, partially because the rent is higher so they have more overhead, but also because it's not out of line for other prices in the area. Other areas of the city will offer the authentic cuisine that the local residents enjoy, at a much more affordable price point, and it might give you a different perspective of the city. This is also the case for the nightlife. If you enjoy going out for drinks, travel away from the general tourist zones for a different experience and most definitely a different set of prices.

Another tip, that won't apply to any of you "airbnb lifers," and some of you from the hotel crowd may or may not already be aware of is the prepayment option that many hotels offer when booking. Prepaying for your hotel can save you nearly fifty percent in certain hotels and on specific rooms. In many of the hotels across Europe they offer different prices for paying right when you book and other prices for paying at the hotel. I realize that not everyone will have a schedule that is set in stone,so maybe prepaying is not possible, but for those of you that don't require flexibility, prepaying will save you money in most cases. In addition, make sure to always check the actual hotel's website for pricing. With all these travel sites that claim to have the best price, people often forget to check the hotel website and miss out on better rates and, my favorite, freebies. An example of this was when my friend and I found a hotel in Budapest for a good deal on Priceline and then decided to look at the hotel website. It was the same price, but the hotel offered a free buffet breakfast for every night we stayed. That breakfast buffet filled us up beyond belief and for those 5 days we never needed to buy lunch while we were out. On top of that, we also saved some little cereal boxes from the buffet for late night snacks, which saved us from spending money on late night fast food. And for you bar patrons out there, you understand how those late night cravings can get a person up and out of bed, into the cold to find some food to appease that hungry stomach!

As I mentioned earlier, there are many ways, both large and small, to save money when traveling abroad. After time, they really begin to accumulate into a nice savings that will fund an even longer trip if you prefer. This is just the first step in saving money while you travel, but this proper planning at the inception of your vacation can pay dividends in the end. I would say that hotel selection can make or break a destination, and different locations can change a perspective of a city greatly. So be careful when booking your next place to stay and do your research beforehand, a little time in front of the computer now will save you time and money as you explore new places around the world!