As a backpacker, it is always important to minimize my travel budget - as lowwww as possible. I learned a lot of tricks to minimize my travel budget during my 7 months-long travel in Europe until at one point, I could say that even though everything is expensive in Europe, BUT if you know the trick, your wallet will not suffer.
But, do not back up right away, you could take car pooling (in German: mitfahr) for an alternative transportation, especially in a sudden journey. The fare for car pooling might differ, according to the car driver, but it is often wayyyy cheaper than the train ticket.
More information about budget transportation in land and air.
Taking a night flight means that you are ready to sleep in the airport during the night.
Taking an over night bus / train means that you are ready to sleep in the bus / train.
For me, I prefer to sleep in the bus. It is safer and more comfortable, especially if you are taking Eurolines. But, a night in airport is always welcomed.
Read through this post if you want to know how it feels to spend a night - outside your comfy room. :)
More choices if you only travel with a friend. You could choose hostel, motel, apartments, a room in a house, or may be a tent. Just choose which one is the cheapest.
If you travel with friends or a group of friends, you have lesser choices. You might choose hostel, but you have to book a lot of rooms - that might costly. Therefore, I suggest to book an apartments or a house - it is often cheaper than hostel.
If you could eat, erm almost anything and not so into with the culinary trip in your destination, you could bring your own instant noodle from your home and cook it in your hostel for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Okay, it looks pitiful but it really safe your money A LOT.
Another option, you could buy snacks, breads and drinks in local market instead of restaurant, cafe, coffe shop, etc.
The last choice, you could buy groceries from the local market and cook some foods in your hostel or apartment. Somehow, it is fun - especially if you are travelling with a group of friends. :)
Bear with it for a day or two, and if it's already your last day and you still have some money left, go to the restaurant! :)
And, information of cheap travel does not come from anywhere - but through research. You should do a lot of research through google, books, friends, travel blogs (ehem, Traveler's Passport) or wherever.
Check on Ryan's Air website everyday - looking for a promo flight.
Check on Eurolines' website everyday - looking for a 9 Euros promo ticket.
Read through experiences of fellow backpackers - they always have their own ways to minimize their travel budget.
If you do not know where to start, you might find this post useful. :)
So, here are 7 ways to minimize your travel budget ala Traveler's Passport :)
1. Plan your travel at the latest 2 months before your journey.
The longer your plan, the better. But 2 months is the minimum - to get a cheap ticket for your Ryan Air's flight, or a promo ticket for your over night Eurolines' bus.But, do not back up right away, you could take car pooling (in German: mitfahr) for an alternative transportation, especially in a sudden journey. The fare for car pooling might differ, according to the car driver, but it is often wayyyy cheaper than the train ticket.
More information about budget transportation in land and air.
2. Choose a night flight / over night bus / train
 |
| Good night - Stockholm |
Taking an over night bus / train means that you are ready to sleep in the bus / train.
For me, I prefer to sleep in the bus. It is safer and more comfortable, especially if you are taking Eurolines. But, a night in airport is always welcomed.
Read through this post if you want to know how it feels to spend a night - outside your comfy room. :)
3. Decide whom you are going to travel with
In my opinion, I'd prefer to travel in a small group than a large group, only because it is simpler in many ways, like transportation ticket, booking a hostel, choose a restaurant, choose the next place, etc.
Therefore, I often travel together with my friend - you know, RR Tour. It stands for Ribka and Runita. :)
BUT, I travel with 4 fellow friends during my trip to Italy - because in Italy it is cheaper to travel with a group of people than going duo.
Are you going to travel as a solo traveler, duo travelers, trio travelers or perhaps, a group of travelers? Decide it yourself! :)
4. Choose your accommodation . . . wisely
Are you travelling with A friend, or with friends, or with a group of friends - it decides what kind of accommodation you should choose. |
| A summer house in Camping Jolly, Italy |
More choices if you only travel with a friend. You could choose hostel, motel, apartments, a room in a house, or may be a tent. Just choose which one is the cheapest.
If you travel with friends or a group of friends, you have lesser choices. You might choose hostel, but you have to book a lot of rooms - that might costly. Therefore, I suggest to book an apartments or a house - it is often cheaper than hostel.
5. Buy day ticket, week ticket or perhaps region ticket
In Europe, there are many types of ticket for public transportation.
A single trip ticket is more expensive than a day ticket.
A day ticket is more expensive than a week ticket.
A week ticket is more expensive than a month ticket.
Also, there is a region ticket or a weekend ticket that could be used by up to 5 person.
A region ticket is often could be used in all public transportation within the region for a day - and in some regions, you could use this ticket in public transportation in other country nearby. My friend said that she only spent 8 Euros for a day trip to Strassbourg in French. She bought a region ticket that could be used in all public transportation in Karlsruhe and Strassbourg.
A weekend ticket can be used in all region transportation in Germany - but only in the weekend.
6. Buy foods and drinks in the local market instead of restaurant
 |
| A bowl of noodle with a glass of wine - this is why we love Barcelona! |
If you could eat, erm almost anything and not so into with the culinary trip in your destination, you could bring your own instant noodle from your home and cook it in your hostel for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Okay, it looks pitiful but it really safe your money A LOT.
Another option, you could buy snacks, breads and drinks in local market instead of restaurant, cafe, coffe shop, etc.
The last choice, you could buy groceries from the local market and cook some foods in your hostel or apartment. Somehow, it is fun - especially if you are travelling with a group of friends. :)
Bear with it for a day or two, and if it's already your last day and you still have some money left, go to the restaurant! :)
7. GOOGLE - A LOT!
The most important thing you should have to be able to minimize your travel budget - INFORMATION.And, information of cheap travel does not come from anywhere - but through research. You should do a lot of research through google, books, friends, travel blogs (ehem, Traveler's Passport) or wherever.
Check on Ryan's Air website everyday - looking for a promo flight.
Check on Eurolines' website everyday - looking for a 9 Euros promo ticket.
Read through experiences of fellow backpackers - they always have their own ways to minimize their travel budget.
If you do not know where to start, you might find this post useful. :)
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