When people find out that I’m a teacher, I usually get this reaction:

 “If you’re a teacher, how do you travel so often?”—they don’t mean vacation time.

My students respond with much more honesty:

“Aren’t you supposed to be poor? How do you travel?”

To be fair, there are several misconceptions about travel and the travel industry. One of the most common misconceptions is cost. Traveling can be affordable, and can fit any lifestyle, even those with a more modest income.

It’s All About Choice

First and foremost before I give you the five ways to make traveling more affordable, you have to decide if you actually want to travel. I know, I know. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to travel the world, but let’s be honest…in order to travel, you have to commit to some sort of “creative refinancing.”  You have to make choices.

It’s not about coming up with large sums of money. It’s the exact opposite, actually.

To travel is to skip past Starbucks.

To travel is to not buy all the new clothes.

To travel is to sometimes stay home on a Friday night.

Just like so many other things in your life, to travel is to invest in yourself. So while you may think traveling is out your reach, ask yourself: why not live off of 90 percent of your paycheck instead of the full 100 percent?

5 Tips For Affordable Travel

Now that you have officially decided to make the commitment and save, I present to you the five tips for affordable travel… from one budget friendly traveler to another.

1. Flight Trends & Miles Bonuses

One of the biggest reasons people hesitate to travel is because of airfare—rightfully so. Airfare can be the most expensive part of travel. And while I hate to be the bearer of bad news, there really isn’t a cheap day to book flights. However if planned accordingly, the sky can be optimized for budget.

• Flight Search Engines:

Search engines are the easiest way to find cheaper flights. My favorite search engines are Skyscanner.com and Kiwi.com. Skyscanner provides you with the cheapest route to you to your destination. The website scans all airlines in its search to provide the best possible price. Kiwi.com shows the cheapest destination for the searched time period. If not set on a location, Kiwi.com will provide budget friendly ideas. Keep in mind that the more flexible you are with travel dates, the more money you will save. It is cheaper to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturday—try to plan accordingly

• Websites vs. Apps:

Airlines have become incredibly creative with their algorithms. Something as simple as where you search for your flights can have an impact on cost. Always check for airfare on the actual airline or search engine website itself, and then the airline or search engine app. There is almost always a difference in cost. Sometimes the difference is $50, and other times the difference is around $200.

• Miles and Rewards:

This may seem like a no brainer, but join an airline rewards program. I am a Delta Medallion member, so I book Delta or partner airlines to collect miles. As a SkyMiles member, travelers have access to SkyMiles deals. These are worldwide destinations that have flight specials throughout the year, typically during low tourist seasons. Pay attention to the travel period when booking, and enjoy a significantly discounted flight.

2. Credit Cards

Credit cards are the easiest way to “cash in” on travel deals. You spend money daily. Why not make spending work for you?

Like I always say, spend smarter not harder!

I have two travel cards, and they are my absolute favorites in the industry.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is amazing for travelers for a variety of reasons. There are no foreign transaction fees, and it is accepted everywhere. In addition users get 2X the points when the credit card is used on purchases regarding travel or dining at a restaurant. The rewards options are limitless. Most airlines and hotel chains can be booked using Chase Sapphire Rewards. Use this card most when traveling.

Currently there is a special! Use my link, and receive up to 50,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.

American Express

If you are a Delta flyer, this card is perfect you! The American Express card is the best card to use at home when trying to gain reward benefits. There are no foreign transaction fees. In addition, users get 1 companion pass! That’s right, you and your favorite travel buddy can fly to any American domestic location for the price of one ticket plus taxes and fees. This card also allows for mileage boosters, and 2X the miles for every Delta purchase. 1 mile for every other purchase using your card. Use this card most while home.

Currently there is a special! Use my link and receive up to 60,000 Sky Miles ($600) after spending $2,000 in your first three months.

3. Pay Attention to Seasons

In the travel industry, the year is often divided into three seasons: peak season (June through August), shoulder season (April-May and September- October), and off- season (November through March).  Summer is the most popular time to travel for Americans. This creates an influx of American tourists in the world’s most popular vacation spots. However it’s important to remember that travel seasons are dependent upon the destination. When traveling on a budget, pay attention to destination specific seasons and plan accordingly. Here are a few examples:

• Asia:

Peak season and off-season revolve around weather. December to April is typically the dry season, and May to November is typically wet season, due to monsoons. Bali is a little different, as it sits near the equator. Bali’s dry season is May to September, whereas the wet season is October to April. While people may think that traveling during monsoon season is dangerous, there are actually several advantages for the budget friendly traveler.  Prices are lower for everything, and I mean everything—lodging, transportation, tours, etc. Most sites will be less crowded, which makes for the perfect Instagram post. The scenery is even more beautiful. Lush greenery, full canals, and active wildlife make for a serene experience.  Remember the dollar goes much further in Asia, so you can truly optimize your budget in these destinations. For more information on how to travel during rainy season, click here.

• Europe:

Americans flock to Europe in droves throughout their summer holiday leading to an increase in prices, wait times, and reservation availability. Many of the popular sites are completely overrun with tourists making it virtually impossible to fully enjoy your experience, or to take the perfect selfie. If you are looking to travel to Europe on a budget, travel during the off-season—November through March. The weather may be colder, but it’s totally worth it! Europe is simply magical in the winter. European currencies are stronger than the dollar, which can sometimes add a financial burden to your trip. Traveling in the off-season is another way to save some money.

• The Southern Hemisphere:

With an opposite weather pattern, destinations below the equator provide plenty of opportunity for those on a budget. Many of these locations are often overlooked increasing your chances for deals.

June is officially the start of winter in South Africa. While the weather is colder and the water rougher, winter is one of the best times for game drives and whale watching. June through September is also considered peak activity season for Great Whites, so cage diving is a must.  While the weather can be a bit unpredictable, prices are lower and tour availability increases—so if you’re flexible, you can actually experience this life changing opportunity at a much lower cost. South African Rand, like other African currencies, is not strong as the dollar. Not only will you save money due to off-season, but also because of currency conversion.

June and July are also great months to visit Chile and Argentina. Crowds are smaller and the weather is cooler. If trekking to Patagonia, journey with caution. Southern Patagonia is virtually quiet with most lodging closed and tours delayed due to weather. Atlantic Patagonia is lively with skiing, trekking, and animal watching. These locations are often overlooked because of weather conditions, and the currency conversion again works in your favor.

4. Lodging Loopholes

Let’s face it. When we travel, we spend more time out of our lodging than in them. So why waste a portion of your budget on something that you won’t completely utilize? An easy way to make travel more affordable is to give up a little bit of luxury when booking lodging. There’s a couple different ways you can do this:

• Location of Lodging

If you book lodging further out from the city, the price will be cheaper. The only difference is that you might need to use extra transportation to get to and from your area of stay.

• Type of Lodging

Look into different types or styles of lodging in the area that you are traveling to. Simply booking a hotel, may not actually be your best option.

In Iceland and New Zeland, campers are quite popular, and they function as a mode of transportation and a type of lodging.

In Southeast Asia, villas or homestays are extremely popular. Most of them are stunning, and easy to get to. In addition, the families that own them are beyond friendly and will help you with whatever it is that you need. AirBnB is a great tool to use in searching for these types of lodging.

Don’t be afraid to look at hostels in any location either. Hostels are generally safe, and they are the perfect way to meet people when traveling. Hostels are also very clean and cheap. I like to use Hostel World when booking this type of lodging. They have thorough reviews on hostels including amenities, security, and location.       

If you are 100% determined to stay in a hotel, perhaps book a lower quality option. Look into 3 star hotels. Your amenities may be different, but you will be able to save some money.

5. Currency Conversion

The fastest and easiest way to save money while traveling is to choose a destination where the dollar extends further. Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America are a few examples of such places. Each
contains beautiful countries with currencies weaker than the dollar. This provides you with an amazing vacation on a more relaxed cost.

Weaker currencies do not mean poor quality. Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America offer breathtaking views with enough adventure to keep your adrenaline pumping throughout your entire journey. In addition the food scene in these areas is unreal. Due to the dollar’s stronger value, you can enjoy some of the best food and wine in the world without breaking the bank.

Bonus Tip for Affordable Travel: Hire Out

As a teacher, I am constantly wondering where my time goes at the end of each day. Time is money. Optimizing your budget for travel can be time consuming.  Searching for airfare, tourist season trends, and lodging can be stressful. Sometimes the best way alleviate stress and to improve cost effectiveness is to have someone else plan the trip, and provide all the options.

Interested?  Send an email to [email protected]

Bon Voyage—on a budget!