While I try and reap all the benefits of being a flight attendant, truth is until you have racked up enough years many of us are just making ends meet. So to get the most out of this job we travel... A LOT! Now you are probably thinking, if you all barely making enough money to spurge how are you all traveling?
Great question. Here's the trick. Well mine anyway, I budget. I make sure I have just enough money for the necessities when traveling. Food, coffee and of course transpiration. But keep in mind 90 percent of these trips we take are for site seeing and exploring. So it is not to go and spend money on drinks and shopping all day. Those my friends are called vacations.
As with anything in life you make an itinerary of places you want to go and things you want to see. Search for some site seeing tours; hop on, hop off tours are very common and cheap. If you never heard of these type of excursions, you literally hop on a shuttle bus. It travels throughout specific tourist locations for you to get off and explore. Go back to the shuttle stop, hop on and venture off to your next destination. This is the best way to get more bang for your buck.
If you are not discipline enough to budget your finances, traveling on a budget will definitely help you in that area. Especially if you are a picky eater like me. I stick to what I know. I will not buy anything that does not look appealing to me. So that helps me cut back on food expense. I do not starve myself I just drink lots of water. Think of it as a weekend diet. Yes, some may say I am not getting the full experience of the culture. In my defense you do not have to eat everything just to be culturally aware.
Enough though I don't splurge on shopping I do try and buy at least one souvenir for a keepsake. For example, key chains and add them to my luggage. Which is also a creative way of personalizing your bags. Some people like collectible items such as kitchen magnets or postcards. If I see a unique shot glass, I'll grab one of those. Or maybe a pin or patch to add to one of my denim jackets. It just all depends honestly on which one catches my attention most.
Ever heard of hostels? If not, they could be your new best “hotels." Instead they are in a sense like renting out an Airbnb, only much cheaper. They are cheaper because instead of renting out an entire place or a room you are renting a bed. Yes, I know for some this may be a bit much. But to other adventurous, saving money people this is a very good idea. You will only be in the hostel to eat, sleep and cleanse. They provide storage to lock away your valuables but with any traveling you should always keep personal information on your person and never travel with expensive belongings.
This is also another way to connect with other tourist. And now, you have a new travel friend in that specific location. You have to have an open mind when it comes to these kind of trips; except when it comes to food in my case. The less unbiased you are the greater experience you will gain.
So with that being said, enjoy the journey! Explore the world by traveling across the friendly skies.
