I believe everyone wants to experience traveling the world. It's a great wide world out there, and now more than ever before in history, we have the resources to explore it. Traveling can also be really expensive, it doesn't have to be that way though. With a little extra concentrated effort, you can find a great deal when traveling. I have tried several successful and true methods of snagging a good deal.
While traveling (especially internationally), find flights with 12+ hour layovers.
This gives you the opportunity to take a "mini trip" inside of your regular trip. I practiced this while traveling back home from the Middle East. I went to London and got the opportunity to visit the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio and cried when I saw the actual Great Hall. For the particularly adventurous, or flexible traveler, there are also several airliners that do stopover trips. A stopover trip gives you the chance to stop in a country overnight or for a few days before continuing on to your final destination. Often times, these trips don't cost you any more than a regular ticket, and in some cases, may even be less.
Side Note: Always do your research before a long layover to see how long the visa line is, and if it's worth the long layover. At London Heathrow Airport, expect about two hours to get through customs, while Abu Dhabi or Dubai won't even let you leave the airport without an extensive background check and expensive visa.
Always, always, always volunteer for another flight if yours is overbooked.
When I first traveled to the Middle East, our flight made an emergency landing in Istanbul due to a medical emergency aboard the plane. After we landed, we soon found out that the political climate of the country prevented the plane from leaving and all 276 passengers were stranded in Turkey for about three days We all ended up making it to our final destinations, but not without four other layovers in various Middle Eastern countries. After the entire debacle was over, I was offered $200 in airline vouchers for each stretch, which was enough voucher money for my husband and I to go on our dream vacation to Disney World. After our wonderful trip, our return flight to Chicago was overbooked, and the airliner was offering to compensate individuals who would take a later flight. After running around the airport and waiting just one hour later than usual, my husband and I now have voucher tickets for our trip to Ireland next year.
If the opportunity comes up again, we will most certainly take a later flight to save up those vouchers.
Vouchers, in combination with frequent flier miles, can reap some serious benefits. You can get free luggage, premium seating, or even free flights. In most cases, these vouchers can also be stacked as long as they are used within its valid timeframe.
Stretch your dollar by buying local instead of looking for American comfort foods.
I know from personal experience that this one can be challenging, especially if you tend to be a picky eater. But venturing out of your taste comfort zone is easily one of the cheapest ways to stretch your dollar while traveling, especially internationally.
These places are notorious tourist traps, and they often bolster prices higher simply because they know that we will buy it. While you may long for a Big Mac or some Animal Fries, wait until you get home.
I opted for more local dishes that only cost me about $2 to eat. By eating outside my comfort zone, I found out that I love shawarma and saved a few bucks in the process. Plus, by buying from local street vendors or family-owned restaurants, you are helping boost the economy of the country instead of giving the money to a huge corporation. By eating local foods, you are trying new things and positively contributing to society. Win-win.
Instead of traveling to overtly tourist-y places, focus on local treasures.
For example, if you're in Paris, skip the Lourve and the "Mona Lisa" -- most of the time, it has thousands of people crowding it anyway and the experience will not be worth the price you paid for a ticket. Instead, go to Musée de l'Orangerie, which has Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" that way Monet intended them to be seen. The best part? The place was completely empty, and I got to experience the art on my own.
There will always be tourist-y spots around the world that are a "must-see" on anyone's list, but do not be fooled by the popularity of a landmark. Instead of paying 8 Euro to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, go to the roof top of the BHV mall and see the top of the Eiffel Tower and the rest of the Paris skyline while drinking wine that cost less than the price of a water bottle.
When faced with the problem of transportation, use Uber/Lyft. If Uber/Lyft isn't available, use unconventional means of public transportation.
Until the day I die, I will be the world's biggest advocate of Uber. I took an Uber in London and the Middle East, and paid only a fraction of the cost of a taxi ride. Plus, 75 percent of the money that the driver makes goes straight into their personal pockets, so there is no need to worry about tipping, traveling tariffs, or politics.
If Uber or Lyft isn't available, use unconventional means of transportation. My friend who traveled to Egypt once told me that he asked a man off the street if he'd take them around the Great Pyramids and other significant cultural sites for a set rate. The man agreed and became a one-man tour guide and chauffeur for a whole day. He told me he'd never take taxi again when he was in Africa.
Another great option are bicycles in Europe, Tuk Tuks in India, and the El in Chicago. Don't fall for tourist traps like the San Francisco electric car or the Swiss Alps Monorails.
Side Note: Always protect your stuff on any form of public transportation abroad. Pickpocketing is a huge problem, especially for American tourists, and you don't want to have your trip end poorly.
Traveling abroad doesn't have to be as expensive as it sounds. As long as you are fine with doing a little research before and having a little patience, your next trip can be a fantastic experience you will always remember.
