Travelling is one of those things that I'm kind of addicted to. It's not so much about saying I travel than it is about learning new things and experiencing new cultures. I have found ways to travel on a budget and even work part-time for a travel company to fund some excursions.
This summer alone, I had the opportunity to travel to Iceland, Greece, Cuba, The United States (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nashville), and Canada (New Brunswick). I assume you're thinking, "Michelle, that costs a heck ton of money and I'm broke." Well, below you will find some of my personal travel hacks to see the world without breaking the bank.
Note: Not every hack works for all locations and everyone travels differently, but these tend to work for me.
1) Take a Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus
No, it's not cheating to take a bus tour throughout the city. Yes, you may see some of the most touristy things, but one, you can cross those items off your list, and two, it acts
as a free bus pass for the day. Most Hop-On-Hop-Off buses give you a map of sights in the area and stops along the way where the bus will pick you up. Everywhere I travel, the bus tour is a must and they usually start at roughly $50 and come with discounts for other attractions.
In Cleveland, Ohio, my sister and I took a tour on the Funny Bus, a bus that takes you around Cleveland to show the sights, while also having an on-board comedy show. I most definitely recommend.
The image on the left was taken in Cleveland, OH.
2) Sign Up for Meal Deals
While this hack is mainly for the USA (and their plentiful fast food options), it can also work in other countries. Before I started travelling in the USA, I made an email called "michelleeatsfree@..." I signed up for all the fast food restaurant reward programs, which usually come with a free birthday surprise. Set your birthday to two weeks before you travel to make sure you get the freebies in your inbox.
3) Fast Food Alternative
If fast food isn't your cup of tea (which to be fair I should eat less of as well), then a trip to local grocery stores will save you a lot of money. Rather than ordering food in or going to restaurants every night, a quick grocery trip is an easy way to save money.
Personally, I love going to grocery stores in foreign countries because you get to see new foods, different brands, and even crazy versions of food you have at home. For example, in Iceland I found protein pudding (which slapped hard), and in Greece I found Nesquick Banana flavoured cereal. Let's just say, I was in heaven!
4) Drive If You Can
Hot take; driving anywhere is better than taking a plane. Not only is the price of gas usually cheaper than a plane ticket (shout out to my hybrid car), but you also have the freedom to stop at spots along the way, drive around the city instead of relying on public transportation, and you can always camp in your car at a campsite instead of paying for a hotel one night. Yes, it is not always convenient to drive long distances, but if you have the time, I recommend.
If you can't drive yet, or don't have a vehicle, I suggest looking into airlines like Swoop, Flair, and Lynx. I was able to fly to New Brunswick for $40, a definite win on my end.
The photo above was taken in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Here are 4 of my travel tips for cheap vacations. If you want more, let me know! I love sharing my hints with you all.
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