Can a Person Really Travel Comfortably on $50 a Day?
Can a person travel the world comfortably on $50 a day? Is it possible in all areas of the globe or just cheaper destinations like Southeast Asia, China, India, and Central America? Blogger and frequent flier, Matt Kepnes, seems to believe so. His website, NomadicMatt.com, has paid testimony to his journeys since 2008.
Now, Kepnes can add published author to his resume. His book, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter, shows the average person how to make the most of his or her budget without sacrificing comfort. As a lover of traveler myself, I had to check out this title to see what I could learn about traveling the world from it.
Here are some tips that will help you stretch your travel dollars further to help reduce your travel costs:
- Think outside the box when choosing lodging. Find a place to stay that’s safe, affordable, and fun. You can sleep in a treehouse or on a sailboat through AirBnB.com, couchsurf your way through the United States, Europe or Asia or look after a person’s home in exchange for free rent by using The Caretaker Gazette to find an area of the globe that interests you.
- Do as the locals do. Don’t be shy. Talk to the people you meet. Find out where the best deals are. They’ll be more than willing to share their insight and experiences with you. Pinpoint which restaurant or tavern has the best Happy Hour and then try something you’ve never had before. For example, no one can travel to New Orleans without eating a beignet at Café du Monde or sampling a Po’ Boy at their choice of restaurant.
- Take advantage of free or cheap entertainment. Pick up some travel brochures on your way into a city and make sure to keep your eyes open for any free festivals, concerts, art shows, and meet-ups offered during your stay. You can often find this information on a Chamber of Commerce website or social media sites like Facebook.
- Make use of discount cards and coupons. Many cities in the United States offer passes that allow you to visit a number of their most popular attractions for one fee. If you’re going to be in one area for a good amount of time, this is ideal because purchasing tickets at each and every attraction can be double or triple the cost of the pass.
- Utilize Frequent Flier offers. If you’re going to use a credit card to make purchases, find one that rewards you in miles. You can also “purchase” miles with the points that you earn through survey sites and smartphone applications.
- Also keep in mind the American Express Blue Sky Card, it is one of the best for helping you save on travel costs.
You don’t have to spend an enormous amount of money to enjoy yourself, avoid the money problems we often fall into. Follow the tips listed here and in the book, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter, and go out and discover this great big, beautiful planet of ours. The only limitation you’ll experience is your own defeatist mindset if you’re not willing to try budget traveling.
Author: Charissa
Charissa is into frugal living and saving money.
