Traveling is my favorite thing to do. I not only enjoy experiencing new places, I absolutely love the planning process, too. You can learn an incredible amount through travel, and I think it’s ultimately one of the most rewarding ways to spend your time and money.
Now, with that said, I also know there are plenty of reasons that people choose not to travel. Expenses, difficulty getting time off work, and (what can be) an overwhelming planning process are just a few of those reasons. Luckily there are plenty of resources available these days that help the average person (just like me) accomplish their travel dreams, keeping in mind these limitations!
I put together 3 common misconceptions you may have about traveling, and have provided some resources that (I hope) will help you get exploring! Note: these are not sponsored resources. All opinions are my own!
Misconception #1: You need to be rich to travel.
Sure, travel can be expensive. No doubt about that! But if you make traveling a priority, and need to do it on a budget, there are ways to make it happen.
Consider investing in a credit card with travel benefits.
Some will offer pretty big points bonuses if you spend a certain amount in your first month or two. Tucker and I invested in a credit card like this shortly before we were due to make some big purchases…we earned the 50,000 points bonus, and between that and our regularly monthly purchases, ten of our 13 nights of hotel stays in Europe last year were covered! Just for buying things that we needed to purchase anyway.
Flights can be one of the most expensive parts of travel.
The nuanced airline industry with ever-changing flight prices makes it difficult to know whether or not you’re actually getting a good deal on your airfare. Enter: Scott’s Cheap Flights. In a nutshell, Scott’s Cheap Flights scours the internet looking for cheap flight deals. For free (or for a minimal fee for the premium subscription), you can subscribe to Scott’s email list and receive notifications whenever a cheap deal arises. I jumped on a cheap flight deal from Scott’s Cheap Flights last year when I booked two round-trip, direct flight tickets to Stockholm for under $800.00. (That’s less than the cost of what one ticket would normally cost!) The cheap flights allowed us to jet set to Europe and check some more destinations off of our bucket list. Once in Europe, it was pretty inexpensive to jump on some commuter flights and hop around the continent! Scott’s Cheap Flights has enabled me to travel more often that I previously thought was possible. To learn more, visit scottscheapflights.com.
Let’s face it: cities are tourist traps.
Prices are higher on everything from food to fuel. One way that you can stay within your budget is to limit the amount of time you are spending in big cities. Add a few off-the-beaten-path locations to your itinerary as well. Hotel prices, the cost of food, and even the cost of activities decrease greatly as soon as you leave major cities. On our trip to Europe last summer, we spent several days traveling through Bavaria, staying in small towns along the way. Our hotels were a fraction of the cost of those in Stockholm, Munich, and Salzburg (all the big cities we hit along the way).
Another way to save big in the cities is by splitting your meals with your travel partner(s).
Tucker and I make a habit of trying to split plates, especially in countries where we know that portions are normally HUGE (hello, Germany). The benefit of this is that you pay half of what you would have normally paid for a meal. Worst-case scenario, if you’re still hungry after splitting a meal, then you have the chance to pick up a snack from a street vendor or a scoop of ice cream at the corner shop. Another opportunity to try local bites! Note: I do not recommend splitting your beers…because, why would you do such a thing?
Misconception #2: To have the best possible travel experience, I need to travel to far-away places.
This could not be more false. As an avid domestic and international traveler, I can say that some of the most fun trips have been ones where we are just a few hours away from home. If you’re looking to save money by staying close to home, then a road trip will be your best friend!
Look and see if there are any state or national parks within driving distance of your home.
If camping is something you’re interested in, then take the opportunity to spend some time in nature. I find that this is often a more relaxing getaway than a bustling international trip. Not to mention it is a huge cost-saver! Take a look at my post on Road Trippin’ Tips for some more ideas of how you can make the most of your time on the road.
Staycations have become a popular term as of late, and rightly so!
Living in the LA area, there are countless experiences I’ve never taken advantage of, even though they’re in my backyard. Take a look to see what opportunities are around you. Maybe you could seek out a food tour in your nearby city (these are becoming very popular, and are AWESOME experiences!), or stop into a museum or two that you haven’t seen before. Dig into the history of your area and look for clues into the decades past through architecture, monuments, or traditions. Immerse yourself in what is in your own backyard!
Misconception #3: Planning an itinerary in another country is like finding a needle in a haystack.
It’s easy to see how planning a travel itinerary can be daunting, especially considering language barriers, foreign currency, or customs that are different than your own. If you don’t enjoy the puzzle of planning a trip, I can guarantee there are plenty of others who can help!
Travel bloggers galore publish their own travel itineraries as a guide to help others have similar adventures.
A couple of my favorite blogs are Bruised Passports (whose post on The Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary in Bavaria was major inspiration for our trip to Europe last year!) and Helene In Between, who has an awesome story of moving to Germany from Texas to explore the world and blog about her experiences. Both of these bloggers post dozens of sample itineraries for trips all over the world. These can serve as a great starting point for your own travel plans. If Ireland is in your future, you can check out my post on 5 Days in Ireland (For the Adventurous Soul) as a starting point, too!
One thing I don’t recommend is relying solely on TripAdvisor reviews for your travels.
TripAdvisor has its place, but some reviews or recommended activities are sponsored or fake, and can therefore lead you in the wrong direction. Try instead to read reviews from independent bloggers or locals from the area you are traveling to. Dig a little deeper than the first google result to figure out what you really want to see!
While there is something to be said for spontaneity when you travel…
…I do highly recommend doing at least a little bit of research on each location before you arrive. Having a general idea of what the area has to offer will help you make the most of your time. I try to do a little research, or gather intel from friends and family who have visited the location, on reliable restaurants in the area. Tucker and I have gotten burned more than a few times trying to find a bite to eat late at night. Depending on the area you are in, it may not be customary to keep restaurants open late! Having restaurant options in my back pocket has been a lifesaver when we find ourselves crunched for time.
P.S. Check out my blog post about food tours and how they can help out in this area, too!
All in all, travel is what you make it. If you want a luxurious, high-end trip to a private island, that opportunity is out there. But, if you have limitations (like most normal humans do), there are ways to make travel happen within the parameters that you set. So, go ahead, dream up your ideal vacation…then use the resources around you to make it happen!
Do you have a favorite resource or tip for making travel easier? I’d love to know in the comments below!
I love this! I’ll definitely have to use these tips while trying to plan and book our flights to Australia! If you’ve been, help a sister out with some tips hahaha 🙂
Ah! Australia is on my list but I haven’t been! But hopefully these tips help with planning/your experience over there!