Make Your Travel Dreams Come True

06/30/2021

When you think about budget travel, you might envision backpacking around the world and staying in run-down hostels where you have to share a bathroom with 20 other (probably smelly) people. That’s definitely one way to do a budget trip, but, thanks to the internet, you can find ways to skim hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars off a more comfortable trip by simply being savvy, patient, and, most importantly, planning ahead.

I’ve traveled to many international destinations, including pricier spots like Paris and Santorini, on low budgets. Remaining positive, determined, and flexible, and preparing in advance, is how I made these travel dreams come true.

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And don’t think budget travel is second best to first-class. Staying in spots like the Ritz or the W might seem like the finest way to travel, but keep in mind Anthony Bourdain’s famous words: “Be a traveler, not a tourist.” I’ve found that traveling on a budget offers far more opportunities to truly connect with the people and cultures of the locales I visit. Frugal travel can also lead to more unexpected adventures than a fancy five-star trip can ever afford. Sure, it sucks getting lost in the middle of China on a train going to you-don’t-know-where because you couldn’t afford a cab, but, hey, when you get back to the States, you’ve got a great story to tell.

Ready to pack your bags and jet-set across the world? Here are some hacks to get you there.

Get a travel-rewards credit card

You do need good credit to get a rewards card, but the two most popular cards — Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Capital One Venture Card — are worth it. (It’s important to know how to manage credit. Paying off entire statement balances each month is key.) These cards offer you a high number of bonus points that can be transferred to book air travel with any airline and a hotel stay at any hotel. I just booked a round-trip flight from L.A. to Amsterdam on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, a very nice airline, for a total of zero dollars — a $1,500 value.

Bad credit? You can still pick up a secured rewards card through U.S. Bank. The Korean Air Skypass card requires a deposit of a few hundred bucks, and then you can start using it to not only rack up travel points with Korean Air — and its many Skypass partner airlines — but also to build your credit. It’s a win-win.

Use Google Flights or Skyscanner

If you’re not familiar with Google Flights or Skyscanner, now is the time to crack open those apps. Both of these platforms allow you to search for flights whilst seeing all of the prices according to travel dates on monthly calendars. Many times, if you fly out just one day earlier or later from your preferred travel date, you can save hundreds of dollars. This does require flexible travel plans, but if you’re on a tight budget, it’s the best way to book air travel. Before I had my travel-rewards points, I booked roundtrip air travel to Barcelona from L.A. for $500 total and a flight from L.A. to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for $500.

Airbnb is still a great way to go

Much of my international travel has been made possible through Airbnb. If you’re traveling with a significant other or friends, you can just split a whole apartment, which saves a lot of money. If you’re traveling solo, you can pick a cozier spot, like a studio, or share an apartment with a local. I shared an apartment on the aforementioned trip to Barcelona for an entire month when I was on a budget and working remotely. It wasn’t a fancy spot, but it was still clean, comfortable, right next to Park Güell, and it came with an amazing Catalan roommate. Not only was I able to stay in one of the top international destinations on the globe for less than half the price of an apartment in my hometown of Los Angeles, but I was able to connect with a real local who helped familiarize me with the best the city had to offer.

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And given that food is one of the biggest costs while traveling, having a kitchen where you can cook will save you tons of cash. It also allows for leisurely, relaxed mornings where you can avoid crowds and just relish in some downtime before heading out to see the sights. It’s also great to visit the local grocery stores to really absorb the local vibes.

To really capitalize on Airbnb, you want to plan ahead as much as possible. For my upcoming trip to the Amalfi Coast (revenge travel at its finest), I booked a charming two-bedroom apartment in Amalfi with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Italian Mediterranean — and it cost me a total of $180 a night. Not bad. The catch? I booked the place two months in advance. This is key to finding a great deal.

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Use Booking.com and Expedia for hotel booking

You can use any site that’s similar to book a hotel. I stayed in the most darling boutique hotel in Montmartre, Paris, for $70 a night a few years back, cheaper than a stay in a Motel 6 in any part of my Southern California homeland. The room came with a free, delicious French breakfast, was right next to the Moulin Rouge and the hotel had this wonderful little café with live music in the evening. Plus, it had a killer name: Le Chat Noir.

When I planned a trip to the Greek island Santorini in 2019, I spent a good three hours scouring Booking.com to find a room in the iconic — and stupidly pricey — village of Oia. Most of the rooms were priced at around $500 a night, but I refused to believe I couldn’t find something more reasonable. I hunted and hunted and finally found a room for $70 a night. It was tiny — super-tiny — but who cares? This charming boutique hotel was right on the water. I was able to sip champagne from my little balcony and watch a gorgeous deep-orange-red sun sink into the glittery Aegean sea at sundown, a truly priceless experience.

Skip the city centers

If you’re staying in a huge international city, or a U.S. city like New York, San Fran, or Chicago, you don’t have to stay right smack in the center to have a great time. Try some neighborhoods just outside of the center to save some money. This is especially smart when a city has a great public-transportation system that’s easy to navigate. When I visited Greece on a budget, I stayed in a gritty, punk, quasi-anarchist but super-cool, very reasonable neighborhood called Exarcheia that had awesome street art, cool used bookstores, a show by Alice in Chains, and an honest subculture vibe that was both charming and, well, just plain cool. It wasn’t full of tourists, and, as a result, I saved money, caught some awesome shots for the Gram, and truly experienced the local. One hop on public transport took me to all the tourist traps like the Acropolis and the city’s main square.

Splurge on street food and city markets

Sure, you can throw down a small fortune to hit up a three-Michelin-star restaurant while you’re on the road, but some of the best food I’ve had while traveling has cost less than a dollar — and I’m not exaggerating. This one hunk of spanakopita I got off a cart in Exarcheia was hands down my favorite bite of all time (yes, I keep a list). You can search out the hot spots for street food through places like Tripadvisor, or through a Google search or Reddit, but part of the fun is just stumbling on spots as you encounter them. Another delicious alternative to sit-down restaurants are city markets, like the Mercato Centrale in Florence and the Nang Leong Market in Bangkok, Thailand. If you cook yourself some eggs or pour some cereal for breakfast, hit up a street cart for lunch, and then do a moderately priced dinner, you can set your per-diem food budget on the low side without sacrificing any deliciousness.

Facebook is your friend

For all its evils, Facebook is a great way to connect with locals and travelers in cities, especially smaller destinations in more off-the-beaten-path countries, like those in the Caucasus. I immediately picked up a crew of friends in Yerevan, Armenia, of all places, through an eco-touring company (that was just two gals who became close friends, plus their guy friend who had a van), and we had wonderful, hilarious, amazing experiences together exploring local haunts and the natural wonders of the country. The non-tourist spots are often far cheaper than the touristy ones, so this is a great way to not only save money but really soak up the culture of wherever you visit.

In Chiang Mai, when a Facebook group posted about a free, five-day meditation retreat that culminated in a Yee Peng (the famous flying-lantern holiday) celebration happening in a small village outside the city, I went. The huge, famous celebration in the city center with a $100 entrance fee was sold out. That retreat was one of the most profound and precious experiences of my entire life, and releasing those lanterns into the sky alongside Thai villagers instead of Western tourists was the ultimate honor.

Plan your transportation ahead

The fastest way to blow through your per-diem travel budget is through emergency cabs. I’ve done this so many times, and usually it’s because I’m running tight on time to catch a flight or ferry ride or train due to poor planning. Many destinations, especially cities, have robust public-transportation systems that can save you hundreds of dollars in cab and Uber fees if you just plan ahead and time things right.

Google Maps is a lifesaver whilst traveling, and the navigator is great, but see how much transportation research you can do before you land in your destination. Sometimes renting a car for $40 a day will prove far more economical than taking cab after cab or Uber after Uber in a large city that has poor public transportation.

If you’re really tight on funds but want to travel anywhere, pick a destination that’s set up with excellent public transportation.

March to the beat of your own traveler

You don’t have to visit tourist-overrun hot spots just because everyone else is doing it — you can get creative and consider destinations that aren’t super-popular and expensive just yet. In the late ’90s and early aughts, Prague — a stunning city full of baroque architecture and 30-cent beers — was all the rage for college students and budget travelers. In the mid-aughts, Turkey took off. In 2017, The New York Times listed Mexico City as the destination of the year. Now, a lot of American wanderlusters and digital nomads are buzzing about the Balkans.

But why not think outside the box and start your own trend? Reflect a bit on what you’d like to do and see and eat, and what brings you joy. Think of someplace unexpected, and take the plunge. And if you need some help, consider the Caucasus. Georgia — the country, not the state — is heating up in popularity among internationals. Specifically, Tbilisi, the capital. Consider a trek there, because life is short and revenge travel is very real, and don’t forget to take a big, memorable bite out of Georgia’s signature dish, khachapuri.

Tracy Chabala is the Lifestyle Editor at Shondaland.Get Shondaland directly in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TODAY

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