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TRAVELING ON A BUDGET By Raquel Alicia Teran Hunter
Quote of the day
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE RICH TO TRAVEL WELL. EUGENE FODOR
Traveling the world doesn’t have to be expensive nor extravagant. Being able to see a new country, taste new foods, and get a new sense of the world is enough. The most significant barrier that many face though is they believe they lack the funds to travel. If you feel that you can’t afford to visit a new country, stop, take a breath and read this. You can travel on a budget; you just need to know how to do it. RAQUEL ALICIA TERAN HUNTER
BE FLEXIBLE If you want to get the best rate on everything for your trip, the first key is flexibility. Most airlines showcase a calendar that states the lowest price of the day for a flight. For example, if you want to travel from Miami to Chicago, you would input your travel details and then use Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar to see what days would be the cheapest to fly there. Instead of having days that you want to travel, just have a destination in mind so that you can go there when it is the cheapest. Airlines aren’t the only ones that offer lower prices for specific dates; hotels do the same. No matter how big the city is that you want to travel, every location has an off-season of some sort. For example, if you wanted to visit Italy, you will want to go during winter’s transition into spring. Rooms are cheaper to get, and you will find popular attractions less busy.
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TRAVEL LIGHT Traveling across the world or country with suitcases in hand is hard on you and even harder on your wallet. Next time you plan a trip, skip the second or even the first bag of luggage and just take a carry-on bag. Yes, that means that you can’t bring every warmweather outfit with you and yes, you will need to wash your clothes more often. But, for the convenience of just carrying a small bag on flights and buses, it is worth it. You won’t need to pay luggage fees along the way.
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TRAVEL SLOW While you want to visit every location on your list when you head to a different country, the last thing you want to do is hit every stop too fast. Ensure that you give yourself ample time to explore cities along the way so that you don’t feel rushed to head to your next destination. That way you avoid the high-speed transportation options. For example, if you were in China and wanted to go from Beijing to Shanghai, a high-speed train will cost you $140, compared to the slower option which is offered at $45. Don’t be afraid to slow down on your trip. You don’t need to visit every location that you want. Instead, visit the ones you can and save the ones you can't for the next trip.
RAQUEL ALICIA TERAN HUNTER