Do you like traveling but there is not much money in your pocket? Are you unable to extricate yourself from the thousand tips and the infinite
low cost offers on the web? Do you think traveling in DIY mode is something suitable only for people always with a backpack? Nothing could be more false! Take a deep breath and carefully read these 10 tips for cheap DIY travel : you will find out how to do it in a very simple way. So, are you ready to go?
1st Tip: Low season
Maybe it's a foregone tip, but it is good to reiterate it because it is essential to undertake beautiful trips spending less than expected: travel in low season ! Air flights and stays cost significantly less and, sometimes, there are also discounts.
Mind you: not in all countries the low season coincides with ours (for example August in Mauritius is very low), so know how to further exploit this thing in your favor. Having said all this, never forget this fundamental rule of the good low cost traveler.
2nd Tip: book with savings
Let's explain better. Obviously book where to sleep, at least the first night, but the rest of the stay is not. You are wondering why. In some countries, such as those in South America, it is much cheaper to book the following nights directly on the spot , also obtaining discounts by negotiating the price with the locals. But if it is unthinkable for you to leave without having the certainty of where to sleep, then contact the facility directly , without going through any type of intermediary. It is less expensive to do it either a few months before or a couple of days before departure: it is easier to get discounts on the price.
3rd tip: pay in cash and negotiate
If possible, pay cash . Very often it allows you to have additional discounts, such as in Ecuador or the Seychelles. In the US, however, unfortunately not (therefore useless to try). And then bargain , bargain, bargain! In some countries it is a real must, as for example in the Maghreb area.
4th Tip: use the guides
Ok do it yourself, but relying on good guides is certainly not bad and can also facilitate you in the cheapest choices! Lonely Planet , a must, is normally very faithful to reality (with very few exceptions). Rough or Routard are also excellent guides . Don't forget to take a peek at Tripadvisor ratings too .
5th tip: eat smart
Try to buy or in large supermarkets or in small markets (and contract). You will certainly spend much less than shopping in local shops or minimarkets (this applies everywhere!). As for restaurants , try to avoid those for tourists and experience the places frequented by locals.
6th Tip: fly low cost
If you have to book a flight, use the search engines that compare the prices of the various airlines, such as Edreams or Skyscanner . Monitor the situation and the progress of the flights well and at the right time act and buy the ticket. You will save a lot of money.
7th Council: take advantage of Relocation
It can only be implemented in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada. What is it? We will explain it to you immediately and simply. When car rental companies have to move a car or camper from one city to another (perhaps because tourists have rented the car for a round trip) they offer these means to anyone who wants to rent them at bargain prices (from 1 to $ 5 a day!). In addition, in many cases they reimburse part of the fuel or pay for ferries to be used or offer other types of benefits. There are many sites that expose relocation alerts and conditions. These include Imoova, Drivenow, Transfercar, Apollo and OneWayCampervans.
8th Tip: travel safe
Before leaving for any destination, it is a good idea to check out
Viaggiare Sicuri , the Farnesina website. In this way you will be immediately informed of any ongoing epidemics, delinquency, wars, useful documents, vaccinations, visas ... You will avoid such unpleasant, and very often, onerous mistakes. You can also take advantage of the very useful " Where we are in the world " service and report your presence and in which country. As they say, prudence is never too much (especially in some areas of the planet ...).
9th Tip: visit museums and attractions during the free days
Take advantage! There are often campaigns to promote culture and art. So visit museums and attractions by taking advantage of the days with free or discounted admission . An Italian example are the Sundays organized by FAI.
10th Council: combine vacation and work / training
why not combine useful and enjoyable ? If you have to move for work, add a few days of stay to your stay to discover and admire the beauty, culture and food of the place. Or you could find a training course, a particular experience, a certification that interests you and combine it with a holiday. Some examples could be an English course in Ireland with exploration of the country, or a Yoga training in India with relative discovery of local traditions, a training course for the company to which to attach a relaxing weekend and visits. Be smart and exploited the most of all opportunities .
