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So often, dreams of traveling the world die a quick death because we don’t think we can afford it. Well, we may be wrong.
Here are Henrik’s top tips for traveling the world on a shoestring, in his own words.
1. Use Couchsurfing
Accommodation is the most expensive thing when it comes to travelling. On Couchsurfing, there are millions of people, even in remote villages, who will host you for free. I’ve only had good experiences, but definitely check the feedback of other travellers carefully before selecting places to stay and don’t select places with no reviews. Couchsurfing is a way for locals and travellers to meet. The key thing is to plan ahead of time.
2. Block book on low-cost airlines
Book a lot of tickets when low-cost airlines have promotions, and you can get to a lot of countries on a low budget. Sign up for their newsletters (I created a new email address just for this purpose) to get notified. My favorite is probably Air Asia, which has fares as low as 35 pounds between Malaysia and Australia and 2 pounds for domestic flights in Malaysia. Keep an eye on promotions from the following airlines: Ryanair, Easyjet, AirArabia, Spirit Airlines, AirAsia, Tiger Airways, Jetstar, JetBlue in the US and Fastjet in Africa.
3. Low-Cost Buses
If you are prepared to travel the world, then you are probably ready to sit on a bus. Low-cost bus travel is the new big thing. If you book ahead of time you can travel between major American cities for only a dollar. Look for Megabus, Boltbus, and Greyhound Express. I also used low-cost buses to go between some of the major European cities. Although planes and trains generally are more comfortable, some bus companies get it right. Many have free Wi-Fi and power on the buses, so you can sit and plan your travels comfortably.
4. Travel light
Don’t ever check in a bag. It takes time and more importantly, money. On low cost airlines, you will in many cases pay more to check in your bag than for the ticket itself. Plus, it’s easier to get around with a smaller bag! You can wash clothes where you are staying or buy new clothes while travelling instead of bringing a lot to start with.
5. Get a great idea and start a blog
This tip can be very time-consuming, but if you have a great idea for a travel project it can really pay off. My idea to visit every country before I turned 30 made it possible to get sponsorship with more than 100 airlines, which made a big difference in being able to visit every country. Growing your social media followers will also be important. A blog with a decent following can be used as a way to get discounts on hotels and with tour operators.
6. Avoid restaurants
Tourists vacationing once a year can eat at restaurants, but someone travelling every day on a budget cannot. In many countries, it’s possible to have a proper meal at the supermarket for less than a dollar. It can get a little boring, but if you’re friendly, locals may invite you for dinner here and there, which helps – and is a great way to taste the real local food!
7. Follow the deals…on Twitter
8. Hitchhike…in safe places
It is controversial to suggest, and you probably should not do it in big cities. I was scared of hitchhiking, to begin with, you should start in destinations where hitchhiking is part of the culture. In the many Caribbean and Pacific Islands, it is normal and easy to get a ride. Completely free of charge. That’s a great way to save money instead of taking expensive taxis. New Zealand is one of the only Western countries where it is considered normal, and it’s a great place to start if you are skeptical about it. I’ve hitched more than 1,000 rides and never had an issue.
9. Be creative when it comes to visas
When you begin to travel to less-well-travelled countries, such as in Africa, it is important to be creative with visas. My number one tip is to get the visas on the road instead of in your home country, although there are exceptions. In many cases, you can get a visa in a neighbouring country in Africa with no requirements, as long as you can pay the visa fee. In Europe, embassies often have a long checklist, including hard-to-get invitation letters and several other papers to get to visit their country, which can get more expensive. I recommend visiting Morocco as the first stop on a tour of Africa. In Rabat, you can get visas for many African countries easily and in very short time.
10. Points and miles
Be sure to sign up for the loyalty programs of one airline in Star Alliance and One World. Even if you do not fly as much, you can still earn a lot of money on online shopping, car rentals and of course hotel stays. Americans should have an eye on the lucrative sign-up bonuses airlines and hotels have for their branded credit cards.
Source: gogobot.com