Category: Travel

“Have you booked our flights yet?!”

That’s Christine yelling at me as I continue to scour the Internet, falling deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, searching for the next best flight deal that never seems to come. I tell myself the perfect budget flight is just around the corner, but that was a few hours ago and I’m not having any luck.

Sound all too familiar? You’re not alone! You’re one of the millions of people every year looking to find the best flight deals for that next big adventure! You know the feeling, the more you search, the harder it becomes. But finding the perfect flight recipe doesn’t have to be that difficult. Two parts destination, a cup of designated dates, a sprinkle of preferred departure time and then liberally apply a ton of savings!

Narrowing Down the Flight Search

With the amount of flight booking websites and apps out there, it’s no surprise people are having a hard time digesting information in the quest to find cheap, flexible flight deals. Even for us, as frequent flyers and world travelers for over five years, the plethora of options can be a tad overwhelming when we begin to plan for our next big trip!

Thankfully, we’ve now been able to narrow down our search for flights to just one super handy search engine that has time and time again provided us with the cheapest flights with flexible dates.

Enter Skyscanner, Savior of the Flight Searchers, First of its Name. Guaranteed to help you find flights that suit your timing, budget and journey of discovery all in one. Originally created as a website, Skyscanner also comes in a very functional and user friendly app that makes finding that amazing flight deal even easier when you’re already on the go.

“So what’s so good about Skyscanner?”

Glad you asked! I know your time and attention is limited, because you’re preoccupied thinking about that next adventure, so I’ll jump straight into it.

Super Flexible Flight Searches

A lot of flight search engines let you toy with a few days here and there, maybe let you check for airports near your destination, but Skyscanner gives you full creative control of when and where you want to go in the world. And for us, this is one of the most important qualities when booking a trip.

When we were leaving San Francisco for Mexico, we didn’t waste any time searching for individual cities in Mexico, checking and rechecking which city was the cheapest at different dates. We simply jumped on Skyscanner, searched San Francisco Airport to ‘Mexico’ and got a listing of all the cheap flexible flights available, for all cities. This feature is awesome for finding super random cheap deals to an airport you didn’t even know existed.

What’s even better than being able to search for flexible cities? Flexible flight dates! Another awesome feature is the ability to look for the best deals within a whole month. If you’re one of those ‘go with the flow’ type travelers like us, you’ll love this! The search engine will literally pull all the available flights for that whole month and give you an easy layout to see which is cheapest. On the app you get a super simple color-coded chart on the dates. Red means too expensive, yellow is getting there and green means its time to get going!

We use this feature to find the best flight deals, and then we generally build our itinerary around that. For us it always works out to be the cheapest way to fly around the world. In 2015, when traveling through Southeast Asia we used this function a lot. It helped us save a bunch on flights from Vietnam to the Philippines by being open about when we could fly.

Added Inspiration and Adventure

Feeling extra adventurous and spontaneous? Take advantage of the ‘Search Everywhere’ function where you can literally pull the best round the world flight deals straight to your phone or computer. Simply enter your departure airport, search dates (specific days or month) and away you go!

The results will rank the countries by cheapest available flight within the month or date. You just pick which place you want to go and Skyscanner will show you which cities and dates are the cheapest. This flexibility definitely adds an element of excitement to the whole trip planning journey. The idea that you could just pack up and hit the road on a killer deal within the week really gets us excited about travel.

In the Skyscanner app, this is made even easier with the Top Deals feature. They’ll find the best low cost flights based off your closest airport and send a notification directly to your phone. All you have to do is kick back and get inspired for that next exciting trip.

Warning, this feature is bound to induce wild impulsive flights to exciting new places you’ve never even heard of. We take full responsibility for the amount of awesome times you’ll have!

Personalize Your Flight Search

A great way to utilize all the best features of Skyscanner is to download the app, set up some price alerts and let the app do the rest. Planning on a holiday this summer but don’t want to search for cheap flights to Europe every day? Finally headed on that backpacking trip around Central America and want the cheapest deals? Tell Skyscanner and they’ll look after you, sending out notifications to your phone whenever your ideal flight pops up on their searches. You can now spend more time kicking it by the pool instead of checking your phone.

Price alerts are not only convenient, but they’re exciting! It’s like receiving a message from someone saying ‘time to go see the world’, and we couldn’t agree more!

To start your next adventure, jump onto Skyscanner and start planning your trip today! Or grab the app and get lost in the deals in the next boring office meeting you have to attend.

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Disclosure: We love Skyscanner, and not just because they’ve helped sponsor this post, but because for years they’ve been our number one go to search engine for booking budget flights. We would never promote a company we didn’t fully trust, support and use ourselves. It’s just happens that they support us as well!

As long term travelers we’ve learned to become pretty good at finding the best resources to make traveling the world easier, cheaper and more fun. Not only because it’s our job, but because we’re always looking for ways to help the traveling community maximize their time, money and experiences.

Below you’ll find a list of our best resources for independent travel. From booking the cheapest flights and best hostel deals, to finding authentic travel experiences through food and friends.

Travel Resources for Finding Flights

Scott’s Cheap Flights – Gone are the days of searching high and low for that extra special flight deal. Now, let Scott’s Cheap Flights do the work for you! This email subscription based service scourers the internet for all the best deals, fair errors and all round bargains for your next trip. Save up to 90% on flights with this simple to use service.

All you have to do is make an account, pick the departure airports that you’ll be leaving from and Scott’s Cheap Flights does the rest. To make the most of this service you really want to get a Premium Membership, which gives you access to the best premium deals and only costs $49USD a year. And we can guarantee it’ll save you WAY more than that with just one flight deal. Still unsure, take a 14 day free trial of Premium Membership to try it out first.

SecretFlying – Shhh, don’t tell too many people. This site is amazing! Granted, you need to have pretty flexible plans, but if you can find a flight that works for your trip you’ll save TONS of money. Or maybe you’re just looking for a spontaneous getaway? SecretFlying is a site dedicated to finding airline discounts, errors or glitches in the system where ridiculously cheap flights become available. We’re talking New York to the Cayman Islands for $260USD return! There are hundreds of amazing deals on their site, so poke around and be sure to thank us later!

SkyScanner – Similar to Kayak and other flight search engines, but so many more features. We love SkyScanner because they really give you amazing flexibility in your searches. Set your departing airport and search for countries instead of specific airports, or try your luck at their ‘Everywhere’ function that will find you the cheapest spots to fly all over the world. If your dates are flexible you can also search for a month, as opposed to Kayak’s five day flexi search.

Best Travel Websites for Accommodation

HostelWorld – Not only are hostels a super sociable way to meet new traveling companions, but they’re also one of the cheapest places to stay. HostelWorld has a massive database of hostels all over the world, with ratings and reviews for you to find your perfect match. And don’t just associate hostels with grungy shared rooms and cold showers, in the last few years hostels have really taken a turn for the better. Look out for boutique hostels, with all the social perks of a hostel and the home comforts of a hotel.

TrustedHousesitters – Want to stay in beautiful houses for free? Yep, you heard us correctly… FREE! TrustedHousesitters is an awesome website that helps you connect with hosts looking for eager housesitters to take care of their home (and sometimes their adorable pets) while they’re away. From fancy French chateaus to Aussie beach houses, there’s everything and anything in between just waiting for you!

CouchSurfing – Kind of like the Facebook for hospitality exchange, this social networking platform allows you to find hosts generously offering up their place to travelers. The Couchsurfing community is an amazing way to meet likeminded travelers, share experiences and gain new cultural insights. It shouldn’t be used as a free accommodation opportunity, but it’s a nice perk to go along with making new friends. We’ve used Couchsurfing numerous times in the past and always had incredible experiences: from finding new surfing buddies in Mexico to hosting travelers down the Great Ocean Road in Australia.

AirBnB – A great alternative if you long for your own place and want to take a break from hostel or hotel life. You’ll get the luxuries and comforts of your own place, which is perfect for really experiencing somewhere like a local. You can find anything from a shared room in someone’s house, to your own private villa. Want to try it out? Click here and receive $30USD towards your first stay!

HotelsCombined – If you are looking to mix it up for a night or two in some more luxurious locations we recommend checking out HotelsCombined for the best deals. HotelsCombined is a comprehensive search engine (kind of like Google for accommodation) that’ll track down the best deals on hostels, guesthouses, hotels, resorts and everything else you need to make your stay enjoyable. Another good site similar to HotelsCombined, especially if you’re around Asia, is Agoda. 

WayToStay – Similar to AirBnB, but specific to Europe. And because it’s by Europe, for Europe, you’ve got some really great accommodation options available. Find amazing deals on apartments, especially if you’re traveling with a few friends and can split a place. Why both jamming into a crammed hostel dorm in Barcelona for 30 Euro each when you can rent your own place for pretty much the same price! Plus you’ll feel like a baller with your own apartment to chill in!

Yotel/ YotelAIR – Yotel is the place to stay if you’re visiting a city and want to be keep things budget friendly while avoiding hostels. These space efficient hotels remove the “unnecessary extras” that hotels add on as an excuse to mark up prices. With features like adjustable smart beds that fold up into a couch, under the bed luggage storage and entertainment console built directly into the wall, no space is left unused here. Still, the rooms somehow feel spacious. Yotel offers competitive rates in cities like New York, San Francisco, Singapore and Boston, all notoriously expensive for hotels. YotelAIR, their airport hotels, are located in London, Amsterdam and Paris. I stayed at their London Heathrow hotel for an overnight layover and absolutely loved my room. With a big comfy bed, rainforest shower head and flatscreen TV, I could forget that I was in an airport and feel like I was in a luxury London hotel.

Best Tech Sites and Apps for Travel

Let’s be real… we’re living in a pretty tech heavy era! So it’s no surprise that the travel industry has also seen the impact of increased technology and how travelers interact with it. You’d be hard pressed to find a hostel in the middle of Peru that didn’t have wifi, so more and more travelers are staying connected while on the road.

Plus, with the growth of remote working while traveling, now we’re seeing even more people ditch their 9-5 office cubicle for a beach side bungalow in Bali… if they can. Here is a list of our favorite tech websites and apps to help make your travels smoother.

NordVPN – Did you know that some countries around the world the government ban websites like Facebook, as well as apps like Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram? Yep, true story! Unfortunately not all countries enjoy the civil liberties of the West, and Internet censorship can be a real pain to stay in touch with friends and family back home.

Not only that, but all your Internet activity and data can be open for other people to track, monitor and use for their own personal gain. It’s pretty messed up! Thankfully for you there are services called VPNs (virtual private networks ) that allow you to bypass the tracking and restrictions by tricking the Internet to make it think you’re someone else. It’s more technical than that, but all you need to know is that it works GREAT! NordVPN is an awesome app/program that you can use on your computer, phone and tablet to make sure you can always access blocked websites and keep your data private and secure!

Car Services

RVshare – If you’ve ever dreamt of cruising around the United States in an RV, you can finally make that dream come true. Before you invest in purchasing one, try renting a van or RV to see how you like life on the road. RVShare is the largest, most trusted and wide-ranging inventory in peer-to-peer RV rentals. If you’re thinking about going on a road trip, camping, or renting an RV for a special event, RVshare makes the whole process simple and fun. They have a good selection of quality vehicles so you don’t have to worry about getting any lemons! From large vans to full service homes on wheels, you can choose exactly whichever fits your travel style best.

Other Awesome Travel Resources

World Nomads Travel Insurance – When it comes to traveling the world, or traveling your own backyard, never leave home without travel insurance. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind, and an even smaller price to pay if you end up having to need it. That’s why we choose, use and recommend World Nomads travel insurance for all your travel trips. Not only do they provide the most competitive prices, but they also understand traveler’s needs.

In 2014 when we accidentally ‘misplaced’ our camera at an Indonesia airport it was travel insurance that saved the day and helped replace it. Even though we had never used it in the past, that moment right there paid for all the years that we’d been paying for it. If you’re traveling with computers or expensive cameras it really isn’t worth the risk to go without insurance, not to mention having to pay out of pocket for any unfortunate trips to the hospital.

BonAppetour – Similar style platform to AirBnB, but with food! Don’t spend hours pouring over Yelp reviews and TripAdvisor forums for the best local restaurants when they’re all conveniently compiled right here for you. And what better way to experience the connection of food and culture then by visiting a locals own house for a home cooked meal! Want to give it a shot? Click here to get $15 credit towards your first BonAppetour experience!

iVisa Passport and Visa Services – Don’t get caught out without a visa when arriving in a new country, or it might be the shortest holiday you’ve ever had. Whether you’re looking for visa information, or looking to organize a visa, iVisa is the perfect resource to get you started. Simply search from whatever country you’re from, to whatever country you’re going, and find all the information you need!

Don’t Forget To Move would like to disclose that some of the links on this page help provide a little financial support to our site, at absolutely no extra cost to you. We would never endorse a product or service that we didn’t fully support or use ourselves, that’s our guarantee. If you’d like to help our site even more, please come and check out our Support Our Blog page with further details.

The following is a guest post by fellow travel blogger, Jess Signet from Tripelio. 

Traveling is one of the most incredible experiences you can have in your life. That’s an undeniable and largely unquestioned fact. However, it’s also fair to say that when traveling it’s easy to miss some of your favorite home comforts. When moving around constantly and staying in hostels, your “home life” can become quite impersonal and formulaic. However, this can easily be remedied with a few simple changes to turn your backpacking hostel into a home away from home. Whether you’re in the middle of Thailand or traveling through the United States, these tips will help you to feel right at home in your hostel no matter what country you’re in.

Build A Home Cinema System

Let’s face it, one of the greatest home comforts that there is, is snuggling up in your pajamas with your duvet and settling down for a movie marathon. Even when traveling, there are some nights where you don’t want to go out and would rather just snuggle in. Unfortunately, many hostels aren’t equipped with lounge areas, and the ones that are usually don’t have a TV—especially not a TV with all your favorite shows and movies on.

Luckily, there is a solution, and it doesn’t involve lugging around all your favorite DVDs and home cinema system. All you have to do is grab your phone, tablet, laptop or whatever piece of technology you have brought with you, and find a cozy corner. This can be in the hostel lounge, dining room or even just your own bed. Curl up, log on to Netflix or another of your favorite streaming sites, plug in your headphones and shut the world out.

Check out our recommendations for the best travel movies streaming on Netflix.

So maybe it’s not the same as surround sound and a widescreen, but it’ll definitely help make those lazy days in the hostel a little bit easier to cope with. However, be sure to remember to use a VPN when using Netflix abroad as much of its content is geo-blocked so you might not be able to access your favorite shows.

Personalize Your Hostel Bed

When hostelling, your bed is basically your only private space. Unfortunately, many hostel beds can leave a lot to desire in terms of comfort and coziness. However, it’s an undeniable fact that if you personalize your bed space, you’ll automatically feel more at home. This can be done easily no matter how lightly and heavily you’re traveling. Whether you’re bringing your own blankets and pillows, or double up scarfs, cuddly jumpers and travel cushions to create a makeshift bed of your dreams!

If you’re traveling with non-digital photos (you know the kind you print!) you can even stick them up if you want to really go for it. Sure, other hostels users might think you’re a tad crazy, but the familiarity and comfort that it will bring you when you return from a long day out and settle down for bed is unmatchable and totally worth it.

Get to Know Your New “Family”

One of the best ways to feel at home in a hostel is to make friends with the people around you. Many of us are guilty of just checking in and then spending all our time there doing our own thing and ignoring our neighbors, aside from the occasional “hi” when you pass each other in the breakfast room. Hostels are a great place to meet a whole range of interesting people, and once you feel comfortable with those around you, you automatically feel more comfortable in your environment.

This also refers to the hostel staff. More often than not, people who work in hostels do so because they’re friendly, interesting people who love to travel as much as their guests. Make friends with them, and you’re sure to get some great tips and hear some interesting stories, as well as maybe even wrangle another scoop of cereal out of them at breakfast time. Plus, once you’ve formed relationships when traveling, you never know where in the world you’ll meet up with them again.

Make Yourself a Home Cooked Meal

Lots of hostels have kitchen facilities, and more often than not, we don’t go near them. It’s easier to grab a bite to eat from the restaurant across the road or the local takeaway than actually prepare your own. However, nothing christens a new home better than making and sharing a lovingly cooked meal in its kitchen (just don’t leave a mess and be one of ‘those’ hostel people). It’s surprising how much performing every day tasks such as cooking can make somewhere feel like home.

You could even splurge on extra ingredients, cook a massive pot and share the food with other guests. This is a great way to make friends, get conversations going and maybe even get some help with the washing up! It can even be made into a full days activity, starting off by spending the morning browsing the local market and getting tips and recipes for making the local cuisine before heading back to your home away from home and cooking up a feast.

Choose the Right Hostel

Finally, not all hostels are equal. Every hostel has a uniquely different feel to it and this overall atmosphere goes a long way to determine whether you feel comfortable there or not. When booking your hostel, try to get an idea of what you want. Some people aim for social, party hostels, equipped with bar and resident bar crawl tour; whereas others want peace and quiet and more family-friendly fun. Even the difference in decoration and aesthetic style is important when deciding which to choose.

By identifying what you want, and what is important to you in order to feel at home, you can do your research and pick the perfect hostel for you to stay in. Doing this also increases the chance that you’ll make some close friendships during your stay as many guests will have done the same thing and therefore will be extremely likeminded. There’s no better way to feel at home than to find a place that you feel comfortable in, with people who you genuinely get along with.

How else do you make a hostel feel like home?

It’s certainly true that no hostel will ever feel completely like your home, but with these few easy steps, you can certainly go a long way to improving the situation. Every traveler is susceptible to a bout of homesickness now and again, so having a few tactics to relieve that is always a wise thing to do. If you have any more tips on how to make a hostel feel like home, then be sure to comment below and share them with the world!

Throughout the evolution of travel the term ‘get off the beaten track’ has become synonymous with the idealistic wanderer who desperately craves a new perspective on the already over worn tourist trails. Perhaps they’ve watched movies like Into The Wild and The Beach a few too many times, longing for that special place in the world that hasn’t yet been ruined by tacky bars and cheap knock off sunglasses. Or maybe they want to be the first person to explore an exciting new destination, before hostels and hotels open up the market to the hordes of vacationers and holiday goers.

It’s no wonder that phrases such as ‘get off the beaten track’ and ‘off the grid travel’ have become so appealing to travelers that look to the world as a place of mystery and discovery. The sense of desperation to claim these hidden hideouts has also been accelerated in our ever increasingly small and interconnected world. Every year untouched and untainted locations are becoming more difficult to find and even more expensive to travel to as people push the boundaries to find their own personal paradise.

But finding a spot that’s truly off the tourist trail is a lot more difficult than it sounds. You can’t simply jump on a random bus in El Salvador or Cambodia and let it take you out to the middle of nowhere unless you have some idea of what lies ahead. Particularly in some of the sketchier places around the world you always need to consider your own personal safety first. So with that in mind here’s a look at how to really get off the beaten track on your next trip!

Do Your Homework

Yes it’s probably true that if it’s written in a guidebook, or posted all over travel blogs, that the location isn’t as secluded as you’d like, but it pays to get a wide selection of opinions. There is plenty of information that can still lead you to a quiet corner of the world without worrying too much about an overflow of ambitious travelers following the same advice. With the abundance of travel blogs out there these days, try to throw the little guys a bone and search deeper than the first Google page. Chances are you’ll find some bright up-and-comer who’s discovered the next best thing.

Hire/Buy a Motorbike or Car

By far the best adventures we have had on this trip come from our travels via motorbike. Whether it’s renting bikes to get around the island of Phuket, cruising through the Cambodian countryside or buying a bike in the Philippines to tour the whole country beach by beach. Being able to stop when you want to stop, for as long as you want to stay, really increases your level of freedom on the road. With the right research and information you can find all those spots that only locals get to, or that travelers can’t access because tourist transport doesn’t service the area. Plus, it can save you a lot of money in transport costs if you hire your own bike for a day and hit up a bunch of different spots.

Travel Slow

The beauty of slow travel might not appeal to everyone, but when you’ve got the time it’s the best way to get off the beaten track. Most people who have limited time choose the top tourist spots, so they rarely have time to explore their wider surrounding. And rightly so if you’ve got a tight schedule. If you were only in Cambodia for a week then you’d prioritize Angkor Wat over little Banlung. However, if you were there any longer I’d say definitely pencil it in. All around the world there are hidden locations on the fringe of major tourist attractions just waiting to be explored. Traveling slow also gives you more time to do your research and find the best/cheapest ways to get out to the locations you want to explore.

Make Friends With Locals

Part of traveling slow also gives you the added opportunity to lay a few extra roots in each spot that you stay. In doing so you get the chance to meet locals that know their country’s secret spots better than anyone. Not only will they give you the local perspective on these places, but you’ll also learn a lot more about the culture and history of the country you’re staying in. Local friends are also great because they have the hook ups for places to stay and eat in area that have yet to be saturated with tourists. And they speak the local language, so it’s always easier to travel with them. Broaden your horizons away from the standard backpacker crowd, there are so many awesome new local friends out there waiting to meet you!

Learn the Language

This is a little easier said than done, especially if you’re off to somewhere completely linguistically different to your native tongue; like Vietnam or Indonesia for an English speaker. But give it a shot, learning a bit of the language will definitely help you navigate local transport and negotiate good deals on places to stay and eat. Cuba would not have been the same for us without being able to speak some moderate Spanish, and we’ve heard others struggle to escape the delicately mapped out tourist route without having a few more words than ‘dos cervezas, por favor’. Do a quick Google search for the top phrases, write them down in a notebook and then take them out to practice for a day. You’ll be speaking like a local in no time… sort of!

There are always more ways to get off the beaten track if you’re willing to sacrifice a little more. Sometimes you’ll have to be prepared to ditch the modern day comforts of hot showered hostels and breakfast-included backpackers, but you’ll unlock the true meaning of exploration and discovery as you find the locations that inspire a new generation of travelers.

How do you get off the beaten track?

Deep down, most people have the desire to travel. Often it’s pushed into the distant future, a romantic thought for “someday” seeing the world. But by waiting until retirement, you’re wasting valuable travel time! Why wait until old age when you can begin creating a lifetime of memories around the world? We’ve rounded up our top 30 reasons to backpack the world to convince you that there are more reasons to travel than there are excuses not to. Caution: this list may induce rapid job quitting and spontaneous flight bookings!

30.

Soak in a new culture and learn all about the fascinating and interesting difference lifestyles on this Earth! Easily one of the top reasons to backpack the world. The longer you can spend in a country the better you’ll understand it.

29.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone. This might be diving off a 10 meter waterfall, swimming with sharks, or taking a chance on that dodgy looking Mexican ferris wheel. Challenge yourself and see how brave you are!

28.

Make new friends from around the world. You’ll always have a couch to sleep on for that next big trip.

27.

To be thankful for everything you have back home, no matter how big or small. Also to appreciate just how lucky you are if you have the option to travel.

26.

Learn new things about yourself. There’s a lot of inner strength inside just waiting to be tapped.

25.

Sit on a bus for over 24 hours just to save $20. It’s an experience that’s for sure. Also a great way to see how the locals travel. In some countries be prepared for inappropriate action movies played 6 times on repeat.

24.

Live the life of a hardcore budget backpacker by sleeping in an airport for a night. You’ll never appreciate a shitty hostel bed more the next day.

23.

Spend more time doing what you love. If you love surfing, find a beach with killer waves and post up for a month. If it’s yoga, check out a peaceful countryside retreat.

22.

Address that deep yearning you’ve had to see the world. Make your dreams a reality and don’t wait for the future. You never know what might change, so take the opportunity while you can!

21.

Sample beer from all over the world! Or rum, or wine, or whatever gets the job done. You get the point!

20.

Volunteer some of your expertise to a worthy cause that can genuinely benefit some people in need.

19.

Learn a different language. Even if it’s just a few sentences to get you by, the locals will love it and it’ll enhance your traveling by a long shot.

18.

Visit as many countries as you can. Just make sure you give yourself time to enjoy them.

17.

Spend the night on a toilet because you picked the wrong street food (not something to brag about, but a funnier story in hindsight).

16.

To sit on a chicken bus through Central America, and literally have a chicken sit on your lap.

15.

CouchSurf with a stranger (who hopefully isn’t a weirdo).

14.

Expand your culinary experiences. It may include a couple of wacky things along the way, but every culture is not without their weird and wonderful foods. I’m Australian, and I can admit that Vegemite is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure  is delicious!

13.

Explore your spirituality…. Wherever that may take you.

 12.

Hike up a massive volcano, bring a sleeping bag, camp on the top, and then wake up to a new day.

11.

Prove to your friends and family back home that you’re a badass who isn’t scared to take the world head on!

10.

Pick up a new traveling skill or hobby like juggling, slack lining or poi.

9.

Get a crazy random tattoo with a bunch of strangers that have now become your fellow Pioneers.

8.

Reinvent yourself! It’s the perfect time to break away from your perception back home and be whoever you want to be!

7.

Not matter how old you are, party all night on an island covered in fluorescent body paint like it’s nobody’s business.

6. 

Give yourself valuable ‘you-time’. Take a step back from all the decisions and life choices you’re forced to make everyday. Time to figure out what’s next in life.

5.

To try deep-fried insects, just once.

4. 

Get out of your current rut and break the monotony of everyday life. Time for a change!

3.

Sleep in a hammock strung up between two coconut trees on a deserted Caribbean island. Easiest way to forget your problems!

2. 

Buy a motorbike or van and just travel wherever the wind may take you. The ultimate freedom while traveling the world!

1.

Randomly meet the love of your life and throw all your plans out the window just to be with them. Hey, it happens! Just check out our story!

“How do you afford to travel?”

This is by the far the most common question Jules and I receive in our inboxes, Facebook messages and from other travelers we meet on the road. It’s a bit frustrating to give an answer because most people are hoping to hear a magic solution, or some secret trick to getting a boat-load of cash and then jetting off to a foreign country. Unfortunately it doesn’t really work like that. It’s more like a combination of gradually saving up money and then traveling really cheaply once we’re off. We’ve written articles about our best budget travel tips and even cheap tricks from other travel bloggers, but today we’re going to give you tips on how to save money for travel TODAY!

“Cutting back to a minimalist lifestyle will not only save you the big bucks for traveling, but it’ll give you more room to breathe and lead a happier life in general”

Start to Downsize

This can mean different things depending on your lifestyle, but almost everyone has the wiggle room to downsize a bit. When you finally get to travel, you’ll be amazed at how little stuff you actually need in your life. Downsize your closet by creating a capsule wardrobe and then sell the extras on a consignment site like Twice. Downsize your monster TV and stereo set for something a little more reasonable. Cutting back to a minimalist lifestyle will not only save you the big bucks for traveling, but it’ll give you more room to breathe and lead a happier life in general.

Not everyone has this option, but if it’s possible, I highly recommend moving in with your parents/ grandparents/ extended family to save on rent (at least for a couple of months!). This is probably the number one reason we’ve been able to save so much over the years. Thanks Mom & Dad, and Nan! Again, I’m completely aware that this isn’t an option for most people, but if it is, take advantage! Rent is a huge chunk of your income, and if you can cut that down you’ll be cruising.

“Would you rather spend $500 dollars on a weekend at Coachella or 3 weeks traveling Central America?”

Evaluate Purchases Big and Small

The best way to start saving money is, obviously, to stop spending it. Make a list of any big purchases you’ve made lately or are about to make. Are these absolutely necessary, such as paying student loans? Or could they be cut out? Ask yourself if these are a higher priority than travel. Would you rather spend $500 dollars on a weekend at Coachella or 3 weeks traveling Central America? If it’s the former, that’s fine, but own your choices and make them consciously.

But don’t just evaluate big purchases; those small ones sneak up on you too. I know I for one have spent way too much money on clothing. Even if you’re buying on sale, those $10 tee shirts add up over time. It makes me feel a bit ill thinking about how much I’ve spent at Target over the years, and where that money could have gone instead!

Cancel All Your Subscriptions

Yep. I’m calling all you Netflix addicts out! These days there are so many awesome monthly subscriptions for movies, books, music, etc. And a $10 monthly subscription to Spotify may seem like a small price to pay for music, but over the course of a year or two, you’re looking at a few hundred dollars. Controlling all that passive money that’s leaking out from your bank account every month could mean an extra week or two on the beaches of Mexico. Or last you a whole month in Cuba. So cancel your StitchFix account and hop on your friend’s Netflix. Doesn’t everyone download their movies anyway?

“Sell your photography in a local café, fundraise on GoFundMe, or set up a lemonade stand. Whatever it takes to make that moola!”

Source Out Extra Income

So you make just enough to scrape by, but saving up for travel seems entirely unattainable? I totally understand. Young people, especially in major cities around the world, are often underpaid and overpaying for stuff like rent, food, etc. Now’s the time to start bringing in a little extra income- a “side hustle” if you will. Figure out your talents and passions, ideally the ones that don’t get utilized at work, so you don’t feel burnt out. Baby-sit for your neighbors (you may be pushing the 16 year olds out of a job, but jeeze those babysitters get paid a lot!), run errands on Task Rabbit, check out the “gigs” section of Craigslist (fair warning, there are a lot of creeps). Sell your photography in a local café, fundraise on GoFundMe, or set up a lemonade stand. Whatever it takes to make that moola!

Make a Rough Budget

Even if your trip is a year away, start creating a rough budget for it now. Research how much you’ll need for the type of trip that you want and see how much things cost in that country. Check out cheap accommodation, discounted trips and economy air-fare. Once you’re able to start putting a price tag on specific items, you can have a clearer idea of how much you need to save. Not only that, but the next time you’re tempted to spend $30 on a boozy brunch, you can remind yourself that that $30 is an entire day of exploring the backstreets of Bangkok or swimming in the gorgeous Caribbean ocean.