Reese Barcelon
- Man shared the ultimate hack of travelling to five countries on a small budget.
- Traveler figured out the best way to see more places without having to acquire fat wallet.
Everyone surely knows how expensive it can be to visit different countries abroad, especially if a traveler is intending to fly to more than one place. Generally, budget is one of the most criteria being considered when travelling as the budget is the one to determine if a tourist can fully enjoy a certain place or not.
For this reason, a traveler named Johan Floyd Omoso Boles shared an ultimate life hack which can be helpful for those who dream of flying abroad with a small budget.
Boles went to five countries namely: Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand – bringing only an amount of P30, 000. How did that kind of budget suffice Boles’ trip abroad?
The answer is: by being strategic. Boles did every single cheat to save more bucks while enjoying the country he was visited.
If you’re clueless about how to save money while spending at the same time, here are the tips shared by Boles:
- Plan your itinerary.
“I didn’t follow a strict itinerary when I traveled for I wanted an open and spontaneous getaway. However, a little bit of planning goes a long way especially if you have particular highlights on your trip. Printed itineraries are also good in case you’re not sure about the places you want to go to. Research is the key!”
- Book tickets in advance.
“The best time to book tickets is during Tuesdays when airline companies refresh their promos. The total cost of my airfare tickets from AirAsia was only 9,454 since I booked it 3 months ahead.
As much as possible, bring only one backpack and a small one for essentials. It will save you money from paying check-in luggage, or storage costs.
You can also check AirAsia’s ASEAN Pass.”
3. Go CouchSurfing.
“Surprisingly, most of the people I spoke to reacted negatively about being hosted in another country because of ‘trust issues.’ But mind you, it was the best decision I’ve ever made while planning this trip! Not only is it for FREE but you also get to meet new friends along the way!
If you take a look at my budget breakdown, I didn’t have expenses for accommodation in some countries except for Thailand and Siem Reap. I opted to balance staying with hosts and staying in hostels since I wanted to meet fellow backpackers along the way too.
You might wonder what’s the catch after letting you stay with them. Nothing! With couch surfing, local residents or hosts of the couch surfing community open up their homes to surfers, free of charge, making you feel like a true insider and also allowing the opportunity for a genuine cultural exchange.
4. Check your budget.
Remember to keep track of your expenses wherever you go. It helps to keep a journal or an app on your phone that does the accounting for you. As much as possible, eat street food and avoid lingering around touristy places. Prices in these areas are more expensive than their competitors a few blocks away.
5. Travel ALONE.
Now, this might be challenging to some, but I’m telling you, I wouldn’t have enjoyed my trip as much had I not navigated my way out by myself. I was scammed, unfortunately, but I learned to carry on. You have no one to boost your confidence but yourself. You will learn how to master your itinerary which usually causes conflict if you have other companions. Often when you’re traveling alone, you’ll have vivid dreams about issues that are affecting you, and these can lead to meaningful solutions. It will make you a better observer of people and places around you, which in turn has the power to make you more compassionate and a better person overall.
Moreover, Boles also shared the breakdown of his expenses, revealing that he tried not to spend a lot and use his witty tactics to save some money while he is on a vacation.
However, it is noticeable that he only paid P700 for the Terminal Fee. According to Boles, “This is an honest mistake; I only paid for the Terminal Fee worth 700 Pesos. I didn’t pay for the Travel Tax for some reason (e.g. Security might have not checked my papers well, etc). However it is important that you include the 1,620 Peso Travel Tax on your travels abroad, alright? Please be guided. Thank you!”
One of the main reasons why Boles spent only a fairly small amount is because he opted for couch surfing – implemented by hosts, which has enabled him to meet more people along the way.
“I hope you understand that I’m sharing this to let people know that traveling is possible even on a tight budget. Some of my food and transportation were paid off since I was staying with HOSTS. Bus fares like from that of SG-KL were only for 10SGD because I booked it thru an app called RedBus. They were on a promotion that time. I can always sacrifice comfort for as long as it will save me a ton of money.”
Here’s what the people of the internet has to say:
Boles’ most useful tip in his whole post is to be strategic and look for ways on how travelers can spend less while taking pleasure in the country’s attractions and their culture as well.
He also had proven that travelling doesn’t have to be expensive.
