8 tips on How I affords to travel so much. 

I share the tips that allow me to travel for less and explore without breaking the bank much. Interested? lets dig in!

Probably the most common question I hear from the readers of my travel blog, as well as friends is How do you manage to travel so much? Partially, it is connected to the fact that I travel more with a full-time job, but also how I afford to travel so much in general. I managed to travel to 6 countries in a year and I have already been to almost all states in India.

when you have a full-time job, you can spend a bit more money on traveling than those college days. At the same time, because you have a job, you typically have less time. When you travel, you want to make sure that you use your time and money wisely. This is when it is important to set priorities. How to travel more with a full-time job? Make it happen.

1. Set your goals and priority:

If you really want to travel, set it on priority. I mean it. I remember about it day and night especially when I want to put money for something else. Think about how many days you can spend at particular destination either at AirBnb homestays or some great 3-4 star hotels. Understand what is more important for you. physical possessions or travel experiences so choose accordingly.

Set your goals for the specific trips you want to make in a year and calculate the needed budget.

2. Save and just Save

Start small and save a small amount of money every day. When your salary is credited put aside a set amount of money and stick to it. Reduce the number of times you go out to eat or drink, cook inside instead. Don’t buy takeaway coffee every day, make it at home and take it with you in a reusable cup (bonus points for being a responsible traveler). Set a monthly goal for saving money for your travel fund and follow it. I followed it for my first international trip and it worked and from there I started to follow this pattern.

It is also useful to track your general spending, identify the source of expenses. In order to identify where your money goes. Maybe you have some old subscription that you don’t use anymore. This lockdown made me realize that I don't need to visit spa centers or salons every month. I can manage a few things at home and only for necessary things I can spend on salons.

Think out of the box and find out the ways to save for travel. There are many apps that help you to track your expenses just search for them in play store or app store

3. Find cheap accommodation

Budget accommodation doesn’t have to always mean dirty bunk beds in the noisy hostel room with unsafe surroundings. Now a days, if you think a little bit outside the box and choose small independent hotels or apartments, you can get great deals for little money. My favorite places to look for hotel deals are Airbnb and zostels. Rather I compare the cost and savings. If you like camping, try wild camping for the adventure of it and awesome views.

4. Find good flight deals

Trust me, I have learnt this over the time .Tell me the location and I'll come up with the cheapest and best flight plans. Rather I have helped many of my relatives & friends in booking flights at cheapest rates with best deals for ex. Mumbai - Goa - Mumbai at just Rs 3200 or even Ahmedabad, Nagpur for that matter.

There is a ton of advice on how to look for cheap flights and if you follow it you can save a few thousands on a single ticket. Will be posting some of my favorite cheap flight tips in the next blog.

5. Travel offseason and offbeat locations

It will be surprising to hear that I spent only 2000 bucks for 2 days trip to Gandikoda and Belum caves from Mumbai. It’s absolutely true that travel offseason & offbeat locations is much cheaper. It is usually also more enjoyable, especially if you don’t like crowds and queues. If you are worried about the weather, try shoulder season, this is when the temperatures are still pleasant, but there are fewer tourists.

6. Do your research

I do a lot of research and study before I plan any trip. This is very much useful especially when I am traveling solo ( while solo I do my risk assessment of the trip well prior) . I make sure I know the typical prices in the place where I’m going to and common scams to avoid losing money. I also check which areas are cheaper/more expensive for accommodation, what means of transport is the best to use, where to find cheap and good local food places etc. Thorough planning one can save a lot of money!

7.Eat local street food & eat-in

If you try to save money while traveling, find local places to eat, instead of the typical touristy ones. Very often you pay more for a nice view or a convenient location. Instead, follow the locals and check where they eat. you can be sure that the prices there will be lower and the food quality still very good. Street food is also a good choice for budget meals on a trip. Alternatively, if you stay in accommodation that has a kitchen, you can cook your own meals. On my Europe trip I used to cook my breakfast and dinner wherever kitchen was available, whereas lunch was kept to enjoy the local food and taste.

8. Extend a Business trip

Are you being sent somewhere for business? then you are lucky. I travelled all over India as a part of business tours. Arrive a few days earlier or stay longer and explore the area. That way you don’t need to pay for transport and you can see more.

I was 24 yrs when I was sent on my first business trip to Bangalore and there I explored Bangalore, Mysore, Coorg as a solo traveller. Trust me, those business tours actually helped me to develop myself as a solo traveller and I saved a lot during those days. Thanks to my profession.

These tips will definitely help you if you follow them. I truly follow this path and it helps me that I pay my bills, loans, policies and still could save for my trips and travels a month at least.

For more such travel tips & experiences follow me on Instagram @travel_clues_