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Travel Cheaply
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Tips to help you travel cheaply on you gap trip abroad
(and limit the begging calls to your parents!)
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Travel cheaply, don't shop til you drop!
Shopping for local goods is great fun and you'd be mad not to buy a few scarves in Thailand or a local art in South Africa. But if you are trying to travel cheaply, try to buy things because you like them, not just because they're from abroad!
Think what you'll get the most out of - a trip along the Amazon or a plastic model of Sugarloaf Mountain, and remember garish beachwear has a habit of looking out of place when you get it back to the UK.
Many of the programmes include meals, but when they don't, it's a great opportunity to hunt traditional fare for yourself. |
Head for a restaurant (the more native diners inside the better), or, if you're a bit broke, go shopping for a picnic or the ingredients for a meal in your hostel.
Visiting local markets can be an experience in itself, and if you look particularly interested in what's being sold, the stall holders might let you sample a couple of things.
Street stalls are also a good bet if you're on the move. We've listed a few things to look out for in each country but you're sure to discover more. |
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Travel cheaply by looking for the free sights
Not all ‘sights' have an admission charge and in places like New York, where entry prices are high, you might want to take advantage of what's free. Central Park and the Staten Island ferry, which lets you look back at the Manhattan skyline, are both excellent freebies.
The hustle and bustle of life in Dehli, Beijing and other big cities provides perfect people-watching opportunities, while a sunrise over the east coast or a sunset on the west can be breathtaking.
If you're in town when there's a festival going on, the atmosphere alone is an attraction - otherwise, look out for the free events that run alongside the ticketed ones.
I'm a student - give me a discount!
Obviously that's not how you'd phrase your request but it's always worth asking if there are any discounts for students, if you have student ID. Less common are discounts for the under-26s.
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Travel cheaply by doing a few DIY meals
A cheap, fun alternative to eating out is preparing your own meals. Visit a market or supermarket and buy the stuff for a picnic, then head for a park or attractive square. In South Africa/Australia, many public areas have facilities for a braai/barbecue, where you can cook your own food. Just make sure everything's properly cooked!
Hostels often have kitchens for you to cook your market shopping there - if other people are up for it, get them all to make something different and share the lot.
Travel cheaply by doing lunch, not dinner!
When you do eat out, consider making lunch your main meal, as the midday menu is often cheaper than the evening one. |
Step away from the square
Almost inevitably, eating places around the main square and tourist attractions will charge more, and the quality won't always reflect the higher price. That said, squares are often fascinating places to people-watch: if you are travelling cheaply, consider having a drink there before moving to a quieter (or student) area to eat.
Pass me a pass
Many countries offer passes which make bulk travelling or sightseeing cheaper - do some research before you go and work out if they'll save you any money.
Drivin' along in my automobile…
Whether you hire a car depends a lot on where you go - it's not advisable in some places, and in others, public transport is cheap and reliable anyway. But if there's more than one of you wanting to go to the same place, it's worth looking into, as you can split the rental and the petrol, which will almost certainly be cheaper than it is in Britain.
And finally, look local
Sadly, there will always be a few people willing to cheat the unsuspecting traveller by charging them extra. You can deter them by learning a little of the language, and appearing as confident in the country as you can.
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