Lots of us dream of traveling around the world, visiting extraordinary places, trying food we\u2019ve never laid eyes on<\/u> before, and meeting people from all walks of life<\/u> living in vastly different places around the globe. But, the reality is, many of us aren\u2019t doing that. The question is, what\u2019s holding us back?<\/p>\n
Aside from having the time to go, the biggest thing holding most of us back is simply the idea that it\u2019d cost an arm and a leg<\/u> just to go somewhere, but that is simply not true, if you do it right.<\/p>\n
First of all, let\u2019s consider flights. Most people have probably heard of budget airlines, but many people either don\u2019t trust the quality of their planes or services, or are simply too afraid to stray from mainstream national airlines. Usually the question is, \u201cIf it\u2019s good, why would it be so cheap?\u201d It\u2019s simple: they merely prioritize actually flying people to places, and charge extra for services that many would choose not to have if given the option to not pay for them. This includes check-in baggage, in-flight meals, and in-flight entertainment. In-flight entertainment isn\u2019t even necessary for long flights these days, as most of us have smart phones, tablets, or laptops to entertain ourselves. You can also choose food you actually want to eat before you board, and you still get 7-10kg of carry-on baggage. Also, it goes without saying it is important to book your flight as early as you can, since flights only get more expensive the closer it is to the departure date. <\/p>\n
It helps to subscribe to a variety of travel websites to be notified of any deals ahead of time to ensure you have enough time to consider a possible trip. This goes for both flight and hotel deals. Often, you can also take advantage of discounted flight and hotel package deals where you can save a lot of money. This brings us to the next part you can save money on: accommodation.<\/p>\n
Package deals are great if you want to stay at nicer hotels, but if you want to prioritize saving money or if you plan to stay for longer than a week, it may be a cheaper option to look at other options on your own. Instead of hotels, you can consider inns, guesthouses, or hostels. In recent years, services like Airbnb also provide a great alternative option, as it allows regular people to rent out empty homes or rooms that they own for guests to stay at for an affordable price. Staying at such places allows visitors to experience life similar to the locals. <\/p>\n
Now let\u2019s look at how to save money on food. As a self-proclaimed foodie<\/u>, this is something I prioritize and never hesitate to spend money on. Whether it is your priority or not, however, some restaurants have coupons available on websites or apps like Groupon. If not, you can always resort to<\/u> eating cup noodle in the hotel room or buying convenience store food. It fills your stomach all the same.<\/p>\n
For other ways to save money during the trip, many markets welcome haggling, so don\u2019t be shy and haggle away! It\u2019s also a good idea to check if there are any deals that are available only to foreign tourists, like the Japan Rail Pass from JR, which isn\u2019t available to Japanese residents. Local transportation such as buses could be scary if you don\u2019t speak the local language, but if possible, find free shuttle buses that go to places near where you\u2019re going. Renting a bike and cycling around may be a good option as well.<\/p>\n
While I personally find it challenging and almost fun to scrimp<\/u>, it\u2019s also important to remind yourself that, at the end of the day, the end goal isn\u2019t about saving money but to have a good time. So, go out there and have fun!<\/p>\n
Loki<\/p>\n
<\/br>
\nVocabulary<\/b><\/p>\n
lay eyes on (phrase) - see, notice, spot
\nall walks of life (idiom) \u2013 used to refer to people who have many different jobs or positions in society
\ncost an arm and a leg (idiom) \u2013 to be extremely expensive
\nfoodie (n) \u2013 a person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet
\nresort to (phr. v) \u2013 to do or use something especially because no other choices are possible
\nscrimp (v) \u2013 to save money by spending less than is necessary to reach an acceptable standard; to be thrifty or economical<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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