It’s one thing having a lovely holiday that you know you will never forget. It’s quite another, however, to end up living there. There are specific locations which are just so beautiful that it is hard to tear yourself away from them and go home. And while it’s not always an immediate decision, from time to time you might just end up actually buying somewhere and moving there. Alternatively, you could end up getting hold of a second home or holiday home which you can visit for the holidays. But what kind of destinations tend to lend themselves to such moves?
If you have never been to the French Riviera, you are in for a real treat. With some of the most stunning views anywhere in Europe, it’s not hard to see why this is such a perennially popular destination for so many people. But for a certain few who visit, it can also end up being the ideal place to move to. The truth is that you could do much worse than buy a luxury accommodation in the French Riviera. Not only will you be able to spend your days surrounded by natural beauty and bathed in sun, but you will also probably be pleasantly surprised at some of the prices of the accommodation too. This is a must-consider for anyone who wants that real dream holiday home feel for a lower price tag than you would expect.
Hawaii
It’s not only one of the most popular US destinations, but one of the most regularly visited groups of islands in the world. Hawaii offers a classic beach getaway feel, no matter which corner of which of its many islands you might end up on. With a great combination of continual party vibes and some of the most glorious weather anywhere on Earth, this is the ultimate spot on the globe for the laid-back traveller. If you decide you want to make that your way of life – like so many before you have done – then you can do so by just getting hold of a Hawaii property. There is indeed no shortage of these, and if you don’t mind moving in from the beach a little you can find one for less money than you have assumed. The culture might well make it one of the best places you can possibly live.
This next one is not somewhere that people often think of for moving home, but the truth is that it is one of the single most extraordinary destinations in the world. It is incredible as a tourist, and even better as a citizen. With some of the best happiness rates in the world, a strong economy and hugely polite people everywhere, this is a great place to settle if you are looking to get away from the rat race a little. It also happens to have a deliriously cheap cost of living. Just make sure that you are ready to wrap up warm for the foreseeable future.
For several years now, I’ve thought about writing a book about camp. I worked at a couple across the country in my early twenties. Now that I am working part-time at one again, I figured now is the time to write! As I busy myself with that, enjoy this post about camping!
If you are looking for an inexpensive holiday that won’t result in your kids getting loads of screen time, why not think about going camping? It’s a great way to help your kids connect with nature, and you won’t have to spend a load of your cash on expensive hotels and activities.
Don’t worry if you have never been camping before; even total newbies will get the hang of it in hardly any time at all. Here are some tips that can help you camp like a champ even with kids in tow!
If you haven’t camped before, it’s best to leave the wild camping to the pros. For now, while you try and build up some experience, stick to campsites. First of all, make sure you find one that allows children as not all of them do. Researching the best site for you will ensure you find one that has all of the facilities you will need and you’ll also find out whether there are any on-site activities that you can entertain the kids with.
Get A Good Tent
Even though camping can be relatively cheap, it’s important to invest in a top-quality tent. You can find out all of things you should look out for in a tent on http://tentsandcampgear.com/things-consider-purchasing-tent/ and it’s important that the one you choose meets all of these requirements. If you can’t afford a decent tent, at the very least, it needs to be big enough for you all and waterproof. Remember to pack a few ground sheets as well, as these can make the ground slightly more comfortable to sleep on.
Pack Plenty Of Warm Coats And Blankets
It’s important that you pack plenty of clothes and blankets so that your kids are always warm throughout the entire trip. You’ll probably already know how quick children are to complain once they get a bit chilly, so make sure you have lots of spare jumpers so that they can always pull on an extra one in the middle of the night if they get a bit cold. You can find some super comfy kids clothes at http://gap.com.When you are going out for the day, make sure you dress the kids in layers, especially if you are planning on staying outside all day.
Plan For Rain
It’s a good idea to try and arrange your camping trips for during the summer while the weather is nice. However, no matter how hard you try, it isn’t always easy to predict the weather, and you could end up facing a day or two of rain. Of course, you won’t be able to take the kids out in that weather, so you need to make sure you have a plan for rain up your sleeve. Pack a few board games and books so that you can keep the kids entertained in the tent if you need to.
As you can see, camping like a champ is super easy. Have a great camping trip!
When we’re on holiday, we’re usually considered tourists. We’re tricked into buying ridiculous things and the sums of money we pay for simple necessities can be overwhelming. Food is one of the most expensive purchases when we go on holiday simply because we don’t know the local area. We just go where our nose takes us, and that can get pretty expensive after a couple of meals. So to help make your holiday a little cheaper, here are some tips to help you eat on a budget.
Hotels usually charge ludicrous prices, especially if you’re booked into a fancy one. Although it may be tempting because of the location, it’s generally not a good idea purely because it’s so pricey. The food you get from a hotel can easily be matched by local spots and at a fraction of the price. In fact, many hotels attempt to replicate cuisine that you might be used to from around the world. Hotels tend to cater to the tastes of their guests, which means that the food itself may be different from what you’d expect the locals to eat. This is important if you’re travelling to a food destination such as Singapore or Italy. The best food is usually the local dishes that have been perfected in local restaurants and cafes, not the glamorized variety you’ll find in a hotel.
Explore local spots
Every city in the world has some kind of food guide. You can find the best places to eat no matter where you are by looking on the internet and searching for your location. Restaurants are ranked with a star rating and you’ll get plenty of reviews and previews of the menu directly on your phone. You might be surprised to find some hidden gems tucked away in back alleys and empty streets, and these should all be listed on the internet. However, some places are so well-hidden that they won’t be shown on the internet. This is usually the case when it comes to less-developed parts of the world, or areas where there isn’t much documentation such as rural areas. If you really want to find a cheap culinary gem, then you’ll need to ask the locals and make friends.
Learn the pricing
Even if you’re travelling from one European country to another European country, the pricing could be completely different for something as simple as a slice of pizza. Learn what the average price for food is in the country you’re staying in so that you know what a bargain is and when you’re paying far too much.
Be adventurous
If you’re going to travel you should embrace unique and wonderful foods. When it comes to local cuisine, it’s a good idea to try everything out. Many of the budget eats in places like Southeast Asia or South America are going to be local delicacies. If you can’t stomach certain things then it’s understandable to skip out and pick foods you’re more comfortable with. However, if you’re just scared of trying something new, then it’s time to get brave and immerse yourself in the culture of the country you’re visiting, starting with the food.
If you’re planning on going on a road trip soon, there are so many pieces of information out there you can use to ensure your trip is a successful one. However, there are a couple of essential practices every single person should bear in mind, regardless of what you read elsewhere.
Whether you’re road tripping alone or with your kids doesn’t matter. What matters is you follow the tips here:
Staying Safe
Staying safe should be your number one priority on the road. This means doing the appropriate trips on your car before you set off, to make sure it’s as safe as possible. It also means having food, drink, a container for gas incase you break down, a spare tyre, and other essentials with you too. You think it won’t happen to you, but it happens more often than you think. Make sure you also have a fully charged phone, emergency numbers, and other things that can give you peace of mind and keep you safe.
Staying Flexible
Staying flexible is important on a road trip too. Having a loose plan can help to give you direction, but being too rigid with it will mean having no fun at all. Remember to plan toilet and rest breaks, as you don’t want to have any accidents while you’re on the road. Apart from that, be prepared to stop if you spot something interesting! Enjoy every moment.
Staying Comfortable
Staying comfortable is crucial too. For this, you’re going to need the right car. Whether you rent, buy, or lease the car is up to you – the infographic below can help.
When it comes to travel, it’s easy to overlook the destinations that are closer to home. With your mind enchanted by images of the Far East or the promise of the Australian outback, it’s easy to forget the rich delights right here in the US.
If you decide to consider staying within the US borders for your next vacation, then you’ve made a good first decision. However, that decision isn’t an end in and of itself; you now have to make the choice about where in the US that you want to go.
There’s so much to choose from here, from the ski slopes of Colorado to the scorching heat of Arizona– how can you possibly narrow down your choices? Well, here’s a little helping hand: why not consider these stunning locations that surround the Gulf of Mexico?
Chances are that you haven’t heard of Destin, a community that sits in the Florida panhandle. However, Destin is a place that you’re going to want to get familiar with. As you can see when you visit SterlingResorts.com, there’s truly fantastic accommodation on offer that will delight even the most seasoned of travelers. With your accommodation sorted, what are you going to do while there?
Well, you’ve hundreds of options. There’s the gorgeous beaches to enjoy, overlooking the crisp blue waters of the gulf. If you like holidays with a twist of history, then the historical military site of Fort Pickens will call out to you for attention. Or you could take your time enjoying the famous Destin Harbor Boardwalk, where you can enjoy live music, a variety of restaurants, and even fireworks on special occasions.
Galveston is a small island just off the Texan coast, and offers a rich variety of delights for any tourist who ventures near. There’s plenty of accommodation on offer to suit every budget, so Galveston is well worth considering for a Gulf retreat with a difference.
First and foremost, consider the beaches; Galveston has some of the best beaches in the US, but so few people know about them! If you want to enjoy perfect sand, well-maintained beaches complete with showers and bathrooms, then Galveston has you covered– and you won’t have to share with thousands of others, either!
After a day sunning yourself, spend the evenings enjoying Galveston Pier. Rise early the next morning to explore two of the stunning historic houses on the island; Moody Mansion and the Bishop’s Palace. Though be careful when you visit the latter; brazoriaresearch.com insists the Bishop’s Palace is haunted!
Okay, okay, okay– New Orleans isn’t technically on the Gulf of Mexico. But it’s New Orleans! If you’re going to stretch a definition, then New Orleans is wonderful enough to justify it.
New Orleans offers a cornucopia of delights that any culture vulture won’t be able to resist. From the music and nightlife of Bourbon Street to the bayou cruises complete with alligator spotting, there’s so much to see and do here that one visit will never be enough!
So while the world is waiting to be explored, don’t forget some of the wonders that the US has to offer an eager traveler. Enjoy the Gulf!
Traveling is so much more than taking a vacation. If you live for the day you can pack a suitcase, take a trip to the airport and climb on board an airplane, it’s so important to make your time out count. Most of us would love to travel more, but time and money often put pay to our plans. If you’re keen to broaden your travel horizons, here are some tips to help you achieve this without breaking the bank or losing your job.
It’s so beneficial to do some research about the location you intend to visit before you go. We often have an idea about destinations, but this can be very different to what you get when you actually touch down on terra firma. If you’re visiting Ibiza, for example, you may be expecting endless stretches of bars and clubs, and it may be a surprise to discover that the vast majority of the island is incredibly tranquil. Do some reading online at sites like https://www.lonelyplanet.com/, get some tips from other travelers and be open-minded. It’s always worth trying to find information about what locals do and where they go. Hiring a car or using public transport to get around can open you up to a whole host of experiences you may not have been able to enjoy if you didn’t have insider information.
Leave the pool
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than spending the day soaking up the sun’s warm rays by the pool. However, if you want to get more out of your vacations, create an itinerary that enables you to see the sights and try new things, as well as basking in the sunshine. You may think that marooning yourself on a desert island like Grand Cayman may be all about chilling out, but you’d be wrong. You’ll find a host of activities and experiences you won’t want to miss at ChristopherColumbusCondos.com. Take a sunset cruise, go swimming with dolphins or hold a baby turtle. Be willing to think outside of the box, even if you plan to have a relaxing break. A beach vacation doesn’t just have to involve lying on a sun lounger for 2 weeks.
Ask for tips
Often, tourist guides will give you information about best-selling attractions and bucket list favorites, but there’s often a lot more to see and do. The best advice is to ask resort representatives or reception staff for recommendations. If you’re visiting Rome or Paris, for example, they’ll be able to tell you about lesser-known gems that don’t always feature on the must-see list and restaurants that aren’t packed with visitors from overseas. Local knowledge can be a really useful resource.
For many of us, opportunities to travel don’t come around often enough. This is why it’s so important to make the most of the time you do have. Do some research, be willing to explore and get some advice from people who’ve visited the location and those that have local knowledge and insider tips and tricks.
After my August Adventures, I decides to take a month off of traveling. Why?
-I may have overspent on travel.
-My car needed a break. It seemed to be racking up mileage very quickly this summer.
-With a slight change in work, I knew it would be best to tighten my budget during the transition time.
-There were a few projects near home that I needed to eventually get to.
-I needed to reemphasize that there are so many adventures to be had in your own backyard!
So how did I spend a month with zero dollars in my travel budget?
I thrift shopped.
In September I bought two ebelskivers, polished them up, and sold them for a nice little profit.
Thrift shopping is my favorite kind of shopping! It’s kind of like a treasure hunt. Even though there were a couple times I walked out of the store empty-handed, it was still worth it to see new stores and the kind of things that were on sale. Since the first weekend of September is the official yard sale weekend in a couple cities near me, I spent half a day checking out yard sales in a rich town and ended up getting some great deals!
Although my initial secondhand purchases were funded by my shopping budget, the things I ended up buying saving or making me more money than I had spent on them. At the yard sales, I bought a pasta cooker and a popcorn air popper. I’ve already used the popper tons to make batches of delicious, healthy popcorn for just pennies. I haven’t used the pasta cooker yet. However, since it doesn’t require electricity, I know it will come in handy while camping and even saving energy at home.
My goal with going to actual thrift stores was a little different. I decided to start flipping cast iron cookware. So even if the pieces were caked-on or rusty, I took them home, restored them, and then posted them on local Facebook sales groups. I sold two cast iron ebelskivers!
I loved the library.
One of the library books I read in September.
I usually visit the library at least once a week anyway, but this month the library allowed me to fully enjoy my time at home. I explored the DVD selection for some new interesting movies to watch. I also wanted to watch a couple TV series, despite the fact that I don’t have cable, Netflix, or Hulu. (I do have PureFlix, which I watched a few movies with.) Although these shows weren’t in stock at my library, I was able to request several seasons from other libraries in the county. I had them shipped to the library closest to me, so I didn’t have to burn gas going to out-of-the-way places.
Of course, libraries have more books than DVDs, and I enjoyed reading a lot of those too. I call reading an adventurous book a “bookation“, since I can deeply explore a new destination from my own home. (This often backfires, since I usually end up wanting to visit the destination described in the book!)
I went geocaching.
Can you find the geocache in this picture? (Hint: look for a piece that sticks out.)
Another adventure was to be had right outside the library! I used to be really into geocaching, but I haven’t done it in over a year now. Since September was about exploring new things closer to home, I realized geocaching was a wonderful way to do this. All this time, I’ve been walking by a bench outside the library, and never realized there was a micro geocache attached to it! Although I only ended up geocaching once, I have a list of other caches to eventually get to that I found on geocaching.com.
I took two-hour vacations.
Hanging in my hammock on Roxy Ann Peak
Have you ever gotten off of work, only to have another job, appointment, or commitment to get to just two hours later? You don’t want to get there ridiculously early, but since you live a half hour away, it’s not worth going home during that time, either. What do you do? I’ve started filling that time with something I call “Two-Hour Vacations”. (Exact time may vary.)
Ever since I got a hammock, I learned that I can relax and vacation just about anywhere. I took my hammock to several different parks in the area. I even did a hike and hammock on a mountain up the street from where I work. When I babysat this month, we’d often go to playground. If they were conveniently located, I would sometimes choose a playground I hadn’t been to for a long time.
Not all my two-hour vacations were outdoorsy. Last week I had to go to Grants Pass, and was there for about an hour with nothing to do. Since this city is the home of the famous Dutch Bros, of course there was a coffee stand on the same block as me. (Thankfully I had an old Dutch Bros gift card with me, making this an essentially free experience!) As mentioned above, sometimes these two hours were spent enjoying the thrift store or library. Even church is a free experience that is beneficial, relaxing, and can fill one or two hours. And as I’ll mention below, this isn’t limited to regularly-scheduled church services.
I attended a retreat.
Stephanie Strom was the speaker at this September retreat
My mom’s church offered a free one-day women’s retreat mid-September. I signed up to go. Although you could buy a boxed lunch and purchase books from the speaker, that was completely optional. It was fun to spend time with hundreds of other people and be inspired by the presentations.
I entered travel contests.
I entered a text-to-win contest that appeared on this screen. (I didn’t end up winning that one.)
Having a zero-dollar travel budget doesn’t mean not traveling the world! A couple months ago, I decided to start entering more travel contests. Giveaways pop in my social media every now and then (and if you click on them a lot, the online algorithms will show you more similar contests!), so I decided to take advantage of any that had a remotely interesting prize. This month I entered contests for several all-inclusive vacation packages. I haven’t heard back from any of those yet, but here’s hoping!
To balance those out, I entered some smaller contests as well. These weren’t necessarily travel prizes, but could ultimately save me travel money since I could pack them or spend less money at home by using them. I got a couple small free prizes this month. My second favorite prize was Thieves essential oil. (I’ll probably use all the oil at home, but the small bottle is perfect for travel toiletries!) And my favorite prize was…
I went to a comedy show.
Part of Anita Renfroe’s show included a bit of poking fun at millennials. So during intermission, this millennial asked her for a selfie.
The furthest I traveled this month was to Klamath Falls. It’s nearly two hours away, but I could still make the journey and stay under my gas budget for the month. I decided that this trip would still fit into my staycation goal since I won tickets to see comedienne Anita Renfroe. (The only thing I knew about her was that she performed the YouTube hit “In the Muthahood”.) It was definitely worth it. I even got to meet her during intermission! Like the retreat I went to earlier in the month, I made this cost-free by ignoring the sales table and bringing my own food and water bottle.
What do YOU do to make your time in and around home feel more like a vacation? Let me know in the comments!
We all know the stereotype, and we often have a friend just like it. We’re talking about the undergraduate who takes a gap year before they head into the trenches of their academic pursuit of achievement. The friend who only talks about how interesting and perceptively challenging their foray abroad was. For those who haven’t taken a gap year, or an extended holiday before their academic career begins or continues, this might seem annoying or frankly unnecessary to talk about all the time. However, there are always two ways to look at something, and in this case the excitement of the person who has experienced the new adventure is arguably truer.
Life is only understood by those who challenge their comfort zones well. If you’ve been raised in a relatively sheltered environment, such as a loving family home which you haven’t gone outside the borders of to an interesting degree, then taking one of these holidays could be just the ticket you need. You could take a profoundly cultural holiday, such as walking the Spanish Camino De Santiago to experience the integrity and belief of those taking a pilgrimage to monasteries in centuries past, sampling the local culture and food the entire way. You could find Hong Kong North Point hotel best rates and spend your time meeting giant panda’s or traveling up to the famous peak overlooking the city.
Still not convinced? Here’s what you could be experiencing:
It’s very easy to form your identity without truly knowing about the environment around you, let alone the world around you. No matter what country you hail from, you are in the foremost and final analysis a citizen of Earth. Understanding how separate cultures work and what the cultural attitudes are can be found in textbooks or in forum posts, but the only way you’ll truly KNOW is to experience it yourself.
This gives you the opportunity to see the aspects of a city which are less easy to digest through words and must be seen in person. Doing so will expand your understanding of how societies can interconnect, and it’ll inform your traveling bug to expand your knowledge in future. Who knows, you may find the place you hope to live one day after your career is established.
There’s no reason why traveling should cost you over the odds. There are many ways to overcome intense costs and explore cultures on the cheap. Your ability to acquire a passport and tickets are costs which aren’t negotiable, but how you travel and rest in a country is subject to simply finding the best deal. For student travelers, hostels are always the best method of saving money. Backpacking can save you the costs of traveling heavy. If you really need to and if the country you’re in allows, finding a part time job at the location you’re at can sustain your travel costs while you explore the environment. There’s arguably no better way to understand a people than to work with them, so long as you make sure the language barrier is overcome through study of its basics.
Over time, you will build a wealth of instinctual understanding which will inform your future trips, and vice versa. As the travel bug bites you, you will have formed a hobby before University which has genuinely made you a better and more worldly person. So what are you waiting for?
Many people prefer to travel without too much gear. They like to pack lightly so they can travel around wherever they choose, and it helps to keep them focused on the experience and not their smartphone or tablet. However, a smartphone (if used properly) can enhance almost any holiday, and here are just a couple of reasons why.
One of the biggest reasons for taking a smartphone with you on holiday is to help you record memories. Smartphone cameras are surprisingly good nowadays and even cheap phones have decent capabilities when it comes to snapping shots and even recording videos. You can do a lot with the photos and videos you record. For instance, you could use a postcard app to turn your pictures into digital postcards to send to all your friends. It’s a great way of showing them what you’re up to, and it’s a creative way of using the photos that you’ve taken. If you travel often then look for a phone with a fantastic camera to bolster the quality of all your shots. You don’t need an expensive camera, but it does help to have a high-quality camera if you want to record your memories in higher quality.
Keep in Touch
Smartphones are fantastic devices for connectivity. They allow you to keep in touch when you’re abroad, and thanks to generous smartphone plans that many carriers are rolling out, it’s now cheaper than ever to keep in touch with friends and family back home while you’re out travelling. All you need is a WiFi connection which can be achieved in most hotels and hostels. If you’re travelling around and meeting lots of people, then it’s not rude to ask them if you can temporarily use their internet connection either. Some countries have pretty good 3G and 4G connections as well, but it’s recommended that you get in touch with local carriers and possibly swap your sim for better deals.
One of the best things about smartphones is their ability to use GPS. Most countries in the world have support for things like Google Maps, so if you have a smartphone with you there’s no excuse for getting lost unless you’re travelling to these locations. However, almost every country has their own mapping tools, so don’t be afraid to ask locals for advice or even download maps to your phone instead of using your phone connection.
Be Adventurous
Life should be filled with adventure, and it’s our smartphones that help us become a lot braver when we’re visiting a foreign country. In addition to these wonderful ways that a smartphone can improve our holidays, we have to give an honourable mention to translation services. Google’s own translator app has the ability to translate directly from photographs that you take, which is indispensable if you’re travelling in unfamiliar territory. It goes without saying that a smartphone can enhance practically every holiday you go on, so don’t be afraid to invest in a good one and lots of protective gear (such as a case) to keep it safe.
Do you love the idea of getting flights, lodging, ground transportation, meals, and attractions for free or steeply discounted? Who wouldn’t want that! This is what makes travel hacking so enticing. But this can be too daunting when it comes to churning credit cards and running up a big bill.
Never fear, there are plenty of travel hacks where owning a credit card is completely optional! Below are credit-free hacks based on my personal experience, as well as a few collected from others in my travel networks.
Last trip of the summer with a free trip to Lava Beds
Plan your costly attractions around free times.
I wish I would have kept records of how much I have saved with this one simple hack; it’s probably hundreds. In Madrid, I waited to visit the art museums until after 5pm, when they are free. I happened to be in Athens for a national holiday I didn’t even know about, yet celebrated with free admission to all the ruins, including Acropolis. I’ve had even more success stateside. I planned my San Francisco schedule around free admission times to Golden Gate Park’s attractions, found a rare free day to visit Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, and I have gone on several trips to various National Park Sites on their free entry days. Just last month, I was spelunking in over a dozen lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument, and it only cost me the gas to drive there!
Camp in your car, even in Amish country! My Explorer in Holmes County, Ohio.
Make a bed in the back of your car.
When I first visited the Subaru dealership, I brought measuring tape with me. I wanted to make sure I was able to lay down in the trunk with the back seat down. If you road trip in a van or SUV, this could be a comfortable and cheap option for overnights. For me, I started doing this as a kid. Before getting my own tent for Christmas, I would often choose to sleep in the back of my dad’s Jeep Cherokee during family camping trips. My first car was a 2000 Ford Explorer. I bought it for about $1750, and made a large portion of that back in savings by sleeping in it at free campgrounds and WalMart parking lots. Since then, I’ve learned to fit an inflated air mattress in the back, how to make temporary privacy curtains, and that my favorite free spot to stay the night is casinos that allow RVs overnight. Just a few steps away, I have access to bathrooms, WiFi, and security!
Before arriving at Disney World that day, I responded to a medical emergency on my plane and got a free snack box. Apparently even more snacks were justified
Help others for airline perks.
Back when I was an EMT, I helped out with someone having an emergency while boarding our plane. Had this person stayed on the flight, the crew would have offered to refund my ticket to sit with her. Although this didn’t happen, a flight attendant gave me one of those super-expensive snack boxes I would never afford to buy myself. Megan Parsons shared, “this couple asked if they could help me because I am flying alone with a baby. I said yes and their boarding position jumped significantly.” Obviously opportunities like these don’t always arise, but it always helps to keep an eye out!
Even in Europe, you can find public toilets (and bidets!) for free
Use free toilets.
“Go when you can, not when you must.” I heard this from a NYC tourguide ten years ago, and it’s stuck with me as a useful, albeit awkward travel motto. Of course needing to use the bathroom when there isn’t one available can result in ruined clothes, laundry expenses, smelly luggage, and embarrassment. I’ve pointed several visitors to free bathrooms in a small tourist town near where I live, and look out for free restrooms while I travel. This tip is especially useful in areas where most public toilets cost money, since they’re still usually free at restaurants, paid attractions, churches, trains, and porta potties. (Bonus tip: always carry a pack of travel tissues. Your stall may be out of toilet paper, and in some countries the stalls don’t always have toilet roll holders!)
I even brought Laduree macarons home from Paris in my carry-on so my family could taste them.
Get free food and drinks in the airport with this simple tip.
We know that the shops and restaurants in airports are overpriced. But do you know how to get food and drinks past TSA security? More and more people are realizing that you can bring an empty bottle and fill it with water once past security, instead of dropping several dollars for a disposable plastic bottle. (If you do forget your water bottle, some airport fast food places might give you a free water cup.) You can add single-serve flavor packs if you wish. As for food, it’s totally okay to go through security as long as it doesn’t contain many liquid-based components. (Mustard on a sandwich should be fine; a heavily-frosted cupcake is a no-go.) You don’t even have to fit your food in your carry-on or personal item as long as it’s consumed before boarding.
I planned my entire Tennessee trip around a good airline deal.
Find mistake fares and airline sales.
Stephan Mark Smith shared, “Check each day until you find a mistake fare.” While I personally have yet to find a mistake fare, I did take advantage of a cheap airline sale a few years ago. As long as you’re not too picky about your destination, you could plan a great trip around a cheap flight!
Last year I found a gift certificate on Groupon to take my family to Trees of Mystery
Fund your trip with gift cards.
Just about every aspect of travel can be paid for with a gift card. If you have partially- used gift cards lying around, get creative and brainstorm how they can be used towards upcoming travels. For everything else, check out Swagbucks. Many people think of this site as a rebate program. But I promised that none of these travel hacks require a credit card, and this one doesn’t have to, either. On Swagbucks, you can earn points by watching videos, playing games, taking surveys, and my favorite, using a search engine. These points then translate into gift cards for gas, hotels, cruises, restaurants, Groupon, and more. You even get free points just for signing up!
Do an online search before booking tickets or making a reservation. You could find steeply discounted prices to places like Wildlife Safari.
Check the fine print on coupons.
Between free travel gear and free souvenirs, this hack has saved me a lot of money, and provided me with wonderful things I never would have gotten if I had to pay for them! I ignore most coupons because their stipulations require me to buy something I don’t need. But years ago, while backpacking Nashville, I found a coupon that offered $3 off at a local candy store- no minimum purchase! I even surprised the cashier when I got a $2.50 nut log for free. Since then, I stay on the lookout for coupons offering free food, free souvenirs, and free gear. I also like stores that allow coupon stacking or using coupons on already-discounted items. My favorite coupon right now is the $10 rewards coupon I get from Eddie Bauer twice a year. I have to spend at least $10 to get $10 off, but it’s still a good deal for useful gear and clearance items!
Books make wonderful cheap, unplugged entertainment for camping trips. And that’s just one free thing you can get from the library!
Visit your library before leaving.
A library is more than books. When planning my trip to Europe, I learned about Rick Steves, and wanted more of his advice than what was offered online and on PBS. I went to the library and found his Europe Through the Back Door guidebook as well as a few seasons of his show on DVD. Of course my rental time wasn’t long enough to bring these with me in Europe for 90 days, but I could take notes on the most useful information for me. For shorter trips, a borrowed library book is great for downtime, as long as you make sure not to lose it. With a lot of weekend road trips I’ve been taking lately, I enjoy getting an audio book or two from the library to listen to in the car. I’ve also taken periodicals from the free magazine rack. Your library may have other perks that benefit travel as well.
Soda was just one of many sponsor freebies at Paris’ Tour de France street fair!
Double up on freebies at events.
Some of my favorite travel memories have been at free local events. I went to some of these at the advice of a local person or fellow traveler. Others I stumbled onto completely by accident. Either way, you’re likely to find a free concert, play, or street fair, especially in large cities. Not only is the event free, but you can often double up on freebies at events like this since the sponsors often give free items away. This could mean food, apparel, pens, and other items that make excellent souvenirs.
Upsides of a totaled car: massages, rentals, cash for a new car…
If something goes wrong, cash in on all you can.
I definitely would not recommend getting into a car crash as a way to travel hack. With recent personal experience, it’s a hassle, it’s costly, and it can ruin the joy of travel, at least temporarily. But if something like this does happen to you, milk it for all it’s worth. My favorite car crash perk has been the free massages and chiropractic adjustments, especially helpful since my health insurance ended just a couple weeks after my crash. You can enjoy this benefit even if you were only a passenger in a crash. When I got my rental car, I planned a weekend getaway to Redding, California. While I paid for the gas, the rental was covered by insurance, and it didn’t add mileage to my own car. Speaking of mileage, since my car was totalled before its warranty ended, I got most of it refunded. While each situation differs, look into what’s available in the event of an unfortunate incident involving a car, plane, hotel, restaurant, event, or attraction. Don’t be demanding or threatening, but be sure to get what you’re owed.
What travel hacks have you done? Let me know in the comments!
Jessica Lippe 
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