GlobeTrot-Copy

I feel like travelling can be overly glamorised. Surely, it’s a universal experience to arrive at a hostel and there be no bed… you sleep on the floor until one comes available. You arrive at the bus station and there are no buses… you sleep in the bus station until morning. You have your phone robbed, you are overcharged, maybe you’re followed? The list is endless.

However, there is a light.

You make friends at every hostel, experience the cultural diversity of your chosen destination with tourists from all over the globe, speak a different language, eat quirky food that you would have never come across. The list is endless.

After the whole escapade all you’re left with are the memories and the passport stamps.

Apologies for being brass but I think it appropriate to highlight the possibilities of occurrences when travelling.

Now onto the important stuff, the reason you decided to read this blog in the first place..

Before starting your travelling journey its useful to have an understanding of the following:

1. What is your personal budget for the whole trip? Split it into months, weeks and days – you now have a benchmark! *Some days will be more expensive than others, make sure you’re aware of how much you have over / under spent*
2. Have a grasp of the exchange rate. *This means you are less likely to be conned as a tourist because you have an understanding of how much something ‘should be’*
3. Discover the cheapest ways to travel around e.g. buses between countries, Ubers within cities. *remember that taxis are often not a safer option regardless of price*
4. Compare Hostelworld and Booking.com for the cheapest stays in your chosen country. *I only used these two sites when booking accommodation and the cheapest stays varied from country to country*
5. Don’t pay for extra luggage if you don’t have to! You will most likely collect clothes when you travel, you should only pack the bare minimum. Trust me – your back will thank you.

You’ve arrived at your first destination, it’s past midnight, you have been on a long haul flight and you feel gross. You hop into an Uber, from the airport, and travel to your first hostel. You feel anxious and overwhelmed. Doubt swims into your brain. ‘What am I doing here?, Am I crazy? Why did I think this was a good idea?’. You collect your bag out the back of the car and nervously enter the hostel. Immediately, the doubt dissipates. The receptionist gives you a welcome smile, asks how your journey was and leads you to your dorm room…

Now that you’re travelling, falling into night out temptation is easy, or maybe the arranged tours are just really expensive. Follow this mini guide to ensure your spending stays on track…

1. Keep a list of what you have spent in a day (in a notepad or on your phone), useful to monitor the bigger picture of your spending. *I always tried to reflect on what I had spent and look for cheaper alternatives the next time*
2. Book a dorm room. Staying in a room full of strangers can be scary but you’re all in the same boat. *I never had anything stolen from a dorm room and sometimes my things weren’t locked*
3. Learn to say no. It’s so easy to get excited and say yes to everything. But remember, when the money is gone, it’s gone. *You don’t want to miss out on an incredible experience later down the line*
4. Speak to fellow travellers in hostels. Genuinely the best way to stay safe (learn about scams) and learn where the cheapest places to visit are. *Gain a benchmark for experiences so you know if you’re being overcharged*
5. Haggle, haggle, haggle. You are 100% going to be overcharged the local rate. Keep haggling until you like the price or just say no if it’s too much. *Remember that haggling is cultural and not considered rude outside of Western culture*

Travelling was my highlight of 2023; however, I wouldn’t have been able to carry on visiting new places if I hadn’t stuck to my 10 rules regarding a shoe string budget. I hope that you take on these tips, go forth and start globetrotting…