Posted on:
2009 12 29
2009 12 29
Few tips to make your journey less expensive
I had idea to write this entry after reading some comments about vacation trips. There are some people who work year after year and they never leave home or their country just because they think that traveling will cost them a fortune. It doesn't. What you need basically is a strong wish, some patience and courage to dare. We live in the time when possibilities are endless, travels are cheap and you can go nearly anywhere you want.
You can easily get here if you want nearly from anywhere in Europe - this place is located in Zakopane, Poland.
I have to say, I never considered my travels cheapest ones, and usually I do not use cheapest decisions – hitchhiking (although I would really like to travel this way I prefer, well, a bit more control when and where I am going), sleeping under the skies in places not suitable for camping – that happened a few times but I wasn't actually enjoying it). However – after telling latest tale I always get this question “So, how much does that cost?”. After my reply other person usually asks “That's in Euro, right?”, and I correct them that my mentioned price is in Lithuanian Litas, which is 0.29 Euro. I guess that makes my traveling 3 times cheaper the usual :)
The trip
Last time I was in group tour , I was still going to 9th or 10th grade. I think this is very simple – if travel agency offers you trip to another country, you can do the same, except saving from 1/3 to 2/3 from total price and freedom to go anywhere you want, while stopping on the way to your destination. Sure, you wont have a guide, but tell me honestly, how much of that stuff will you remember, especially if guide talks non stop for the whole tour. You will remember some basic or maybe fun facts, but it's possible to get them from the net or just buying a book about places you are visiting – guides learn that stuff from somewhere too. Sometimes you can get “last minute” deal, but that's a deal brought nearly to the price you would pay for the journey if you make it yourself.
I'm not sure why would you need a guide here. This destination also can be reached easily - Rysy, Slovakia side.
I prefer traveling with my own car. In this case you can visit any place you want on the way, do not have to worry about any damage you would make for a rented one. My car uses LPG, so it's way cheaper than using petroleum or even diesel. If you arrive to the city or to the country where you'll be traveling a lot of short distances – you can just park your car somewhere for a few days because it might be cheaper to use local transport or to go on foot. Also, if there is another option - you can sleep here. Not very comfortable but cheap, and guaranteed waterproof :)
Staying
Sometimes you may get a chance to stay like this :) Ostrog Monastery, Montenegro.
Most of the times I choose camping. There camping sites in every country, most of them have some web pages or at least are mentioned in one or another. If you cannot find one, try asking at the tourist office, perhaps they can help. But usually camps are marked even in local traffic maps, or you can just add them to GPS. Easy as that :)
A rather nice place for a tent isn't it?
Few times I have stayed overnight in a car as it was too late to find a place to sleep, and besides that, it sounds a bit overpriced to me when you have to pay more than 10 euros for 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Basically what you have to do – just find some nice, quiet spot with no traffic around. Same thing about sleeping in a tent in some not exactly suitable for that places. Just try to get a spot where you will not be seen from road and perhaps a bit further from any locals houses or towns.
Another great option is couchsurfing, as long as you are thinking about it not as free bed but as whole experience. Perhaps thought of staying with complete stranger at his house might be not acceptable for someone – I have to say that every time I stayed that was a highlight of my journey, in a good way. There are lot of great and interesting people you can meet on your travels. Don't miss the chance.
We surfed a couch here Bremen, Germany.
And most expensive but perhaps most comfortable option for some – hostels. They costs lower than hotels, but can be as good. If you travel off season there is even a chance that you might have a smaller hostel just for yourself. So, no worries about waiting your turn for the shower if you got a room without it. I usually stay in hostels when there is no other choice – weather I too cold for sleeping in tent or I'm just traveling without one, in a place where are no couchsurfers.
Research
View from a lookout tower in Hungary.
If you decided to go on your own – great. Always do your research before traveling. How much will tickets cost? Can you get them on line? Perhaps they are cheaper on line? Where you will park your car? I can give you an example – if you ever be in Hungary, you may want to visit highest mountain in northern region. If you do your research well, you may find that there are at least two lookout points around. One cost 10 times the other, but basically it's almost the same. You can park your car in small town near the mountain for free and then go to the lookout tower on feet – it’s not far and not that difficult – you can even get a dessert on the way because blueberries ripe near the path. What’s more interesting – you can even put up a tent anywhere in national park limits for free! Or you can go to the camping which is situated in the same park and pay for it.
If you are willing to do some walking and some research, you will always be able to save couple of Euro, and if you do that every day – the saved sum quickly becomes bigger and bigger.
National food and daily food
National food Hungarian way.
Let’s face it – national dishes are national, because, well.. they are national – and are made by locals. That usually means not some fancy cooking devices – just ingredients used in the way you are not used to, or perhaps local ingredients. Once again – that means that if locals make them – you can make them. Here couchsurfing comes handy again. Usually during our travels we are more than glad if we can cook for our host some national Lithuanian dish (there are few that requires minimal amount of kitchen appliances). And I think that usually host likes that too. In return or as additional favor as you are already staying with him, you can ask him or her to share cooking knowledge with you. And I think it is obligate for you to buy ingredients for the dish as host is already doing you a favor. It may cost nearly (sometimes above) the price you would pay in local bar for this dish but here is the catch – you will learn how to make it, you will have nice supper or dinner, and at last but not least – the portion will be double you would get at the restaurant.
If I'm are on my own – I.E. staying in tent, I usually cook my own food. Usually there are lots of noodles, rice and flakes. You can always use water, but if you get some milk, it will add some taste to that.
Our reliable cooking friend in young days.
Here is a note worth to remember – BRING THE PAN! I recall one time when we were stuck with boiling bowl for a week, I began dreaming of a fried food. So. Don’t forget the pan, it really makes the difference :)
Savings – a lot, because it may cost 10 times lower per day than eating out.
That's about it. If you have any comments, want to add (or remove) something, discuss please use comment form below! I appreciate your comments and opinion.
And if want - just go. Final shot - Sveti Stefan island in Montenegro.
You can easily get here if you want nearly from anywhere in Europe - this place is located in Zakopane, Poland.
I have to say, I never considered my travels cheapest ones, and usually I do not use cheapest decisions – hitchhiking (although I would really like to travel this way I prefer, well, a bit more control when and where I am going), sleeping under the skies in places not suitable for camping – that happened a few times but I wasn't actually enjoying it). However – after telling latest tale I always get this question “So, how much does that cost?”. After my reply other person usually asks “That's in Euro, right?”, and I correct them that my mentioned price is in Lithuanian Litas, which is 0.29 Euro. I guess that makes my traveling 3 times cheaper the usual :)
The trip
Last time I was in group tour , I was still going to 9th or 10th grade. I think this is very simple – if travel agency offers you trip to another country, you can do the same, except saving from 1/3 to 2/3 from total price and freedom to go anywhere you want, while stopping on the way to your destination. Sure, you wont have a guide, but tell me honestly, how much of that stuff will you remember, especially if guide talks non stop for the whole tour. You will remember some basic or maybe fun facts, but it's possible to get them from the net or just buying a book about places you are visiting – guides learn that stuff from somewhere too. Sometimes you can get “last minute” deal, but that's a deal brought nearly to the price you would pay for the journey if you make it yourself.
I'm not sure why would you need a guide here. This destination also can be reached easily - Rysy, Slovakia side.
I prefer traveling with my own car. In this case you can visit any place you want on the way, do not have to worry about any damage you would make for a rented one. My car uses LPG, so it's way cheaper than using petroleum or even diesel. If you arrive to the city or to the country where you'll be traveling a lot of short distances – you can just park your car somewhere for a few days because it might be cheaper to use local transport or to go on foot. Also, if there is another option - you can sleep here. Not very comfortable but cheap, and guaranteed waterproof :)
Staying
Sometimes you may get a chance to stay like this :) Ostrog Monastery, Montenegro.
Most of the times I choose camping. There camping sites in every country, most of them have some web pages or at least are mentioned in one or another. If you cannot find one, try asking at the tourist office, perhaps they can help. But usually camps are marked even in local traffic maps, or you can just add them to GPS. Easy as that :)
A rather nice place for a tent isn't it?
Few times I have stayed overnight in a car as it was too late to find a place to sleep, and besides that, it sounds a bit overpriced to me when you have to pay more than 10 euros for 4 or 5 hours of sleep. Basically what you have to do – just find some nice, quiet spot with no traffic around. Same thing about sleeping in a tent in some not exactly suitable for that places. Just try to get a spot where you will not be seen from road and perhaps a bit further from any locals houses or towns.
Another great option is couchsurfing, as long as you are thinking about it not as free bed but as whole experience. Perhaps thought of staying with complete stranger at his house might be not acceptable for someone – I have to say that every time I stayed that was a highlight of my journey, in a good way. There are lot of great and interesting people you can meet on your travels. Don't miss the chance.
We surfed a couch here Bremen, Germany.
And most expensive but perhaps most comfortable option for some – hostels. They costs lower than hotels, but can be as good. If you travel off season there is even a chance that you might have a smaller hostel just for yourself. So, no worries about waiting your turn for the shower if you got a room without it. I usually stay in hostels when there is no other choice – weather I too cold for sleeping in tent or I'm just traveling without one, in a place where are no couchsurfers.
Research
View from a lookout tower in Hungary.
If you decided to go on your own – great. Always do your research before traveling. How much will tickets cost? Can you get them on line? Perhaps they are cheaper on line? Where you will park your car? I can give you an example – if you ever be in Hungary, you may want to visit highest mountain in northern region. If you do your research well, you may find that there are at least two lookout points around. One cost 10 times the other, but basically it's almost the same. You can park your car in small town near the mountain for free and then go to the lookout tower on feet – it’s not far and not that difficult – you can even get a dessert on the way because blueberries ripe near the path. What’s more interesting – you can even put up a tent anywhere in national park limits for free! Or you can go to the camping which is situated in the same park and pay for it.
If you are willing to do some walking and some research, you will always be able to save couple of Euro, and if you do that every day – the saved sum quickly becomes bigger and bigger.
National food and daily food
National food Hungarian way.
Let’s face it – national dishes are national, because, well.. they are national – and are made by locals. That usually means not some fancy cooking devices – just ingredients used in the way you are not used to, or perhaps local ingredients. Once again – that means that if locals make them – you can make them. Here couchsurfing comes handy again. Usually during our travels we are more than glad if we can cook for our host some national Lithuanian dish (there are few that requires minimal amount of kitchen appliances). And I think that usually host likes that too. In return or as additional favor as you are already staying with him, you can ask him or her to share cooking knowledge with you. And I think it is obligate for you to buy ingredients for the dish as host is already doing you a favor. It may cost nearly (sometimes above) the price you would pay in local bar for this dish but here is the catch – you will learn how to make it, you will have nice supper or dinner, and at last but not least – the portion will be double you would get at the restaurant.
If I'm are on my own – I.E. staying in tent, I usually cook my own food. Usually there are lots of noodles, rice and flakes. You can always use water, but if you get some milk, it will add some taste to that.
Our reliable cooking friend in young days.
Here is a note worth to remember – BRING THE PAN! I recall one time when we were stuck with boiling bowl for a week, I began dreaming of a fried food. So. Don’t forget the pan, it really makes the difference :)
Savings – a lot, because it may cost 10 times lower per day than eating out.
That's about it. If you have any comments, want to add (or remove) something, discuss please use comment form below! I appreciate your comments and opinion.
And if want - just go. Final shot - Sveti Stefan island in Montenegro.
