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Travel doesn’t have to be expensive.

Winter is fast approaching, and since everyone’s short on cash right now, saving money is the number one priority. If you want to enjoy an exotic vacation without having to spend thousands of dollars, these ultra-budget travel tips can help you get there, spend less, and have more fun.

 

1.      Low-income countries (generally) have lower ticket costs.

Generally speaking, booking tickets through low-income country travel agents will cost you less money. There are several reasons for this, some of which are obvious (lower labor costs) and some of which aren’t (variable ticket pricing). Need to make sure you’re getting a good deal on airfares? Call a travel agent in the country you’re visiting and ask about short-haul airfares to whatever destinations you’re traveling to. If they’re cheaper there, wait and book once you arrive.

 

2.      ‘Required’ medication is often much cheaper in country.

It’s worth getting immunizations at home, especially for potentially dangerous diseases and viruses. Take a trip to a travel doctor before you depart, but if they recommend anti-malarial medication it’s often worth holding off until you arrive.

Most anti-malarial drugs are ridiculously expensive in first world countries, sometimes upwards of $10 per pill. Save yourself the money and buy much cheaper, identical medications once you arrive at your destination.

Doxycycline can be much less expensive in low-income countries.

 

3.      Avoid the airport money changers, and use your credit card for currency conversions.

Most currency converters are a rip-off, especially when they’re located in an airport. Learn the exchange rates before you leave, keep up to date with the real exchange rate during your trip, and avoid money changers if you can.

If you’ve got cash that needs to be changed, do it at a bank if possible, and at Travelex as a last option. Banks will almost always offer better cash rates and cheaper commission charges, however they sometimes refuse certain currencies. Best option: use your credit card and get the closest possible conversion rate.

 

4.      In low-income countries, it can be cheaper to buy it there than to bring it with you.

If you’re flying ultra-budget (and you should be) it’s sometimes more expensive to check an additional bag. Travel light and save money on your airfare, all the while picking up whatever you need when you arrive.

It costs $2 to buy a towel in Thailand, so if you’re heading over for a month it’s much smarter to leave yours behind and buy a new one. A pair of flip flops is unlikely to set you back more than $3, so save baggage space and buy it when you’re there.

Cash isn’t always king. Using your credit card overseas can mean better exchange rates.

 

5.      Avoid the airport taxis, and walk before you hail a cab.

Ignore the salesmen screaming at you to get in their taxis and walk right through the airport terminal. In low-income countries, taxi cheats will do anything possible to convince you that they’re offering the best possible deal. Walk out of the airport and look for a taxi stand. If there isn’t one, just hail a cab yourself.

If you can access it, go to the airport’s departure drop-off point and flag a taxi there. They’ll be heading back into the city, and won’t try to rip you off on the fare like stationary cabs will.

 

6.      Travel agents and bus tours can speed up your immigration process.

It’s 2am, boiling hot, and you’re stuck on a bus at a Vietnamese immigration checkpoint. Border crossing can be a nightmare process, especially in developing countries where the procedures aren’t as streamlined as back home. If you’re using a private tour, you have two options:

1. Go through everything yourself, spend hours in the queue, and save a couple of bucks.
2. Have a tour guide process it for you.

In most developing countries you’re unlikely to pay more than $2 for the guide’s services, and the time that’s saved is worth it. Guides are passing through checkpoints all the time, and most know the officials relatively well. If possible, get your tour guide to handle immigration for you and you’ll find yourself at the front of the line.

Tour guides can save lots of time in immigration.

 

7.      Micro-booking budget plane tickets can save you serious money.

Budget airlines are great for cost cutting, but most only fly short distances. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re completely useless for long-haul travel. When you book multiple micro-flights on budget airlines, you can end up saving money and enjoying stopovers on the way to your destination.

For example, Air Asia flies to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from both Europe and the South Pacific. Say you’re flying Melbourne to London, which generally attracts a huge ticket price. Save some cash and book a flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur, and then again from Kuala Lumpur to London. Some of the fares cost as little as $100 per leg, so booking two separate journeys rather than one can save a lot on the one-way ticket cost.

 

8.      If it’s not peak season, walk in hotel prices almost always beat what’s online.

Online hotel prices are almost always inflated in developing countries. Why? The tourism industry tends to prey on people’s ignorance, especially when it’s an ignorance of local prices. If you’re booking a vacation to a developing country, book a hotel for the first one or two nights, then look around for better deals once you arrive. Walk in prices can end up being 50% cheaper than those advertised online, especially when you’re prepared to haggle with the counter clerk.

Meter taxis are always cheaper than a flat fare. If you can’t get the meter price, walk away and find another.

 

9.      Everything is negotiable.

Negotiation isn’t limited to markets and small shops. Everything from your hotel rates to tour prices is negotiable, provided you’re in an advantageous position. If you’re spending multiple nights at a hotel, ask for a long-term stay discount. Most clerks will be authorized to shave a decent portion of the price off right away.

When it comes to markets and shops, being prepared to walk away can save you some serious cash. Act as if you don’t need whatever you’re buying and the power is all on you. If you end up with a price you don’t like, start walking away and listen for the incoming counteroffer.

 

10.  Not sure when you’re leaving? Bus tickets can help with immigration.

Some countries have pretty strict immigration policies surrounding overstayers and one-way tickets. If you’re booking a one-way ticket to somewhere and aren’t sure when you’ll be leaving, a simple $10 bus or train ticket can often be enough to avoid the wrath of immigration staff.

Look around online for cheap bus and train tickets (Wikitravel is a great help) and book one to show that you’re leaving the country. Once you’re there, you’re free to cancel it and change your

 plans, or even miss it altogether.

Onwards travel can be as simple as a one-way discount bus ticket.

 

11.  ‘Pretending’ to be a student means lower costs.

STA Travel, along with some other travel agents, has discounted fares for students and under-26s. It’s not unlikely that your area has some free educations programs too. If you don’t mind being a little unethical, signing up for a free student program, receiving the I.D., and then canceling enrollment can end up saving you some serious money on plane tickets.

 

12.  Credit card points aren’t hard to game.

Most credit card companies will have an points scheme that builds your milage balance while you shop. While most people think that you’ve got to spend tons of cash to rack up anything worthwhile, you don’t really have to at all. Certain ‘free trials’ and other promotional nonsense can pay out huge milage bonuses, and sometimes spending an hour of your time at a doctors clinic or a free sales meeting can earn you 10,000 miles.

 

See this article for more information (scroll to “Buying Money”) on how one guy gamed the U.S. Mint for thousands of frequent flier miles. Thinking out of the box can mean ultra-cheap airfares and some serious milage bonuses.

With jobs being slashed left and right and pay rates dwindling, cheap is good for most consumers. The travel industry has been hit especially hard in the recession, with most people opting to stay at home and save money rather than spend it on vacations and their lifestyle.

But travel doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. When you choose your destination wisely, you can actually save money while traveling. From $3 cheap hotels to .50c meals, when you travel in lower-income countries you can maximize your spending power and live for significantly less than you would back home.

These four countries are perfect for the budget-conscious traveler. If you’re sick and tired of struggling to get by in an expensive city, take a month off, budget $1000, and head to one of these destinations: 

 

#1: Thailand

Thailand has long been renowned as one of the world’s most impressive and inexpensive countries, and for good reason. With some of the most stunning beaches, exciting tropical cities, and adventurous mountain terrain, it’s the perfect do-all destination for ultra-budget travelers. 

Bangkok proves that big city living doesn’t have to be expensive. 1 bedroom apartments can cost as little as $180 per month.

 

Even in Bangkok, which is by far the most expensive part of the country, you can find a delicious street stall meal for under $1. Drinks in a local bar can cost as little as $1.50, and even in the most exclusive restaurant you’re unlikely to pay more than $10 for a meal. Head to Banglampu district for cheap hotels, some from as little as $6 per night. In the city center, basic rooms will typically start at around $12 per night. 

$1 Pad Thai sound good? Cheap food is everywhere in Thailand’s roadside restaurants.

 

In the country, things get even cheaper. A basic room in Chiang Rai, a charming town in Thailand’s mountainous north, can cost as little as $4. In some of the undiscovered eastern islands, beachside bungalows can be found from as little as $5 per night. Want to save even more cash? Negotiate a monthly rate with the hotel or guesthouse, and stay for a fraction of the regular price.

For just a few dollars a day, this could be your backyard.

 

#2: Costa Rica 

Sure beats staring out an office window, doesn’t it?

 

Living in Costa Rica can be incredibly cheap, provided you know how to avoid the tourist traps. While it’s no longer the utlra-budget destination that it once was, it’s still easy to spend a month in Costa Rica for under $1000. With budget hotels costing as little as $10 per night and street vendors offering meals from only $1 a piece, Costa Rica is the easiest and most accessible destination for US residents.

Costa Rica is one of the world’s most geographically varied countries, with tropical beaches and vast mountain ranges right next to each other.

 

Want to cut your costs down even more? Stay out of San José and you’ll find yourself paying significantly less for accommodation and attractions. Costa Rica has a huge range of different climate zones and natural attractions, so finding a setting that suits you certainly shouldn’t be difficult.

 

#3: Laos

Despite being almost completely shut off from the rest of the world since the mid 1970s, Laos has emerged as one of the most naturally stunning and unspoiled vacation destinations in Asia. With ultra-low prices, stunning landscapes and some of the world’s most comfortable cheap hotels, it should be right at the top of your “to-visit” destination list.

Laos’ limestone mountain ranges offer some great ultra-budget adventure activities.

 

The capital, Vientiane, is home to some of the world’s cheapest French food and riverside barbecue restaurants. Around here, a night’s accommodation can cost as little as $5. Head further north and you’ll find rooms in Vang Vieng for as little as $1 per night. Sure, it’s not luxury, but as cheap hotels go $1 isn’t exactly a strain on funds.

Luang Prabang is surrounded by mountains and Buddhist temples.

 

UNESCO World Heritage site Luang Prabang has many cheap hotels, some from as little as $3 per night. To save more cash, move out of the city center and look at relatively simple rooms next to the river. With Laos’ climate, there’s no need for a duvet and comforter – ultra-budget hotels will have a mattress and sheet, which is more than enough to stay comfortable.

Vientiane’s Victory Gate is striking from afar, but a monster of concrete up close.

 

#4: Vietnam

Despite its rough modern history, Vietnam is a surprisingly tranquil and interesting travel destination. With a huge range of historical sites – some from 800AD and others from the 1960s – inexpensive and delicious food and some ultra-cheap 5-star hotels, Vietnam is quickly becoming one of the major tourism draws in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam’s ever recognizable flag, flying in Ha Long Bay.

 

Due to Vietnam’s long and thin geographical shape, the country experiences some clear cut seasons and climate zones, unlike its neighbors. The mountainous north experiences bitter winters, while summer temperatures are comfortable and warm. Down south, however, the climate is 100% tropical all year round, with monsoons moving across the country for four months a year.

Ho Chi Minh City’s colonial architecture transforms into a Gotham City lookalike at night.

 

Cheap hotels in either of the major cities cost around $10 per night, with ultra-budget rooms available for even less. Vietnamese food is ultra-cheap and very tasty, and most Western fast food is available at costs significantly below those at home. Simply put, almost any destination in Vietnam gives you the opportunity to live like a king for under $30 per day.

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Wherever and whenever you decide to travel, cutting costs is easy when you put your mind to it. Outside the major tourist areas in any country, prices will drop to a fraction of what they are near an attraction. When you make the most of your country’s spending power, an exotic vacation can quickly become less of an expense and much more of a resourceful cost-saving exercise.

Pour la plupart d’entre nous, nous réservons nos chambres d’hôtels sans savoir exactement à quoi nous attendre. Il s’agit souvent de trouver un hébergement bien placé et pour un prix compétitif, aussi il peut nous arriver d’être déçu ou surpris. Certaines de ces haltes peuvent nous emmener dans des lieux insolites, voire bizarres. C’est par exemple le cas de l’hôtel Fox à Copenhague, Danemark (1). En 2004, pour le lancement de sa nouvelle voiture, la Fox, Volkswagen cherchait un lieu pour la présenter aux journalistes. N’en trouvant pas, la marque donna carte blanche à 21 artistes émergents pour aménager un local qu’elle restitua en l’état à son propriétaire.  Aujourd’hui ce dernier assure la gestion des 61 chambres ainsi créées. Moins artistique mais tout aussi surprenant, l’hôtel Celica à Ljubljana, Slovénie (2). Vestige de l’ère soviétique, l’ancienne prison a été aménagée en Auberge de jeunesse et vous propose de dormir en cellule avec deux ou trois codétenus. Si des artistes slovènes et étrangers ont décoré le bâtiment, les portes sont toujours d’époque, avec barreaux. Avec des origines sensiblement identiques, un pénitencier, le Propeller Island Ciy Lodge (3) a quant à lui été entièrement rénové pendant plus de 5 ans par un artiste qui a laissé libre court à son imagination. Situé à Berlin,  certaines chambres vous donneront le tournis, comme la « mirror » qui porte si bien son nom que vous vous retrouverez dans un kaléidoscope où sa voisine dans laquelle tous les meubles sont… au plafond. Totalement différent mais pas moins surprenant le Jumbo Hostel (4). En atterrissant en Suède  vous pourriez faire le choix de ne pas quitter l’aéroport pour vous y reposer. Cet hôtel  est un Boeing 747 cloué au tarmac de l’aéroport de Stockholm, volant autrefois sous les couleurs de Singapore Airlines qui propose aujourd’hui 25 chambres pour accueillir les voyageurs en transit. Avec de la chance vous pourriez bénéficier de la suite abritée dans le cockpit. Vue panoramique garantie.

Enfin, parmi la multitude d’hotels londres le Pavilion (5) est excentrique à souhait. Grand frère d’un hotel madrid, il a la réputation d’avoir les faveurs du petit monde de la mode, de la pop  musique et des médias. Chacune des 30 chambres porte un nom équivoque, telle celle à dominante verte surnommée « green of envy ». On trouve sur les murs de l’hôtel les hommages des célébrités y ayant séjournées mais pour autant, l’une des principales surprises reste les tarifs très raisonnables. Impossible de trouver plus glamour dans la capitale Anglaise, à quelques minutes à peine de Piccadily Circus. Cependant si aucune des chambres n’est disponible lors de votre séjour vous n’aurez aucune difficulté à trouver d’autres hotels londres bizarres ou étranges. Chaque quartier a son lot d’artistes dont beaucoup supervisent la rénovation et l’aménagement d’hôtels.