Rebecca Lee Robinson – Adventure Media

Read Part I Here.

3. Decided where you’re willing to stay.

• Or better, decide how you can stay.
• Hostels are great if you don’t mind sharing a room with numerous people, which can be noisy, hot, uncomfortable and busy. The best reason is that you have a kitchen to cook meals. Sometimes hostels have private rooms or smaller women’s dorms that help with the chaos.
• If hostels are too much chaos:
  • look into less expensive B&Bs
  • Discount hotels like IBIS are very affordable, sometimes as low as $70/night for two people.
  • Look for air BNB options, which is also a great way to make friends.
  • Also, look for small apartments so you can cook and get a more local feel.
• In Asia it is often best to stay in hotels.

4. What do you want to do?

• Read about all the things to do where you are traveling and narrow it down. Then add up entrance fees, bus/travel fares etc. and get an idea on how much it will cost to go somewhere.
• To SAVE: look into city passes that offer transport with it. Such as the London and Paris Pass
  • If you don’t want to see a lot of touristy things, you might avoid this.
• Decide what you can’t go home without seeing, and rearrange your budget for that.

5. Challenge your budget

• Figure out how much you want to spend a day and try to stay in that, say $100/day is your budget. If you spend $50 on a hotel/hostel, $20 on food and $30 on adventure you will be at your budget. I’ve tried to stay at $50-75 on many trips and have been successful.

6. Food and where to save

• ASK LOCALS
  • they will know the best food for the best price, this is especially true in Italy.
  • Look for “meal deals” at mom and pop restaurants and pubs.
    • In Italy there was a dinner deal for 14 euros, which included wine, water and three courses of AMAZING food!
      • They were right by my apartment too
  • shop local markets
    • the best place for the freshest food!
  • Look for local bakeries for breads and sweets
    • they’re often VERY affordable if not dirt cheap and delicious
• With allergies
  • ask around about this too
  • As the world becomes smaller and more aware many places advertise gluten free products.
  • LEARN what words indicate “gluten free” etc. and then go to the grocery store to stock up on snacks
    • this will save you the most money
  • Ask around about gluten free bakeries

7. Souvenirs

• Street market
  • good deals, a chance to barter and less money spent on good quality items.
• Museums
  • support the preservation and work of historical societies that keep up castles and artifacts by shopping in their gift shops. They also charge less, and do much more with the money.
• Shops
  • if you have time, price compare, and try to barter (totally acceptable in most places)
  • Many times they have some better quality goods, but not always
• Ask Locals
  • ask around about quality, where goods come from, and what is a waste of money or not. Locals usually have something to say about it.

8. Drinking/Partying

• Save by only buying one or two drinks and avoiding places with cover fees.

Part III