“I could certainly become a full-time traveller now!”
These wise words were spoken by an anonymous Melbourne man who won 20 million dollars in a lottery in August 2016. True that, Mr anonymous Melbourne man!
Just imagine what you could do with all that money…
- Hire a private jet (handsome pilot included!) and fly around the world
- Land your jet in the middle of the Sahara and take a selfie with a camel
- Move to your favourite holiday destination, install a pool and fill it with money so you can swim in it DuckTales style
- Save the rainforest and buy it
- …
Okay, I admit, it must be pretty awesome to win that much money. But, at the same time, who says you need to win the lottery to experience unforgettable travel stories? Isn’t it part of the whole travel fun to be able to score cheap deals and to just go back to basics?
I certainly think it is! These tips & tricks will help you create magnificent travel memories without exceeding your non-lottery-winner budget.
Paradise exists... and it's not expensive!
Ever been to paradise without paying a fortune? Go to Thailand and your answer to that question will be: YES! Sip from cocktail buckets while dancing with ultra sociable locals, attend the most beautiful drag queen shows you have ever seen and rent a moped to admire some knock-out views on the Thai islands. Use your best haggling tricks and always say you are a student when people ask what you do for a living. You will get cheaper accommodation, lower prices for tours and souvenirs and… you can practise your acting skills!
Cheap treats for your taste buds
Those same haggling skills will come in handy in Cambodia as well. Use a flight search engine like Google Flights (in private mode) to find the cheapest flights to Siem Reap and visit the magical Angkor Wat temples. Need to get your tummy filled up? Get yourself a delicious fruit shake or heavenly fried noodles at a street food stall. It is cheap and, above all, it is delicious! If the foodie inside of you just can't get enough of Asian street food, this tour might become the best friend of your taste buds.
Make your Aussie or Kiwi dream reality
I can already hear you thinking: "There is no way that I can afford a trip down under!" Well, my friend, I am extremely happy to inform you that there are several ways to make your Aussie/Kiwi trip happen without ruining your bank account:
- Get a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). You can get it online and it allows you to stay in the country for 1 year. The WHV allows you to do plenty of travelling and when you are running out of money, you simply find a job to spice up your budget so you can spend it on even more travelling again.
- Try options like Wwoofing, HelpX or Couchsurfing, that will help you to find free accommodation (sometimes in return for a couple of hours work per day). These options also get you to meet more locals, which means more inside tips & tricks.
- Work as an au pair or demi pair. You will find tons of Facebook groups on which Australian families post ads looking for someone to help out with the kids. It is a great opportunity to find free accommodation with free wifi, a nice bathroom and sometimes even a trampoline in the garden. Very often, you will have a car that you are allowed to use on your days off.
- Join Backpacker groups on Facebook to find people with a spare seat in their car and travel from one city to another. You just share the fuel cost, maybe take over the wheel from time to time (if you have your driver's license) and absorb the road trip vibe. Use the WikiCamps app to find free campsites and spend a free night under a beautiful ceiling of stars.
- Use your online research skills to the fullest and find cheap tours and packages.
Experience the tropical vibes of Fiji
Fiji: famous for being the ultimate tropical paradise and.... exclusive prices. But don't be sad my fellow travellers, Fiji can definitely be done on a budget. How? Get yourself a Hop on/Hop off Bula Pass and explore the breathtaking Yasawa islands at your own pace. Hostels will do the trick to find cheap accommodation. No budget for expensive snorkelling/diving trips? Bring your own snorkel set (Keep an eye open on eBay) and you can easily create your very own snorkel excursion without spending any money on expensive tours. Now you can snorkel along the coast of the many wonderful islands all by yourself!
So where is your budget going to bring you next?
