How To Travel Cheap

Everyone wants to travel. Everyone wants to see the world. To ride an elephant in Thailand, or be one with nature in South Africa, or scour the countless shops and outlets in America. Some travel to eat, some travel to shop, some travel to relax, while others travel just to bombard their Facebook friends' news feeds with pictures taken in exotic and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

While the concept of travel is very appealing, we oftentimes find it at the bottom of our to-do list. Sure, we daydream about seeing the Eiffel Tower at least once in our lifetime, or sipping wine at a vineyard in Napa Valley, or participating in the annual Running of the Bulls fiesta (Los Sanfermines) in beautiful Pamplona. But before we could do any of these, there are many, many other things that warrant our attention so much more than travel. We have an assortment of bills to pay, children to feed, clothe, and send to school. We have extended family to support and a coffee addiction to satisfy. We also have to consider the depth of our savings. If I went on this trip, would I come back broke? Well not if you plan ahead, and plan carefully.

Just a few minutes ago, as I was checking my Facebook news feed, I saw a post from Skyscanner Philippines announcing the cheapest roundtrip airfare from Manila to Paris for the month of February. It's Php 31,245 or USD 689.46. I immediately went to their website and checked the rates, and found out it's even cheaper if you fly via Saudia Airlines in July. You just have to check the calendar to see the lowest rates.

A couple of days ago, I booked a flight for my husband and me on cebupacific.com. I already mentioned this in a previous blog, but I think it's worth mentioning it again here. I saw (again on my Facebook news feed) a post from Cebu Pacific announcing their Chinese New Year sale - All domestic destinations for Php8 (plus taxes and surcharges), and Php88 (plus taxes and surcharges) for international destinations.

I have always wanted to go to Japan but have steered clear of one of the most expensive countries in the world, thinking "Okay, if I actually get there, then what? Starve to death?". Everyone who hasn't been to Japan (like me) has this idea that Japan is not within reach of ordinary people; that you would have to pay Php500 for corn on the cob, and maybe more for diet soda. But when the opportunity to actually go there presented itself, I grabbed it, thinking I could just save some more later so I would have spending money, without touching my savings.

While on the website, it didn't take me long to find the promo fare. I chose the dates May 19 to 23, and voila! The promo fare is still available on those dates. I immediately booked two tickets with one eye closed, already wondering what my husband would say once he woke up. I had been super "makulit" about going to Japan - (makulit means a lot of things but I guess in this case it means annoyingly persistent). Thank God my husband is a very patient man.

The total fare for the two of us (and this includes all the taxes and surcharges) is Php14,480.26. That's only USD320. But securing the tickets was only the first step. I still had to find a cheap hotel for our four-day stay. So, I went onto booking.com, a very trusted website, and looked for a room in a decent hotel, near a metro stop, a supermarket, and restaurants. Shopping is not really a priority.

I immediately found hotels that fit our needs and budget. It was a bit tricky, though, since Japanese hotels have all sorts of rooms for two adults. There's the small double, Western and Japanese styles, and the regular double, also Western and Japanese styles. I wanted to get a twin room (meaning with two beds, as opposed to the double room which has one big bed for two), with a private bathroom. (Always check if the hotel room has a private bathroom. I know for some people shared bathrooms are okay, and I am fine with that. But if you prefer your own private bathroom, then be sure to check the room description on the booking website.)

I clicked on a Hotel named Hotel Claiton Shin-Osaka and read the reviews. It is near a metro station, a train station, a supermarket, a convenience store, and restaurants. (I will definitely write a review of the hotel once I get back.) I checked the availability and thanked my heavenly stars that a few twin rooms had not been booked. The price definitely was within our budget. The total amount for our four-night stay is Y24,000 or Php10,627.82 or USD234.55. That would be hard to beat.

Of course, I'm going to have to stop checking budget airline websites for a while after this trip. My husband and I will need time to recuperate, especially since the family is planning to spend Christmas in Las Vegas. But my advice to people who really want to travel but can't seem to afford it is this:

1. Check out budget airline websites. Subscribe to them. There's a better chance of you getting wind of the promo fares if you receive regular emails from them, because how often do you go to individual websites, as opposed to how often you check your email?

2. Subscribe to skyscanner.com.ph or similar websites. It is easier to compare prices with websites like Skyscanner because it lists all the airfares from the cheapest to the priciest. You can also download their app so you can check airfares even when you're on the go.

3. Subscribe to booking.com or similar websites, but I prefer booking.com because it is free, there are no hidden charges, and they are very flexible when it comes to changing or cancelling your booking.

4. I prefer to use my ATM and withdraw local currency than to bring, let's say, US dollars and exchange it for the local currency. I just feel like it is cheaper to pay the fixed bank charges when you use your ATM, than to pay these money changers. A friend of mine lost thousands of pesos when she changed her money in Venice. She hadn't realized that the money changer would get a percentage of the money. Of course using the credit card, some say, is still the best and cheapest way to pay, if you take into account the currency conversion and ATM bank charges. But if you don't want to be surprised with exorbitant credit card bills, then maybe cash is the way to go. BUT bring a couple of hundred US dollars (or Euro or Pound) just in case you don't find an ATM right away.

5. If you still don't have a credit card, get one. I know some people abhor the sight of these dangerous, rectangular plastic tempters, but to be able to avail of these budget air fares and cheap hotel rates, you would need a credit card. You can still pay in cash once you get to the hotel, like what my husband and I did when we stayed at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel in Thailand in 2011 for our first wedding anniversary. But having a credit card is a must. When I was traveling in the US, I found that some motels would not accommodate you if you didn't have a credit card. Even if you pay in cash, they still need a credit card for their own security. Just in case you trash the hotel room or something.

6. No trip is complete without doing some shopping. Whether you buy small souvenir items or a piece of jewelry, or a variety of local delicacies and products, make sure you make every purchase count. Don't buy things you know you'll find anywhere else. When my friend and I went to Korea two weeks ago, we bought some souvenirs at Insadong, some local chocolates and tea that we knew we wouldn't find in the Philippines and Singapore. Of course, it is YOUR money, and you may do with it as you please. Always set some aside to treat yourself, be it with food, an unforgettable once in a lifetime experience (sky diving, river rafting), or a luxurious spa treatment. Personally, I'd rather see sights, eat at a decent restaurant (nothing fancy), and take hundreds of pictures.

Traveling does not have to break the bank. With a little bit of planning, strategy, and luck, we can all see the world for a much lower cost. Hope this blog entry inspires you to travel!