It is no secret that I love to travel.
I have this huge desire to explore different countries and cultures, eat local food and drink local wine, learn a few phrases in foreign languages, meet new people and get a few stamps in my passport along the way.
One of the advantages of living in London is the fact that you can get cheap flights pretty much anywhere in Europe with budget airlines. During all my travels I have discovered that one does not need to spend a lot of money to be able to enjoy and discover a new city with these simple tips –
- Try and book your flights well in advance or on sale as you can normally get a very good deal. If you travel around Europe with such airlines as Easyjet or Ryanair, you need to pay extra for a hold bag (anywhere between £25-50 for a return flight). I always travel with my hand luggage for two reasons: to avoid these extra charges and to have less stuff to carry around.
- Try and get good deals on hotels or hostels (depending on your preference and budget). I normally use Booking.com as I find their rates to be the cheapest. If you have friends in the city you are going to and they are willing to accommodate you, that’s even better. This is how I got to travel around Israel and Jordan for two months.
- Travel light, pack things that you will definitely need while travelling and no more. I normally take a pair of jeans, a jacket, a dress, one pair of comfortable shoes and a few t-shirts, and don’t forget your camera and a charger ?
- “Travel size” shampoos, conditioners and other bathroom essentials come in small containers which can then be re used. Take them with you to avoid unnecessary spending and to save you time, personally I do not want to be running around a foreign city looking for a shower gel.
- Avoid buying expensive travel guides as you will most likely use them once. Borrow from your library or friends instead.
- Exchange local currency before you leave. I know where I can get good exchange rates here in London so I always take my money to them. A vast majority of currency exchange points at airports and other touristy places have extortionate exchange rates and you end up losing a fortune.
- If you need to use your phone abroad, purchase a local SIM card and prepaid minutes when you get to your destination. I have used my English number while travelling on a number of occasions and this has been a huge mistake as data roaming is very expensive and you end up paying double or even treble the price.
I would love for you to share your own experience and a few tips that you may have.