Pro Tips for Saving Money On TravelTravopoly

Pretty simple: Buy less stuff.

Generally I try not to buy manythings I’d much rather have thetime and money to travel, thanwork like crazy just to buystuff.

Even when I see something Ithink I’d really love to own, Itry to think about the placesI’ve been able to travel and thememories I have, and thathelps me put ‘value’ intoperspective.

Consider Renting Out Your Place

It can help offset your travel costsand, depending on where you liveand where you’re going, even turnyou a profit. Several years ago,we did the Southeast Asiabackpack circuit for a couplemonths, and rented out our NYCapartment while we were gone.Our travel costs were so low SEAsia is the trip for the budget-minded that we actually ended upmaking money. We found a rentervia Craigslist, but you could alsolist your pad on a site like Airbnbor VRBO, or look into a houseswap on Home Exchange.

Jump On The “Orbucks” Train

Of the booking sites, I’m a hugeOrbitz fan because their rewardsprogram is by far the most simpleI’ve used. Immediately after youbook, you receive ‘Orbucks,” whichyou can use on future bookings.

If you were visiting multiple cities inEurope, by the time you book yourfirst hotel you already have cash toput towards the next hotel in thenext city you plan on visiting! It’s asuncomplicated as can be.

Find A Home Away From Home

While we do love hotels,sometimes prices are throughthe roof—especially when you’retraveling as a group. That’s whena service such as Airbnb can saveyou money and give you morespace and amenities.

To make sure you’ll get the bestpossible experience, selectrentals hosted by Airbnb‘Superhosts,’ those who have thehighest ratings

Book Activities Ahead Of Time

One school of thought says thatbooking activities last minute onthe ground will nab you a deal,but that’s not always the case.Take Europe. Europeans like toplan. This means you can getcheaper prices by helping themplan.Say you’re booking a raft trip inSlovenia or a tandem paraglideflight in the Alps, you’ll generallydo better to book ahead online.You’ll find group-discount ratesyou can take advantage of evenif you’re not traveling in a group.

Give WiFi-to-go a go

Little, rentable mobile routersnicknamed ‘pocket WiFi’ arebecoming more available in placeslike Europe and Japan. Typically youreserve one, then pick it up at theairport or have it delivered to yourhotel.

They cost a low per-day fee, andwill save you from internationalroaming charges, paying for hotelWiFi if it’s not gratis, or having tobuy a coffee every time you want touse a cafe’s WiFi but you realize thatit’s password protected so you can’t‘borrow’ it from outside.

Expand Your “Hotel” Horizons

Whether it’s a B&B, farm stay, orhouseboat. Right now I’m based inEurope, and Europe’s best hotels aren’tactually hotels. They’re mountain huts,and you have to walk to get to them.From Austria to Avoriaz and beyond, theAlps are dotted with them.

Half hotel, half hostel, the huts canserve as a basecamp for serious climbersor as a lovely romantic getaway. Whilethe more remote huts may take manyhours to trek too, there are tons ofoptions within a couple hour hike. One ofmy favorites is Rifugio Vicenza.