Authentic tips to afford travel
Budgeting tips for Travel
Budgeting for travel is always a challenge. Transport and accommodation are what drains even the best financial planning. I still have not found a money tree with a surplus of greenback leaves that I can grab at for life’s luxuries so how do we spend our mini (not mega) bucks when we are yearning to see a new place?
In my previous blog I told you how Roaming Fox Travel Blog began. This time I will disclose a few of our tips and secrets how we could afford to travel.
A sandbar on the horizon in Madagascar
‘You’re never at home!’
‘We could never do that!’
‘You stayed there? I wouldn’t!’
‘How can you afford what you do?’
‘You must have loads of money!’
‘Did you win the lotto?’
These are just some of the comments we have heard after some of our trips, whether it be a local one or internationally. To be fair, we weren’t always away, but we chose our times carefully and incorporated it with our annual leave or long weekends. I can probably count on one finger when we stayed in a luxury hotel (and that was beyond our control) and one hand when we stayed in medium priced resort accommodation.
You can travel too! – If you genuinely want to.
Our motto is to live a balanced life but don’t put off till tomorrow what you can today. Unfortunately most of us have to work to play, even those Instagram influencers that look like they live the perfect life, relaxing in sponsored or even free accommodation.
One thing we have been made aware of on a continuous basis is that life is short. It can knock you off your feet and you can drown in an instant in deep or uncharted metaphorical waters. It can also throw a curve ball that will knock you flat or worse, six feet underground. If you want to do something, go for it, because you might not get that opportunity again. There is one thing for certain, you don’t know how many tomorrows there are.
It is your life; your decisions and your priorities. If you really want to travel, don’t make excuses but work towards your goal to travel. Then do it your way. We are so thankful we took the opportunity to go to certain places when we did. For whatever reason, we know that we may never have that opportunity again.
“If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel - as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them - wherever you go.”
Before you plan your trip ask yourself these questions:
Do you essentially want to explore foreign destinations? How often would you like to go away? And how would you like to do it? Would you prefer one opportunity, a once in a lifetime luxury (or even budget) holiday, never to be repeated?
Perhaps you are more comfortable in your own surroundings and would far rather sleep in your own bed. That is also OK and no one is forcing you to embark on adventures to all four corners of the globe but then I hope you are just a little bit more considerate towards your friends that want to spend at least some of their hard-earned cash to travel or be a digital nomad.
Oscar Wilde in Dublin
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Inspiration from adventurers
I am a huge fan of Lewis Gordon Pugh. His claim to fame? He is the guy that swims in icy seas just wearing Speedo swimming trunks and goggles. That is part of the way he brings awareness about the plight of the ocean. His campaigns assist in the preservation and conservation of our oceans. I hugely respect and admire him for what he does.
“Four-point-two kilometres is a long way for a frozen body to sink. I try not to think about it as I stand on the edge of the ice, preparing myself to plunge into the sea. Great depths don’t normally hold any fear for me, but this is different.
The water is black, inky black, and so impenetrable that even if my goggles do not mist up, I’ll be unable to see even my hand stretched out in front of me. All around me, the ice is cracking up. It’s beautiful and terrifying: cracks can appear beneath your feet with little warning. Fall unprepared into one of these and you’ll freeze.”
Choose your own adventure
We don’t all have to be a Lewis Pugh, though, but each time we set out on an adventure, whilst not necessarily as daunting as Lewis’, I defy anyone to say their heart does not beat just a little bit faster than usual. There is a specific joy but also a natural uncertainty before you set off to travel into the unknown.
That anticipation makes us eager to head out to unfamiliar destinations or embark on interesting voyages and discover what is out there. It is that thrill of doing something different to the everyday mundane activities that gets your blood pumping. I classify myself as being only mildly adventurous and at times I have been out of my comfort zone. Do I have any regrets? Quite the opposite, I thrive on those experiences even though it might not always look that way and I relive those memories every single day.
A dhow anchored in Maputo Bay - A road trip to Santa Maria, Maputo Special Reserve
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
How have we financially been able to set out on these journeys?
We were fortunate to have a comfortable lifestyle, so that was a huge advantage. I made a decision when we started a family, that my children were my priority. It did not mean I did not have a career. I was fortunate to be able to work part time for a few years. Then I had the opportunity to run my own tiny business from home for many years to supplement our income and add money for some luxuries or necessities. It was a small salary but my time was flexible and I was available for my family.
When we started traveling it was unheard of to work remotely. Most people had a 9-5 office job. Show up or you do not get paid. One of the important aspects we had to consider for our future (and that future is now here) is to make our own provisions for retirement, in other words, we could not spend all our money and have nothing for our golden (or is it silver?) years.
Travel smart and think out the box
Scroll through websites for flights and accommodation
Fuel, airfare, or transport are one of the most expensive parts of a trip. The first travel hack that always comes to mind and of course the easiest, is keeping your eyes peeled on travel websites or social media accounts for discounts. You can often pick up specials on accommodation and flights.
Some websites will offer you tips and travel hacks from other bloggers or digital nomads. Another way to travel is of course to use your credit card points and sky or frequent flyer miles.
Bypass high season and opt for low season
Sometimes there is nothing wrong with traveling during low or off season. Our trip to the Maldives was one of those low season rates and believe me, it was still expensive. We were concerned about the weather, but it was perfect. I am not saying it will always be the case, though.
Look for Discounted Activities
Get Your Guide has discounted attractions, tours and activities, a great way to unleash exceptional travel experiences.
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Here are other smart tips that you might not have considered:
Pay off your debts quickly
We tried our best to limit any debts, only bought what we really needed and lived within our means. Our biggest expense was our mortgage on our house and car payments. We paid those off as quickly as possible and did not buy new vehicles every couple of years, except when we felt it was necessary to buy a suitable vehicle for future travels. After years of paying off an extra amount each month, we were relatively debt free and that amount could then be saved or spent on future travels.
Only spend what you can afford
We always worked towards a goal and saved up for it. We never went into debt for our trips. It is tempting to travel and then pay off the cost once you come back, but you may have to pay more for the trip because there will be added expense of interest for the loan.
Ancient Empires - The Sistine Chapel & ceiling painted by Michelangelo
Want to see Europe? Get Your Guide has some great Attractions!
Local travel
Many of our trips were to check out the local hood or our own backyard, so to speak. There is nothing wrong with traveling locally and it is a great idea to see one’s own country. Sometimes that is what sparks the travel bug to explore further. Don’t say I did not warn you!
There will be the expense of fuel, accommodation and local (but not international) flights. Often, but not always, it can be cheaper.
Be a tourist in your own hometown - Prison at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
Need to book a flight? Check out Aviasales.
Don’t choose to stay in the hub of the tourist hotspots.
On our visit to Phuket, Thailand we found that if we stayed a few villages away from the main tourist beach area of Patong, our accommodation was considerably cheaper. An added bonus was that the beaches were quieter, which we prefer.
Think of where you want to be. Do you like being in the centre of the hub or can you travel back and forth to where you want to be? Also take into account the cost to travel back and forth, if you are going to do so regularly.
Walk when and if you can
I do realise it is not always possible, but we have spent many times walking around new destinations. Often one needs to use transport but sometimes it is just better to walk when exploring a place - that is when I get the real feel or vibe of a place. We have walked in many of the major cities such as London, Dubai and Sydney.
Big Bus Tours offers great sightseeing around the world
Budget accommodation
Accommodation is often one of the expensive costs, after flights or fuel. Who does not love luxury? My hubby for one! He prefers to live in a swimsuit with his toes in the sand and his head in the sea. I of course would prefer a little bit of luxury, but I am not opposed to follow in his footsteps, so we compromised. Besides, how much time do you spend in your room? Most of that time is with your eyes closed, anyway.
A prerequisite naturally is the accommodation needs to be comfortable and clean but if you are spending more time outdoors, then why pay an exorbitant amount for something that you are only going to use for a short period? Unless you want the luxury and pampering. Then you may have to compromise and stay for a shorter period if your budget won’t allow a longer stay.
One of our major saves was often being able to stay with family when we went to visit them overseas.
Wonder what it’s like to stay in one of these?
Looking for accommodation? Check out Booking.com.
Camping
Would you enjoy camping? As a family, would it be an adventure or would it be a slog? Why would you even camp? Camping is a great family getaway in nature and there are many special places to set up your tent or park your little home. Often there are specific areas you can go to with no accommodation.
Before we bought our offroad trailer and tent we worked out the cost of staying in accommodation for one of our adventures in Mozambique. We knew we would want to travel overland more often for the coming years and worked out that the trailer and rooftop tent would pay for itself over and over again. It certainly did!
Another option of course would be to consider if it is more viable financially to buy a tent, or even more comfortable to purchase a caravan or a campervan? That depends on your personal needs and budget.
Cook while you travel
If you are staying in accommodation that allows you to self-cater, take the opportunity to make some of your own meals. Alternatively indulge in some street food or market food, which is often less expensive, rather than restaurants all the time.
If you do go to restaurants, don’t always choose those in the main street. In Paris we found if we frequented the restaurants in the side streets they were often cheaper.
Looking for UK holiday deals & Trip ideas? Check out Expedia.
Research, research, research!
You’ve chosen a destination. You have an idea what you want to do there. The next step is to research the place, its activities and how other people have experienced it plus all the costs involved. Living in South Africa, let’s face it, the ZAR doesn’t go far and we often chose budget destinations.
Case in point: Madagascar.
At the time we went to Madagascar, it was not much of a tourist destination yet and we were novice travellers. Even then we needed to think out the box.
Madagascar was a relatively cheap place to go to but that also meant the infrastructure was still poor and little to just about non-existent resort accommodation. We were a family of four going on an adventure of a lifetime and we presumed this would be THE trip, never to be repeated.
Our sons were at the start of their teenage years, so definitely no perks like kids under ten stay for free. One of our objectives was to learn to scuba dive - all four of us. Travel is not cheap for a family of four.
At the time it was not easy to do the research because there weren’t many websites, in fact there was hardly internet, if at all. If I recall correctly we relied on fax machines to communicate. They did not even have cellular phones in Madagascar yet. We somehow managed to plan and enquire ahead of time.
We calculated the cost of accommodation and food for four plus the cost of scuba lessons and dives, hiring of equipment and all the other stuff that goes with it. Added to that was the cost of transfers to one or two islands because we did not want to stay in one spot.
Then we heard of the opportunity to charter a yacht and sail around many islands near Nosy Be. Included in the price was our food and soft drinks. Scuba lessons were extra but when we did the maths it would all work out to be less expensive than it would have been to stay on land.
The perks were that we could dive as often as we liked in many unusual spots. Our sons had a great time, fishing as often as they liked when sailing between islands. There were a couple of unexpected adventures as well.
That trip was an unforgettable one and the start of many escapades, albeit different ones.
Another saving in Madagascar for us was to use local transport between islands – a pirogue. We needed to get from Nosy Komba to Nosy Be after we left our yacht and spent the last night on this little island.
If you have seen a pirogue, you will know there is not much place to sit on one and definitely not the most comfy, not to mention where to put our luggage. We could hire a speed boat which would have cost us a great deal more and might have been more comfortable, but hey, why lose out on the opportunity of an adventure? We even had an extra passenger or two.
On a pirogue between Nosy Komba and Nosy Be, Madagascar - Looking at the fish in the water.
The experience on the pirogue will be one that we will never forget and often still talk about it. When we got to Hellville on Nosy Be, we had to walk through mud because of the change of tide and we could not get close enough to the jetty. We then had to catch a taxi to our accommodation with muddy feet (fortunately they had dried somewhat and we could brush off some of the mud by using the taxi driver’s hand brush used for keeping his car clean) Are we any the worse for wear and did it put us off returning to Madagascar? Most certainly not.
Approaching Hellville Harbour in Nosy Be
Another point that I would like to mention. How long did our discomfort last on the pirogue? A matter of 15 to 30 minutes. In our lifetime that is a minor drop in the ocean. What I am trying to say is this – be flexible, accept that not everything works out according to plan, then move on.
Eiffel Tower - Touring through Europe
Looking for a hotel? Check out Hotellook.
Other ways on how to afford to travel
One man’s junk is another’s treasure – sell what you don't need and stash that money in your travel account.
Garden Cottage or spare rooms? – Rent out your cottage or rooms on Airbnb.
Side hustle or second job – If it is possible, work part time (even temporarily) to save up.
Slow down on those take outs or restaurant meals – cook at home rather than eating out or meeting the gals or guys often for drinks. You would be surprised how much you could save.
Have a buddy that wants to travel? – combine your travel expenses where possible. If you don’t like to travel solo, what better way than seeing a country with your best friend and sharing costs?
Couchsurfing – surf the world by sleeping on a couch or making your couch or spare room available. This is a sure-fire way of making a connection with a global community and experiencing cultures of different countries. You contribute to your stay by firstly paying a small monthly subscription to use the platform of Couchsurfing but never paying the host a fee. As a guest you then show your appreciation by sharing something with your host such as taking them out, bringing a small gift, assisting the host in some way or cooking a meal. These should be clearly stated in your profile.
Elephants - Kruger from south to north
Final thoughts
Any regrets about our adventures, financial or otherwise? None. It was money well spent and we are eternally grateful for each experience that we have had and every memory we have made. We’ve made friends for life and we’ve learnt some of life’s lessons. It has shown us parts of the world we might never have seen, learnt about its people and cultures. It has taught us how different and yet how similar we are.
What if you don’t travel or experience some of the adventures we did?
You could be missing out on some of these travel moments or seeing different places. But that’s ok, it is your choice and not everyone wants to do what we did. At the least you can come on a virtual journey with me and I hope you enjoy reading about our adventures.
A visual inspiration of other Roaming Fox Adventures & Travels
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About the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
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