When you watch the Movie Travel Club and similar programs on TV, you really want to go to distant lands yourself! Seeing all these exotic curiosities with your own eyes is not a dream? But many are stopped by difficulties, primarily of a financial nature. Now, when the ruble is melting right before our eyes, even experienced travelers refuse to tour abroad. Yes, and travel around the native Fatherland has become expensive. But this is not a reason to give up the dream of life and spend another vacation at the mother-in-law in the country. If you plan your trip wisely, you can save a lot. To do this, you need to know some secrets. In this article, we will reveal them and talk about how to travel cheap in Russia, Europe and the world. For such trips, it is not at all necessary to be young and he althy: to walk everywhere, spend the night in tents and eat canned food that you took from home. There are many other options when the trip will give only positive emotions, and not memories of hardships and hardships against the backdrop of a “celebration of life”. Read the article and go on a budget trip to distant countries.
Traveling around Russia
Let's start simple. Many complain that holidays in Russia are more expensive than abroad, and even the service leaves much to be desired. But there are plenty of reasonable arguments in favor of spending a vacation in your native country. Firstly, there is no need to take a visa, and indeed to have a foreign passport. Access to Europe costs at least thirty-five euros. And not the fact that you will open a visa. The second plus of spending a vacation in Russia is the absence of a language barrier. Without knowing English, you should not go on your own to where you will not be understood. And the third argument: there is no need to change the currency and depend on its jumps. Russia is a big country. To see all her beauty, and life is not enough. But overcoming long distances is, of course, a waste. And if we want to go not on hiking trips, but away and on vacation, we need to think over a scheme of how to get to the place. To do this, you need to constantly monitor the offers of Aeroflot and other air carriers, as well as be interested in tickets for charter flights. If you are traveling short distances, choose a reserved seat train car. The Bla-Bla-Car system is just beginning to make its way into Russia. But there will always be kind people who can give you a lift, because they are on the way. There are some more tips on how to travel cheap in Russia. It is best to stay in resorts in the private sector, and in big cities - in hostels. This will help you save money on food. After all, unlike hotels, these places have a kitchen.
Travel while you're young
In some countries, a passport stating that you are not yet twenty-five years old is sufficient to receive substantial discounts. This applies to transport and access to museums. What a pity that the times of youth often pass in a period of lack of money, because people have not yet established themselves in life and earn little. But youth has significant advantages - he alth and indefatigable energy. When to travel, if not in your youth! And you can do it very cheaply. First of all, we go to the store "Products for Tourism and Leisure" and purchase a tent for two, mats, sleeping bags. Modern tents are compact and light enough to fit in a backpack. Young people in Europe have long been practicing such a system of hospitality as "coach surfing" or "hospitality club". You can stay in a family absolutely free of charge in order to then provide your accommodation for the guest's stay. For transportation, young people can buy a bicycle for tourism. In some cities, the rental of two-wheeled vehicles is practiced, sometimes even free. When traveling by bike, you can look for a motel outside the city - it's cheaper there. Or stay overnight at a campsite. You can eat at fast foods or cook your own food.
How to travel for free
Would you like to go to the country of your dreams for free, and even so that you get paid for this trip? Then you need to learn traveling professions. In countries where many Russian-speaking tourists rest, hotels are looking for sociableyoung people for the animation team. If you have a sporty appearance or you have creative talents, you can try your luck and go to Egypt, Turkey, Greece not to spend money, but to earn it. The professions of instructors in skiing and diving are also in demand. You can get hired in a travel agency and go on a trip to the country of your dreams as an accompanying group or guide. Good photographers and journalists are also sent by various publishers to get quality articles about life in other countries. A brilliant knowledge of foreign languages gives a person the opportunity to get a job as an interpreter or get a job as a receptionist at a hotel. Another profession that allows you to travel the world is the remote worker. Now web designers, copywriters, programmers and content creators are getting enough money to live with their laptop anywhere and not know financial problems.
Visa. Can you save money?
Let's now consider how to travel abroad cheaply. Some countries do not require the opening of visas for Russians. Others make access free during the tourist season. But if we want to visit the countries of the Schengen area, we need to go through this troublesome procedure - the opening of a visa. But even here you can save money, especially if you are a Muscovite. Embassies of all European (and not only) countries are located in the capital of Russia. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply to the visa center and pay its employees for the provision of services. You can make an appointment on the website of the consulate and bring a package of documents toopening a visa on your own. Advice to those who have already repeatedly been abroad. If you already have several stickers on your stay in the Schengen area in your passport, ask for a multi-visa for several years. The embassies of France and Germany issue entry permits for three years to those who have visited these countries twice. Recall that with a Schengen visa you can travel almost throughout the European Union. But you need to stay in the country no more than ninety days from a semi-annual term. The embassy, after making sure you are loyal to their visa requirements, may grant you entry for five years at another time.
How to travel cheap around the world: creating a roadmap
First of all, we need to think about where we are going. Equally important in planning your travel budget will be the answer to the question of when the trip will take place. The fact is that in many tourist countries there are such concepts as high and low season. And this last one, prices drop on everything: flights, hotels, and even food. Believe me, Thailand in the rainy season looks no less attractive. It doesn't rain all day long, and the sun dries up the puddles in ten minutes. Therefore, it is better to go to the "Kingdom of Smiles" in the summer. But you can go to Iceland and Scandinavian countries in winter. At least in order to admire the polar lights. You can swim on the beaches of Greece in late April and early November. And staying in this country during these periods will cost several times cheaper than in the summer season. When we travel by ourselves (and this is an indispensable condition for a budget holiday), wewe can plan our trip and offer our own itinerary. Air transport is good when we need to overcome a long distance: to get from Moscow to Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka or to Cuba. But if we want to visit Poland, Sweden or Hungary, it is quite possible to travel by train. Seeing several countries in one fell swoop - isn't it wonderful?
Flight tickets
If you go to the website of such experienced carrier companies as Aeroflot and ask about the price of a ticket for a certain date, then a figure with several zeros will greatly disappoint us. But there are secrets here too. Want to know how to travel cheap by air? To do this, there are special sites for finding budget air tickets. Do not be lazy to study all the offers. The pricing policy of air carriers is complex and unpredictable, but one thing can be said: it is best to buy tickets a month or more before departure, or the day before. Of course, in the second case, you need to sit on your suitcases, but the Last Minutes promotion is quite profitable. You can fly to Italy or Spain for fifty dollars. Unfortunately, Russian monopolists are pushing low-costers out of our market. But if low-cost airlines do not go to the tourist, he goes to them. Petersburgers have been traveling the world for a long time, having first traveled by bus to the Finnish cities of Lappeenranta and Tampere. There they board the Ryanair, Whizzair, EasyJet, GemanWinz and other low-cost airlines. You can get from Scandinavia to sunny Milan in this way for only twenty euros. Another way to reduce the cost of a flight is charter flights. The only drawback isthat they depart seasonally and only on popular tourist routes (usually to beach resorts).
How to travel cheaply within the country
Many budget lines of bus and rail transport in European countries are "hidden" from tourists. If you just ask the cashier how much a train ticket from Berlin to, say, Bonn costs, then the amount he named will shock you. However, the vending machines at the station sell the All Germany ticket, which costs fifty-two euros on weekdays and forty-four euros on weekends. Moreover, the remaining three passengers on this travel document can travel at all for ridiculous money. There are also tickets within a separate federal state. If you plan your trip in advance, you can buy a seat on a high-speed train, such as the German Thales or the French TGV, for twenty euros. Budget buses run throughout Europe. These are lines such as Eurolines, City to City and others. In some provinces of France, you can get to any point for one euro on the so-called social buses. The same tricks exist with public transport. In some tourist places, completely free "navettes" - municipal buses run. A bicycle for tourism will be a great help to look at the country "from the inside", because the local culture is best revealed in the provinces. You can move between cities and even countries by joining the Bla Bla Car program. The driver, about to go from point A to point B, announces that he will takefellow travelers. A seat at Bla Bla Car is much cheaper than a seat on a bus or train.
How to hitchhike
There is also such a way to move around Europe as carpooling or ridesharing. It reminds me of Bla Bla Car. The only difference is that the driver is one of the tourists. The rest of the passengers are thrown off for gasoline, autobahn payments and, if this is the case, car rental. Sometimes they even take turns driving. But the cheapest way to travel is still hitchhiking. And here you need to know some tricks. Each country has its own nuances of finding rides. In Germany, for example, you will have little chance if you just stand on the side of the road. Yes, this is not possible. You need to come to the gas station and kindly ask the drivers if they will drop you off at the point you need. And in other countries (in Turkey, for example), a raised finger means an indecent gesture and can be perceived as an insult. Hitchhiking around Europe is easy, in principle, but a lot depends on luck. You can wait only ten minutes, or you can inhale the smell of exhaust gases for half a day. If for ridesharing it is best to travel in the company of four people, then for hitchhiking the ideal option is one or two people. In Ukraine and the countries of Central Europe, drivers of a ride are counting on a small, but still reward. It can be sweets or a very symbolic amount of money. Also, get ready for the fact that you will entertain them with conversation.
Where to stay for the night
Hotels in capitals and touristcenters are always very expensive. And the closer they are to attractions, the higher the price per room. If you're traveling by car or bike, it's wiser to stay at a motel when you enter the city. In picturesque places, on the coast of the sea campsites are located. In Europe, these are places that are not at all like our dull sites filled with cars and tents. If you don’t carry all the necessary goods for tourism and recreation in your backpack, you can rent a “mobil-home” at the campsite - a real house with its own bathroom and kitchen. Don't be afraid to scour the internet. There are sites for coachsurfing, exchange of apartments for the period of departure. In resorts, private property owners offer their services over the Internet, so you do not overpay to intermediaries. In the low season, seaside hotels lure customers with very significant discounts or lodge in rooms of an increased category at the price of "Standard".
Where to eat
In Europe, there is a huge difference between the prices of groceries in a supermarket and meals in a cafe. A loaf of bread, a pack of butter, and a piece of cheese will cost the same as a sandwich served to you at a restaurant. A bottle of wine in a shop sells for the price of a glass of beer in a bar. What is the conclusion? How to travel around Europe cheaply? That's right - rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook your own food. If you still want to grab a bite to eat while sightseeing, then avoid places recommended by Michelin and Tripadvisor. Having received flattering stickers on the front door, the owners of such establishments inflate prices. Cafes often offer set menus or "dish of the day". Such a meal will cost you many times cheaper. Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese eateries won't empty your wallet too much either. In France, the rule is that an order eaten at a table on the terrace will cost you more than one served in the hall at the counter.
Tours and museums
Dreaming of looking at the masterpieces kept in the Louvre? Go to the museum's website and see when it announces an "open day" (free admission) or at least a "white night" (the exhibition will be open until the morning). In many tourist cities in Europe, municipalities are interested in attracting tourists. At the expense of the municipality (that is, free of charge for everyone), walking tours of local attractions are organized. Of course, such hiking trips will not be held in Russian. Beware of guides offering their services to you. At the end of the tour (not the fact that it will be interesting) he will present you with a rather large bill. If you do not know English or the language of the country you intend to visit, take care to purchase a guidebook. In cities, look for tourist information bureaus. There you will be provided with a free map showing interesting places for the traveler, they will tell you about festivals and other events. You can also buy a tourist pass there. This card can be valid for one, three, five days or even a week. Not many tourist cities have it. This card not only opens the doors of many museums for you, but also allows you to freely and unlimitedly usepublic city transport. Free tours can be booked at the Tourist Information Office.
What can not be saved on
Of course, to your he alth. Always buy he alth insurance when traveling abroad. Traveling with children? Then you can't join the army of backpackers who hitchhike and stay in hostels or tents. You are responsible for the child, his he alth and safety. Do not drive like a hare - fines in Europe are very high.
