Are you tired of dreaming about traveling the world but feeling like you can’t afford it? Well, I’m here to tell you that circumnavigating the globe is a lot cheaper than you might think. As someone who recently traveled visa-free to multiple countries, I want to share my tips and tricks for saving money while exploring new cultures and destinations.
Choosing Visa-Free Countries
Rather than visiting each country one at a time, I decided to move west until I returned home. My journey took me from the Philippines to Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Israel, Palestine, Morocco, the Sahara, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the US, Canada, Taiwan, and back to the Philippines.
One of the easiest ways to save money while traveling is to choose visa-free countries. Visas can be expensive and time-consuming to obtain, so by sticking to countries that don’t require them (or only require a tourist visa on arrival), you can save both time and money. In my own journey, I traveled to many visa-free countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and many more. Check out the list of visa-free countries for your passport and start planning your trip!
Letting Fate and Flight Prices Decide
Another way to save money while traveling is to be flexible with your itinerary. Instead of planning out each country you want to visit in advance, let fate and flight prices decide for you. I stuck to a strict budget and never paid more than $100 for flights within a continent or $500 for flights between continents. In my own journey, I moved westward from the Philippines, always choosing my next destination based on flight prices and my gut feeling. By doing so, I saved 80-90% of my total expenses compared to traveling another way.
Packing Light and Staying in Affordable Accommodations
When it comes to traveling on a budget, packing light and staying in affordable accommodations are essential. Trust me, you don’t need to bring everything but the kitchen sink. Only bring what you need and what you can fit into a carry-on bag. And when it comes to accommodations, don’t be picky. Hostels, Airbnbs, and cheap hotels are often great options, and you can even couchsurf if you’re feeling adventurous. Stay with your kakilala! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting kind hosts who even made me breakfast or dinner. Although, as a self-proclaimed “maarteng hampas lupa,” I sometimes splurged on nicer accommodations, which ended up costing me more. So, be mindful of your budget!
Be Smart and Ready for Anything
When traveling alone, safety is always a concern. But instead of limiting yourself to only safe countries, be smart and ready for anything. Prior to traveling to Brazil and other parts of South America, I was warned to buy a burner phone and use it only while walking around. And even then, I still got robbed twice at gunpoint. But these experiences taught me how to be prepared and be a smart traveler. So, be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions, but don’t let fear hold you back from experiencing the world.
Circumnavigating the world on a budget is not as difficult as it may seem. By choosing visa-free countries, being flexible with your itinerary, packing light, staying in affordable accommodations, and being smart and ready for anything, you can save money while exploring new cultures and destinations.Country hopping takes guts, but it’s worth it. So, don’t just save up money, save up courage too! The world is waiting for you to explore it.