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Galápagos Islands Travel Guide & Money Saving Tips

The Galápagos. A cluster of volcanic islands, teeming with rare, exotic wildlife, rising out of the Pacific Ocean some six-hundred miles off of mainland Ecuador. Sounds like an expensive trip, doesn’t it? Sure, it can be. But it doesn’t have to be.

Don’t get me wrong, the Galápagos aren’t exactly a backpacker destination. The costs of getting there alone will run you at least $500—including a ~$400 flight from Quito or Guayaquil, the $100 park entry fee, and the $10 transit control card. (Word of advice: do NOT lose that card, or you may end up missing your flight home if no one is around to sell you a new one upon departure.)

But really, once you get to the islands you can spend as little or as much as you want and still have an awesome time. So if you’re considering a trip to the Galápagos, or even just looking for a unique beach vacation, hopefully this guide will help you determine whether or not the Galápagos Islands could be in your near future.

 

Tourists in a water taxi in Puerto Ayora
Tourists in a water taxi in Puerto Ayora

 

All about the Galápagos Islands…aka the stuff you can easily find on Wikipedia.

The Galápagos are a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, so much of the land and surrounding marine area is carefully monitored and preserved by park authorities. The archipelago is made up of about 13-18 main islands and a few smaller ones (everyone will tell you a different number). Of those, only four or five are inhabited, and the rest you need to be with a tour guide to access.

The population is roughly 25,000, with about half of those people living in Santa Cruz. I showed up expecting an untouched, desolate paradise with like a 100:1 sea lion to human ratio, so I was definitely surprised to see the town of Puerto Ayora full of bars, souvenir shops, restaurants, cars, and people.

You can easily research the different islands to find out which are best for your visit, but here are a few notes I took on the ones that stood out to me:

Bartolomé uninhabited island with the breathtakingly scenic Pinnacle rock, and an awesome lava flow that spills right onto a white, sandy, deserted beach.

Española- I didn’t visit but since it’s the oldest island, it sounds like a kickass wildlife spot with tons of endemic species. It’s also the furthest South so unfortunately it’s not an option to visit on a day trip, only on a cruise, which we’ll jump into more in a minute.

Fernandina- basically an active volcanic island covered in old black lava flows. I got excited thinking I’d be able to see active lava flows, but after reading that tours don’t take you anywhere near the crater, I chose not to go.

Floreana- most people I spoke with liked Floreana, but I thought it was worth skipping. We saw some tortoises, did a small hike, visited a painfully rocky black lava rock beach with cloudy snorkeling due to the current, and of course stopped by Post Office Bay. Nothing special.

Isabela- my favorite Island that I visited, and not just because it’s shaped like a seahorse. There are volcanoes to hike, flamingos to see, and penguins and sea lions to swim with. Population is about 2,000 people, and the largest town of Puerto Villamil has dirt roads, no ATMs, and is super chill. I just wouldn’t recommend diving here because there’s only one dive shop on the island and they’re not exactly the most reputable bunch.

North Seymore Island- an easy day trip from Puerto Ayora and a good spot for beginner divers.

Rabida- red beaches. Enough said.

 

The #1 way to save money

The biggest way to save money in the Galápagos is to stay on land. It’s what I did and it’s the only way I can recommend making a trip to the Galápagos affordable (unless of course you have your own sailboat and you’re sailing down there and living aboard your own boat for free).

When most people talk about dropping thousands to visit the islands, that’s because they’re taking a cruise. These small boats of roughly 20 or so people set you up with a tour guide and tout you around to a new island each day. If you book in advance it looks like you’ll spend at least a grand—all food and excursions included—but you can also get some pretty good deals if you book last minute from the islands (not sure if I’d risk taking that chance during high season though). A lot of people aren’t even aware that you can stay on land too, for as low as $15/night in Puerto Ayora (the main town of the Galápagos), and take much cheaper day trips out to visit a number of islands.

The only downside I could see to staying on land is that you won’t be able to visit some of the islands that are much further out. But there’s so much to do and see on those nearby islands, you can easily fill up a ten-day trip without missing a thing.

 

Tell me more about these day trips

Most island day trips head out of Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz and will run about $60-$110 depending on the island, usually with lunch included. Walk along Avenida Charles Darwin and you’ll be able to book whatever trips you want from a number of vendors.

I would suggest figuring out which spots are must-sees for you, then choose a good base island or two. For example, I stayed in Puerto Ayora for five nights and took day trips out to Floreana and Bartolomé, while also spending some time exploring the island and beaches by bike and foot. Then I took the $40 water taxi to spend my last four nights on Isabela, where I walked out to the Flamingo Lagoon to see pink flamingos for free, went on a 6-hour hike up to Sierra Negra and Volcán Chico for only $35 (including lunch), and dropped $75 to go snorkeling at Los Tuneles. Sounds like a lot for a snorkeling trip, but this was a guided tour snorkeling through old lava tubes, coming across caves of sharks and manta rays, seahorses, and swimming with baby sea lions. Worth it.

All in all I spent around $300 on at least five days worth of trips and was busy every single day.

Diving is another popular activity, but just like anywhere else it’s not cheap. There are tons of dive shops in Puerto Ayora that’ll likely run you around $110-$175 for a two-dive trip along with some food and underwater photos. But when you’re 40 feet down swimming alongside hammerhead sharks, it’s obviously worth it. Even if you start puking like I did.

Bartolome
Bartolome
Black rock beach on Floreana
A gorgeous but painful beach on Floreana
Scuba diving with manta rays off Turtle Island
Scuba diving with manta rays off Turtle Island

 

Where should I stay?

Like I’ve mentioned a few times already, Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz is a good place to start because it’s basically the main hub of the islands. There are a bunch of hotel options including backpacker friendly hostels for less than $15/night, more private hotels and b&b’s for around $50, and a few fancy way-out-of-my-budget places that I think were around a couple hundred a night. But with so much hustle and bustle, I wouldn’t recommend staying too long or you might start to forget you’re in the Galápagos. There are also a couple of desolate high-end resorts up in the highlands that are pretty far from the coast, and I’d imagine quite expensive.

Puerto Villamil on Isabela is another great town, and one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to. I stayed at Caleta Iguana in the $70/night private room with a private bath, which included a delicious homemade breakfast every morning. It’s right on the beach, and has the most happening happy hour in town. Every evening people come from all over the town to have a few drinks, walk across the tightrope, party around the fire, listen to music, sway in the hammocks, and watch the sun set.

 

Sounds awesome. So how do I get there?

For some reason a lot of people ask me this, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from giving some smartass remark about a booking site and an airplane.

Flights travel from mainland Ecuador either through Quito or Guayaquil, and take about 2-3 hours depending on which city.

There are two airports in the Galápagos, one on Baltra and one on San Cristóbal. Most people (including me) fly into Baltra, which is a tiny island just north of Santa Cruz that basically looks like Mars. After landing you’ll jump on an airport bus which will take you to the docks for free. From there you’ll cram into a water ferry, which is actually like an oversized canoe that will leave you questioning exactly how buoyancy works with that many tourists. As it chugs against the surprisingly strong current, the reality is that you could probably toss a football over to Santa Cruz so it’s a fairly quick transfer for $0.80. Once you’re on Santa Cruz you can catch a bus through the highlands, all the way to the other end of the island to Puerto Ayora. It takes about an hour and only costs about $1.50, but they cram the shit out of the bus. I enjoyed the bumpy ride while crammed between seats on the plastic astroturf-like floor.

Sweating on the bus
Sweating on the bus

 

I can’t tell you much about arriving in San Cristóbal, as I didn’t get the chance to visit. But I do know it’s the easternmost island with a population of about 6,000 people, and I’m told you can sunbathe alongside sea lions if you visit the beach.

Either way, transportation between the islands will run you roughly $40 for a ferry ride, and take about 2-3 hours, so limit and plan your transfers wisely.

 

What are some free/cheap things I can do while on land?

You’ll need a tour guide to access many places, but there are still a ton of free things you can do that are just as cool.

Santa Cruz


– Explore the Darwin Research Center and visit the giant tortoise and iguana breeding center.

– Walk to Tortuga Bay. Once you reach the entry point just outside of town, locals will tell you it’s about a 20 minute walk. Bullshit. I didn’t have a watch or phone on me but it’s definitely closer to 45+ minutes. Despite the heat and humidity it’s an easy walk, but once you emerge from the partially tree-covered pathway, you’ll see a long white stretch of gorgeous, untouched natural beach with perfectly blue and white waves breaking at the shoreline. This area’s a bit too choppy to swim but there will likely be a few surfers in the water along with some sharks flapping about in with the waves. Walk another 15 minutes or so to the end of the beach and you’ll come across the swimming bay which is much calmer, and probably at least a little crowded with locals. You can even pay a few bucks and take a kayak out to explore on your own.

– I didn’t make it up there, but if you’re all about seeing some giant, old ass tortoises in their natural habitat, head up to the highlands and explore El Chato Tortoise Reserve.

– Cliff diving at Las Grietas. Intrigued? It costs like 50 cents for a 15 minute water taxi ride from the Puerto Ayora docks, and a short hike until you’re there. It’s basically a crevice between two cliffs where salt and fresh water meet, and the lack of a current makes it a popular spot to swim and take daring jumps.

– Grab a bike and explore the city. I hopped on a mountain bike and went as far as I could before the hill started to get to be too much for my lazy ass. I rode around the back streets and explored the neighborhoods and it was definitely a day well spent for only a few dollars.

 

Old tortoise
Old ass tortoise
Tortuga Bay
Tortuga Bay
Biking the streets of Puerto Ayora
Biking the streets of Puerto Ayora
Exploring the streets of Puerto Ayora
Exploring the streets of Puerto Ayora

 

Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela

Isabela is an incredibly behind-the-times island with painfully slow internet, which was absolutely perfect.
 It’s really easy to spend mornings exploring and afternoons napping on the beach without a worry in the world.

– Hike Volcán Chico/Sierra Negra. The guided volcano hike is only $35 with lunch, and in my opinion totally worth it. Not so much worth it if you just hike up to Sierra Negra, but definitely so if you continue on to Volcán Chico. Here’s more in-depth info about what to expect on that hike.

– Walk up to the Flamingo Lagoon. There’s a manmade lagoon where flamingos tend to hang out. A pickup truck taxi will charge $10 to take you there, but you can easily walk or bike there for free. Follow the main road that runs along the water (I didn’t see a name because it’s a dirt road and I really don’t think there even was a name). Pass Caleta Iguana, the hot pink beachfront hostel on the left, and the Booby Trap cafe/restaurant on your right, and turn right up the dirt road. You’ll pass La Jungla hostel and a soccer field along the way, but keep walking. Locals will tell you you’re super close, but it took me about 20-25 minutes to get there. Eventually you’ll come to the Tortoise Breeding Center, and finally the lagoon.

– 
Walk on the beach. There are Galápagos penguins and gorgeous sunsets right there, so really there’s no reason to leave.

– Go down to the happy hour at Caleta Iguana, the Westernmost hostel/hotel on the beach, and hang out for some drinks and watch the sunset.

 

Pink flamingos on Isla Isabela
Pink flamingos on Isla Isabela
Hiking Volcan Chico
Hiking Volcan Chico
Caleta Iguana on Isla Isabela
Caleta Iguana on Isla Isabela
Pausing for a selfie at Los Tuneles
Pausing for a selfie at Los Tuneles
Sharks at Los Tuneles
Snorkeling with sharks at Los Tuneles
Snorkeling with sea turtles at Los Tuneles
Swimming with sea turtles at Los Tuneles
Snorkeling with sea lions at Los Tuneles
Swimming with sea lions at Los Tuneles
Isla Isabela
The perfect dirt roads of Isla Isabela
Sunset from Caleta Iguana
Sunset from Caleta Iguana

 

Other helpful things to remember/expect/know

Go during low season
The weather is generally the same year round, but low season is April, May, September and October. I’d suggest going then to avoid the crowds, and you may even save a few bucks on day trips and cruises.

The Galápagos are a tsunami zone
Especially if you don’t know Spanish, at least learn the escape route so when you hear the sirens start waling and see people start running, you know what to do. On Puerto Ayora I learned the hard way that you should head uphill on Av Baltra until you reach Bellavista.

They’re also not necessarily a beach destination
There are quite a few beaches, but they’re not really easy to get to. You generally can’t stay on a resort and walk outside to lay out during the day. In Puerto Ayora, it’ll take an entire day to head to the beach, and on many other islands the beaches are rocky or take a lot of time to get to via boat.

Don’t flush toilet paper
Sure I bitched about this first world problem in London, but being in such a fragile environmentally-friendly ecosystem, I was actually more than willing to comply.

Bring enough cash
Some of the islands don’t have ATMs, and many places don’t accept credit cards. Puerto Ayora was fine—it had at least one ATM and one bank, but Isabela had neither. I was told sometimes tourists withdrawal more money than the ATM has anyway, so sometimes they’re left SOL. To be on the safe side, bring a bit of cash.

USD is the official currency
Despite being a province of Ecuador, the official currency of the Galápagos Islands is actually the US Dollar. So if you’re traveling from the US you don’t have to worry about losing money in exchange rates or frequent trips to the bank.

Bring protection
No not that kind of protection ya pervs. Okay wait actually, yeah you should probably do that too if you plan on getting freaky. But I’m talking sunscreen. Like any island, items are marked up. Like $30 for a small bottle of sunscreen. So bring what you need, the sun is ridiculous down there. I usually don’t wear sunblock on vacations, but the whole trip I was slathered up in SPF 30 every day and still left with an almost-Latin tan. Than being said, I stupidly took a 4oz Neutrogena sunblock and another travel size stick with me and had to buy more halfway through my trip. Bye bye money.

Walk an extra few blocks for food
If you visit any of the restaurants along Avenida Charles Darwin in Puerto Ayora, you can expect to pay tourist prices. I’m used to New York prices, so $9 for a beer, a cheese sandwich, and an order of fried plantains and queso was a steal. But if you walk the extra five minutes up a couple of blocks to Bordados El Alquimista, you’ll find a road full of outdoor-seating restaurants serving up super cheap traditional Ecuadorian food and $1 beers.

There’s also an amazing little shack/bar on the playground right near the docks. Almost every night I went down and had an empanada and a large, probably 40 oz Pilsener for $4.50. Other tourists told me I was getting ripped off and could’ve gotten the same snack for about $2.50 elsewhere, but I couldn’t help it. It was awesome to sit amongst locals and try to improve my Spanish right in the center of all the port action.

Bring seasickness medicine
If you think there’s the slightest chance that you might get seasick, bring some pills. You’ll likely spend a lot of time on boats down there so it’s better to be prepared than barfing your lunch out over the side of the boat for two hours. The islands aren’t close together, so it’s common to spend 2-3 hours seeing nothing but the huge, rolling waves of the Pacific on every horizon. And those waves are not small.

Bring a water bottle

The Galápagos are hot and you’re going to need a lot of water. The locals don’t even drink the tap there, and all of the hotels I visited or researched had a water cooler in the lobby for guests to fill up on. So bring a jug and keep it full. Some places ask for donations, others don’t.

 

Fried plantains and questo and an iced tea
Fried plantains and queso and an iced tea

 

So, should I go?

For better or for worse (i’m really leaning towards worse), the Galápagos are becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination. Despite the efforts to manage tourism so that it doesn’t destroy the ecosystem, the islands are definitely suffering. You see sheets of oil across the water in the ports and litter carelessly washed up on the rocks of shore. And even though most of the islands are still uninhabited, those that are inhabited are encouraging tourism more and more. Isabela for example, is the largest (size-wise) of the islands with a population of only 2,000. At first they shunned tourism and wanted no part in it—until they started seeing the financial benefits. Now there are buildings being constructed all along the beach which actually made me a little angry. I know I know, this makes me a bit of a hypocrite. But it’s a perfect island with dirt roads and no ATMs, where everybody knows each other. Hell by the end of my trip I knew most of the locals. It doesn’t need hoards of tourists moving in, changing the local cultures and environment.

Sometimes making decisions on whether or not to visit certain places that are honestly better left untouched are difficult for us travelers who are always looking for new, unique experiences and connections. So I really think that anyone visiting the Galápagos should make a conscious decision to do so. Don’t go just for the hell of it. Respect the land, the people, and the wildlife. Learn a thing or two, and give back whenever you can. And if you do go, hopefully this guide will help with your beginning steps of planning.

Categories
Money Saving Tips Solo Travel

17 WAYS TO TRAVEL MORE WITH A FULL TIME JOB

“You’re so lucky.” “Do you ever work?” “You must be rich.” “How do you have so much time off work?”

These are just a few of the questions I hear every time I jump on a plane, so please, allow me to answer.

Yes, I’m fortunate to have been given certain opportunities, but I also work my ass off and make plenty of sacrifices to put myself in those positions. Yes I work, all the time actually. And when I’m not at work, I’m likely at home working on my blog. I’m far from rich, but I am single and child-free, which means all of my money goes to me (and my least favorite uncle, Sam). And lastly, I guess I’m lucky enough to work for an employer that gives me a decent amount of vacation time, and I take full advantage of those days.

Basically, I’m not making a ton of money that allows me to live lavishly in New York and jet-set around the world every chance I get. It all comes down to the simple fact that I’m selective, decisive, and strategic about how and what I spend money on. And as a result I’ve reached a happy medium where I’m able to pay my bills, work full-time, and travel the world whenever I can.

So maybe some of these tips I use will help you get on the road or in the air a bit more while still working full-time.

Maximize paid time off. That means utilize long weekends, summer Fridays, holiday breaks, personal days, whatever your company gives you. Fly overnight, leave right after work, land two hours before going into the office, do what you’ve got to do. And don’t think that you can’t go some place awesome over a two or three-day weekend. I spent three months taking weekend getaways all over Europe—flying out at 6pm on Friday, and coming back at 8am on Monday morning—and saw so many amazing cities. Just be realistic with how far you can go, and go for it!

Negotiate vacation time. I’ve heard stories of people negotiating extra paid time off upon hiring into a new job, or even when they couldn’t get a raise yet at their current job. And seriously, to hell with employers who don’t give their employees proper paid time off.

Stop taking your job so seriously. I’m not by any means trying to belittle anyone’s career, but sometimes people simply think that their company will crumble or their employer will look down on them if they take a week off of work. If you have vacation time, USE IT. And use it wisely.

In 2013 my company paid for me to fly from New York to London, so I booked through IcelandAir because they were offering the option to add a multi-day stopover in Iceland for FREE on any flights from the US to Europe.

 

Cut out unnecessary expenses. My travel lifestyle certainly has its sacrifices, but I still live comfortably in Manhattan of all places. I spend more time at home, I grocery shop and pack lunch whenever possible, and I’ve really scaled back on how much money I throw away when I do go out. Save money wherever you can and it will all add up. Bike to work to alleviate the cost of transportation AND double as a workout rather than joining a gym. Choose an appetizer rather than a huge entrée. Don’t buy another round of drinks. Stay home once in a while. Don’t buy a bunch of useless shit just because it’s on sale. Stop shopping for clothes every week. Claim 0 on your taxes and spend that hefty tax return on a big trip. Cut down your cell phone plan or join a family share plan. Ditch the TV/cable/Netflix and watch your shows online. Stop being such a lush. Stop smoking. Basically, anything you can cut down on, you should. And it doesn’t mean you have to stop living your day-to-day life, just see where you can cut back a little.

Set up a bank account strictly for travel. If you’re anything like me and have a high rent/mortgage plus several student loans and bills to pay each month, finding spare cash to travel with can seem impossible. That’s why I set up a separate bank account so that $100 from each paycheck automatically gets deposited. Before you know it you’ve got some spare cash to put towards a flight, hotels, or spending money. (Bonus points for an account with a feature like the Bank of America Keep The Change program, that rounds up every purchase you make and puts the change into your account.)

Find a good rewards card and pay for everything you can with it. I’ve got the Capital One Venture Rewards card which gives me 2 points for every dollar I spend. I put most of my purchases on it each month, then I only touch my checking account when it’s time to pay the balance. Put all of your big purchases on there too, especially flights and hotels. Plus when you travel abroad, having a good travel card can keep you from paying foreign transaction fees. Check out thepointsguy.com to compare cards and see which is best for you.

Pay off your credit cards. While we’re on the topic, keep your credit card balance in check. Based on your income and free spending money, develop a plan to rack up points with it while paying it off immediately. That means DON’T CARRY A BALANCE. That also means spending within your means—if you don’t have the cash, don’t do it. You don’t want to be paying down $2,000 on your card and spending $700 on a flight.

 

A trip across the world might make for an expensive flight, but the points/miles help cushion the blow. Plus once you figure out how cheap it is to actually travel in places like Southeast Asia, you realize the bulk of your trip has already been paid for.

 

Go with your gut. What I mean is don’t go crazy with the planning. I’ve had some pretty great experiences by just booking a random getaway on a whim. Last week I booked a random flight to Istanbul in March knowing nothing about it because my gut was telling me to go for it. So if you see a deal, you can afford it, and you’ve got an inkling to travel there, just go for it. Book it and then figure everything else out later.

Never fly without getting frequent flyer miles. If possible, stick to one airline and their partner airlines just to keep racking up the points. But sometimes plans won’t allow you to do that, so make sure you sign up for whatever new program just in case. For example, my round trip flight to Thailand on Cathay Pacific in 2012 almost gave me enough points to fly NYC to Brazil one-way for free because I signed up for Asia Miles. A year later my flight from London to NYC on Aer Lingus (a partner in the Asia Miles program) gave me enough points to get me to that one-way ticket for free.

Sign up for hotel rewards programs as well. If your rewards program doesn’t let you redeem for hotels, consider joining a hotel rewards program as well. This might not be the best option for everyone, especially considering how often you can find much better deals by booking directly through a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb. But I signed up for hotels.com when I was traveling around Europe a lot because I got one free night for every 10 nights booked. Over the course of the year I managed to get two free nights which I just redeemed for that random trip to Istanbul. And I’m only two nights away from my third free night.

Plan wisely and look for money-saving alternatives. Okay stay with me on this one, because explaining my logic is not my strong point. The Galapagos have always been on my “I wish” list because I’d always heard they were so expensive. And yes, they’re a few thousand dollars if you do the traditional week-long island hopping cruise experience. If you actually stay on the islands, however, you can stay in a private room at a hostel for like $15 a night. Then you can barter with the park guides there and go on day trips to the other islands for like $70-$100. So here, the only real expensive part is the flight. And as mentioned above, I’ve been planning a trip to Brazil using my Asia Miles to get me there for free. So I looked up flight prices and realized that what I’d pay to travel ROUND TRIP to the Galapagos was only slightly more than what I’d pay for that ONE WAY flight back from Brazil. On top of that, if I booked a flight to the Galapagos through American Airlines, it’d give me enough AAdvantage points for a one way flight BACK from Brazil to NYC. Since American doesn’t fly to the Galapagos, but LAN, their partner airline in South America does, that’s who I booked through. So once I complete the trip I’ll have enough points to get me to and from Brazil for nearly free.

Choose cheaper places to sleep. Often times hotels are damn expensive. Look into bed and breakfasts, hostels (you can get private room hostels too if you’re beyond that stage in your life), or even couchsurfing. There are tons of people all over the world who love to travel and love to welcome people into their home and country. I’ve stayed in a few Airbnb apartments and met some pretty amazing people who included me in their dinner parties, homemade brunch celebrations, and nights out.

 

The view of the light from the Eiffel Tower from my Airbnb digs in Paris

 

Follow travel deal sites. I’m going to do a proper post on these soon because I’ve been hearing of so many new sites lately, and some that I’ve grown to love have recently started to suck, but The Flight Deal is a good one, as is Airfare Watchdog. I hear Skyscanner is as well, though I’ve never used it.

 

By following TripAlertz, I nabbed this 5-night getaway to the British Virgin Islands for only $300, flight and hotel included.

 

Search flexible dates.  We all know that searching for flights over a couple of days, or even hours can give way to some serious savings. So try out various flight combinations before booking the best deal, and use a site like Kayak and their price trend predictor to get a feel for normal prices. Don’t be afraid of the overnight flights, the early morning flights, the (reasonable) layovers, or shifting your vacation by a few days. So what if you’re tired at work the day you get back? It’s one day of being a bit sleepy in exchange for a great vacation.

Don’t be afraid to go alone. If I passed up every trip that I didn’t have anyone to go with, I’d still be sitting on my ass in Ohio, having never left the States. Traveling alone is truly great, and though some people do prefer to travel with someone, I’ve never met someone who’s regretted traveling alone. If you’ve never done it, you might be surprised at just how enjoyable your experience will be. (And no, it’s not a big deal to eat alone in public, seriously.)

Think local. Don’t have the time or money to take off across the globe just yet? Hit a few places that are close to home to tidy you over, but keep saving for your big adventure.

 

While living in London I set off on a super cheap flight from London City Airport to Schiphol Airport, and stayed with a friend for free. I basically spent the same amount of money that weekend as I would’ve just staying in London.

 

Just book it. Making the decision to go somewhere can sometimes be the most difficult part. But once you book that flight, you’re going.

I could easily double or triple the size of this list, but the most important thing I can tell you to do is just do research. Don’t assume a place is too expensive and out of reach until you actually look into it for yourself. Travel isn’t nearly as expensive as many people think it is. And more often than not, it’s only as expensive as you make it. You’d be surprised how far your money can go in most places, especially where the exchange rate is favorable. Plus, walking around a new city or town on your own two feet is always free.

What other advice do you have for making travel affordable and doable outside of your 9-5?

Categories
Asia Money Saving Tips

15 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Traveling to Thailand

I just got back from my biggest trip to date, and if I had to sum it up in one word I’d say: absolutelyinfuckingcredible (stories/proof to come!). I didn’t really know what to expect upon arriving in Thailand, but here are a few tips that could help you out if you’re planning a trip to the land of smiles. Some you’ll find on other travel sites, and others, well I learned them the hard way.

1. EVERYBODY will try to rip you off
Seriously. I thought it would just be the street vendors and tuk-tuk drivers, but no. Even the hotel reservations desk was trying to charge me more than necessary for my room. And they’re all SO FREAKING NICE that you don’t even realize they’re doing it.

2. Be alert and ready to stop whatever you’re doing at 8A and 6P
The Thai national anthem belts out throughout Bangkok twice a day. If you’re in a public place and you hear this, stop whatever you’re doing and freeze in place to pay respect until it’s over. Don’t be like me—the girl walking through Lumpini Park oblivious to the standstill motion of passerbys until about 20 seconds in. And obviously, don’t talk shit about the royal family. Ever. The girl at the front desk of my hotel in Phuket did, and everyone stopped and looked at her as she nervously clamored an apology while speaking up to the ceiling. Then she whispered something about voice recorders to me.

3. Pack long pants and shirts with sleeves
Thailand’s hot but you can’t get away with barely-there daisy dukes and spaghetti straps. Pack some more conservative options for visiting places of worship or you won’t be able to get in. That means covering up your knees and shoulders. Yes if you’re in Bangkok there’s a good chance it will be unbearably hot, and yes it sucks. But while we’re at it, if you’re a woman with blonde hair try not to draw any more attention to yourself with bright dresses and western hemlines. It does not make for a comfortable experience. Cover up. The only people who want to see your cleavage are people you don’t want to see your cleavage.

Past-the-knee shorts and a shirt with sleeves was plenty of coverage for Tiger Temple

4. Always carry a copy of your passport
Apparently it’s a law in Thailand and you can be arrested if an officer stops you and you don’t have the real thing or a copy. Obviously a copy is the safer option for carrying around all day.

5. Always carry tissues
Most places keep toilet paper in the common area near the sinks. But if you’re used to it being toilet-side, you can bet you’ll forget to grab some on the way in on more than one occasion. Avoid the “bum gun + shaking your ass to air dry” combo and just keep some tissue on you at all times. That way, you’re always prepared no matter the situation—even for a squat toilet. Also, hand sanitizer comes in mighty handy.

6.Get ready to put your foot down when you get in a tuk-tuk or a taxi
Immediately they’ll give you some inflated tourist price, so negotiate down. And make sure you reach an agreed upon price before you get in. Think that’s the end of the negotiating? Probably not. Once you’re in they’ll likely tell you that they’re giving you the lowered fare in return for taking you to do some dress/gem shopping along the way. Even when you tell them no ten times (and think you’ve reached a mutual agreement that you would just like to get your destination quickly and hassle-free), watch the path they’re taking you on. I had to jump out of a tuk-tuk after this happened and we turned down a dimly lit alley heading in the opposite direction of my hotel.

Shady ass tuk-tuk driver taking me for the ride of my life through the streets of Bangkok

7. Think twice about using the water for anything
Not only should you not drink tap water in Phuket, but you should also think twice before hand-washing your clothes in the water. I sweat, a LOT, and I wanted to try and get some of the stench out of my clothes before packing them up for a 30hr journey home. I was so proud of myself for this ingenious laundry technique, but the smell that that water left on my clothes is the worst thing I have ever smelled in my entire life. Ever. My backpack still reeks.

8. Be sure you actually want what you’re buying
Money returns aren’t really a thing in Thailand.

9. Beware of rice whiskey
By all means don’t be afraid to try stuff, but don’t take random advice from homeless strangers and try the rice whiskey behind the counter at 7/11 unless you’ve got a serious palette for strong alcohol. I can handle a wide variety of alcohol, but let me tell you—that shit was like ipecac syrup for me.

Do not put this anywhere near your mouth or nose unless you feel like puking

10. Be ready for attention if you’re a woman of non-Thai descent traveling alone
If you’re a single female traveling alone, nearly everyone will ask why your boyfriend isn’t traveling with you. It may feel a bit like prying and a sneaky attempt to find out if you’re DTF when it comes from men, but one Thai woman told me that it is out of genuine curiosity and not meant to be offensive at all.

11. Know what kind of food you can handle BEFORE you go
It’s always great to try new foods, but definitely try and accustom yourself to local cuisines before traveling. Don’t be like me and go all “Man vs Food” style on a gigantic plate of green curry and spicy peppers if you’re not used to spicy foods. Otherwise you’ll end up eating Pepto and Immodium for the next 10 meals and bribing the bellboy to bring you any sort of rehydrating fluid.

F you evil green curry, f you.

12. Thais do not know as much English as you may think
Thais in the tourist-heavy parts of Bangkok and Phuket speak a great deal of English, but not as much as I thought based on my research. It seems they know just enough English to do their jobs, but aside from that don’t be surprised if you don’t have much further of a conversation. Also, many have not heard of New York City (gasp)!

13. Traveling alone during rainy season may limit your activities
You might not want to head to Thailand during rainy season if you’re traveling alone and you’re interested in doing lots of island hopping or tours/excursions such as an overnight camping trip in Khao Sok National Park. Several times I was denied a trip because they need at least two people to make it worth their money or time. And since there aren’t that many people touring during that time of year, the odds of booking it along with a group is a bit less likely.

Get comfortable with crashing honeymoons if you’re traveling solo in Thailand

14. Some islands actually close during the rainy season
If you’re planning to do some scuba diving don’t travel to the Andaman Sea side of Thailand during the rainy season. Several islands close this time of year and it’s actually illegal, not to mention dangerous, to go diving then.

15. If you rent a car or motorbike, be careful
Traffic is a free for all and there seems to be minimal safety regulations. I’ve read that lots of tourists get in severe, even fatal accidents regularly. Follow your common sense about safety precautions such as helmets and other protective wear, and pay attention to everyone around you. People drive around on mopeds with their newborn infants in one arm.

Of course I could go on for paragraphs and paragraphs, but the best piece of advice I have for Thailand is just to go. Experience everything you can, see all different parts of the country, and just try to get a taste of Thai culture. The people are remarkable, friendly, and genuinely intriguing. Use your common sense and be open to new experiences and you’ll have a great time! I definitely plan to go back during high season and do some island hopping myself.

Categories
Money Saving Tips New York

NYTTS: 9 Tips to Spend Less and Travel Like a Pro

This past weekend I attended the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Center in New York City. I planned on attending both Saturday and Sunday, but the 8 hours of intense deal-hunting on Saturday was more than enough. The main floor was packed with all kinds of travelers, shirtless men, Jets cheerleaders, food, drinks, dancing, and a stuffed moose. What better way to enjoy a taste of the world without spending the money to step foot on a plane, right?

Barbados Girls
Festive dancing of Central & South America
Winning booth: Antigua and Barbuda

I sat in on hours of seminars led by travel writers and experts (such as Seth Kugel, Andrew Evans, Robert Reid, and Beth Whitman), and spent another couple of hours “window shopping” past the countless booths of paper flyers and cultural gimmicks. I may have been a little too excited at first, grabbing flyers for every intriguing destination that was almost within my price range. And yes, my shoulders are still sore three days later.

One of two bags of travel information I gathered

Since I’m recovering from about 17 paper cuts, I haven’t been able to sift through this massive heap of brochures yet to find the best deals. If you’re looking for some good deals from the show you may want to head over to the NYTimes Frugal Traveler. Instead I figured I’d share some tips on how the experts say you can travel smarter and cheaper in the future.

NYTimes travel staff, including Seth Kugel of The Frugal Traveler
Beth Whitman of Wanderlust and Lipstick, Max Hartshorne of GoNomad, and Kent St. John

From the New York Times Travel Show, 9 Tips to Spend Less and Travel Like a Pro

1. Reach out to your social media community for advice on places to go, things to see, and places to eat for wherever you’ll be that day. You’re likely to find a cheaper (and possibly better) experience than any search engine or guidebook will give you.

2. Look at exchange rates when searching for bargain destinations.

3. If you’re looking to travel right now, the NYTimes travel crew recommends these destinations for budget travel: Greece, Portugal, Libya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Bolivia, Iceland, Equador, and Colombia. Just be careful if you’re visiting a place that’s been in the news a lot lately!

4. Things that are never worth splurging on (are obviously personal preferences, but Seth Kugel has two major ones): airport food, and taxis when there is public transportation available. I’d also like to throw in bottled water when the local tap is just fine. You can’t be a diva when you’re trying to save a buck.

5. Major chain hotels are much cheaper on Priceline and Hotwire. This is something I’ve never tried out because I’m a bit of a control freak, but Seth was relentless about how many great deals he’s gotten in the US from bidding sites. You can find help on how to master the skill on betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com.

6. Stay away from big hotels by using sites like eurocheapo.com and hostelworld.com for cheaper bed & breakfast style accommodations. And no, they’re not all youth hostels.

7. Sniqueaway.com and Tripalerts.com are two Groupon-style websites offering up deals on a daily basis, the former being invite only. They’re not entirely budget friendly, but depending upon your finances, you can certainly stumble upon a good deal from time to time.

8. Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Yapta.com, and at the travel show was no exception. It lets you track flights before you purchase, sending you a notification when prices drop and advising you on when to purchase. Then if the price drops after you’ve purchased, it helps you to get a refund for the difference.

9. Sign up for all the travel deal newsletters that you can. When it comes time to book, do a quick inbox search for your destination and see if anything pops up. You never know when an airline has a deal for your dream destination!

Good luck using these tips to find yourself an affordable getaway! Happy travels!


Categories
Money Saving Tips

Beating the Winter Blues on a Budget

Are you already counting down the days until you can push those bulky sweaters to the back of your closet and pull out your flip flops and shorts? Well it’s too bad Mother Nature doesn’t feel the same. The short days are giving way to frigid nights and winter storms that blow through at blustery speeds. Each day your skin is probably feeling more and more like Frosty the Snowman’s—pale & flakey. Not to mention we started this work week on Blue Monday, which is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. To me, it sounds like the perfect time to plan a winter getaway for a big healthy dose of natural Vitamin D!

Snowy Upper East Side, New York, NY

For those of us trapped in below freezing weather, a sunny, warm beach is about the only thing that’ll make us voluntarily leave our comfy beds and cups of hot cocoa and tea. But maybe you think it’s not the best time to be spending money on a vacation after finally paying off the holidays? With a little time and creative research, you might be able to land on a beach for no more than the price of a weekend on the town. Here are a few tips for beating those winter blues on a sandy white beach, with minimal effects on your bank account.

Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Islands

1. Now is as good a time as ever to cash in on those free flights, airline miles, or credit card points you’ve been sitting on. Look into redeeming points for flights, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, or even just a Visa or MasterCard gift card.

2. For obvious reasons, December through late April is the high season (aka most expensive) in the Caribbean, but that doesn’t mean you’re totally screwed if you’re on a budget. If you have the flexibility and you’re willing to wait, book something just a couple days outside of the high season. It’ll still give you something to look forward to all winter, and maybe a reason to get off the couch and into the gym for some post-holiday fat busting (double bonus!). The extra exercise will not only help you to look great when the trip rolls around, but the endorphins will help you to beat those winter blues in the meantime.

3. Unless you’re a 19 year old college student, stay away from Spring Break season (late February to early March). You might be able to land a good all-inclusive deal through a student travel site if you’re under 26, but depending on the location, you’ll no doubt be paying a pretty penny to be surrounded by hundreds of underage college kids partying 24/7.

4. Flying on Super Bowl Sunday can give way to much cheaper deals on airfare and significantly less crowded airports since most of America is glued in front of a TV.

5. If you’re going to the Caribbean, try to fly out of a main port on the Eastern or Southeastern coasts. Many places like New York, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale can see a huge price difference from the next town over.

The Bahamas

6. Check out the websites of small airline carriers for deals. Sign up for their email lists, check out their Twitter page, and keep your eye out for a deal for at least a few days before booking. Usually, airlines such as Spirit Air will run a promotion every couple of days, offering up to $50 off of a roundtrip flight. The cheap no-frills plane ride to paradise will be completely worth it once you’re basking in the sun instead of shoveling yourself out of 3 feet of snow.

7. Go with a bunch of friends, look for group rates, and bunk together. Though it’s nowhere near a budget hotel, places like the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas offer Buy One Get One Free roundtrip airfare (but you’ll likely pay for it with the price of a room).

8. Reach out through your social networks to see if anyone knows someone who’s willing to rent you their time share or vacation home.

9. Consider packages, but don’t rely on them. I’ve always been told that buying in a package is a great way to save money on a hotel + airfare trip, but I’ve almost always had better luck saving a few hundred dollars by booking separately.

10. Consider all-inclusive hotels in destinations like Cancun, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Many of these beachfront hotels cost around $110-$160 a night, and are much cheaper than one in the Virgin Islands, Aruba, or Barbados, AND that includes the price of food, alcohol, and all tips and gratuities. Not to mention a lot of budget airlines offer much more frequent and cheaper flights to those islands as well.

11. On the contrary, get the facts before purchasing an all-inclusive package. Personally I wouldn’t bother with an “all inclusive (see fine print)” package, or the “all you can eat at _____ restaurant.” The one time I purchased an unlimited food and alcohol package at the now closed Nassau Beach Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas (through a travel organization, not the hotel itself), it turned out the “unlimited alcohol” only included three premixed drinks available at the bars in the hotel, which were closed half the time I was there. One can only take some many sugary frozen drinks with minimal alcohol before busting out their wallets and paying for some hard liquor or beer. And the “unlimited food” was limited to a small cafe and a Sbarro’s pizza. If I wanted pizza or a bagel for every meal I would have stayed in Times Square.

Sunset Beach All-Inclusive Resort and Spa, Montego Bay, Jamaica

12. Take a cruise. Check out last minute cruise sites like cruisesonly.com for some great savings on ships to the Caribbean and Mexico. If you can limit binge drinking, you’re basically looking at an all-inclusive trip for as little as $199. Cruises have great food too. I’m talking steak and lobster every single night for no extra charge.

13. Tone down your travel experience. Maybe you’re the adventurous type who loves to buy into every possible activity everywhere you go. Cut the length of your trip down this time around, and use those few days just to relax on the beach and you’ll save money in the process. Don’t add on all of those extras like parasailing, off-roading, or swimming with dolphins (or just limit it to one excursion). Not to mention you’ll come back completely relaxed, not in need of a vacation from your vacation.

14. Consider camping. Many camp sites in the Caribbean are decently equipped with plumbing, water, and even electricity. In fact, a lot of the cottages are almost no different than a nice budget hotel. You’ll save a fortune on lodging and see a different side of the Caribbean islands that resorts just can’t offer. Check out Caribbean Inspired for a few recommended camp sites in the Virgin Islands.

15. Can’t afford to island hop in the Caribbean? Stay in the states and visit Florida or the West Coast. If Miami is too expensive, try Panama or Tampa. Though not exactly beachy, Las Vegas usually has pretty good deals on airfare and hotels any time of year.

16. Remember, it’s tax season. If you’re entitled to a tax refund then this time of year can be a great bonus financially. If you can afford it, use part of your refund to pay for your hotel and airfare up front. Setting yourself up with a predetermined budget will keep you from charging a Ritz Carlton on your Mastercard to pay off next tax season.

17. As always, my biggest tip no matter when you plan to go anywhere: research! I always spend as much time as possible doing research here and there so that I know what to expect when it comes time to book. Sometimes the best experience won’t be at that uptight $300/night beachfront resort, but at the $90/night bed & breakfast across the street that usually doesn’t show up in the hotel search engines. Just knowing about it could save you a fortune.

I’ll be using these tips myself to plan a 2-person getaway the first week in May. Do you have any other tips for your fellow budget-minded travelers?

Categories
Money Saving Tips

15 Cheap Ways to Go Home for the Holidays

“Home for the holidays” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it when you’re broke or unemployed. Instead of warm thoughts of spending time with loved ones over homemade meals, you might be calculating cash advances and counting pennies for holiday gifts. With Thanksgiving and Christmas so close together, it can be hard to arrange affordable travel plans twice within 30 days, especially when you’re more than a couple hundred miles away. Being a professional broke-ass, here some tips I’ve learned over the past few years that have helped me make it home for the holidays.

1. Book early. If you’re not already on your way home for turkey dinner on Thursday, chances are you won’t be going for very cheap, if at all. Experts say that September is the ideal time to book the best deals on holiday travel. But if you haven’t yet booked a trip for Christmas, there may still be hope.

2. Choose one or the other. Look at the amount of time you can spend visiting compared to the cost of the trip. For most people Thanksgiving is a four day weekend, whereas many companies shut down for up to two weeks during the Christmas and New Years season. Not to mention more time off means more flexibility in booking your trip- aka lower prices!

3. Be flexible with your dates. Do your research and see what days and times are cheapest. Once when I had to be back to work on a Monday, I saved $200 by choosing the 7a-830a Monday morning flight over flying out on Sunday. Try to avoid the busiest travel days at all costs (the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving, and December 23, 26, 27).

4. Don’t rely on travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz for the lowest prices. Many low-cost, independent air carriers do not provide information to the travel search engines, so you might miss out on a huge deal. Check out the low-cost air carriers on their own websites.

Airtran
Allegiant
Frontier
jetBlue
Southwest
Spirit
Sun Country
USA3000

5. Think outside the airport. I live about 14 hours from my family by Greyhound and Amtrak, but I’ve made the trip a few times and saved a couple hundred dollars each trip. Five years ago I signed up for Greyhound’s Road Rewards program, and have received a handful of discount coupons ever since. Every random weekend trip you take on a bus throughout the year adds up. Most people would rather shell out big bucks for convenience—an hour and a half flight vs a 12 hour bus ride could mean a difference of well over a hundred dollars. But if you look for a nighttime express service, say from 1030pm to 1030am with only 2 stops along the way, you’ll be there in a normal night of sleep’s time. (If you have a hard time sleeping in vehicles, make sure to board with some Tylenol PM and headphones.)

6. Carpool. See if anyone you know within a reasonable radius is heading close to your destination. Chip in for gas and turn it into a fun road trip. Living in New York, I once spoke to a friend in Boston about me taking a $20 train upstate and meeting him along the way if he’d pick me up. Just make sure it’s a reliable person, because you don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere on Christmas Eve.

7. Make a friend or family member an offer that’s hard to refuse. If you live in a hot tourist destination (ex: NYC at New Years), see if you can convince someone to drive you back one way in exchange for free lodging and the experience of a lifetime. Sure, you might have to brave the crowds with them in Times Square on December 31st, but isn’t that better than charging a flight you can’t afford?

8. Redeem airline miles for free flights. Most companies have blackout dates, but I was surprised to find out through my Spirit Airlines Mastercard that I have enough miles for a free flight during the peak holiday season. (I didn’t end up choosing that route because I can also redeem those miles for two roundtrip tickets to the Caribbean during the off season, which to me seemed like a better deal. After paying taxes on that “free flight,” my fare would’ve almost been as much as a train ride anyway.)

9. Redeem credit card reward points for a prepaid Visa or MasterCard gift card. This kind of goes hand in hand with number 8, but if you can get a $50 gift card through credit card points, that’s money you can put towards your trip home. Also, credit card companies like Citibank offer Thank You Points, which can be redeemed for free items in their online gift store. Maybe you have enough points for that video game your brother wants, giving yourself an extra $50 to spend on your trip.

10. Ask for part or all of the trip to be paid for as a Christmas gift. Who really needs that many socks, anyway?

11. Check out alternate airports, bus terminals, or train stations within driving distance. If you can find a significantly cheaper deal to a nearby location, convince a friend or family member to come get you.

12. Be willing to travel more. If you’re traveling across the country or international and there is a cheap flight to a city 150 miles from your destination, look into taking a bus those extra 150 miles. This can be a bit risky considering weather conditions and delays, but I once flew jetBlue from LA to Chicago, and then jumped on a $30 express Megabus for four hours to Toledo to visit my family. I saved over $200.

13. This one takes a bit of planning, but make sure to follow your favorite budget airline(s) and travel websites on Twitter. It’s a much quicker way to watch for a sale than visiting each website every day. Also, some airlines and hotels are participating in Black Friday deals this year, offering discounts on trips booked on 11/26 for travel before the end of the year.

14. This may be a bit extreme depending on the size of your family and whether you’re their favorite child or not, but consider celebrating a few days before or after the actual holiday. Traveling on Thanksgiving or Christmas days can be much cheaper than the surrounding days. I know someone who waits until mid-January to fly home and celebrate Christmas with his family each year, and only pays a fraction of the price for a plane ticket.

15. If all else fails, order some takeout and video chat during dinner so that it feels like you’re right there at the table. Happy holidays!