Economy is the lifeblood of business!
Everyone asks me how I find so much money and time to travel.
I'll tell you the secrets, starting with money! How to save money to travel!
No, I don't work with anything related to travel, and I'm not even rich. I'm a Physical Education teacher and, as many people know, this profession isn't very popular, especially when you teach swimming (my passion for water had a huge influence on my choice of profession) and I don't come from a wealthy family, so the solution for traveling around was to save money!
When it comes to money, I think twice before I spend it, that's the first step! That way I don't end up buying a lot of frivolous things, and there's a little money left over for traveling around.
I'll give you some good examples for extra savings.
Designer clothes.
I don't care about that, I always go to that flea market or just wait until I'm traveling and buy something abroad! Branded blouses there cost 10 dollars! It's surreal!!!
Alcoholic beverages.
One of the most expensive things there is, I'm not much of a drinker, so it ends up being cheap to go out at night, but if you like it, how about reducing the amount? It can help you save a lot!
Restaurants
Who doesn't like to eat well and break the routine? But do you know that restaurant you like so much but is super expensive? Then it could be half price on a group buying site, just look around and you'll end up finding really tasty things there and very cheap (remember, not everything is flowers, there are lots of scams, before you buy see if the offer is really worth it).
Group buying sites
It's always a good idea to have a look around to see if there are any interesting packages, but beware of false offers, they're tempting! You find a lot of stuff you don't need and when you see it, you've bought a lot of stuff for nothing. Always ask yourself 10 times if what you're buying is really worth it.
Knowing where to look
I'm always on the lookout for good deals, especially on airline websites, the best destinations, take-off and many others, but be careful because they're always coming up with crap!
Never buy anything straight away, do your research and take advantage of the fact that information is now easily accessible!
Now I'm going to tell you how I do my research, choose my destinations and travel!
Tickets
I just go where the promotions take me! I always discover a new promotion and tcharãm, that's where I go! I once managed to get to Salvador for 158 reais round trip from Rio de Janeiro with taxes! However, if you already have a destination in mind, you can go to the Decolar website or something similar and search for prices, but never buy on the spot, go to the website of the airline that was said to be the cheapest and then compare prices, it makes all the difference! I've gotten better prices from Decolar and I've gotten better prices from the airline, it varies a lot.
Hotels
I usually stay in a hostel. Contrary to what many people think, hostels are not dirty and dangerous! On the contrary, it's a relaxed atmosphere, with happy people and it's much easier to make friends and people willing to tell you the good things about the city! And yes, there are private rooms in hostels - you don't necessarily have to stay in a collective! When I went to Argentina, I had both experiences, hotel and hostel, and without a doubt the hostel beat the hotel! Of course, you should always do your research before choosing a hostel.
There's no point in getting a cheaper hotel that's far away from everything, for the simple reason that you have to take into account the cost of transportation to the tourist attractions and the time lost.
Food
When I travel, one of the first things I do is look for the local markets, preferably the big ones, so everything is cheaper, from drinks to snacks, fruit and meals! Many of them offer ready meals at bargain prices, which helps save a lot! And if you're staying in a hostel, it's even better, as most of them have a communal kitchen.
Of course, as much of a foodie as I am and as curious as I am, I don't miss out on going to restaurants and trying the local cuisine - that would be a huge mistake - but I do restrict myself to a few meals, leaving others cheaper.
Transportation
No more riding up and down in taxis! Much better to take the local public transport! Not only is it much cheaper, but you can get a feel for the city, see how people really are in their daily lives and mix with the culture.
Time
How do I find so much time to travel?
It's simple: I often leave work on Friday night and come straight back to teaching on Monday morning.
That I'm not going to go somewhere because I don't have time is the biggest crock of shit in the world! Those who want to make the time make the time, that's the best phrase ever! The question is what you prioritize.
On Friday, I left straight for Manaus, arrived at dawn, slept less than two hours, enjoyed Saturday until late, woke up at 4 a.m. on Sunday to watch the sunrise and spent the whole day full of activities until 1 a.m., when it was time to return. Early on Monday morning I landed in Rio de Janeiro and went straight to teaching. Sleeping is a luxury that has to be put aside sometimes and "sleeping on the dollar" is a no-brainer.
Of course, traveling with time is less stressful, but I wouldn't stop traveling for lack of it, and all the trips I've taken have been very good!
Well, those are the tips I can think of at the moment and do you have anything to add?
And the vacations are here!
Supermarket in Amsterdam -
Where to sleep in Interlaken - cheap accommodation in Switzerland
Where to sleep in Interlaken - cheap accommodation in Switzerland
Arubinha - Rio de Janeiro.
Arubinha - Rio de Janeiro.
The Blessed - Salvador Carnival.
Carnival in Salvador.