Cheap International Travel

The secret to cheap international travel is the same as the secret of doing anything for less: Be an opportunist. I went to Ecuador the first time because it was cheap. Honestly, aren't there many interesting places to go in this world? Why not choose one that you can travel to inexpensively. The other places will still be there in the future, and maybe you'll have an opportunity to go to those places cheaply at some point. Opportunistic international travelers get to travel more, see more and do more. Of course, you can ignore this advice if you have unlimited funds.

Cheap International Airfare

One of the biggest expenses you'll have when you travel overseas, is your plane tickets. Use the techniques outlined on the page, "Cheap International Plane Tickets," to get the best deal. Better yet, search for fares to several interesting countries. If one is $500 less than the others, you may want to go there. That $500 will buy you a few extra days, or even an extra mini-vacation some other time.

Cheap Countries

Ecuador

This is my favorite international destination. You can still get a meal there in a nice restaurant for a dollar or two. U.S. dollars, that is, since that is conveniently the official currency of Ecuador now. This is also where I met my wife Ana four years ago. For more information, see our pages, "Information On Ecuador," "Mount Chimborazo," and "Banos Ecuador." Travel in Ecuador is safe and cheap.

Other International Destinations

Travel in South America in general is inexpensive, and the most affordable countries are, in my opinion, the most beautiful. These are the countries in the central Andes mountains; Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Argentina, due to it's recent economic troubles, is once again a cheap place for travelers as well. All of these, by the way, are Spanish-speaking countries.

In Central America; It costs very little to travel and vacation in both Nicaragua and Guatemala. Nicaragua, in particular, has become much more stable and safe for travelers in recent years. Costa Rica is a wonderful place too, but I understand it is one of more expensive counties of Central America, but that probably still leaves it cheaper than Europe.

In Asia, India is still low-cost, even more so if you stay in the numerous hostels and boarding houses. Thailand and Indonesia are also very cheap. With all of these international destinations, the plane tickets will be your single biggest travel expense, but especially with the far east countries. Being there is cheap, but getting there may not be.

For information on any country, visit the page, "International Travel Tips," and use the links there to the State Department web sites. Read the "background notes," and "consular information sheets" on the countries you are interested in.

Cheap International Travel Tips

Wherever you travel, there are some things you can do to keep it cheap. Eat where the locals eat, for example, instead of at the restaurants that target tourists. Or to keep it really cheap, eat fruit from street markets and packaged snacks from grocery stores.

With international or domestic travel, try to visit all the free and cheap attractions first. You never know, but it is possible that you'll have so much fun that you'll never get around to doing the expensive things. Higher prices mean better quality with running shoes, but not with travel experiences.

Busses are generally cheaper than taxis in any country, of course. See the page "Cheap Bus Travel" for tips on basic precautions to take when using busses and taxis in other countries. Walking is even cheaper, and a great way to really see a city. Ask the locals where the dangerous parts of town are before you wander too far.

For cheap accommodations when you travel internationally, find out where local visitors from within the country are staying. Negotiation on room charges is common in some areas also. When we were in Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated the rate on our room down from $12 per night to $6 per night, by paying for several nights in advance. You may want to consider hostels, as well. They are much more common overseas.

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