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[the-lean-traveler]

Eating Well Without the Price Tag!

You’ve found your flight and flew, you ventured to your new temporary accommodation and dropped your bags, and now you’re hungry! Half the fun was getting here and now begins the other half… having a great time and enjoying the culture around you! Finding out where to eat should be the least stressful part of your trip! This blog aims to give you some tips on how to have the best food experience!

Street Food: One of the best ways to find quality street food in your area is by striking up a conversation with the locals! Normally they will be able to direct you to some of the best spots and maybe even send you in your merry way some hidden gems. If the language barrier is too strong, look for the venders that have the longest lines. This is usually a good sign of quality and popularity.

Cooking Classes: If you want something specific that the culture is known for, such as authentic pasta from Italy, and you want to learn how to make it consider booking a class. Many local community centers or small cooking schools will offer affordable classes where you can enjoy a new experience as well as taste some delicious food! Depending on where you are, just make sure that you book in advance to avoid missing out on a truly interactive experience. Lastly, if you want to save even more you can book a group class which will significantly cut down on the costs!

Grocery Stores: If you are staying at a place that offers a full range kitchen, consider going to the store and buying your own groceries! If there are local markets or well-known market chains such as Carrefour or Tesco, exploring the store can normally equip you with some unique ingredients that are such to enrich your travel menu. If you want to shop like a pro or if you have any allergies, make sure that you know some key words or phrases that may be on the labels.

Dining Deals: Find dining deals such as ones that can be found on Yelp. Many places offer happy hours, loyalty programs, or have events in place to allow patrons to fuel up without breaking the bank. Make sure to see if the place you are going offers such things!

Budgeting Meals: To end this, my last tip is to budget for each day. Look up local prices and try to stay reasonably around that. Take a picture, note the price, and share with others on #The-Lean-Traveler.

I guess it is time to put a fork in it because this blog post is done! Thank you for reading and if you learned something new or have other considerations for saving and planning, please leave a comment below! If you enjoy talking travel, make sure you check out my other blogs!

Stay curious, stay inspired, and safe travels! 🌍✈️💸

[the-lean-traveler]

Staying Around the World!

After planning on how to get to your destination, the next step is figuring out where you can drop off your bags, kick your legs up, and begin your vacation! Finding the perfect place while traveling can elevate your trip from one that's ordinary to one that's extraordinary! This blog aims to give you some considerations for planning that next step in your journey!

Determine Your Travel Priorities: An important first step is to figure out what you intend to do, such as spending every day at the beach, or what you would like to see, such as navigating the major cities. This could give you a general location of where it would be best that you stay and help to narrow your choices quickly.

Consider Your Accommodations: If you're like me, I travel to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible. This normally equates to me staying at hostels which are the cheapest places to "leave my bags" while I go explore! However, if you are looking for a place to have your space, privacy, and comfort, consider looking into resorts or high-end hotels.

Local Atmosphere: Research the area to see if the vibe matches your own! If you're planning on reading a good book in the sun, maybe staying in the heart of the "Cancun Seven" isn't in your best interest. However, instead you could stay near Playa Tortugas to have a more family friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Safety: Read reviews, search local tour recommendations, and look into areas that are typically unsafe for travelers. While there are areas that can be unsafe, the vast majority of popular travel destinations are safe. As always be mindful of your surroundings and trust your instincts.

Check Transportation Methods: Depending on where you stay, things may not be within walking distance. Make sure you look into reliable transportations from where you are planning on staying to the places that you would like to go. Uber or taxis are normally a good and effective resource abroad but taking a metro or renting a bike may be a faster and cheaper option!

Wrapping up this adventure, choosing where to stay when traveling involves balancing multiple factors. You have to consider budget, location, atmosphere, safety, and personal preferences. Taking the time to research and plan your accommodation can lead to a more enjoyable, comfortable, and memorable trip. If you learned something new or have other considerations for saving, please leave a comment below! If you'd like to learn more about planning on where to eat while traveling, make sure you check out my other blogs!

Stay curious, stay inspired, and safe travels! 🌍✈️💸

[the-lean-traveler]

Enjoying the World on a Dime!

Hello to all my fellow veteran travelers, those who are planning their first journey, and everyone in between! If you are anything like me, even the idea of planning a trip is enough to light a fire in your soul!

However, many of us are burdened by our student loans, rent, mortgage, and other bills which have been preventing us from clicking that beautiful blue "book now" button. This series of blogs aims to help those adventurous souls plan their trip for as cheap as possible! With some creative hacks and strategic forethought, you too can enjoy the world on a dime!

Let's talk about the most important piece of traveling, getting from Point A to Point B. Luckly, there are many tips that make it more cost-friendly!

Tip for Traveling by Airplane, Train, Bike, Car, Bus, or Boat!

Being Flexible with Dates: Being able to move dates to the left and right is a great way to save a lot of money. A rule of thumb is that flying on the weekdays or during off-peak times can really help keep the price low.

Comparing Multiple Sources: There are many platforms that will help aid you in comparing prices, such as Expedia.com, so you can get the cheapest deals.

Book in Advance: Generally, booking a flight weeks to months in advance can help you secure some of the cheapest prices.

Using Incognito Mode: Something that many people don't know is that some airlines may increase prices based on search history. To avoid these dynamic changes, make sure you are using a hidden browser and not accepting cookies.

Round Trip/ One-Way: I always check round trip first, then try to plan my trip individually. For instance, I did this for my trip to Brazil. Round trip was going to cost me about $1,100. After booking each flight individually as one-ways, I spent a total of $894.

Purchase a Railcard/ MetroCard: If you are in a country where trains or metros are a common transportation method, consider get a card that will give you discounts on all your rides like UK's 16-25 Railcard or Spain's T-Casual metro pass. This can help you not only get around the city but also travel between cities for cheap!

Check for Group Discounts: Some providers will offer a discount if traveling with a group which could significantly reduce the cost!

Watch out for Extra Fees: Be cautions of extra fees such as seat selection or other hidden costs that may increase the price. Some sites are set up to make you think that you have to purchase these "add-ons" off first glance.

Public Transit: Don't underestimate the effectiveness of using buses, trams, and subways. Most places have great transit services that are fast and cheap. Finding a day pass can save you even more!

Bike Rentals: If you are in a bike-friendly city, one of the best ways to explore at your own pace is by renting a bike.

There you have it, there are some tips for planning the transportation for your next big adventure! If you learned something new or have other considerations for saving, please leave a comment below! If you'd like to learn more about cost effective living arrangements while traveling, make sure you check out my other blogs. Follow me so you never miss another chance to save!

Stay curious, stay inspired, and safe travels! 🌍✈️💸