Often with cultural travel where you want to get more immersed in the culture, language, history, religion, architecture, art, music, etc. of the country you are visiting, you probably will be staying longer than the usual 7 days to do this. You want to slow down and experience things instead of just rushing through the streets from one booked excursion or appointment to the next. So you may wonder how can you stay longer without breaking your budget. Below are some suggestions on ways to stay longer and spend the same amount as your normal 1 week vacation where you only hurry through the top tourist attractions, but still left feeling like your really didn’t experience that country and live like a local would.
1. Save on Airline Tickets. Know in advance where you want to travel to, and determine what is the best time of year you want to travel there (e.g. for preferred weather, festivals or a special concert or event, etc.). Then sign up for free mailing list (or text notifications) to receive Flash Sale Price Alerts on sites like: Flighthub.com, Kayak.com, Wowfare.com, and JustFly.com. Decide what type of airline seat you want and specify that in your alert notifications. Are you looking just for the cheapest way to get there, then that will probably be with Coach, or do you want to pay more to get a discounted Business Class or First Class ticket to give you a more comfortable flight. On a personal note, I once found a ticket on Kayak that was First Class to Rome, that was the less than the usual price for a coach ticket. So if you look around, you never know what you can find.
Just stay flexible and know what is important to you. Also don’t limit you flight searches to your local home town as the departure. You might look for deals at the largest airport back home where most of your international flight leave from, and purchase separate flight tickets to that city. For example, I live in the United States and most of our flights on the east coast that are international go through New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. So often I look for deals to other countries leaving from JFK they are more flights through there and so more chances for better deals. And I just book a separate flight from my location in North Carolina to New York’s JFK airport.
2. Pack Light. Try to pack light, because check bags are costly, and cost you opportunities like catching an earlier flight. Also if later you are taking a train at your destination country, often checked bags make it more difficult to travel. The large bags are usually in a different section from where you are sitting and not within view from your seat, which although they will usually be safe, it causes anxiety of fear someone might steal your bag. If you are traveling with just a carry-on and duffle bag, your bags are with you above your seat and so you don’t have to worry. Also to help you pack light, when you are looking for lodging check to see if they have a clothes washer and dryer for your use, or access to laundry services. This will help you know that although you may be staying a month that you can get by with one week’s worth of clothes, because you know you can wash clothes at your destination.
3. Decline the Airline’s Insurance. Don’t pay for the Insurance on your Flight ticket separately, if you plan get Travel Insurance for the entire trip that includes Medical Evacuation and hospital coverage. You will be paying for duplicate coverage, because the insurance offered by airlines or third-party air flight booking agent will include coverage for the flight and lost baggage only won’t cover any medical expenses. But if you instead get the coverage over your entire trip, it will cover your flight expense, lost baggage, and medical evacuation.
4. Save on Lodging (Skip the Big Chain Hotels), instead rent a room or an entire apt. or house. If you are staying for an extended period, like a month or longer, look for accommodations that include a clothes washer and dryer (or inquire about nearby laundry facilities). Look for deals on airbnb.com and vrbo.com. You can also search for apartments or rooms on Booking.com and Hotels.com.
If you really want to save, you might want to look for deals on sites like Couch Surfing (couchsurfing.com). You could also sign up at Work Away (https://www.workaway.info/) to take advantage of one of the many opportunities to have free lodging at a local’s home or farm in your destination country in exchange for agreeing to pet sit, or light labor (carpentry or gardening, etc.). Sometimes a family may want you to stay with them (and they provide free room and board), for the opportunity to just talk to you and have a cultural exchange, or their family may want to practice their English (or whatever the specified language is in their offer description). Last I checked there were also several offers for some hotels in Thailand and other places to let you work there for free lodging if you agreed to work the front desk at their hotel if you were English speaking. Offers like that. Anyway, a great way to meet the locals and live like they live, plus extend your stay cheaply. You might decide to do one of these cheaper or free stays for a few weeks, then spend the remainder at a private apt. or hotel the last week or two to extend your stay but keep your budget in check.
5. Cook some of your own Meals. Take a cooking class, and then try some of the local dishes in your rented apt. Instead of eating out at restaurants at every meal. I’m not saying to not go to restaurants, definitely do that, but if you are looking for ways to save money and you are staying for several weeks. Then you may want to get some food at the local markets and grocery store and use that kitchen at your accommodations to prepare 50-70% of your meals. Even if its just breakfast. It can start to add up. Plus being a cultural traveler, you want to experience the country and that town as a local would, and not just a foreign tourist snapping their fingers and getting their food magically appear in front of them at all times. Maybe also as you meet more locals, before you go maybe you can invite some of them over for dinner that you cook. Be social. Cooking is a fun way to share good times with existing and new friends. Don’t look at cooking away from home as a burden or chore, it could be a chance to have fun and laugh and enjoy the company of your travel party and also experience a more personal exchange with some of the locals.
6. Book Lodging away from Tourist Attractions. Have your base location off the beaten path. You can stay within commuting distance, but the farther away from all the tourist attractions you stay, the cheaper your lodging and food will be. For example, on my upcoming third trip to Italy, after experiencing with a friend the tourist attractions in Rome and Florence, we will be venturing out a little and staying for one month in the Puglia region in the town of Lecce. The lodging and food will be less expensive than if we stayed the entire time in Rome or Florence. We are staying for 1 month in Puglia region at a rented apt. that we found on AirBnB.com that has 3 bedrooms, large living room, big kitchen, and a roof-top terrace for probably the same price of staying 10 days at a luxury hotel in Rome. The Puglia region has things to do and beautiful sights, but it just not as popular with foreign tourist (who may have a week to spend in the country). Puglia region is more of a vacation destination visited mostly by Italians who live in other parts of Italy. Again, the general rule of stay and eat where the locals go will save you money. Where the most popular tourist attractions (for foreigners) are located, will tend to be pricier for everything.
7. Learn the local language in advance of going. Learn at least some key phrases of the local language in advance of arriving at your destination country. Even if it is just a little. It shows respect, and in the long run could save you some money. It may help you when negotiating prices, because locals may treat you more favorably with pricing at markets, if you at least look like you respected their culture enough to try to learn to speak their language.
8. Book Excursions directly with local companies (if possible). Book excursion though recommendations from locals instead of booking everything through a third-party site. Sometimes you can’t avoid it if you don’t know anyone. But if make a connection with a local host where you are staying you can inquire and book in advance, or they can make a reservation for you in the town you are staying.
9. Be flexible with your dates. When your dates are flexible and you could save so much by switching your dates by just a day or two or by a week.
10. Rent a car instead of booking a group tour or private driver (unless you are doing a wine tour and think you might be too tipsy to drive). Especially if you are just traveling on country roads, like wine roads of Tuscany. Be sure you check in advance to make sure that you know which side of the road they drive on, and are comfortable with that. Also be sure if you plan to drive that before you get to your destination that you have gotten an International Driver’s Permit. Get it the month before you leave. You can get them in the US at your local AAA Office. Don’t get it too far in advance because they are only good for one year. It just translates your driving record into the destination country’s language if you get pulled over by the cops. And you can not rent a car at your destination location without one. And you can’t get it in their country, you have to obtain it in your home country before you leave. Having your own transportation will give you the freedom to go where you want on your own schedule.
11. Skip the Souvenirs. Skip or don’t over do it with the Souvenirs. I’m guilty of this in the past, but trying to get better. If you want to save money, return home with pictures and your cherished memories instead of refrigerator magnets and cups shaped like the leaning tower of Pisa. True Confession – I bought a blue leaning cup my first time in Pisa, Italy. I have to think where it is now. I think under the bathroom sink upstairs. Can’t seem to throw it away, but I never drink out of it. Just take the picture of you trying to hold up the leaning tower, and leave it at that.
Now if you want to help the local economy, buy instead something you think you really need and will use that your destination country specializes in. For example I really need a belt, so I will look for one this trip to Italy at the San Lorenzo Market leather market in Florence, Italy. And I’m not going to go crazy and want to buy all the leather purses. I did that my last trip. I’m going to only going to buy one purse, and only if it is something different than I already have. Or maybe just buy a purse for my cousin’s wife and daughter. That is it. And let’s see if I will stick to that plan.
Great advice! Thanks for sharing.
You are so welcome.