Where do you want to travel. How to travel cheap on your own, tips for beginners and beyond

How cheap to travel the world is a very topical issue.
Especially now, when the ruble is getting cheaper and prices are rising.
Let's not talk about sad things - about potatoes and about buying canned food for the future - we will immediately move on to recommendations on how to travel cheaply to Europe and relax abroad.

How to buy cheap flights

Already wrote about it. For example article
Some points from the article:

air tickets are cheaper the more in advance you buy them
flights with a departure date in the middle of the week are cheaper. Friday is the most expensive day to fly
flights in low season are cheaper than high season
air tickets during long weekends are more expensive than during normal periods of life (twice a fool understands)
air tickets on strange, crooked routes are cheaper than tickets on direct flights
use low-cost airlines such as Easyjet, Wizz, AirBaltic that fly from Russia to Europe to reduce the cost of air tickets, for example, to Africa or the Caribbean or America

Separately, I want to say about low-cost airlines: they are all, of course, tight-fisted and miserly. They don’t feed for free, they take money for luggage, they don’t return money for a ticket ... But nevertheless they give good prices for air tickets and this is what you need!

We take food with us on the plane
We pack things in vacuum bags and stuff the bag to capacity, which can be carried on board for free as hand luggage. The rest we put on ourselves)))
The cost of a low-cost airline ticket is ridiculous to grieve about money if you change your mind about flying.

Transfer to and from the airport

The cheapest way to get from Moscow to the airport is by metro - air express.
If you want to travel in comfort, order an individual or group transfer.
I prefer to order an Uber taxi to and from the airport.
Can be used at the Vinsky Forum and find companions for a group transfer.
From most airports in Europe, trains or buses go to the city. Read about it on the Vinsky Forum in the section Transport to the desired country. Read about transfer from London airport or, but about paris airports
If you flew to an unfamiliar city in an unfamiliar country, then it is very possible that a taxi outside the airport fence will be cheaper than the one at the entrance.

Car rent

This gives you a roof over your head, a left-luggage office and a transfer immediately upon leaving the airport.
I have an article on how to properly rent a car abroad - and in the article I explain how to reduce the deposit and liability for a rental car.
Some tips to save your money:

when ordering the cheapest car from the options found, for example, on the site, pay attention to the rent car company and its assessment - this option is available on the site. I do not recommend contacting companies with a score below 6 points.
pay attention to the free options that are included in the price: it can be an additional driver or a full tank of gasoline. If you are not confident in yourself as a driver, take full insurance, but otherwise, if the company’s rating is more than 8, you can take the standard one (they casually check the car upon delivery, but you shouldn’t bring a broken car).
when moving to the car drop-off point, refuel 30-40 km away: the needle of the fuel gauge will not fall below full during this distance, and you will save a little.
take your navigator with you, just remember to update the maps with new radar positions on the road, set the option “avoid” in the navigator toll roads”- at the same time look at the outback.

Hotels, apartments, flats

Use mobile internet

I also wrote about this:
And here is what is written regarding the advantages of relationships on “you” with mobile Internet:
In short:

mobile booking of air tickets, hotels, cars.
unnecessary navigation when traveling by car.
don't get lost in the city google map always at hand.
I wanted to eat - I got into the map or application and found a restaurant.
lost in the London Underground or New York – Mobile Internet to help you along with the appropriate application.

Save money. Currency exchange. Safety

The same topic: , : rubles, or maybe Indian rupees?
Do you know that, for example, in Indonesia, in Bali, not all dollars will be taken from you in exchange? You know that in some European countries they will not take 500 euro bills from you, and even call the police ... Didn't you know? Read the articles at the links above - it will come in handy.

Do not neglect the basic safety rules on vacation, which I outlined
That is, do not drink with anyone, do not invite anyone to the room, etc. - this will also save on vacation.

Travel insurance

you can't buy health.
Don't be stingy and take out travel insurance. It's simple:
You never know what can happen to you or your companions on vacation (God spare you from this, but still). Treatment abroad is very, very high quality, but also expensive. Therefore, travel insurance worth 1000 rubles will save you 1000 euros.

Food and drink

In Europe, for example in Italy, try to avoid restaurants with a rich entourage, with menus on several sheets and a hall where only tourists are seated - this is not the right place. The simpler the restaurant looks and the more concise its menu (usually fits on one piece of paper) - the tastier and more natural ... and perhaps cheaper.
In France, use the menu system, that is, take a complex in a restaurant. Ordering "a la carte" will be significantly more expensive and not tastier at all.
Before entering the restaurant, study its menu, which hangs in front of the entrance.
Don't be put off by the red Michelin Certification sticker, be afraid of the green Tripadvisor sticker.
While in the USA, take a brochure at the hotel reception - a guide to restaurants in the area with discount coupons and eat at Asian buffets. Asian buffet in the US is a buffet system with decent food, very positively different from the daily fast food that ordinary Americans eat. There will also be seafood and vegetables stewed in vogue and other healthy food for a fixed price. entrance ticket. Just don't take any nasty stuff like climbing or spicy wings - leave that to the Native Americans.
In Brazil, I recommend eating in shuraskaria - establishments specializing in fried meat. There is a technology for eating places
It is not necessary to leave a big tip in Europe (maximum 1 euro) and in the States - 10% is accepted there if the service is not indicated on the check, then no one will beat you if you forget to leave a tip.

If this article helped you and set you on the right path ( solo travel) - share a link to it with your friends in life and social networks.

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Experienced travelers We are convinced that traveling does not require a lot of money. Enough desire to wander and the ability to seek information.

website summarized tips from travel bloggers that will allow you to see the world at minimal cost. At the end of the article you will find a bonus in the form useful information for every tourist. And may you have more travels in the near future!

11. Travel on your own

Traveling on your own, and not through travel agencies, is both more profitable and more interesting. Yes, you will be solely responsible for any problems. But travel agencies do not solve much in such cases, preferring to shift the blame on the airline, force majeure, the receiving party, and the like.

On your own, you can lay out the “same” dream route, choose a cheap flight option, book the best-priced hotel with a convenient location for you, and pick up a transfer.

4. Rent out your own accommodation while traveling or go on an “exchange vacation”

An exchange vacation is an opportunity for free accommodation while traveling, and maybe even a chance to meet your love like the characters in a movie.

2. Don't buy what you can get for free

WiFi. When booking accommodation, immediately choose an apartment or hotel with free Wi-Fi. During the day, use free Wi-Fi in restaurants and cafes, gas stations and shopping malls.
Area maps. Free cards are available at counters in many hotels, apartments and hostels. The map can also be picked up at the Tourist Information Office. As a rule, they are located in the city center or near the main attractions. Download electronic maps of the city and a guide to your phone in advance.

Water. In Europe, you can drink tap water everywhere. Drinking fountains have been installed in many cities, and you can safely drink from them. To check, you can look at

Travel is always good. Especially when you do not need to coordinate your plans with other people and look for compromises. It’s even better when you can go on a budget to where you have long wanted to, without having to explain why you need to go to this particular country or city right now.

Do you know when this is possible? When you travel alone.

Why traveling alone is a great idea

You have five reasons for this:

You can leave as soon as possible. No need to check schedules with friends, trying to find a date when everyone will definitely be comfortable (three months from now, for example). Everything becomes much simpler: you see the action - you fly away.
Tickets will be cheaper. If the tickets are on promotion, then it can only apply to one seat, and the rest will go at full price. Plus, the larger the company, the less likely it is that you will all fly on the same low-cost flight.
You can choose a trip with the craziest transfers: no one will whine that they want to quickly arrive at their destination and don’t care about an eight-hour transfer in Prague with the ability to go to the city.
No shame: if you want to sleep all day in the room - sleep in the room, without feeling guilty about the "seal" rest. If you want to have breakfast with tequila and chips - you have every right to do it without judgment from the outside. And no one needs to prove the historical importance of the light bulb museum, which you dreamed of visiting since the third grade.
If you're going somewhere alone, you can find yourself a new company (and hide from her in case of emergency, and not swear just because you live in the same room and are a little tired of each other).

How to travel alone and not worry

1. Luggage

It is clear that if you are going for one weekend, then there is no point in carrying a huge suitcase with you. But, surprise - even on a trip for two weeks, it is not really needed. For warm countries(like Israel, Spain or Italy) and summer trips, everything you need will fit into a good backpack. Assess your wardrobe and choose versatile items that will give you many options for combinations. Sneakers can be worn with anything.

Important: if you plan to bring alcohol and delicacies with you, it is better to buy a return ticket with luggage and choose a stronger backpack.
A shopping bag will fit into the most crowded backpack and save you from having to lay out all your things over and over again in order to walk around the city.

2. Finance

See in advance how things are with plastic cards in the country you plan to travel to. If in Finland cards are accepted almost anywhere, then in Germany there are serious problems with this. Depending on this, determine the amount of cash that you will take with you. Be sure to leave a reserve on the card, which can be withdrawn in case of force majeure. It is better to pay a withdrawal fee than to lose the entire budget at once.

3. Housing

With the rental of hotels and apartments on a solo trip, things are the saddest thing. It is clear that for two you can rent a separate room for the price of a bed in a hostel, and for 3+ - an apartment on Airbnb for the same price. But solo travelers increase their chances of staying for free with one of the locals on Couchsurfing.

If you are embarrassed by the prospect of living in an apartment with a single man, just select the “Women Only” filter. The same is true with age.
Be sure to read the reviews - so you can find out if the owner of the apartment bothers the guests and if there were any "difficulties" with him from previous travelers.
It is best to look for accommodation a week or two before the trip. So the owner of the apartment will definitely be sure of his plans and will be able to immediately tell whether he will accept you.
Feel free to ask for a tour - locals are usually happy to show their favorite restaurants and bars to visitors. A good gesture is to cook something from the national cuisine as a thank you.
The maximum stay for couchsurfing is three days. You can agree on longer, but it will not be very polite. After all, this is a free stay, not a hotel, so there are limits.

4. Security

The main rules are: do not leave your drinks unattended, use only official taxis and check in advance for areas of the city that are considered unfavorable.

If you are traveling to a religious country, it is better to clarify the rules of the “dress code” in advance. You may have to leave ultra-short shorts at home.
In some countries (for example, in Georgia), it is better to take a ring with you to wear it on your ring finger. Yes, it's not very feminist. But this slightly stupid way can save you from unnecessary questions and actions.
Write down the embassy number in case you lose your passport. For this, it is worth taking photos of all important documents and saving them somewhere far away in the cloud (but so that you always have access from any device).
In southern Europe, girls are often approached with a request to sign a "petition" or "appeal". So you can lose the last large cash or all the contents at once.

We asked three questions to three girls who travel alone for different reasons and in different ways.

Why are you traveling alone?
What hacks help you? From finding hotels and entertainment to basic security.
Three ideal places to travel alone?

Anna Polyakova, author of the @ru_girl_travel channel in Telegram.

Travels by car, a maximum of one trip - about 25,000 kilometers.

Why are you traveling alone?

Traveling in the company of only yourself is an opportunity to plan your vacation 100% the way you want. Someone likes to go to the museum in new places, someone loves architecture, someone likes zoos, someone likes food (like me). A single long-distance driving trip is a kind of meditation and an opportunity to put your thoughts on the shelves. While you are busy with mechanical work (driving), and outside the window beautiful landscapes, you can think about what in ordinary life there is not enough time for the bustle. And you don't need a companion.

I search for all hotels through Booking. Even small hotels in the Amur region are marked there.
With the search for entertainment, the site drom.ru and LiveJournal helped me. I entered a query, for example, the road "Irkutsk-Yakutsk" and the reports of people who passed this route, one could read not only about the pitfalls of the route, but also about interesting places.
If you are going somewhere for the first time, look for the latest reports from other travelers to know where the grader will overtake you, which city is better to drive along the bypass and at what kilometer to make a small circle away from the highway so that wonderful roads open up in front of you. its beauty of the place.

It is not at all boring to be alone in Karelia and on Kola Peninsula. The M-18 "Kola" highway is of excellent quality and easy to drive. After passing it all, you will see endless forests, Lake Onega, Belomorkanal (despite its scary story this is an amazingly beautiful place), ancient wooden churches, waterfalls, raging rivers, marble canyons. And then the taiga will turn into an endless tundra before your eyes, you will cross the Arctic Circle and you can see the Barents Sea, which flows into the Northern Arctic Ocean. Also, these places are very quiet and peaceful. The perfect place to take a break from stress and clear your head.
Incredibly beautiful in Kamchatka. The best option to get - plane. If you wish, you can rent a car, I did so. federal highway here it is short, 200 kilometers, until it turns into stones, but very beautiful. In essence, it doesn’t matter where you are going when incredible hills and volcanoes rise around you on the horizon. You can visit hot springs (including mountain and wild ones, where you can sit in hot water right in the middle of the snowy peaks for free). Not far from the City (as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is called without frills) there is an exit to Pacific Ocean(Khalaktyrsky beach), Sea of Okhotsk(it is especially beautiful in Oktyabrsky settlement). And in the market you can carry buckets of crabs and caviar. IN last days in Kamchatka, I just ate bread, because caviar with crabs did not climb (for six months later, just thinking about them made me sick). By the way, buying a bucket of caviar is really cheaper than a cafe or ordinary products.
The third most beautiful place is Altai. Chuyky tract is included in the list of 10 most beautiful roads Russia, because in just 800 km you will meet all climatic zones: from the icy taiga to the hot steppe. And here you can also try a bear, a deer, a moral, a wild boar and a hare, buy shampoo from antlers or deer blood, the most delicious honey or tea. In general, for a gastrotourist - a paradise, and landscapes - eye baths. I’m thinking of going there some other way, but most likely I’ll fly to Novosibirsk by plane and rent a car. With this option, the trip may well fit into a weekend tour. The places are beautiful, but the track itself is not long. 2-3 days, depending on your pace.

Sasha Bogino, Mediazona journalist

Travels around Russia to the courts and around the world for fun

I often go on business trips. If you just want to go somewhere from Moscow and relax, I usually go alone too: mainly because almost all of my friends work, and our weekends just don’t coincide. After the flight Moscow - Abu Dhabi - Melbourne - Hobart (almost a day, taking into account the time spent waiting for the plane), even the five-hour journey does not seem so long to me. By the way, on an airplane, I always try to find a free row so that I can at least lie down - if there are much more seats than passengers, no one will forbid you to do this. Enjoying new places alone is very simple: if the weather permits, it is enough just to take a walk in the company of good music and delicious coffee. Often on business trips, I just don’t have time for museums, bars and sightseeing, so I try to walk more to get at least some impression of the new city.

2. What life hacks help you? From finding hotels and entertainment to basic security.

As a teenager, I went to Berlin for a couple of weeks: I still remember how I stuffed my suitcase with clothes, thinking something like this - what if I want to wear not this dress, but another, I'd better take both. Even better, I remember how my hands fell off while I was carrying this suitcase with me, so now I don’t take a lot of things with me on trips. Everywhere I go with a small comfortable suitcase (half empty, so that there is room for some purchases).
Before traveling, I buy local currency in Moscow: it’s better to think about it in advance, because the exchange rate on the spot will obviously be less profitable. About a third of the money set aside for the trip, I leave on the map just in case. By the way, many banks ask their customers to inform about the trip in advance. If this is not done, when trying to pay in another country, the card may be blocked (I once in Canada, in front of a huge queue, scraped out the last little thing to buy myself coffee, it was unpleasant). I keep cash and cards in separate places just in case.
When I check into a hotel, the first thing I do is pester the staff and ask where the nearest pharmacy and grocery store is, and also that there is a 24-hour nearby. In response to such questions, most likely, you will be given a map, everything will be drawn and explained in detail - do not neglect this, especially if you do not have mobile Internet during your trip.
On the issue of safety: when I travel alone, I only use public transport or legal taxis (all this, by the way, can also be found out at the hotel). In the dark, I avoid the city outskirts and all sorts of dumb places. In the spring, for example, I was in Krasnodar: my hotel was not very far from the center, but in the evening I still called myself a taxi, because I had to walk decently from the stop, and I didn’t really like the area.

3. Three ideal places to travel alone?

Berlin is good at any time of the year (although if you are not a fan of the heat, then take a closer look at the local weather forecast for midsummer).
Budapest, and especially in spring!
It's also cool to travel around Russia. Of course, sometimes a plane ticket to New York is cheaper than to Kamchatka, but it is not necessary to travel so far to see something new. Think about the last time you traveled more than 50-100 kilometers from the city where you live. Surely even within the area full of interesting places.

Maria Sokolova, digital nomad, translator, author of the @marisokolova Telegram channel

Manages to work in a dozen countries per year

1. Why are you traveling alone?

I travel alone for several reasons, but two main ones. First, it is often better, more comfortable and more interesting for me to travel alone than in the wrong company. Second, my lifestyle and travel do not match the lifestyle of most of my friends. I like to come somewhere for a month or two, I definitely need to devote at least two or three hours a day to work, and it’s not necessary to see everything at once, so it’s quite difficult with those who go on vacation. The paradox is that when I travel alone, I am rarely alone. I have many friends around the world, I rarely go to places where I don’t know anyone at all, and it’s easier to meet new people alone, whether it’s hostel neighbors or the same dating app.

2. What life hacks help you? From finding hotels and entertainment to basic security.

To find fellow travelers and companions for lunch and dinner in an unfamiliar city, I sometimes use the Hangouts function in the couchsurfing application, sometimes tinder (no, this is not only for sex, you can also just get to know different people, including the same sex). Sometimes specialized groups on Facebook help (I search by keywords digital nomads/expats in...).
By the way, in such Facebook groups you can often find accommodation for a couple of months and a million different events.
In general, I try to find out in advance what popular tourist routes are in the country, I keep track of my drinks at the bar, I use Uber wherever I can, and I check reviews of places where I am going to stay on the Internet. Well, I go on dates to crowded places :)

3. Three ideal places to travel alone?

If you choose, then in terms of comfort for singles, I would choose Thailand and in general South East Asia, where you feel safe, you can always meet a bunch of other solo travelers, and where it's cheap enough to rent a place by yourself.
I also like to travel alone in the Balkans (one of my favorite regions in the world), because it's more interesting - stories start to happen to you, as soon as you leave the house.
The south of Europe, where it's just good, and if you don't have company, you still feel good.

Traveling for the first time, and even alone, is scary, but if you decide, you will definitely not regret it. Traveling alone is an opportunity to devote time only to yourself, wherever you go - on a hot day. sunny resort, where alcohol flows like water and the bars never close, or in a deserted place where you can read a book on the beach all day, enjoying the silence. From the beaches of Costa Rica to the mountains of New Zealand, places teeming with adventure, relaxation, friendly locals and travelers like you can find the perfect destination for every single traveler who will make you feel yourself at home. When you feel like it's time to be a little alone, pack your bags, book a plane ticket - and explore 13 the best places world, where it is worth going alone.

13. Cali, Colombia

The third largest city in Colombia, Cali, unlike other cities, never sleeps at all - it is not for nothing that it is known as the world capital of salsa. Here you can dance from dusk to dawn - and no one will ask questions. And if you want to relax after a whole night of salsa, you can go to the local zoo, stroll through city parks and taste delicious seafood or lobster chowder - specialties of most local eateries. The most beautiful women in the world, professional salsa dancers at every turn and a very warm climate all year round - all this makes Cali one of the best places for solo tourists.

12. Iceland

If, as a solo traveler, you are primarily concerned with the convenience of travel, Iceland is perfect place. Most of the locals speak very good English, and throughout the country you can find both road signs and menus in English. English language, which makes life easier for tourists traveling alone. Iceland is home small excursions and day trips, where you can meet other intrepid travelers while whale watching, soaking in the hot springs, or just walking the scenic trails. Going to Iceland from September to April, you can admire northern lights, and from mid-May to August in Iceland lasts a polar day, so there will be light 24 hours 7 days a week. But don't let the peaceful appearance of Icelandic towns fool you: the locals know perfectly well how to throw a grand party and have fun all night long - especially in summer, on a polar day.

11. Australia

Thousands of single tourists go to Australia every year, so once in this country, you will not stand out in any way. In addition to the indescribable accent and the amazing friendliness of the locals, in Australia you will find an almost endless number of inexpensive and quite comfortable hostels where you can stay. Australia is the perfect place to make new friends, fall in love with the natural beauty, explore fantastic beaches or even go scuba diving and snorkeling to the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, any region and city in Australia, whether it be Sydney or Perth, is completely safe for tourists from other countries.

10. Panama

In Panama, single tourists are quite common and commonplace, largely due to the fact that most of the locals speak good English. One of the most hospitable countries in Central America, Panama is known not only panama canal, but also a surprisingly diverse culture. For the lone traveller, Panama is packed to the brim with numerous recreational opportunities, such as rafting, rafting and surfing. If you want to relax in a more relaxed environment, you can go to the San Blas Islands, where mass tourism has not yet reached. This archipelago is a heavenly place with untouched nature, where you can get from the capital of Panama even by boat in a matter of minutes.

9. Maui, Hawaii

Pristine white sand beaches, friendly locals and a currency that won't leave you scratching your head - Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago and the perfect destination for solo travellers. If you're looking for adult-only resorts, you can head to Lahaina, a city on the western tip of Maui. Here, right in front of the ocean, luxurious five-star hotels lined up with private beaches, swimming pools and SPA. And in Lahaina you can rent an apartment just a few steps from the ocean. Renting a car at the airport can be faster than waiting for luggage, and driving around Maui is another opportunity to enjoy the beauty of untouched nature. When heading to Maui, be sure to try surfing with sea turtles, go kayaking with whales and attend at least one of the many beach parties.

8. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Far from being the safest city on our list, Rio certainly deserves your attention - especially if you're traveling alone. Where else can you see magnificent Mountain peaks, white sand beaches and grandiose carnivals? Rio, by the way, is primarily famous for its beaches. It is worth spending 5 minutes walking along the beach, mingling with the crowd of locals - and you are guaranteed to receive an invitation to a party. Don't forget to meet brave travelers like you and explore the city center, where a huge number of museums and churches are concentrated. And if you dream of getting to the world's largest carnival, book your ticket in advance and get ready for the fact that you will not be able to sleep that night.

7. New York, USA

It's hard to feel lonely in a city of over 18 million people. The New York Concrete Jungle is so teeming with entertainment that you won't even have time to remember that you're traveling alone. Treat yourself to dinner at a famous restaurant (if you don't like sitting at a table in splendid isolation, surrounded by couples in love and noisy companies, book a table not at peak hours). Be sure to watch some Broadway show. Climb to the top of the Empire State Building, take a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty, or walk along the famous Central park. And lovers of nightclubs and similar "night" entertainment will soon realize that there is no better place in the world than "the city that never sleeps."

6. Costa Rica

For backpackers who like to backpack rather than stay in hotels somewhere along the coast, Costa Rica is the perfect destination. Here you can find endless beaches and wild jungles, and in addition, Costa Rica has quite reasonable prices and a high level of safety for travelers. In Costa Rica, you can, for example, live in a real surfer camp and finally learn how to conquer the ocean waves on a surfboard - or go for a walk in the rainforest, where you can watch monkeys, lizards, sloths. Whatever you do in Costa Rica, you are guaranteed to love this place: the locals are very friendly, the beer is cheap, the weather is always warm, and what else does a solo traveler need?

5. Bali, Indonesia

Yoga on the beach. Sunbathing on the beach. Temples and mysterious ancient ruins. Beautiful beaches and crystal clear water. Is there anything else worth talking about? Bali is the perfect holiday destination for whatever type of tourism you prefer, and the friendliness of the locals will make you instantly feel at home. Hire a moped and ride around the city or raft down the Ayun River for a sea of unforgettable thrills. Bunch of local markets, festivals and ancient temples, Bali is the perfect place to unwind and find inner peace.

Miami is ideal for those who, traveling alone, are always ready for new acquaintances and fun parties. Beautiful weather beautiful beaches, beautiful people - Miami is not in vain considered one of the most popular destinations for single tourists. On South Beach you can find dozens of prestigious nightclubs with the trendiest DJs, and on Miami Beach you can dance all night right on the sand. However, when going to Miami, be prepared to open your wallet often - this city is not intended for backpackers, lovers budget holiday. Hotels here are quite an expensive pleasure, but it will be possible to relax like a king. Don't forget to dine at one of Miami's many ocean-view restaurants and enjoy the amazing beauty of the sunset.

3. New Zealand

New Zealand is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world, but also one of the safest. The friendliness and sociability of the locals have made New Zealand one of the favorite destinations for solo travelers. Here you can jump from a bungee or ride along the river at great speed on a jet ski, and also go in the footsteps of the hobbits on a tour of the filming locations of The Lord of the Rings. After a day's tour of the wineries, you can soak in the hot springs or even take part in a rugby match. For those who love long hiking, New Zealand is perhaps the most ideal option: here you can test your strength on one of the nine picturesque hiking trails tens of kilometers long.

2. Ireland

Ireland abounds not only with friendly and hospitable people, but also with pubs where you can taste the famous traditional Irish beer. locals They will be happy to point you in the direction, tell you a couple of stories and treat you to a glass of Guinness. Countless ancient castles, guided tours picturesque corners and pubs on every corner - it's an opportunity to meet the same lonely travelers and get a lot of new experiences. If left-hand traffic doesn't bother you, rent a car and go explore the monuments of prehistoric Ireland in Bruce-on-Buan.

1. Ibiza, Spain

Not so long ago, the Spanish authorities began to make attempts to make Ibiza a place for family vacation, but this island is famous all over the world as an ideal place for singles. Ibiza has dozens of nightclubs that stay open all night until sunrise, thousands of people who love to party in a fun company, and the most famous DJs who come to Ibiza to perform at some grand party in a trendy nightclub. Night life small island is concentrated in two areas: San Antoni on the west coast and the city of Ibiza on the south. Whichever of these two places you choose, unforgettable experience guaranteed.

There is nothing difficult about making your trip on a budget. A little planning and knowing a few savings secrets is all it takes. Flights, hotels, visas, transportation, meals, communications - all of these items can be reduced with a little effort. MAKE-TRIP shares a dozen with you useful tips, how to travel cheap. Hurry to find out!

- - - - - - - - - - -

1. Travel on your own!

The first (and most important) law: do not be afraid. It's simple, it's fun, it's cheap. Some people do not even imagine that it is possible to travel abroad without the involvement of agencies and other organizations - they believe that this is the only way to guarantee their safety. And in the end, they either get a boring rest, mostly in a supine position, or spend unimaginable amounts on more or less non-standard rest. Traveling alone is not only possible, but necessary! Only independent trip can be considered a real journey, everything else is tourist vacation. Everyone can organize a great trip for themselves, you just need to show a little independence. Look at our different countries and cities.

In our opinion, it is especially interesting to travel by car (personal or rented) - complete freedom of movement! If you are interested in this option, read our tips about. Traveling is amazing too!

2. Find the cheapest flights

The ability to find and book flights at the lowest price is the most needed skill for budget travel. The main rule that you should always remember is that the earlier the purchase is made, the more likely it is to find an option that is attractive in price. Ours will help you become a real master of finding the cheapest flights. It makes sense to keep track of the current ones on our website and see ours in a particular country or city.

Also, be sure to read about - in this material we talked about the schemes of budgetary access to the Schengen countries through the border Russia European countries. In addition, we advise you to find out about, which allow you to fly for amounts close to zero (buying tickets for 20/30/40 euros will not be a problem).

It is best to search for flights on the Skyscanner metasearch engine - it will find the best deals for you in any direction. This is a good assistant for independent travelers, as he searches for tickets among hundreds of airlines and does not take a single ruble commission from the buyer. The search engine makes it possible to view the cost of tickets to any country from all cities of Russia (or any other country) at once - a very convenient feature for budget travelers, it allows you to find an option at the best price.

(Photo by Rennett Stowe. Licensed cc by. www.flickr.com)

3. Make your own visas

Why resort to the help of an intermediary and pay him twice or three times as much for it? You do not turn to the help of agents if you want to buy something in a supermarket, and here you do not need to. After all, we are going to travel economically, and not to improve the welfare of strangers.

Search the Internet for information about the nearest consulate to you or visa application center the desired country, collect all the required documents and go to them. Many people think that it is more reliable to do it through an agency, allegedly this way the probability of visa refusal is lower. This is a delusion, since the whole mission of these intermediaries is that they will take the documents to the consulate instead of you. Tips on how to prepare the right documents to improve your chances of getting a visa are easy to find on the Internet. Our site also has for a number of popular destinations.

4. Find and book your accommodation the right way

To make travel cheap, you need to find inexpensive accommodation. You can use the excellent metasearch engine Roomguru.ru and choose the right hotel according to your criteria and reasonable price. This resource compares prices among different booking agencies and finds the best deals. big base hotels, hostels, guest houses and so on. We recommend reading our tips on.

An alternative to hotels is a popular service for renting private accommodation Airbnb.ru. Try to find an apartment or house for your trip. It is much more comfortable and often cheaper (especially if you travel with a company or family). The service has a huge selection of unique accommodation (beautiful apartments, villas and even residential boats and castles!), accommodation in which will make your trip much more enjoyable and memorable. Take advantage of the current promotion and get a discount - $25 bonus on your first booking.

To choose the perfect accommodation, also look for different cities.

And for those who generally want to live for free, the Couchsurfing resource is vital, where after registering and creating a personal profile, you can find people who are ready to host travelers. The network covers millions of users around the world.

(Photo by Phillip Pessar. Licensed cc by. www.flickr.com)

5. Travel light

Take only what you really need - do not burden yourself with excess luggage. As a result, there are a number of advantages: there is no need to wait a long time for baggage claim, there is no threat of losing it, you don’t have to pay for overweight (and with low-cost airlines in general, any baggage is always paid separately and can cost you up to hundreds of euros), and moving around the airport and in your destination will be much easier and more pleasant if you do not have to lug huge suitcases and bags with you. We even fly to Asia for semi-annual wintering with only one backpack per person.

Read also our tips on and formation. By the way, we recommend shopping on Aliexpress (we order camping equipment, equipment, and numerous accessories there) - it turns out to be much more profitable than shopping in regular stores. Pay attention to reviews to choose the best product. Another good store for sports and travel goods is Decathlon (where we bought a tent, hiking clothes and other equipment for trips to Altai and the Caucasus).

6. Find out about airport transfers in advance

Taxi is always the most expensive way to travel, it is much more profitable to use public transport: bus, metro, train. Read about all the possible options before departure - this way you will save a lot of money.

However, sometimes it is more convenient and cheaper to use an individual transfer - for example, when you are traveling with a large company and order a multi-seat car. For these cases, we can recommend a reliable service. Even better - rent a car right at the airport (find Best offer available on Skyscanner Car Hire).

(Photo by martinak15. Licensed cc by. www.flickr.com)

7. Night move instead of hotel

Night travel by trains and buses will make travel cheaper. This is a good opportunity to save time and money on the hotel at the same time. It is better to take first class tickets - you will have to overpay a little, but then you will be comfortable and you will sleep well. It’s not so convenient to ride on buses, so it’s better not to overdo it and not plan daily night trips for yourself - your body will swear. However, in some places there are slipper buses, the peculiarity of which is recumbent soft shelves instead of standard chairs (we made night trips to these more than once). That's for sure great option For budget travel without loss of comfort.

In Russia, it is also convenient to travel by train for short distances, picking up night crossings. For example, we traveled from St. Petersburg to Moscow, from Perm to Kazan - the journey took exactly one night, we slept well. There are many route options. You can find and book a train ticket at.

(Photo by Don McCullough. Licensed cc by. www.flickr.com)

8. Use discounts

Groupon gives you the opportunity to buy coupons with a significant discount on a variety of things and events: restaurants, shops, entertainment, attractions, leisure etc. If you are a student, a young teacher, or you are just under 30 years old, then it makes sense to get yourself an ISIC, ITIC or IYTC card. in Europe and North America on them you can get good discounts in a variety of places - from cafes to museums.

9. Save on communication

Use Skype or Viber to communicate with Russia. Connect to local operators for local calls and 3G internet. By the way, using Skype you can call any landline and mobile phone numbers- these calls are paid, but inexpensive (for example, we used this opportunity to call from Vietnam to Russia and unblock a Sberbank card).

10. Use travel tickets

Learn about the system travel tickets to urban transport. As a rule, there are many types of travel cards, depending on the mode of transport, validity period and travel zones. Think about what type of ticket is best for you. If you want to save money and decide to travel like a hare, keep in mind that in many countries (especially in Europe) fines for free riders are very high.

Also in many popular tourist cities there are special museum cards, which provide discounts on attractions and allow you to skip the lines.

11. Organize excursions yourself

It is always cheaper to get to the place you are interested in without the participation of agencies and guides, besides, you make your own visiting program - there is no need to adapt to a given schedule and rhythm.

(Photo by Moyan_Brenn. Licensed cc by. www.flickr.com)

12. Eat at local restaurants

Eat while traveling cheap and delicious at the same time! Tourist-oriented restaurants always jack up prices. And in places that the residents themselves prefer, you will find real national cuisine, minimum prices and the most delicious dishes. If you see a lot of local visitors in some restaurant or cafe, it means that the food is excellent there - feel free to come in too!

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Follow these tips, read the site and travel on a budget!

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