Most people who are interested in cheap travel spend their time strategizing ways to save money on everything from the airfare to the hotel room. They prepare meals with the in-room kitchen rather than eating in restaurants and they rent an economy car rather than opting for the more expensive luxury model. What people seldom plan for, however, is how to spend their days cheaply. Often, they fall victim to the misnomer that everywhere worth going costs an arm and a leg. But it’s just not so. In fact, many destinations around the world offer free or inexpensive attractions that make cheap travel a very real possibility.
Wherever you may be planning to go on vacation, do some research into what you can do either without charge or with very little expense. For instance, pretend that you are planning a trip to Washington, D.C. Most people would agree that D.C. is an expensive city. Hotels, even mediocre ones, can often only be had at exorbitant rates and restaurants border on the outrageous. But did you know that each and every one of the Smithsonian Institution’s numerous museums allow visitors inside absolutely free of charge? That includes 14 museums plus the National Zoo. Visiting any of the Institution’s attractions is a great, informative way to spend a few days and it won’t cost you a nickel!
In Austin, you can visit:
- The State Capitol building
- The Zilker Botanical Gardens
- The Austin Nature and Science Center
All without paying an admission fee.
When you are in Boston, you can:
- Stroll along the Freedom Trail
- Visit the Bunker Hill Monument
- Take a tour of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus.
While in Seattle, you might choose to:
- Visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Park
- View the art at the Seattle Art Museum
- Marvel at the trees at the Washington Park Arboretum
It’s easy to find free or inexpensive attractions to help make your cheap travel dreams a reality. In many cases, these free or cheap attractions are among some of the best each destination has to offer. Of course, each member of your travel party will have different preferences as to what attractions they would like to visit, so compromise is often in order. Try to come up with a trade-off strategy. Perhaps each member of your group can choose one free attraction and one attraction that charges a fee. That way, everyone gets to see a couple of attractions that interest them, and they can do so without spending every dollar in the bank.
Another great way to experience cheap travel is to cut down on the souvenirs you’ll be taking home. It’s hard to resist the trinkets that seem to be pushed at you in the gift shop of every attraction you visit, but do your best to place realistic limits on your purchases. After all, a heavier suitcase will mean paying extra luggage fees at the airport. So keep souvenirs to small items like post cards and refrigerator magnets. Buy a t-shirt only if you firmly believe you’ll wear it when the vacation is only a distant memory and carefully consider whether you need yet another coffee mug.
Cheap travel can be a great way to let your imagination soar while visiting some truly interesting and unique attractions. Look for free and cheap entertainment to make a cheap vacation the best one you’ve ever had.