Here’s How to Travel the World for Less Than it Costs to Stay Home.

Time to Start Planning Your Next Overseas Adventure?

With most international borders starting to swing back open, is it time to start planning your next overseas adventure? Hopefully before long the covid disruptions and lockdowns will be just a distant memory.

Understandably you may feel some hesitation rushing back into the unknown of a post pandemic world. Personally, we still have some plans left to further explore the Australian outback. Hopefully this may also allow more time for the world get closer back to pre-covid travel levels.

If that’s what you are also thinking, then what better time to start planning your next overseas adventure now.

The first thought for most people though is they can’t afford it. But I beg to differ. In fact, while it seems outrageous, as I found on my pre covid twelve-month backpacking adventure around the world, it can be cheaper to travel the world than to stay home!

It really doesn’t have to cost a fortune. So expensive that you justify it as that once in a lifetime opportunity. Rather, it should be the start.

The secret is approaching your travel differently and smarter.

An around the world ticket for under $300 might sound too good to be true. But that’s all I paid for flying with top rated airlines. This secret is to use frequent flyer points. If you don’t have enough points, sign up for a couple credit cards that offer sign up bonus points. If you are thinking of retiring or quitting your job, do this while you have an income. Banks favour an income with an application. Within three months you can be ready to go.

You can offset your normal living costs for travel. Your home is a valuable funding source for your trip. What you normally pay for rent, or could collect in rent, as well as savings from utility expenses such as gas and electricity, can now go towards your travel budget. This effectively gives you free accommodation while you’re away.

If you want to travel for a longer period, such as up to twelve months, you could consider selling your furniture to save storage costs and moving hassles, then store what’s left. Look at it like the start of a new and exciting chapter in your life.

Why waste car expenses like depreciation, registration, insurance and other payments. Consider selling it where all those savings can go to your travel.

Choosing destinations that are cost effective can also offer fantastic cultural experience. Such countries typically offer excellent budget level accommodation including hotels, guest houses, hostels and Airbnb. You won’t be alone. You would be surprised how many travellers, living short term or longer term are in many of these destinations.

Many hostels today are very professionally run businesses. If the idea of a shared dormitory is a bit overwhelming, in many cases there’s a choice of private rooms. The benefit of hostels, whether a dorm or private room, are they provide a good social hub and travel network.

Staying in one location longer offers several benefits. You can negotiate cheaper accommodation through a homestay or Airbnb. There are many very useful apps to source accommodation such as booking.com or Airbnb.com which allow you to conveniently select accommodation based on user ratings, price, etc.

Living like a local rather than a tourist, increases social and new friendship opportunities as well as offering a far greater cultural immersive experience. Why not take a language class. Even if learning a language doesn’t come easy to you… I could tell you a few stories about my experiences! ….but it’s another great way to also make social connections and become that bit more connected with the local culture.

How would you like free travel insurance? Health insurance companies, such as in Australia, will normally suspend premium payments while you are away for an extended time. Make sure you ask health insurance provider in your country. This savings can cover the cost of your travel insurance, effectively giving you free travel insurance!

Earning extra income will offset your travel living costs. There are people who live overseas just off their pension. Earning an income while travelling provides a sense of purpose mixed in with the excitement of living in a new destination. If you have a job or business, can your role could be done remotely?

If you have knowledge-based skills, you could trade your expertise for an income while travelling. Check out upwork.com. There’s a whole global market that may be just looking for your skills. Other opportunities are teaching English. There’s a huge demand. Find out about obtaining qualifications through tefl.com.

There’s also another popular way where you can experience living overseas that will cost you next to nothing. Workaway.info for example is a service that lists organisations who will exchange your time for lodgings. These offer an excellent opportunity to connect with local people. Opportunities are all around the world. As with most of these services, you need to check the reviews and do your homework.

Realistically you could pre plan a series of these experiences for an around the world experience for very little cost. The big advantage is the opportunity to connect with local people.

You don’t have to spend big to travel. In fact, spending less gives you the opportunity to connect more locally and experience their culture. That’s what travel is all about.

So, now really is the time to start planning and researching.

Chris
May 2022

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This article is part of a series on how to travel the world as an independent, adventurous traveler.