If you dream of traveling the world but feel you just can’t afford it, there’s something you should know: There has never (and I mean never!) been a more affordable time to travel than right now! Don’t believe me? Here are a few reasons why:
Discount Airfare Sites to The Rescue
There are websites that literally scan flights every single day to find the biggest flight deals and flight glitches of the moment and list them out for you to browse and book. Most recently there was a flight deal from New York City to Martinique for under $200 which is unbelievable. I found a discounted flight from New York City to Johannesburg, South Africa for under $500, about a third of the typical cost from one of my favorite travel discount sites, TheFlightDeal.com. Shop on these sites like you would shop in the sale section of your favorite store: if you see something you like, get it before it’s gone!
Google Flights is your BFF
Discount travel sites are good if you’re on the hunt for an inexpensive getaway and are flexible with dates and location, but let’s say you have a specific destination in mind. This is when you call on your best friend forever, Google Flights.
Plug in your destinations and potential dates and voila. Google Flights can show you in calendar view the difference in cost if you shifted your flights schedule a day, a week, or a few weeks before or after you had originally planned to the same destination. You may find that if you go to your destination a week after you originally planned, that you could save hundreds of dollars. It’s efficiency at its best.
Google flights loads many of the international airlines that don’t appear in more well known flight search engines, giving you even more options.
Alternative Lodging Options Rock
I can’t say that I don’t enjoy a nice hotel or resort stay, but the emergence of short-term home and apartment rental sites like Airbnb and Home Away have changed the game. Live like a local by renting an apartment in the heart of the city, or vacation in luxury by renting a mansion on the beachfront or countryside. Especially when traveling with a large group of friends or family, you’ll find that these alternative lodging options cut costs like no other!
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