Budget Travel Part 6

Part 6 – Skip the ‘tourist trap trips!’

Note: the following is not intended as professional travel advice. Always do your own research to stay up-to-date!

Welcome back to our series of articles on budget travel. We hope our advice is already helping you make some great savings on your overseas itinerary. Last month, we checked out how to ride the trains like a budget-travel-pro. This week we’re excited to introduce you to seeing the world like a local!

Skip the generic ‘tour’

It’s one thing to get yourself to the other side of the world on budget airlines, saving yourself hundreds of dollars when you do, and another to keep those savings coming in once you reach your destination. That’s because of the temptation to grab one of the many excursions that pop up on your phone when you arrive, or reach out to you from brochures strategically placed in your accommodation. Though these tours will all look enticing, they come at a price. The thing is, you could be enjoying the same sights without the guide, the bus, the rush, the pre-arranged ‘tourist-only’ restaurants, or the crowd accompanying you on your excursion! Here’s how to see the real world at your own pace:

The ‘free’ walking tour

In every major city of the world, and in smaller centres, too, you’ll find walking tours (just Google the term alongside the name of the city you’re visiting, to find one). Often led by enthusiastic young English-speaking students (as well as pensioner-pros!), these ‘tours’ are a great introduction to your destination. They’ll walk you round the main sights of your city with intriguing stories along the way. When your tour is over, your guide will pass the hat around for donations by way of payment (check the walking tour website for suggestions on how much to donate).

Tip: in larger cities, especially during the high season, there are often online booking sites for these tours, so schedule a date and time to be sure you don’t miss out.

Bag a boat!

Yes, you can opt for the $200 cruise along the canals of Venice or out to the islands of Stockholm’s archipelago, but why would you when the same sight-seeing is available for a fraction of the cost? This is the case when you take public transport, instead. Just check on Google maps (click on the transit tab), then type in your ‘to and from’ plans in the search panel, and up comes the available local transport timetable – all ready for you to use (and possible free, if you’re a senior). How authentic it is to travel by boat with the Venetian public down the length of the Grand Canal as they head off to the morning market, or to catch a ferry alongside Stockholm’s morning commuters! When you use public transport to see a city, you spend just a few dollars, and get a genuine feel for daily life in your destination.

Day tripper tips

If you’re travelling on a budget, the ‘day trip’ is a tourist trap you may want to avoid. Day trips out of cities to cute villages or special scenic attractions, are a money maker for guides and transport operators. But when you know how to use Google maps transit tab, you’ll discover you can head out of town at your leisure, and be back at your accommodation at the end of the day. Public trains and buses are the way to go, and if you have any concerns about getting off at the right spot, download ‘Mapsme,’ the app that works offline and enables you to track your progress as you move along road or rail!

Bag a bike!

Yes, there are bike tours – plenty of them, if you want to pay. But almost every major city also boasts a public bike hire (or scooter) system – and plenty of designated bike paths to take them on. Before you leave home, use the net to help you understand how to pay for and park public bikes and scooters, then use your ultra-affordable transport to see the sights.

Tip: always carry a day pack with you so you can have both hands free to steer with!

We’re not saying you’ll want to skip every tour on offer – but if you like to experience a destination like a local, most of the time, you’ll want to travel like one!