Someone might think that the further you go, the more expensive it is. But it is actually not true. Flying to Asia might take quite some time, but it is less expensive than other places and there is a lot to see. I am saying this because sometimes taking the train and moving within our own nation is more expensive than leaving the country.

TIPS FOR TRAVELLING ON A BUDGET.

1. Buy food at the grocery store.

I know that one of the reasons why we travel is that we want to taste the local food, but it is also true that if we eat at the restaurant for each meal every day of our journey we end up with little money to invest in other things. This is why it could be a good idea to have lunch while wandering around and for dinner just get some food at the grocery store and fix something easy. Lunch is usually less expensive than dinner and since we usually leave accommodation early in the morning it is just nice to stay out and enjoy the day and come back only for dinner, after a long day.

2. Try to avoid public transportation.

Plan your trip in advance, so that you can focus on different areas of the city you are visiting each day. By doing so you won't have to use public transportation and it will be easier for you to get around. In some cities, in Copenhagen for instance, public transportation is expensive but it is possible to visit the city center by foot, do it! When I was in Rome I bought a 3 days pass because I thought I would use it, but the truth is I basically wasted money because I ended up walking the entire time.

3. Refill your water bottles.

I know that when you buy a bottle of water you think "oh well, it's just one euro, it doesn't hurt!" but you could actually just bring your own bottle and, if possible, refill it. In Italy we have a lot of water fountains around cities like Milan and Rome. During the summer it gets really warm and it is important to be hydrated. Save that one euro and invest it by tasting our tasteful espresso instead.

4. Couchsurf or stay in hostels.
For some people it might be a bit awkward to just crush at someone else's house, especially when they don't know whose it is. The idea behind couchsurfing is good. It is all about meeting new people and getting to know the culture of the country you are visiting. When choosing the person you want to meet always read the description, see if the profile is somehow verified and look at how many times s/he met or hosted someone else. If you don't feel up to staying in a stranger's house don't worry and try considering hostels instead. You will be sharing a room from 4 up to 12 people, but there are common areas and lockers for your belongings. If you are travelling on your own and don't want to find a private host you can still use Couchsurfing as a tool to find other travellers and arrange something with them during the day, like grabbing a coffee or sightseeing.

Concluding, I think that travelling isn't as expensive as everyone thinks. It all depends on what you will be doing. Each person has different wishes when it comes to a vacation, there's the one who thinks of holidays as a time to be spent in luxury, meaning to invest money on a several-stars hotel, expensive touristy places and chic restaurants. For others, it is time off from reality. It is discovering unknown little alleys and unique cafés in a totally new place. It is a lot of walking carrying a heavy backpack and a camera at all times and having a bed to sleep on till the next day comes.
Which kind of traveler are you?

I hope that these few suggestions will guide you on your future travels. If you have more advice, please let me know in the comments below.

- Cris