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5 ways of making travel more affordable
First things first: Excellent credit cards give ridiculous amount of points that can be used towards ticket expenses.
Vacilando recommended*: Chase Sapphire Reserve Card gives around 50,000 points, which is $750 towards travel. The card requires one to spend $4000 in the first three months.
Usually, I’ve applied for these cards when I know some major expenses are coming up so that I’m able to hit the required amount on the card. Of all the available credit cards in the market I’ve been happiest with Chase Sapphire Reserve in terms of all the benefits, insurance, liabilities that it covers during my travels.
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Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $450, out of which $300 is reimbursed in the form of travel credits that can be used towards tickets or stay.
Additionally, having a Chase Sapphire Reserve Card enables one to apply for a priority pass that provides access to 1200 lounges worldwide as one travels across the globe. As one waits to board flights, these lounges include free food, alcohol, wifi and comfort at an airport that makes travels so much more relaxing.
Dish: Roast Chicken, Chef: Kayhan Sanyal, Location: Lake Placid
Secondly, keeping stay & food during travels cheap.
As vacilandos, we seek out AirBnb’s & hostels, using the AirBnb & hostelworld app. My partner & I cook during travels, making sandwiches for day hikes & picnics with scenic landscapes for company. We do love trying local cuisine and aim to take local cooking classes, adding the cuisine of the country we’re traveling to, to our repertoire. Since, most apartments and a lot of hostels we select for our stay have kitchens, we tend to stock up on the day we arrive. Finding a grocery store in our local neighborhood is always a great way to get familiarized with the new and intriguingly unfamiliar.
Third, we actively prioritize, save and channelize funds towards travels. Unless you already have an excessive budget set aside for travels, one pertinent way of making travel affordable is by prioritizing the act of traveling and exploration, making choices on a daily basis that can enable you to fulfill the oh so possible dreams! For instance, my partner and I put a certain amount of money aside for travel as soon as our paycheck hits our accounts, thus, actively choosing to prioritize, save and channelize funds towards traveling.
Fourth, travel can be made more affordable by tying up work & travel, and if possible extend stay before and/or after to spend quality time at the destination. A great way is to combine current engagements with the passion of undertaking continual adventures.
I’m currently pursuing a Doctoral program and apply to present at conferences to destinations that I’m interested in visiting, for which I’m able to raise funds from my university. Kayhan has a great job that allows him to work remotely.
How can you weave in your daily engagements with the jewel called Pachamama?
Lastly, I have found that it is valuable to build a set of invisible skills, which you pack in your ‘rucksack’ and leverage during travels. Since, I’m a certified Yoga teacher, I seek out opportunities to engage in work trade during my travels and in the past I have offered classes in exchange for accommodation and meals. My partner loves cooking and aspires to offer his culinary services in exchange for accommodation and meals. There are myriad websites that provide information on prospective volunteering, work-trade and service exchanges. I have signed up for Yoga Trade, where opportunities for Yoga Teachers and Chefs are posted on a regular basis, across different parts of the globe.
What are you packing in your invisible suitcase? ;)
