We all love traveling. It’s a necessary escape from your humdrum routine, it’s a great way to gather new perspectives, it’s a great way to taste new foods and see new sights!

It’s can expensive. But don’t be discouraged! From transport to lodging, to treating yourself to the local treats, a myriad of choices present themselves.  Here are a few ways to stretch your Dollar, Euro, peso, rand, whatever you fancy. Find ways to save in three main areas of travel expenses:

#1. Location, Location, Location

If you’re still deciding where to go on your next vacation, there are some great destinations that won’t put a major dent in your wallet once you are on the ground.

• South America has not only breathtaking and diverse sights, foods, and activities, but is for the most part very affordable (sans air ticket especially if you are travelling from Asia).
• Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, China and Vietnam are great destinations for experiencing a mirage of cultures on a tight budget (and in certain places you can get luxurious accommodation for a steal).
• Eastern Europe, believe it or not, also has some hidden gems. I’ve researched that Bulgaria is a country of diversity and beauty in which you can enjoy both the capital city, Sofia all the way to the Black Sea without breaking the bank. Croatia, Romaina, Latvia, and Portugal are also great vacation spots and you don’t have to reach too far into your savings to enjoy. I’m aiming to make a trip there in the near future!

Be sure to research the exchange rate of currency between your country and your country of destination. I typically seek to visit countries with currencies that have depreciated against my own. A favorable currency exchange rate can help lower your accommodation and living costs, making your trip a good deal!

#2. Getting There

Transit is by far the biggest expense of most vacations. Often booking becomes a blur of factors: number of layovers, optimal travel times, and cheap prices. For airfare, Kayak.com and Priceline are a great place to start in a ticket search. I usually check out the going price for multiple airlines for the schedule and number of layovers that I’m willing to take. If your schedule is at all flexible, check the flex dates grid and go from there.  Often these sites will offer a multi-airline trip. Although these are cheaper, they should be avoided. If there is any delay or cause for you missing a connecting flight, there is no guarantee that either airline will take responsibility and it is a sticky and stressful situation when all you want to do is start your vacation (or worse, get back home!).  So once you’ve found a flight from these sites, go to the airline website and book there.

If you’re a frequent traveler, it’ll pay to be loyal to an airline and cash in on points that add up with your frequent travel. I try to clock KrisFlyer miles for redemption with selected Star Alliances airlines.

#3. Staying Comfortable and Getting Around

Once you have your ticket to your a wallet-friendly, wondrous location, all there is to do is decide your level of comfort. Most destinations offer a variety of site-specific lodging options including:

• Camping: Have a knack for adventure? Camping is a great way to save on lodging, but don’t forget you’ll need to be diligent about packing supplies!
• BnB’s / Hotels: Bread and breakfasts can not only be some of the most comfortable places to stay, but a great way to interact with the locals.
• Airbnb: Allows you the flexibility to seek for private accommodations ranging from a room, to studio apartments to villas.
• Hotels:  If you are a frequent traveler, you can even clock up your loyalty points via the hotel chain’s loyalty program