Over the years, I’ve learned that having the right travel partner makes all the difference — and lucky for me, River turned out to be the best travel buddy I could ask for. We both share the same mindset when it comes to exploring new places: have fun, keep it simple, and don’t spend a fortune doing it. But whether you have a travel buddy or not, you can follow these tips, too, for your next adventure!
Whenever we start planning a trip, the first thing we hunt for is cheap airplane tickets. That usually determines where we’re headed. Once we’ve locked in our flights, we figure out where to stay, what we’d like to do, and how to make the most of our vacation days. We are organizing our days off so we can stretch out a long weekend or craft the perfect mini-getaway without using up all our time off at once.
River is handling the planning entirely — and I have to say, he’s doing a great job. Researching flights, finding affordable places to stay, scouting out what’s nearby, and mapping out our days… that’s his homework. I love that he always comes up with a few options for me to pick from, which makes it feel like an adventure we’re creating together. And since we’ve done a handful of trips by now, he’s started keeping notes from past travels — meaning we have a growing list of favorite spots, must-do experiences, and helpful little tips for wherever we go. River’s great about sharing those, too.
Instead of splurging on every meal out, we look for nearby grocery stores and grab snacks, fresh fruit, or simple meals we can prep ourselves. It’s easier on the budget — and honestly, usually a little healthier too.
We’re usually on our feet a lot, walking everywhere and squeezing in as much sightseeing as possible. By the end of every trip, we always joke that we need a vacation just to recover from our vacation — but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And hey — if you’ve got suggestions for budget-friendly places we should check out next, send them our way! It’ll go straight to River’s homework list — and trust me, he loves a good challenge.
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