Recently Sky posted about our approach to traveling, which is focused on keeping it simple, having fun, and not spending a fortune on each trip, so that we can enjoy more of them! We do like to walk a lot and see the most of the places we visit, and as Sky points out, for that to work it helps to travel with someone who has the same approach (or just to travel solo if you’re comfortable with that!). Not long ago, we took just that kind of a trip, to Vienna and Salzburg, and I’d like to share just how we did it. Below are our key tips for finding adventure without breaking the bank.
- Pick a destination based on airfare: be flexible and let the deals guide your choice of destination, confident that you’ll have a great time anywhere you go! For Austria, I used Google Flights to research destinations and dates, starting with a wide range of possibilities and experimenting with different combinations of dates to uncover a fantastic round trip price to Vienna –one week round trip for $530 per person in the fall. It goes without saying that off season dates will always yield a better deal, so flexibility is a huge plus. That kind of flexibility isn’t always possible, but having a “pick a place and go” mindset goes a long way. Another great trick within Google Flights is to use the Explore tab, where you can look for “a 1-week trip in May” (or whenever), along with any other filters you want, and virtually spin the globe for anything that catches your eye. There are entire websites and videos filled with additional tips & tricks for finding deals –booking packages, when to search, setting price alerts, searching from nearby airports, and the list goes on– but at a minimum, I highly recommend becoming proficient with Google Flights. Once you zero in on some good options, refine the search and the final stage will often be directly on the airline’s website to purchase the tickets. Happy hunting!
- Be flexible with hotels: Again, use the most out of Google Flights (the Hotels tab) to look at prices. Also consider using Hotwire or similar service to find deals –we’ve used it with great success several times, as long as you pick your parameters carefully. If you’re not too picky about the hotel, then the savings add up, especially over multiple trips. Remember, the hotel is primarily just a place to sleep. We don’t go luxury, because we plan to spend most of our time out exploring! To be sure, we are well past our youth hostel college days, but even keeping a fairly high standard of quality, we’ve usually found very affordable options. Location does matter and it’s vital to research where you want to be, but don’t obsess over it, either. AirBnB is worth looking into; just beware of hidden fees, pay attention to reviews, and know that many places, especially in Europe, are starting to frown upon these short term rentals. Of course there are no shortage of websites dedicated to shopping for lodging, but that’s how we search and we just try to keep it simple.
- Eat like the locals: When it comes to food, here again, our “keep it simple” philosophy means we save money by simply not eating sit-down meals three times a day. We usually include a nice meal or two at some point, but we are mindful where we eat. Always avoiding American style fast food and overly touristy restaurants, there are plenty of options that strike a good balance. In Austria, for example, lunch was a Wurst mit Pommes a couple of times, and food stands were plentiful. Also, don’t be afraid to eat where the locals do! Most importantly, though, anywhere we go, the first stop is a local grocery store to pick up fresh provisions for picnic lunches on the go. We will buy things like fresh bread, cheese, meats, fruit, water, and light snacks. That is the single best way to save on food expense during adventures, and it has the other huge advantage of saving time and hassle trying to find a place to eat, or dealing with crowds at lunchtime.
Beyond these top three categories, we find many other ways to streamline our trip while not sacrificing on having a good time. If we’re in a city and need to get around, we look for transportation passes (these worked extremely well in Austria), but be careful with more expensive Travel passes that bundle entrance fees you may not really use –it all just depends on what you plan to do. Saving in some areas doesn’t mean never treating yourself to something nice, or not spending money on something that’s worth it to you. It just means that being flexible and being willing to get around like a local can not only save money (which means you’re more likely to take more trips), but it can immerse you even more into the local vibe and will create great memories from your trip.
My post on our adventures in Vienna and Salzburg will show lots of these tips in action. Part of the fun of traveling is the planning and excitement before going. We hope these help you get excited about picking your next adventure!
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