TRAVEL GUIDE: HOW I TRAVELLED AT LOW-COST? ✈️

~At Twin Towers, New Year, 2020

We all want to travel, but the common problem everyone experiences during their journey is the "budget". Yes, we must make wise and instant decisions during our travel ventures and the impact of those decisions lead to unavoidable consequences. 

For example, you can't afford to spend a good portion of your budget on transportation tickets, food, and accommodation and in the end, you may run out of money to explore the place itself. Imagine, how would you feel returning home without properly exploring the place you went to? It must be terrible, isn't it? 

Therefore, today I'm going to share with you some methods, through which you could lower the cost of your commute tickets, accommodation, and food on your trip so that you can spend more the on exploration/leisure part of your journey. These methods are used by me in three different countries; Malaysia, Thailand, and Pakistan and they have proven to be worth applying. 

This blog is not sponsored. The websites discussed below are solely based on my suggestions

1-Reducing the cost of travel.

~Air Travel: 

First of all, if your purpose is to travel ONLY, then you shouldn't plan your trip during" ON-SEASON" tenure. 

This is the period when commuting services such as; airlines, taxis, and buses are at hiking prices. In order words, travelers boom in like a tsunami during this time. Taking the example of Malaysia and Singapore, the "ON-SEASON" is during:

a) February/March: Due to start of the new academic semester and foreigners flooding in.
b) September: It's also a new academic semester and a lot of people come in.
c) November/December: Christmas and new year holidays are during this period.

So, it is preferred to book your flights that don't coincide with the "ON-SEASON" period. To do that, you can use "cheapflights.com" or "googleflights.com". 

These platforms filter out for your the best time to travel, special deals, and short transit flights. I used "goolgeflights.com" twice, and to reduce my air travel ticket, I filtered out an option to book my flights on the low-cost carriers (Air Asia). 

So, passengers have to choose their in-flight meal and the amount of language in Air Asia. I didn't choose any in-flight meal at all, plus I took up the least luggage allowance. It got me around 75% discount as compared to normal flights and that's how I traveled to Thailand from Malaysia back in 2019.

~Cruising over the airspace of Thailand

~Inter/outer city Transport

Instead of using Ubers all the time, you should use local transport services (if accessible). Use "googlemaps.com" and choose the "map type" option and select the "public transit" and it would show the routes of Metro Trains, or Metro Buses nearby your location. Based on the research of Conserve Energy Forum, local transportation saves 4% of the cost as compared to traveling in private vehicles.

~ That's how a transit map looks like 

~Whether it is Malaysia or Pakistan, I prefer Public transits.

2-Reducing the cost of food

~ Low-cost food:

C'mon, you are in a new country, you are wandering and experiencing new cultures, and would you still eat all those McDonald's or KFCs? No offense, I mean you can get these back home, but whilst you are on your journey, you better get a local experience, which is CHEAPER TOO. So, explore the street food instead of international fast-food chains, that's my recommendation. It doesn't only provide you with cheaper food, but you get to try regional flavors, plus it helps you mix up with the locals. 

~Free food

Secondly, if you want FREE FOOD, then you are a person of my culture! For this, sign-up at "meetup.com". At this website or application, you get to know about certain meetup events happening nearby your location. This includes everything from Youtubers' meetups, weddings, community service meals, and party celebrations. In most cases, entry is free at these events (unless you are generous enough to bring some sweets with you as a token of appreciation). You attend the events, meet new people, eat food, and return.

~Community service meal distribution during Thaipusam event at Batu Caves, KL, 2019

3-Reducing the cost of living

~ Low-cost accommodation

Getting straight to the point. The cheaper accommodation is the one where you could find just sufficient facilities, not much, within the reasonable price. So, check " hostelworld.com", where you could find economical hostel-based accommodation. You may try "airbnb.com". It also provides adequate housing facilities at cheaper prices.

~Free accommodation

Ever thought you would be living for free during your journey? Well, nothing is impossible. Check out "crouch surfing.com", register yourself (you know this drill). So, on this website/application, you submit your form like " Hey, I'm in this country as a tourist for the first time. I'm going to stay in that place for some time, so anybody would like to host me?". 

If your application meets certain requirements, you can be assigned a host and you will live for free. This process may sound easy, but it's not.

~ This pic has nothing related to accommodation, but it was one of the best amusement parks in Malaysia

If this blog has helped to increase your knowledge, feel free to share because it's free too! 

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