| What is the real secret to cheap | | | | international destinations, the plane tickets |
| international travel? It is the same as the | | | | will be your single biggest travel expense. |
| secret to doing anything for less. Learn to | | | | This is especially true with the asian |
| be an opportunist. Opportunistic travelers | | | | countries. Being there is cheap, but getting |
| get to travel more, see more and do more. Of | | | | there may not be.Cheap International Travel |
| course, you can ignore this advice if you | | | | TipsWherever you go, there are things you can |
| have unlimited funds.I went to Ecuador | | | | do to keep it cheap. Eat where locals eat, |
| because it was cheap. Honestly, aren't there | | | | for example, instead of at the tourist |
| many interesting places in this world? Why | | | | restaurants. To keep it really cheap, eat |
| not choose one you can travel to | | | | fruit from street markets (wash it well) and |
| inexpensively? The other places will be there | | | | packaged snacks from grocery stores.Visit the |
| in the future, and you may have an | | | | free and cheap attractions first. It's |
| opportunity to go to those places cheaply at | | | | possible you'll have so much fun that you'll |
| some point.Cheap CountriesEcuador is my | | | | never get around to doing the expensive |
| favorite international destination. You can | | | | things. A higher price means better quality |
| still get a decent meal for two dollars. U.S. | | | | with travel bags, but not with travel |
| dollars, by the way, since that's | | | | experiences.Busses are cheaper than taxis in |
| conveniently the official currency of Ecuador | | | | any country, but be careful of crowded city |
| now. From the beautiful snow-capped Andes | | | | busses, where pickpockets hang out. Walking |
| mountains, to the Galapagos Islands, you'll | | | | is even cheaper, and it's a great way to |
| never run out of places to explore in | | | | learn about a city. Just ask the locals where |
| Ecuador. Travel there is safe and | | | | the dangerous parts are before you wander too |
| inexpensive.South America in general is | | | | far.For cheap accommodations find out where |
| inexpensive, and the most affordable | | | | local visitors from within the country stay. |
| countries are, in my opinion, the most | | | | Negotiating room charges is common in some |
| beautiful. These are the countries along the | | | | areas. In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our |
| Andes mountains; Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. | | | | room rate down from $12 to $6 per night, by |
| Argentina, thanks to it's recent economic | | | | paying for several nights in advance. |
| troubles, is once again a cheap place for | | | | Consider hostels, if you don't mind sharing a |
| travelers as well.In Central America, it | | | | room. They're much more common overseas.Cheap |
| costs very little to travel and vacation in | | | | international travel is often only as cheap |
| both Nicaragua and Guatemala. Nicaragua, in | | | | as your plane tickets. Use the techniques |
| particular, has become more stable and safe | | | | outlined on our site to save big on tickets, |
| for travelers in recent years. Costa Rica is | | | | or search the fares to several interesting |
| a wonderful too, and though it is one of more | | | | countries. If one is $500 less than the |
| expensive counties of Central America, that | | | | others, consider going there. $500 can buy a |
| probably still leaves it cheaper than | | | | few extra days, or an extra mini-vacation |
| Europe.In Asia, India is still low-cost, | | | | some other time.Steve Gillman hit the road at |
| especially if you stay in the numerous | | | | sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico |
| hostels and boarding houses. Thailand and | | | | alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife |
| Indonesia are also very cheap. With all | | | | Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. |