Tips on travelling cheap

I WAS just a student relying on a few hundred dollars of allowance when I became a travel junkie (or at least, a wannabe!) two years ago. So, travelling cheap is the only way I can get to as many destinations as possible over a short time interval.

Whenever I hop on a plane for an adventure to an unknown land, I'd opt out for the cheapest way possible, even if it means I have to step out of my comfort zone and into the unknown. I'd surprise myself every time with what I get out of it.

I've made myself some guidelines on frugal travel to keep this hobby practical as long as possible:

1. Research: A traveller's best friend

Right before I hop on the plane, I always make sure to know my destination in and out, and how I'm going to go on my backpacking adventure: places to stay, places to go, mode of transportation and, of course, flight prices. Google has all the answers!

Even though TripAdvisor is a really popular guide, I don't use it that much. Friends are the key to making my travel plans successfully frugal. Whenever I have my travel plans set, I'd announce it on Facebook and count on a friend living in the area to give me insider tips to the cheapest way to get around.

It's always helpful to make friends to add into your network of fellow travellers.

2. Travel Search Engines are big money savers

When it's time to book a flight, www.kayak.com is always my first stop. It takes you to all the other search engines and shows all the available flights to get to your destination.

These travel engines do not show flights from budget airlines, so it's also important to know the budget airlines in the area of the destination. When I travel around Asia though, I always first go to JetStar, Tiger Airways and of course, AirAsia. For a trip to Singapore, two flights on budget airlines would cost me half of one flight on normal airlines. Got to love them!

And when my options are all laid out before me, it's all a matter of picking out the right times with the right prices.

3. Hotels are not cheap

Youth or backpackers' hostels are usually my accommodation of choice, just cause they're so much cheaper, and you get to meet other travellers from all over the world. And I can always count on these places to meet friendly people who will be my travel companion/s for the rest of my trip!

Lonely Planet has the best tips on cheap and affordable places as well, but they're usually fully booked because they're recommended. Best bet is, booking early.

Like anyone would be, I am nervous about leaving my stuff out in the open when I'm living with people I don't know. It doesn't hurt to be prepared all the time — I'd always have my luggage locked when I'm not around. Better safe than sorry, they say.

But whenever I'm lucky, a friend would always offer to have me crash at their homes during my stay. Who doesn't love free accommodation?

And then there's the new in-thing called couch-surfing for the adventurous. It's where you just crash at a random person's place, whether on their couch or floor. Of course, you make arrangements prior to showing up at their door through www.couchsurfing.org, which is a huge network for couch surfers worldwide!

4. Pack light

When you're on the go, you don't want to bring your entire closet with you and have it slow you down, and pay for unnecessary checked baggage fees. A lesson I learned with bringing a rolling bag with me one time never again! Unless your luggage is staying at one spot for the entire trip, don't bring a rolly!

It's so easy to get so excited about a trip that you'd want to pack unnecessary things that you think will be great for just one occasion on your trip, or things you don't even need at all. I have a self-imposed limit of bringing only a carry-on luggage, which means only go with the bare essentials. So, before I put anything into my luggage, I'd ask myself one question: Do I need this or do I want this?

My guidelines are not always fail-safe in ensuring things go according to plan, but what's the fun in having a challenge-less trip? It's the road to discovery that makes travel so exciting. The guidelines do, however, save me — and now, I hope, you — a bit of money.The Brunei Times