Image by chris.jan via flickr
So you’ve got a good amount of holiday time coming up soon, and you want to plan the perfect getaway to some new places . Contrary to popular belief, planning a cheap holiday abroad doesn’t have to drive you nuts. All it really takes is a bit of foresight, some flexibility, and a willingness to think outside the box a bit.
Step One: Find a destination
Let’s face it: the world is huge, but most people tend to go to the same places. Tropical destinations are always popular, and as a result, some of the more common destinations are crowded and expensive. So instead of booking a trip to the Caribbean or Ibiza and being one of an infinite number of travellers to those overbooked destinations, look at some real alternatives. South East Asia is a popular and affordable destination with lots to offer. Thailand, Vietnam, and Kuala Lumpur are all great locations that allow your Euros to go pretty far. On the other side of the Atlantic, the South-eastern United States is filled with scenic locales and unique sub-cultures that have a lot of the conveniences of mainland Europe. Just don’t expect the architectural history that one would find in other parts of the world.
Step Two: Adjust Expectations
Look, if you’re trying to dip your toe into the waters of adventurous travel for your next holiday, you have to be prepared for certain things. Your accommodations will most likely NOT be of the major chain variety. This means that the familiarity that your favorite McHotel makes their bones from will be completely out of the picture. This doesn’t have to mean that you will be staying in a flea-ridden hostel either. The fact of the matter is that modern travellers have an amazingly wide variety of accommodations available, and most of them are pretty clean. Vacation rentals, home stays, and yes, even hostels, all offer housing at a variety of price points for travellers of every budget level. Take a moment to use online travel tools like Travel Republic to read reviews and see pictures of where you’ll lay your head at night.
Step Three: Secure your trip
When you purchase your tickets and/or accommodations, be sure to consider travel insurance. Being an adventurous traveler doesn’t mean being foolish. Depending on how you purchase your travel details, travel insurance can be a great idea. The thing about adventure travel that is so great is the same thing that can make travel insurance a necessity: the low numbers and relatively smaller facilities can lend to greater chances of snafus. Travel insurance is a great way to make sure you, your family, and your goods can make the trip and return in one piece. Travel insurance also eases some of the anger and disappointment that goes with losses incurred during a trip. You can be assured of gaining back lost finances, trip delays, medical expenses and others which may, unfortunately happen during your dream vacation. Buying travel insurance is always a safe and sane decision. For your peace of mind when travelling, buy the best amount based on comparisons you make among insurance companies.
Why Buy Insurance
Remember, buying travel insurance is for your own benefit. They are designed to cover the times and recover your losses when things go wrong and whenever problems arise. If nothing happens on your trip, then we can thank heavens for the free flow of activities on your vacation. But when something goes awry, and you were not able to purchase any kind of travel insurance, then you can get worried at a great loss at a time when you’re supposed to be worry-free.
Author Bio
Ariana Louis is a globe-trotting adventurer in her mid-20s. She writes for travel magazines to do reviews about the places she has been to, restaurants she has tried and events she has participated in. She’s a backpacker who has been to Asia and Europe traveling in long rides and trips. Right now, she writes for European destinations and gives advice on where to find cheap holidays abroad. Ariana is helped by a Travel Republic review each time she plans to book a trip.
