​It's always exciting to start making travel plans -- no matter what time of the year it is. Although you usually associate traveling with relaxation, there are some aspects that can definitely stress you out. Here are my favorite tried and tested travel hacks as well as other tips from Savvy Sugar that will help make your trip smooth sailing :)

• Rent houses or apartments: Check out the rental rates of houses or apartments in the area on sites like Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO while you're checking out hotels. Chances are, you'll get a better rate and some cool perks, plus experience living like a local.

 

• Book the aisle and window: If you're traveling with someone and your flight has rows of three seats, book the aisle and window seat and leave the middle seat empty. It's likely to remain empty if the flight is not full, because people usually choose the window and aisle seat. And if someone does pick that seat, they'll be willing to switch with one of you.

 

• Roll your clothes when packing: To maximize space in your luggage (and lessen wrinkles too), roll your clothes, instead of just folding them in your suitcase. In doing so, you can just use a carry-on and do not have to check in your luggage, which saves you money.

 

• Bring plastic bags: Pack plastic bags so you can use them to throw your dirty clothes in and other items you want separated from the rest of your belongings in your luggage.

 

• Go to the airport early: Arrive early, so you don't have to make a mad dash against time to make your flight. Unforeseen incidents can happen along the way (traffic, forgotten identification, etc.), so it's best go have a time buffer. 

 

• Share travel expenses: If you are traveling with friends, you can split the cost of not only the accommodations, but also food and transportation. If you are staying in a place that has a kitchen, split the cost of grocery shopping and eat in. This saves you all a lot money instead of going out to restaurants everyday! Keep all the receipts so the total can be calculated at the end and split accordingly.

 

• Money belt: Use a money belt or sew a pocket in the inside of your clothes when traveling in places where there are lots of theft. Also, don't keep cash in one place - put them in various places, such as your wallet, pocket, shoes and your luggage.

 

• Bring an external battery for your cell phone: Walking around all day can make your phone quickly drain, especially if you're relying on it to be your GPS. Get an external battery or a car charger if you're taking a road trip.

 

• Bring your ATM card: Get cash from your ATM when traveling, because in most places, you'll get better rates. Check to see if this is true in the country you're traveling to. If you are using credit cards, make sure to use cards that does NOT charge a foreign transaction fee.

 

• Use a phrase book: You don't have to become fluent in another language, but carrying a phrase book around and knowing the basics will help you get around better in a country where English isn't the first language. Click here to find the language book you need for your trip.

 

• Keep a copy of your passport online: Keep a copy of your passport in your email inbox, so you can print it out if you ever lose your passport. This will help expedite the process of getting a replacement. 

Visit our TRAVEL page for other tips!
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​Has it been awhile since you last ventured abroad? You’re not alone. According to a recent study from Hostelworld Global Traveler Report, Americans are half as likely to travel abroad and visit multiple countries than Europeans. Not only that, 29% of US adults have never even been abroad! Travel expenses are certainly a contributing factor. Which is one reason why most Americans that do travel abroad tend to visit our neighboring countries, Canada and Mexico. But experiencing other cultures, foods, histories, and languages doesn’t have to break the bank.

In fact, there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the total cost of traveling in the first place. That is because the first thing people usually look into is the cost of airfare. This, in many cases, is by far the most expensive cost of the trip, depending on the length of your stay and the country you’re visiting. And seeing the huge initial cost of a roundtrip ticket can put a real damper on your travel plans.
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Sites like Skyscanner, Momondo, and Kiwi offer the best prices for flights. Kiwi also goes a step further by combining all airlines to create cheaper routes than booking with just 1 airline (they also feature their own guarantee that covers schedule changes, delays, and cancellations, so long as you inform them of the delay as soon as you’re aware of it). You’ll also save money by selecting a weekday to fly—Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically thought to be the cheapest days to travel, while Sundays are the most expensive. You should also aim to book a flight 1.5 - 2 months prior to your day of departure to get the best deal on airfare.
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After getting off the plane, prices can drop considerably. Especially in cheaper areas of the world—like Southeast Asia, Central America, or Northern Europe. Luxury items you’re used to spending a pretty penny on, like a pint that normally costs $6 - $8, can be purchased for just a buck or less. A bottle of fine wine can even be found for $4! You can save even further by having a mobile bank account that doesn’t charge for foreign transactions, and allows you to take your finances on the go! This can amount to huge savings if making big purchases or using your credit card frequently whilst abroad.
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Cost savings like these you’ll only become aware of by venturing abroad yourself, or by reading into it online before planning your travels. If your plan was the latter, here are some of the cheapest countries in the world to travel when you’re on a budget:
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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visit one of Europe’s most exciting locations. Sarajevo, the nation’s capital, is a historic blend of cultures where East meets West. There are parts of the city that’ll bring to mind Vienna, while others, Istanbul. You can find rooms in hostels for as little as $10 a night, restaurant meals between $5 - $10 (although street food is considerably cheaper--and delicious!), and beer for around a dollar! Bosnians, by nature, are famously hospitable, too. So it’s entirely possible you’ll make some quick friends and score some free meals along the way!
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Spain

Spain may have lost its status as one of the cheapest destinations in Europe after adopting the euro as its official currency, however there are certainly ways to explore this beautiful country on a budget. Large cities, like Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville, may tend to charge higher prices than their rural counterparts; however, that also means there are ample choices for accommodation. HotelsCombined is a great site to find the best deals on hotels and hostels. Many of which come with perks, like free city tours and bar crawls. A menú del día, offered around lunch time, can be found in many restaurants across the country and features a full course meal (including a beverage) for about 10 euros. Many of Spain’s museums also offer free hours, like the Museo del Prado in Madrid, for example.
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​Laos

Coming in as one of the cheapest countries on the list is Laos. Laos can be extremely affordable if you avoid western steakhouses and fancy French cuisine. Laotian street food features some of the most creative (and delicious) foods, including “ka nom kok” or coconut pancakes, “sai oua” or laotian sausage, and avocado shakes. Yum! If your budget says no, but your stomach says yes, you can make an entire meal out of food from the markets for less than $5.00 a day--or haggle to fetch food for even less. You can also find accommodations for as little as $3 a night, with breakfast included! For another affordable destination, check out Laos’ similarly-priced (and beautiful) neighbor, Thailand!
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​Belize

Venture down to Central America, and explore Caribbean shorelines and exotic jungles (filled with Mayan ruins) in the tropical country of Belize. Save big on airfare by flying into Cancun, then catching the ADO bus to make your way over. Doing so will save you around 50% on airfare and allow you to see two countries during your trip. Traveling in the offseason (June to November) will also open the door up to some huge discounts on accommodations (as much as 50%)! Websites like Groupon also feature a number of all-inclusive travel deals. When it comes to eating, you can find food and produce in the markets for about $2.50--and hotels for as little as $11 a night.
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​Dominican Republic

East of Belize is another affordable destination: the Dominican Republic. The DR is certainly a budget-friendly option if you don’t mind staying away from resortlife in Punta Cana--and since this is the most targeted vacation destination among tourists, you can find much more affordable accommodations in the nation’s capital, Santo Domingo. As an added bonus, spending your holiday amidst the local population will allow you to be more immersed in the nation’s culture and history- and isn’t that what traveling abroad is all about? You can avoid expensive cab fares by parking in areas central of must-see (and free) areas, like the Colonial Zone, Fortaleza Ozama, Parque Colón, and Catedral Primada de América; taking a cab only when walking isn’t a viable option. If your Spanish isn’t too rusty, you can utilize public transportation to get to Boca Chica beach or Juan Dolio beach. For accommodations, you can find a number of hostels located within the city (or even near Punta Cana) for around $10 a night, and enjoy meals at sit-down restaurants for under $10, or street vendors for just a few bucks!
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​What's the catch you ask? Well, about 6 months ago, my boyfriend and I attended a timeshare presentation with the promise of a free vacation. We listened to more than 2 hours of their sales pitch, but we've attended enough of these presentations knowing they are going to try super hard to convince you to part with your money, but you just have to be more savvy than they are.

Anyways, after we said "no thanks" multiple times to their timeshare offer, we got our free vacation certificate, where one of the choices was for a cruise. The timeshare company uses these marketing "freebies" to entice potential timeshare buyers to come listen to their spiel. After reading all the details and fine print on the vacation certificate, I filled out all the necessary information and mailed it to the designated travel agency handling the promotion vacation offer.

After confirming which cruise dates we wanted, the only thing we had to pay for was a $50 refundable deposit to the travel agency and port fees and taxes to the cruise line company. This is a great deal, most cruises are quite expensive! However, dealing with this particular travel agency was a bit of a nightmare. Everything was done via snail mail and the person assigned to our trip was not the most pleasant (or bright). She called us to upsell us on a better or bigger cabin, etc.. After saying "no thanks" multiple times, she became a irate and hung up. 

Thank god, we got another letter in the mail from another agent about a week after speaking to that agent. This new agent said Carnival Cruise contacted them to extend an offer to us to upgrade to a cabin with an ocean view for the price of our deposit. Needless to say, we jumped at the chance, since we've already sent them the $50 check months ago.

To sum it up, the process to get this free cruise was long, frustrating and annoying at times, but in the end it was all worth it. We just got back from our cruise about 2 weeks ago and our experience was priceless. We will have many wonderful memories for years to come!

We have attended many other timeshare presentations and received gift cards, etc.. for our time. Read about how when we were staying at a resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico we attended a timeshare presentation and for our time we got enough vouchers to pay for our entire trip's meals! Savvy and frugal :)
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​I live in a city that has among the highest auto insurance rates in California. Knowing this ahead of time, I was still shocked to see my insurance premium double when it came time to renew my policy. I was determined to find a better insurance company before my current policy expired.

I researched all the major insurance companies and received quotes that were deceivingly false. The quote I was shown online was for a certain amount per month, then when I called to speak to an agent, somehow the quote was quite a bit higher! Needless to say, this was beyond frustrating and I was not going to fall for their bait and switch.

I did more research and found Metromile, they are a different kind of car insurance, they only charges you based on the miles you drive, putting you in control of how much you pay. I only drive approximately 300 miles per month, my average cost per month is about half of what my previous insurance was.
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​Traditional car insurance is unfair to low-mileage drivers. The number one risk indicator for drivers is how often they’re on the road. So if you’re already driving less, you should really start paying less. Pay-per-mile insurance costs less because it’s based on how many miles you drive. If you spend less time behind the wheel, you spend less money on insurance. Most people save an average of $500 per year.
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How it works

With pay-per-mile insurance you pay a low monthly base rate plus a few cents per mile when you drive. At the end of the month, your bill is your base rate plus how many miles you drove at your per-mile rate. Just like with other insurance companies, several factors can influence your rate, including age, type of vehicle, and driver history. With pay-per-mile insurance, you aren’t charged for the miles you drive above 250/day (150/day in New Jersey). So if you go on a long trip, you’ll save big.
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Measuring your miles

The key to pay-per-mile insurance is the Metromile Pulse, a small free wireless device that plugs into your car’s OBD-II port. Installation is easy, and once in place the Metromile Pulse securely counts your miles to determine your total monthly bill. Pay-per-mile insurance doesn’t consider other driving factors such as how fast you drive or how hard you brake, just how many miles you drive. With the Metromile Pulse in place, you have unlimited access to our smart driving app. This means you can keep track of your trips, monitor your car’s health and always know where your car is parked.

Pros and con

In my opinion, there are many positive benefits in switching to Metromile. I now have control over how much or how little I drive on a monthly basis. For example, I will choose to walk to the store to grab a few essentials instead of driving. Metromile's app and website tracks how many miles I'm driving on a daily basis, so there are no surprises at the end of the month. Another benefit I experienced was I got a text alert that I was parked on a street cleaning day, which saved me getting a ticket.

Some people might have reservations about installing the Metromile Pulse device on their vehicle. I personally don't have a problem with this, anybody on social media already has their data exposed to the social media companies already. This company and others like them is an industry disruptor on how traditional car insurance has been operating. The future for auto insurance and insurance in general will continue to shift. If you drive less than 200 miles a week you could save a ton of money on car insurance. I recommend you try Metromile as an affordable and frugal auto insurance option.
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​Disclosure: This post contains a refer-a-friend reward if you choose to sign up via my referral link.

      

​Have you made vacation plans yet? Although Summer is the most popular season to go on vacations, trips, or holidays -- many people travel during Spring as well. Whether your destination is a far away exotic land or a little closer to home, it's smart and savvy to plan ahead of time to maximize your travel experience! 

In my travels - pun intended, I've discovered ways to save money and time so I was able to enjoy every moment of our vacation. Enjoy the journey, from the planning to the final destination - the memories are priceless! Here's my top 10 frugal travel tips ... bon voyage!
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1. Set A Budget
Determine what your overall budget will be for airfare, accommodations, food, transportation, etc.. as well as pocket money. Log how much you've spent so far in a travel journal so that you can estimate how much money you have to work with for the other categories. 

2. Use Travel Booking Sites
It's beneficial to use a booking site that compares prices for flights, lodging, transportation, packages, etc.. with several companies. I highly recommend BookingBuddy.com, where you can save money and time planning your entire trip!

3. Book Unpopular Times
Pick travel flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays - they are usually cheaper than other days. The best time to purchase your tickets is Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern. You can also select off-season or non-peak periods for better prices. Red-eye flight times also tend to cost less.

4. Check Out Travel Deal Sites 
Save a lot of money by checking out travel on great vacation destinations. The travel deal sites I recommend are EndlessVacations.com for great last minute vacations. You can also become a member of Extreme Savings Travel Club so you can be your own travel agent.

5. Use a Rewards Credit Card 
Use or sign up for a credit card that will give you great travel rewards. Make sure to only use this card if you can realistically pay off the balance soon. Some perks of reward credit cards are free flights or hotel stays. Do your research ahead of time to see if it's a good option for you.

6. Sign Up For Airline Mileage Memberships 
Most airlines have memberships where you earn mileage points towards free airfare or other perks. Each airline's threshold towards free flights is usually very high, but it's a good idea to sign up for them anyway. You can also redeem your travel miles for free magazines at MagsForMiles.com.

7. Share Travel Cost 
If you are traveling with friends, you can split the cost of not only the accommodations, but also food and transportation. If you are staying in a place that has a kitchen, split the cost of grocery shopping and eat in. This saves you all a lot money instead of going out to restaurants everyday! Keep all the receipts so the total can be calculated at the end and split accordingly.

8. Plan A Staycation 
If you can't afford a vacation in a far away land, stay local. You can have a fantastic staycation in your own city or nearby. To feel like you are on "vacation" without hopping on a plane, stay one night in a cozy rental and explore the neighborhood for a fresh new experience.

9. Go On A Road Trip -
Although this is a less expensive option than flying, however factor in the cost of gas for your road trip. Utilize websites and apps such as GasBuddy.com to compare the best gas prices on the road. Make sure to pack a cooler for the ride to avoid stopping at greasy food joints.

10. Consider Vacation Rentals 
​An alternative way of booking affordable accommodation, which has become very popular. Instead of booking hotels (which are generally more expensive), consider renting a condo, apartment or an entire house for much less. I've booked great inexpensive and great apartments in Rome and in Paris using HomeAway.com. Plus, you feel more like a local vs. a tourist.

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​Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, where I earn a small commission when purchased thru my link.

    

    

     

Today's post is from guest blogger Adrian Landsberg at The Lifestyle Compound. He shares some awesome tips on how to save on travel and have fun too!
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Most of the time when people think of being frugal they think of cheap and nasty. There is of course a difference. If you're frugal you get the most out of things with the least, you realize what's there that other people don't and you find the best, cost viable way to do something.

Being cheap is being a tight ass and never spending money on anything, expecting freebies all the time and not spending money on other people's happiness as well. I believe you can definitely find many frugal ways to travel the world and have more fun if you really work hard, hunt for deals and get creative.

1. Stay in hostels
   Someone that's never stayed in hostels will sometimes turn their nose up at staying in one. Whether you stay in in dormitory style bed or a single room at a hostel I guarantee you will make more friends than in a swanky hotel. Hostel beds can be had for mega cheap and if you still want your own privacy get yourself your own room, it will be a whole lot cheaper than a hotel. Plus you can make friends easier.
   
   
2. Cook with friends
   If you're lucky enough to find a hostel that has a kitchen then you're going to save heaps by being able to cook your own food plus being able to eat healthier. Get a few friends or hostel mates together and all pitch in and cook a big meal. People often forget that a lot of the times when we have the most fun is when we're interacting with other people.
   
   
3. Book your own flights
   When I first went overseas I had no idea what I was doing so I got a travel agent to book all my flights for me. Idiot ! Internet flight sites are taking over and making it so easy to book flights, accommodation etc, that I don't know why you wouldn't do it yourself. Trawling around on the internet looking at all the flights you could potentially take is a lot of fun. Especially some of the layovers, you start thinking 'Wow if I have to stop here then I might go check X out'. Oh yeah, love the random destinations.
   
   
4. Take an overland ride overnight
   Ok so this one might not rate quite as high up the fun meter as the other tips here but this one saves you dosh. You'll save on one nights accommodation plus you'll see a lot more of the country had you just jumped on a plane, not to mention being able to make some new travel buddies. Just keep an eye on your bags, easy for some @%# to steal it while your sleeping.
   
   
5. Volunteer
   Volunteering seems like such a good idea to me. Most of the time these places are free so you can stay in a country much longer, your savings won't disappear and you get to have fun helping out people. Win win.
   
   
6. Get your own transport
   I cannot recommend this enough. In a lot of countries (especially South East Asia) you can rent your own motorbike very cheaply, this is an awesome way to save you money and get your backside out into the real part of a country. I've done this many times and the idea of being able to just jump on your trusty steed and go anywhere you want is awesome. Not to mention the money you save, all you have to do is put fuel in the thing and off you go. I've found this is always cheaper than taking tourist buses too so I can see no downside to this at all so next time; get yourself a bike !
   
   
7. Try Couchsurfing
   If you haven't heard of couchsurfing then get out of your cosy hotel room and try it out. Couchsurfing is sleeping on a strangers couch, sounds pretty fun huh ? What could be better than finding a FREE bed for the night, getting to live with a local and making a new friend ? Hmmm not much I think. Check it out on the net, make yourself a profile and start searching for new strangers to sleep with...
   
   

If you use your imagination and step out of your comfort zone a little there is a whole host of ways to make your travel cheaper and more fun. I find human interaction with new friends is one of the best ways to give you the best memories and the most fun for the cheapest price.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adrian Landsberg started The Lifestyle Compound for his love of entrepreneurship and travel. In October 2103 he quit his job of ten years to chase his dream of going on a multi-country, bucket list smashing mission. Recently he has bungee jumped naked, walked the most dangerous hike in the world and trekked to Mount Everest Base camp. Adrian enjoys writing about building passive income, self improvement, travelling and living a life full of fun and passion.

Happy Frugal Friday! I did a blog post on this subject before, but it's worth mentioning again, especially during the summer season when most people want to get away for a fun vacation but don't have a lot of money to spend.

Who says there’s no such thing as free stuff anymore?

There's a travel & marketing company that gives away complimentary travel certificates to the caribbean. Most hotels and resorts are never booked to full capacity, except perhaps during the holidays and long weekends.

Some of the exotic locations include Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta (pictured below) & Cancun in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas (last picture below), and many more destinations. Check their website for updated information.

Check out this website, they truly give you a free trip to Mexico, the Caribbean and more! The only thing you and your guest(s) need to do is attend a 90 minute no-obligation presentation and pay the room tax. They only need 7 days advance notice for reservations, subject to availability. Check out TripMama.com to compare airfare costs.

Go to www.RedeemTrip.com and mention the certificate promo code: GFF750 to receive your free exotic vacation! Or, you can also call 1-888-404-8942 or 1-866-490-0044 - remember to use promo code GFF750.