Smart Ways to Travel on a Budget

A beautiful night view of the city overlooking a hotel with a swimming pool, accompanied by music and wine. Delicious food and festivals.  

What is your ideal trip? Everyone dreams of traveling at some point in their life.  I had no interest in traveling until my twenties, but by chance, I ventured to an unknown country and that experience planted various emotions and memories I never expected. 

 I believe that everyone will have at least one opportunity to travel in their lifetime. For Koreans, the first overseas trip is often their honeymoon.  

At such times, it's natural to seek luxurious and stunningly beautiful places to create the best memories with your loved one.  

However, those reading this article are probably just looking to explore the unknown world. You might be traveling alone, or with a lover or dear friend.  

Through multiple overseas trips, I've explored various countries and had to find the best value for a fixed budget.  I'd like to share some tips I learned in the process.

1.Reducing airfare costs 

For example, let's say we're traveling from Korea to a distant country. There are various promotional flight tickets and package deals available. 

However, the farther the country, the more difficult it is to get there in one go.

One-way Cost from Incheon Airport, Korea to Azerbaijan

I searched for flights from Korea to Azerbaijan on Google Flights. On average, they cost around $500, with the cheapest fare being $291.  

The most affordable date is May 21st at $291, but if traveling on this date is difficult for you, you'll need to split your flight itinerary.  

Let's try this approach: instead of flying directly from Korea to Azerbaijan, change your route to Korea -> China -> Azerbaijan.

 The average price range from Korea to Beijing is around $80.

 The average price range from Beijing to Baku, Azerbaijan is around $300. You can travel for approximately $380, with the lowest fare being $250.

For multi-leg flights, prices may vary significantly depending on how far you're traveling and your desired dates. 

These journeys tend to have more price fluctuations the longer the distance or the more unfamiliar the country. 

If you're lucky, you could save $100-$200 on a one-way trip. For round trips, you could reduce costs by $200-$400.  

However, there are important factors to consider:  

1) Entry procedures and visa requirements for each country Since booking split flights doesn't allow for automatic transfers, you'll need to go through potentially cumbersome immigration procedures. You might need visas for these countries, and the time required for immigration processes could make your boarding time tight. In such cases, it's crucial to have about 4 hours of buffer time.  

2) Checked baggage inclusion Many airlines don't include checked baggage in their fare. When purchasing separate flight tickets, the additional cost for checked baggage could make the total price more expensive.  

3) Additional costs due to long layovers For example, imagine waiting in Beijing for 12 to 24 hours. If you need to find a hotel for the night, transportation and accommodation could cost nearly $100. 

Even if you plan to stay at the airport, remember that airport food prices are typically higher than elsewhere.  

You should verify these three factors before finalizing your flight reservations. 

Generally, Chinese airlines include checked baggage, so choosing routes through China isn't a bad option.  

However, if you need to transit through a different country, you should check whether that country's airlines charge additional fees for checked baggage.

 Checking Flight Costs Using Google Flights' "Explore Anywhere" Option

An efficient way to use this method is to first select your starting point on Google Flights, then look for the cheapest points proportional to distance. 

 After searching for Google Flights, set your departure location and check the "Explore anywhere" option. Then select approximate dates, such as May or June.

Let's see. There are 8 satisfactory options. 

Now, try selecting each of these locations as your departure point, and then select Baku, Azerbaijan as your destination. 

 If there are too many options and you feel confused, try setting Baku as your starting point and cross-verify the results.

 "Explore Anywhere" Function Set from Baku, Azerbaijan

The cheapest flights from Baku, Azerbaijan are to Beijing. So when setting departure points from both Korea and Azerbaijan, Beijing commonly appears as the most affordable destination.  

his way, you can find the optimal airfare more easily.  

Does that make sense? However, ultimately you must consider your airport waiting time and visa requirements (transit flights usually don't require visas, but since our chosen method isn't a transit option, you must take this into account).

2. Combining land travel and flights This method is primarily used in Europe

You can use Flixbus from Istanbul all the way to western destinations like Paris, France, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

 There are downsides such as very long travel times and fatigue. 

 You'll need to sleep on the bus, and since there aren't always direct buses from Istanbul to the Netherlands, you may need to disembark in Romania or another nearby country and book a new Flixbus. 

 During this process, you might need a visa (most foreigners generally aren't asked for visas when traveling within Europe because it's all part of the European zone. However, if you need to submit visas in each European country, I recommend using flights) or book accommodation. 

The journey from Istanbul to the Netherlands can take about 2 days. If you book cheap flights from Istanbul, you can purchase tickets for around $100-$200. 

Nevertheless, there are reasons to use this overland method. Most European airlines require additional payment for checked luggage, and if this extra cost is burdensome, using Flixbus might be a better option. 

Generally, additional baggage costs around $50, but if your luggage exceeds 20kg, you might have to pay more, and during peak season, flight prices may be higher. 

For example, Turkey's Pegasus Airlines is relatively inexpensive, but Romanian airlines and other European carriers often charge $100-$200 for additional luggage

If you're backpacking without heavy luggage, flights might be a much better option. 

This method is recommended when you have plenty of time and aren't restricted by European visa issues. 

It's also recommended if you want to travel through multiple European countries with several pieces of luggage. 

During your journey, it's a good idea to prepare small Euro notes for bathroom use.  Sometimes paid toilets don't accept cards and require small amounts of Euros. 

3.Reducing Accommodation Costs 

Your accommodation experience significantly impacts the quality of your trip. 

Choosing cheap lodging might lead to terrible memories for the following reasons: 

 

1) Expensive Transportation As a foreigner, using local public transportation can be quite adventurous. 

Most people will use airport buses or subway systems. 

The problem is if these two transportation modes aren't close to your accommodation, you'll either have to spend money on taxis or face difficulties. 

 Taxi fares can be very expensive depending on the country, and you might be exposed to scams. Therefore, when booking accommodation, don't just book the cheapest option; make sure it's easily accessible via public transportation from the airport. 

2) Accommodation Facilities In some countries, laundry costs can be surprisingly expensive. 

Laundry costs in Baku, Azerbaijan are more than twice as expensive as in Korea or other countries. 

Having a washing machine can greatly help reduce your travel expenses. 

 

Assuming you do laundry once every 2-3 days, if your accommodation doesn't have a washing machine or a proper place to dry clothes, you'll have to cover the cost of 4 laundry services for a 10-day trip. If each service costs $10, you're essentially spending an additional $40.

4. Transportation Methods 

Transportation often accounts for a significant portion of travel expenses. On average, excluding airfare, more than 10% of your budget may go toward transportation costs, and as a foreigner, you may encounter various unfair situations. 

 

Therefore, it's good to anticipate appropriate transportation methods for each destination in advance. 

It's advisable to sign up for and install taxi apps for the country you're visiting. As a foreigner, the difference between hailing a taxi directly and calling one through an app can be quite significant. 

Taxi drivers know that as a foreigner, you have limited means to complain about unfair treatment. When using taxis, try to use card payment through apps if possible, and if you must use cash, confirm the amount with the driver once more before departing.  

If something seems suspicious, it's also a good idea to record your conversation