Hi sis! Mahaba ang reply ko kasi favorite topic ko 'to.
Budget traveler ako like you. Super kati ang paa pero limited budget
Madami na rin ako narating, almost all continents. Some tips on how I save for my trips:
1. I plan international trips at least a year ahead. Kung ang total na gastos (pati pocket money) is say 40k, every month magtatabi na ako ng 4k. If it means hindi ako bibili ng damit, shoes, or Starbucks, so be it. Inuuna ko yung travel fund.
2. My travel fund is kept in a separate account linked to my salary account so pwede ako maka-transfer online every pay day. Walang ATM yung travel account ko, so di ko talaga magagalaw.
3. I got a Citibank-Cebu Pacific credit card. I pay my utilities, gas, groceries, salon, eating out, etc. using that card. The points really add up! Shempre I pay the total amount din monthly, so walang interest pero I gain Cebu Pacific points. I also use that card to book my accommodation and buy tickets online.
4. I am open to flying from other airports, like Clark pag around Asia. Pag beyond Asia naman, I usually book major flights from HK. Mas mura talaga -- halimbawa ang fare from Manila to let's say Los Angeles is 50k, yung from HK mga 30k lang depending on the month. Tapos hanap ako ng budget fare from Manila to HK, which costs 5k. In the end I save 15k, which is serious money for a budget traveler.
Share ko din tipid tips during the trip:
1. I stay in hostels. Yung you just pay for a bunk bed. Never ako nag-stay sa hotel unless madami kaming share-share (halimbawa 4 kami in a room).
Sa Europe madami safe na hostels for women only. Around SEA din -- Thailand, Vietnam, etc, super daming female-only hostels. Malinis naman, comfy beds, shared nga lang yung banyo (parang gym). I have a privacy curtain na nilalagay ko around my bunk.
My hubby and I will be coming back to Europe for our honeymoon this December (sale kasi winter hahaha). He's treating me to nice hotels so first time ko talaga mag travel in style, kumbaga. Excited!
2. I eat sandwiches lang for lunch/dinner pag mamahalin na country like European countries. I assemble my sandwiches sa hostel kitchen, yung ingredients binili ko lang sa 7-11 or sa mga market market around town. I once went on a month-long trip around Europe, bumili lang ako ng hams/sausages and bread and yun ang baon ko for lunch. I eat sa mga park benches outside the museums. Di naman nakakahiya since a lot of locals na mga office workers do that too. Tapos towards the end of the trip, I treat myself na -- pag madami pa natirang pocket money, ayan gagastos na ako for restaurants.
Pero kung ang country is mura ang food, like Vietnam or Malaysia, kumakain ako sa normal restos or mga streetfood.
3. Never ako nagta-taxi abroad. Either nilalakad ko or I take the bus or train. Sa Spain dati I rented a bike. Mas okay sis -- you really get to know the place when you walk or take public transport.
