Scholar Scoop

I was recently talking to an old friend about our travels in central America. I really enjoy reminiscing with friends about trips we’ve taken together. This recent conversation was about a friend’s innate ability to attract scorpions. I think he was stung by three in one day. These experiences, minus the scorpion attacks, still replay vividly in my mind.

I bring this topic up because of  the many “how did you afford it?” or “I wish I could do that” questions and comments I receive every time I tell a story. The fact is– it’s not that difficult or expensive. 99% of my friends spend more in one month now than I spent on a 3-month trip to central America, Spanish school included.

“How did you pull that off?” you ask?

Simple. I lived on a budget.  It isn’t easy and bargaining for EVERYTHING was stressful and tiresome but living like a local, eating like a local, traveling like a local, is the only way to go.

The ultimate key to budget travel though, is you shouldn’t stay at a hotel. Hostels are the key. I’ve stayed in both during my travels and I’ve always had a more entertaining and memorable experiences when I shared a dorm room with other smelly backpackers. Meeting different people from different countries is always a good time. If you ever find yourself in a group of people from different English speaking countries, mocking each others’ accents is a must!

Getting to know the locals is equally helpful– I always made friends with the receptionists/ owners at youth hostels.  Simple questions like “If I were you, where would I be getting lunch right now?” or “where’s your favorite place to unwind after work?” can spark conversation. Showing interest in the local culture can break down all types of barriers, including the language barrier.

By traveling this way, you’re introduced to so many new experiences and places. Like most other people, I tend to remember the random and offbeat moments more than the preplanned and catered ones. For example, I remember riding in the back of a pickup down a dirt road after singing “Hotel California” at a Karaoke Bar in the-middle-of-nowhere, Costa Rica.When I say road I really mean the spaces between trees.

Traveling cheaply is fun and airfares haven’t been this low in a while. Why don’t you plan your adventure today?