The next best thing to being rich is roving as though you were.
Travel is my favorite hobby. If I had my way, I’d travel to a another country each month for the rest of my life. But, I have yet to make my millions and I’m not willing to live out of a backpack. Not to fret though. As the old adage goes: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. In the past few years, I have found a few ways to travel in style without spending the bulk of my remaining disposable income.
1. Choose your destinations and travel time wisely. The weakened dollar should definitely encourage you to consider locations where your money goes farther. There are plenty of outstanding and less expensive resort towns and amazing things to see and do in places like Seychelles, Ukraine, Argentina, Iceland, Morocco, Australia and Zambia. Also, if possible, travel during the shoulder season (between high and low season) for cheaper airfare and hotel rates.
2. Compare fares and seek out reasonably-priced facilities. Use websites like Kayak.Com and FareCompare.Com for a side-by-side comparison of airfare and hotel rates. Use mileage to upgrade your flight class; if you don’t have enough miles accrued, you can buy a few hundred miles to make it happen. Once you’ve flown business or first class (or privately!), it can be excruciating to move back to coach. To make long waits in the airport more enjoyable, procure a day pass to an airport club lounge (average $25 to $50). Annual memberships are available but if you’re not a frequent traveler, this may not be cost-effective. Check online for lounge club reviews before buying a pass. Finally, look for stylish boutique hotels that offer the same kinds of amenities as the big chains without the hefty rates.
3. Dress well and accessorize wisely. Pick a color scheme of two or three colors to easily mix-and-match your outfits and to keep luggage to a bare minimum. Limit yourself to no more than three pairs of shoes: Walking shoes, dress shoes and sandals. Always bring at least one dressy outfit for a night out on the town. Pack items made of jersey, which are easy to dress up or down and don’t wrinkle. Ladies should remember to pack or purchase a nice scarf, which can easily dress up any outfit, whether it’s jeans or a sexy black dress.
4. Make the most of your social and professional network. Ask your social media “friends” and “followers” for recommended activities as well as contacts in your destination city. It always helps to find the best (and less expensive) events and entertainment when you know someone who knows the place well, especially if you’re flying solo. The hotel concierge is also an excellent resource for verifying information and for seeking activities within your resources. He or she may also be aware of discounts for some activities.
5. Go off the beaten path. Often the best part of travel is enjoying unique and authentic experiences. Do enjoy community parties, nightclubs, art galleries, museums, shopping, fine restaurants and other points of interests; just remember to speak to the locals and expats to find exciting and inexpensive opportunities such as having a traditional meal with a local family; cooking, language or dance lessons; hiking trails or other recreational activities, and artist hangouts to meet new folks and find low-priced artwork and souvenirs.
What’s most important is to remember that being a jet-setter is not about wearing designer clothing and overindulging. You can unquestionably define your jet set adventure to suit almost any budget. Whatever you do and wherever you go, be courteous, confident and stylish
