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While many of us dream of traveling the world (or at least taking a few months off from work in pursuit of adventure), it\u2019s not always feasible \u2014 even for those with the best of intentions. A lot of things can get in the way.<\/p>\n
I frequently talk about long-term travel<\/a> and round-the-world trips<\/a>, but I know that realistically, not everyone can take those kinds of trips \u2014 or wants to. I don\u2019t think traveling the world as a digital nomad is hard<\/a>, but I also know that what I do isn\u2019t for everyone.<\/p>\n Some people just want to go on a\u00a0cheap vacation for a few weeks. Not everyone has the time or interest in taking an extended trip. <\/p>\n And that’s perfectly ok!<\/p>\n So, what do you do when you only have a short amount of time and a limited budget? What are some\u00a0budget vacation ideas that\u00a0aren’t<\/em> about traveling the world?<\/p>\n Even if you don’t want to backpack Cambodia<\/a> for three months or walk the Camino de Santiago<\/a>, there are many ways to get on the road and see the world without breaking the bank! <\/p>\n Here are eight cheap travel ideas if you are cash-strapped and\/or time-poor:<\/p>\n We’re all guilty of this. It took me five years to see the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok<\/a> (even after living there), and I\u2019ve still never been to Bunker Hill in Boston despite spending the first 24 years of my life there.<\/p>\n We always put it off until tomorrow<\/a>, because when we live in a city, we think there is always a tomorrow.<\/p>\n We get so caught up in our daily lives we forget that we can have a cheap vacation in our own city. We don’t have to go anywhere!<\/p>\n If you’re short on time and money, there\u2019s no better way to spend some free time than to wander your own city. No matter what its size, it has a number of wonders that you’ve never seen or even known about because you just haven’t explored it like you would somewhere far-flung and “exotic.”<\/p>\n Explore your city the way you would explore it if it were half a world away. Be a traveler in your own town and look at it with new eyes. You might just be surprised!<\/p>\n Check and see what unique activities you can do that you wouldn’t do otherwise. To see what fun activities are available near you, check out Get Your Guide<\/a>. <\/p>\n EatWith<\/a> can also be found in cities all around the world, offering unique, locally-created culinary experiences. You’ll get to try new food and meet new people \u2014 all while staying in your own backyard! <\/p>\n Additionally, check and see if there are any walking or cycling tour companies in your city (or nearby cities). Take Walks<\/a> runs fun, detailed, and insightful tours in cities all around the world. I always book a tour with them when I want to get beneath the surface of a destination!<\/p>\n Moreover, if you live in a large city, be sure to go to your local tourism office and get a city tourism pass. These cards allow you to see a wide range of local attractions for free or reduced prices and can be your way to see your local sites on a budget. They aren\u2019t just for outsiders!<\/p>\n Important Tip:<\/strong> When you become a local tourist, check out of your house and into a hotel, hostel, or guesthouse. It\u2019s important to get out of your familiar environment because if you stay home, you\u2019ll find something to do around the house and create excuses for why you can’t sightsee. <\/p>\n To find accommodation, Booking.com<\/a> is the best place to start. It has an easy-to-use interface and generous cancellation policies should you change your mind.<\/p>\n Moving to a different location can help give you that feeling of adventure, excitement, and unfamiliarity.<\/p>\n LEARN MORE<\/strong>: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n But I could say the same thing as my Aussie friends. <\/p>\n I grew up in Boston<\/a>, and from there, I could road-trip New England<\/a> and visit New Hampshire, the woods of Maine, the bed-and-breakfasts of the Berkshires, or the farms of Vermont. New York was a four-hour car ride from home. <\/p>\n How often did I do that? Not often enough!<\/p>\n Exploring your own region is an underrated and often overlooked aspect of travel. It gets the occasional lip service in magazines, but driving across the United States<\/a> made me realize how much our own countries have to offer us and how often we overlook that for some foreign place.<\/p>\n There\u2019s something special about being a stranger in your homeland and realizing you really don\u2019t know as much about it as you thought.<\/p>\n We think because we\u2019re born in a place we understand it but every country has regional differences that make it unique and, unless we travel to see and experience them, we’ll never fully understand the place we call home.<\/p>\n Driving across the US taught me a lot about this<\/a>. It gave me a deep appreciation for the country, the people, and the diversity within its borders. It broke down stereotypes and misconceptions I had about the different regions in the US.<\/a> <\/p>\n My time exploring my own backyard was just as important to my growth as any trip to a foreign country.<\/p>\n If you’re on a limited budget, can’t afford a flight or a trip to exotic lands, or just want to do something different, don’t forget that you can always travel around your own country. It can be just as powerful as going abroad.<\/p>\n Budget-friendly bus companies like FlixBus<\/a> can help you travel your region on the cheap. They have routes around Europe and the US, with tickets starting at just $5 USD!<\/p>\n LEARN MORE<\/strong>: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In many countries, particularly in Europe<\/a> (especially Scandinavia), you can camp on public lands for free. In the United States, you can camp on undeveloped BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands for free, provided the spot you choose is a sufficient distance from established campgrounds and you follow local restrictions. <\/p>\n Additionally, you go camping stocked with all your own supplies and accommodation (i.e., a tent), so you don\u2019t have to worry about spending lots of extra money once you have the gear. Your food bill can be whatever you spend on groceries and nothing more. Just be sure to leave no trace of your stay at your campsite and pack out anything you brought with you.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to love camping to spend time in the national parks, either. Personally, I hate camping. I\u2019m not the camp-in-a-tent kind of guy; I need toilets, beds, and hot water. Luckily, many parks provide cabins for rent. While hiking the Grand Canyon, I stayed at a national park lodge at the bottom. I had a room in a dormitory, but for a few nights, it was the cheap accommodation<\/a> I needed.<\/p>\n And while national parks are impressive, state or provincial parks can be just as spectacular, but with fewer crowds, and easier to access. There\u2019s almost always a park nearby and spending a few days with nature is not only good for your wallet but also good for your mental health.<\/p>\n Looking for a more unique experience? Campspace<\/a> is a website that lets people camp in someone\u2019s backyard, garden, parked camper, or private land for a small fee. It’s like Airbnb but for unique camping spots.<\/p>\n Want to do a mini road trip around your region? Use RVShare<\/a> to rent an RV from a local for cheap!<\/p>\n And if you’re looking to rent a car, use Discover Cars<\/a> to find the best rental car prices.<\/p>\n LEARN MORE<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Download my free guide to points and miles and learn how to master the one thing all travel experts do to save money and get free flights and accommodation!<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n Enter your info below to get the guide sent to you right away:<\/p>\r\n
\n <\/p>\n1. Be a Local Tourist<\/h3>\n
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\nHow often do you visit the tourist sites in your own city? Hardly ever, right? I know New Yorkers who have never seen the Statue of Liberty<\/a> and Bostonians who have never walked the Freedom Trail. I once took a Dutch friend on a tour of Amsterdam<\/a> because, despite growing up there, she had never seen the local attractions that lure millions of visitors to the city every year.<\/p>\n\n
2. Travel Regionally<\/h3>\n
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\nTravel brings to mind faraway and exotic destinations. It invokes images of all the places we\u2019ve dreamt of and seen in movies. Because of that, few people look in their own backyard for adventure. As my Aussie friends always tell me before they jet off somewhere, \u201cMate, you\u2019ve probably seen more of Oz than I have!\u201d <\/p>\n\n
3. Go to National (and Regional) Parks<\/h3>\n
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\nThe great outdoors present a fun, beautiful, and sometimes challenging chance to go somewhere on the cheap. Camping, after all, costs very little money. Camping fees in national parks are as little as $15-20 USD per night in the United States, 15-40 CAD in Canada<\/a>, 10-60 AUD in Australia<\/a>, and 20-30 NZD in New Zealand<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n
\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWant to travel the world for free?<\/h5>\r\n
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