Traveling in the summer, choosing to spend cash is what Sam O’Connor, 33 years old usually does.
Sam O’Connor, from New Zealand, quit his job in March to travel the world. His goal is to visit 197 countries. To fund travel, Sam has an online business and a real estate investment. Besides, he makes savings while traveling so as not to overspend. Here are the tips that Sam drew on himself during his trip to 19 countries this year.
Traveling in the intermediate season
This is the period between the high and low seasons. The benefits of traveling this season are hotel room rates, airfare cheaper than peak season, and avoiding crowds. Besides, the weather is still beautiful, there is no rainy season or other natural factors such as low season.
Turn the worst into the best
One trick Sam often uses when flying is to choose a seat in the last row. It is the least chosen row because the seat cannot be reclined, due to the wall. And the place is also near the toilet. Unless the plane is full, Sam is often allowed to use all three seats in the last row, because there are no people sitting.
Carry-on baggage only
Sam says that traveling with hand luggage makes the trip simpler and lighter. You don’t have to wait in long lines at the airport to check in your luggage. This also helps to minimize the loss of belongings. Besides, there is no check-in to help Sam save time, no need to go to the airport too early.
Use public transport
Instead of taking expensive taxis, Sam mostly walks, bus or train in the countries he visits.
Use cash
Swiping a card, or withdrawing money abroad from an ATM can lead to a huge extra fee. Some places Sam went to used to charge a transaction fee of up to 15 USD for a single withdrawal. He advises people to change money before going. In case of forced withdrawal, withdraw the local currency of that country, instead of USD to avoid having to convert the exchange rate many times.
Eat and drink sparingly
Sam always chooses restaurants where locals go to eat, instead of restaurants serving tourists. These restaurants may not be fancy, but the food is delicious and affordable.
Bring a water bottle
Bottled water in many places is quite expensive, for example, in Europe. Sam suggests preparing a plastic bottle, and fill it with water to use before going out. “I always carry water bottles with me, and refill them at the free fountains,” says Sam. This is also a tip that many people often share.
Invest money to get into the lounge
This is a unique investment, but well worth it for someone who travels a lot. No one likes to sit around at the airport to wait for the boarding time, especially the delayed, late flights. Therefore, Sam will invest money to use the airport lounge service of the airlines he buys tickets from. Here, he has comfortable seats, free wifi and is served free food and drinks.
(According to Sun )