How to organize a multi-country budget travel

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Life is short, there is always a lot of work, and vacations only last a few weeks a year. To make your vacation truly memorable, spend it in several countries at once. Here's how to do it as economically as possible.

1. Think over the route

It doesn't have to be circular. You can fly to one country and fly from another. Play around with the dates and prices on ticket aggregator sites - you will surely be able to find interesting options for ridiculous money. The main thing is to start doing this in advance, 3-5 months before the vacation.

Posted by Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Jun 19 2017 at 8:24 PDT

2. Cross borders with budget modes of transport

It is often cheaper to get to the border with one transport, cross the border on foot and then change to another. Consider all options, including hitchhiking, train travel in a third class carriage, and low-cost flights.

Publication from Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Nov 13 2016 at 8:01 PST

For example, you can fly from Guangzhou to Hanoi for an average of $ 100-130. Or you can take a high-speed train to Nanning for $ 20, spend a day there and, after getting to know the city, take a Chinese train for a couple of bucks to the border, which you can cross on foot, and for a dollar on an ordinary Vietnamese train to reach Hanoi. This will save you $ 50 per person even with the extra overnight stay.

3. Consider the transport specifics of the country in order to save

In the Caucasus, you can easily get a lift for free, and group taxis are inexpensive. In Europe, you can buy discounted bus tickets. And in Asian cities it is better not to travel more than a couple of kilometers on tuk-tuk.

Publication from Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Mar 30 2017 at 7:28 PDT

Wherever Uber is, use it. In some Asian capitals, for example, Manila, a trip around the city will cost only $ 1–1, 5, and delivery to the airport (half an hour's journey, by the way) - as much as $ 2!

4. Exclude countries requiring a visa

For example, from the four "China - Vietnam - Hong Kong - Macau" you can exclude China and thereby save 3,300 rubles from the nose for a short-term tourist visa. And the Chinese flavor is quite possible to feel in the visa-free Hong Kong and Macau.

Posted by Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Jun 15 2017 at 8:15 PDT

5. Move between cities at night

If the distance between settlements takes longer than 8-9 hours, if possible, try to move at night in a sleeping car or on a bus. This will save you the cost of a night at the hotel.

6. Use CouchSurfing.com to find a free overnight stay

If the culture of the country is very different from ours, as, for example, in Iran, we recommend that you cut into what is happening for a day or two, and only after that you can fit in for a free night. Do not forget to bring the host a souvenir from your country and present meaningful communication in exchange for hospitality.

Publication from Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Nov 11 2016 at 8:56 PST

7. Find out the exchange rate in all countries

Clarify this point in advance if you are changing cash, or at home order a card from a bank that offers conversion at a favorable rate, if you use cashless payments or withdraw currency from the card. Keep in mind that for each operation, you can lose up to 5-10% of the budget.

8. Calculate spending accurately

When exchanging or withdrawing money through an ATM, try to accurately calculate spending for each country, otherwise you risk either making an unfavorable return exchange at the exit, or, even worse, bringing home a significant amount in non-convertible currency.

Posted by Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Jun 1 2017 at 7:39 PDT

9. Test prices in a new country

A general rule: in tourist places, prices may differ from prices in establishments for locals by several times! It is better to shop, buy souvenirs and perform other costly actions after a while, when you will know exactly the prices.

Posted by Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Jun 21 2017 at 7:28 PDT

10. Spend less time in expensive countries, but more intense

And vice versa: in cheaper countries, days can be planned less active, while allowing yourself more paid entertainment.

For example, after stormy and economical walking days in Germany, you can budget to the fullest in Prague, and after an active day in Geneva, go to spend the night in neighboring France. Another example is Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Although the distance between cities is only 350 km, the budget for one day can differ several times.

Posted by Pasha and Lena (@_pashalena_) Jun 18 2016 at 3:22 PDT

Route examples

Finally, we offer several chains of countries that are convenient to visit within one trip. All combinations have been tested by us personally:

• Estonia - Latvia - Lithuania (you can also take a ferry ride to Helsinki).
• Georgia - Armenia - Azerbaijan (you can also get acquainted with Eastern Turkey - the cities of Trabzon and Erzurum).
• Azerbaijan - Iran.
• Germany - Poland - Czech Republic.
• South China - Vietnam - Hong Kong - Macau.
• Thailand - Cambodia - Laos.
• Belgium - Netherlands - Luxembourg.
• Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan.
• Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Austria - Switzerland - northern Italy.
• Spain - Portugal.

And there are so many interesting combinations in the world! Experiment and build your megatrip.