At this point, I’ve spent about eight months of the last two years living in hostels and have definitely seen the good, the bad, and the ugly side of hostel life. If you’re planning your first trip, here’s what to look out for in order to pick a hostel and have a good experience:

Pay attention to the hostel’s ‘ambience’ and ‘safety’ ratings.

The vibe of the hostel is important, especially when you’re traveling on your own. Try to look for places with nice common areas or bars, so you have a space to meet other travelers. Hostels that organize group events or have community breakfasts or dinners are great because it’s a built-in way to meet other people and create a group of people to go out adventuring with.

If you can, try to avoid properties that are half hostel, half hotel. These places cater more to families and business travelers, and the vibe is much different than that of a property that caters specifically to the young, backpacker crowd. These places are typically much less social, which can make for a lonely stay if there aren’t any people around for you to mingle with.

Also, this is pretty self-explanatory, but check out the safety ratings. This will cover things like whether the property is located in a good part of town, whether there’s a secure place to lock your belongings inside your room, if the keys and locks work, or if the building and surrounding area well-lit, or whether there are people hanging around the property who aren’t guests of the hostel, etc.

Pick a hostel that is close to the attractions and has a 24-hour reception.

If you know you’re going to want to go out at night, look for a place closer to the city’s nightlife so you don’t have to travel as far in the dark in the event that you end up having to be out alone. You can minimize your time spent on public transit doing so, and you won’t have to take as many cabs (so you can avoid being ripped off) and you won’t have as far to walk if that’s something you’re concerned about. Obviously, use your judgement and take the same precautions you would at home, and you’ll be fine.

24-hour reception is important if you know you’ll be arriving late. You don’t want to show up after the reception has closed and not be able to check in. Also, if there’s an emergency and you need something in the middle of the night, the hostel reception is going to be your first point of contact because they know the area and how to get you the services that you need (like pointing you to the hospital where you’re more likely to find English-speaking doctors at 4am).

Female-only dorms (maybe).

I have mixed feelings about staying in female dorms because I’ve had good and bad experiences with both (big surprise: people suck regardless of gender). You never know who you’re going to get as roommates, and my good experiences have by far outweighed the bad. The only difference is that so far, I haven’t (yet, thankfully) been fearful for my safety in a female dorm. I have two big pieces of advice on this one:

1. Read the reviews carefully.

If the reviews give you a sense that the hostel only really cares about their bottom line and just wants to fill beds, it might not be somewhere you want to stay, for a variety of reasons, but if it’s the only option available, you may want to consider booking a female-only dorm. You might just end up in a 12-bed dorm with an 11-person stag party, who stumbled back in at 4am and didn’t realize that they do not actually have the room to themselves (first the obnoxious drunkenness, then the snoring, yikes). Needless to say, I dragged my blanket downstairs to sleep in the bar, checked out as soon as I could, and left the property a delightful review for 1. letting that happen to me in the first place, and 2. not informing me or giving me another choice of room.

2. Pay attention to whether or not you’ll be traveling in peak season.

If there’s an issue with your roommates, the hostel will likely let you change rooms if they have the space available, although they might charge you a fee (worth it for the peace of mind if you’re the only woman in the room with some creeper neighbors). If it’s fully booked, you might be out of luck (hopefully they’ll help sort you out but it’s possible they may not).

Read the reviews, but use your judgment.

You can generally get a good sense of the place from what previous guests have written, and how many people have left reviews. Keep in mind that the quality of reviews may vary from place to place, so always take them with a grain of salt. For example, a lot of people who don’t typically stay in hostels travel to places like Amsterdam to party, but then complain about things like the fact that a 200-year old building doesn’t have an elevator and you had to walk up four flights of stairs with a heavy suitcase.

If you’re traveling solo, I’d always advocate for staying in hostels, because they’re great for so many reasons. If it’s your first time and you’re nervous, just be careful and deliberate with when you pick a hostel and, above all, use your best judgment and you’ll be sure to end up having a wonderful trip (or at the very least come out with a lot of interesting stories).

Suggested next reading: Why I Travel Alone (And Why You Should Too)

The post How To Pick A Hostel Like A Solo Female Traveler Expert appeared first on Modern Trekker.

I had always wanted to travel to the Islamic countries, but—to be completely honest—my mental association between Muslims and terrorist attacks didn’t encourage me at all. However, after a short visit to the Arab Emirates, I decided to set aside my assumptions about other Islamic countries too.

Morocco had a good reputation as a tourist country and seemed a safe choice for a woman traveling by herself. I was still afraid and felt uncertain when I started my journey, but I was prepared mentally and had backup plans, which made me feel more comfortable.

Here are my top 11 tips for female solo travel to Morocco. I hope you will find them useful and that my own experience here will show you how to travel as a woman in Morocco.

1. Plan The First Days In Advance

Venturing without plans into the unknown of a foreign country might be a great challenge and a good way to boost your self-confidence—if this is what you’re hoping to get out of travel—but you will have plenty of time to do that and be more flexible after you first get used to the local customs and atmosphere.

Travelers especially enjoy Morocco for the cultural shock they have to face and for the different traditions they’re not used to. During the first days in Morocco, you won’t understand what’s happening around you, so it’s better to plan the first few days of your itinerary beforehand.

When I landed in the city of Fes, a taxi driver waited for me at the airport and drove me directly to the accommodation that I had booked beforehand. This way, I avoided unpleasant incidents at the beginning of my trip and allowed enough time to adapt to the new Moroccan lifestyle.

2. Ask For Advice From The Local Women

The local women will admire your courage to venture by yourself to a new country. Many of them have never traveled, so their traveling experiences are a bit different than ours (in fact, many of them will have gone on a pilgrimage to Mecca at some point in their lives).

Despite this difference, they will be sincerely willing to help and assist you in any problem you might have.

Ask the local woman how to stay safe in their country. Before I left Fes, the town where I had landed several days before, I asked the landlady of my guesthouse if there were places I should avoid because of the fact I was doing female solo travel to Morocco and, obviously, wanted to remain safe.

She said that I was safe in Morocco and that I could go anywhere—I felt such a sense of relief at that moment.

3. Go With An Official Guide In The Desert

Obviously, you cannot go by yourself everywhere (for example, a camel desert trek!) Search for local trips, always negotiate the price or book a trip on the internet.

For more information, you can read the article I have written about everything you should know about desert tours in Morocco.

When I went to the desert, I used a local guide, and out of the huge range of travel companies, I preferred the one recommended to me by a friend. I had the pleasant surprise to discover a humorous, good-hearted Berber, who knew each sand dune of the desert like the back of his hand.

4. Book A Riad (But Read The Reviews Beforehand)

When you book accommodation on the internet, carefully read the reviews from other travelers (e.g. on Booking.com, TripAdvisor or Google Maps) before completing a reservation.

Remember to not miss the local accommodation called riad or dar. The term designates a traditional palace or a house, elaborately decorated with zelij (local colorful mosaics), with a spacious patio, and in most cases, with a rooftop terrace from where you can have terrific views of the surroundings.

5. Stay Only With Local Women Hosts

If you plan to find local hosts on internet platforms (i.e. Couchsurfing, BeWelcome, or even Airbnb, etc.), you should only send requests to women hosts who have positive references from other guests.

VERY IMPORTANT: male hosts have been known in the past to have had sex with women visitors, so it is very important to remember that you are in a country where this subject is viewed differently. So stay only with local women hosts!

Finding the right hosts on internet platforms was a long process for me. I sent all my requests before arriving in Morocco, got several answers back, and had more time to enjoy myself when I arrived instead of searching for ‘safe’ hosts.

6. Wear A Wedding Ring

This one is already a cliché but I will still mention it because it is very useful for female solo travel to Morocco.

When men ask you if you are alone, be quick to mention ‘your husband’ and show them your ‘wedding ring.’ Even if they don’t really believe you, they will still most likely be too concerned about where your husband is and so won’t focus on you. If a man seemed too interested in me or just stared at me, it was enough to make my wedding ring visible.

In the worst-case scenario, a man insistently approached me when I stopped the car at the traffic lights. I had to be a bit aggressive and mention the police. After that, he disappeared right away. Everybody understands the word “police.”

7. Dress Modestly

In the bigger towns like Marrakesh, Casablanca, and Rabat, you will see women wearing jeans and no scarves covering their heads. However, I didn’t see women wearing shorts or mini skirts, so if you do that, realize that everybody will have a good reason to look at you.

In the more religious towns and in the countryside, women wear long overcoats and cotton headscarves even when outside in over 40℃ / 104°F heat. They hide every aspect of their female figure and they will also hide their face if you take pictures of them. Make sure to respect their culture and religion.

8. Avoid Walking Alone At Night

Don’t go out by yourself at night, especially if your accommodation is situated in a medina (the old part of town) where the winding narrow streets create a real labyrinth.

I always planned to come back ‘home’ before dusk and simply enjoyed my evenings talking with other guests, planning my next days or just thinking about what a beautiful day I’d had.

Like solo travel elsewhere, female solo travel to Morocco comes with a few compromises.

9. Do Not Drink Alcohol In Public

Avoid drinking alcohol in public places unless you are at the restaurant of your hotel where they serve alcoholic drinks for tourists.

For all the Muslims, alcohol is prohibited, and most of them respect this rule very strictly. You won’t find alcohol in the local shops and eateries, so you’ll experience what life is like without this ‘magic liquid.’

During my six-week trip through Morocco, I didn’t drink alcohol at all. I discovered I can have even more fun without drinking beer or wine.

10. Be Aware Of Fake Guides

In the medinas (the old part of the towns), you will often hear young boys pointing to you in the direction that you’re heading while saying, “It’s closed. Don’t go there.” In actual fact, nobody has closed the medina, but the local people know that the Moroccan medinas have a maze of winding, narrow streets where a visitor can easily get lost (even with a GPS).

This is their chance to be your local guide in exchange for a little money.

During my first days in Morocco, I was fooled by some fake guides and had to follow them to ‘save’ me out of the medina. In the evening, my landlord confirmed to me they were just taking advantage of confused visitors and taught me how to turn them down, saying “La, la, shokran” (No, no, thank you).

11. Negotiate Everything You Buy

Negotiate everything, especially all the prices in the medinas (old towns) and souqs (covered markets). Moroccans have a long history and experience in trading goods.

Usually, the prices are not displayed so it is better to ask in several places and figure out what the average price might be. Nobody will push you to buy something but keep in mind that bidding while sipping a glass of mint tea is part of the selling process in Morocco.

If you haven’t traveled there yet, female solo travel to Morocco is a safe and realistic option. In fact, it’s possible you could even start here to gain experience traveling solo. After visiting Morocco on my own for six weeks, I became more confident in myself and many other solo trips soon followed. Nothing is as bad as it seems.

Suggested next reading: 8 Top Sights In Morocco That’ll Make You Want To Visit ASAP

The post 11 Super Important Tips For People Who Are Traveling Solo To Morocco appeared first on Modern Trekker.

But let’s just be clear, Ireland is an expensive country. Though as I’ve said, it is indeed very possible to enjoy your time in Ireland on a budget. In fact, I think you can even stick to a travel budget of 40 Euros a day.

With a good amount of trip planning and willingness to sacrifice comfort for saving some money, it is possible to make Ireland affordable. Luckily, we’ve gone ahead and done the homework for you. So sit back, relax, and take notes on how to travel Ireland on a budget.

Transportation

Ireland is not a massive country like the US or Russia so it is possible to drive from one end of the country to the other in one day.

I recommend renting the smallest, most affordable yet dependable car possible. Book well in advance to ensure you get the best pricing for your rental car. This is where traveling with a friend or partner comes in handy because you can split the cost of the car and make it even cheaper.

Like anything else, the longer you have the car, the further the daily rate goes down so if you do choose to rent a car, try to have it for at least 5 days or a week.

The second option I’d recommend for transportation would be to cycle across Ireland. This option is considerably cheaper, but definitely more of an adventure and you must have much more time to travel around Ireland.

The final option which is definitely the cheapest way to travel around Ireland is using your own two feet and walking! I know this sound crazy, but according to Google Maps, if you walk from Dublin to Galway, it would only take you 42 hours. You could realistically walk the country in one week.

Of course, this is assuming that you are doing this walk in summer. Along the way, you can discover the charming Irish countryside and stay in smaller towns.

Accommodations

Speaking of where to stay, there are various budget-friendly options you should know about as you’re planning your own trip to Ireland.

The first is to bring your own camping gear and stay in camping sites. This low-cost option involves more planning to make sure you have all of the right equipment but can be extremely rewarding waking up in Ireland’s lush, green hills. There are plenty of camping sites that are specifically designed for travelers with all of the amenities you need including showers.

Be wary of camping outside of these sites, as it is considered illegal. Make sure you get the express consent of landowners before pitching your tent somewhere.

The next option for budget travelers is to stay in hostels. While in major cities such as Dublin, you will pay a premium, outside of these cities, hostels get considerably cheaper. You can expect to pay 15 Euros a night with many including breakfast in the price. A nice bonus part about hostels is that it is easy to meet fellow travelers and maybe you can even hitch a ride to the next town.

Dining

As a traveler that does plenty of sports when I travel, I struggle the most with not spending a fortune on eating out. Luckily, I have found some methods that work anywhere in the world to save some money on food.

The best way for eating in Ireland on a budget is to determine how much you are willing to spend daily on food. For example, maybe you only want to spend 15 Euros a day on food, you have to do your research and look for any restaurant specials you can find.

Something that has helped me tremendously, however, is not eating out at restaurants. I always try to find local markets or grocery stores. In Ireland, large supermarkets such as Tesco, Dunnes, Asda, or Sainsbury’s offer the most affordable food.

I look for any discounts, coupons, or specials that the store currently has. I usually stick to basics such as protein, vegetables, and fruit. I never regularly buy sweets or sodas that don’t add any nutritional value to my meals and just add costs to my budget.

The final piece of advice that I would recommend is to try to cook your own meals whenever possible. Besides being healthier for you, you can save a lot of money by buying the raw ingredients yourself and cooking a nice meal.

If you are traveling with friends or your partner, you can split the costs of the meal to further reduce how much you are spending. If you are staying at a hostel, invite others to have dinner with you and most are more than willing to return the favor the next night.

Sightseeing

Of course, you traveled to Ireland to see the country and there are a ton of places to see! Like many countries, tourism is a massive industry in Ireland and they charge a premium for this service. Have no fear though, if you come prepared and plan ahead, you’ll be able to see everything you want to see without spending a fortune on admission.

One of the best-kept secrets in Ireland’s tourism industry is called the Heritage Card. It costs 90 Euros for two adults and is well worth the cost if you plan on seeing more than 7 historical sites across Ireland. You can easily stop by 8-10 historical sites in a week and each site costs about 13 Euros so the card starts paying for itself quite quickly.

The card works throughout Ireland and looks like a credit card. With the Heritage Card, you’ll have access to over 97 sites within the country. However, be aware that the Cliffs Of Moher is not included on the card and it charges its own rate.

Another little-known piece of advice to take advantage of is that most sites have Wednesdays when entry is free. On these days, each historical site becomes extremely crowded so if you want to go, I’d recommend that you go at the opening of the site to make sure you get in without any problems.

Know any other tips to travel Ireland on a budget? Please feel free to share them below in the comments section!

Suggested next reading: 15 Gorgeous Towns In Ireland You Need To See

The post The Perfect Guide On How To Travel Ireland On A Budget appeared first on Modern Trekker.

However, when packing your bags, you don’t think of what you might do to prepare for the beauty you encounter, perhaps aside from bringing a camera or notebook with you. But you must prepare for something you hope never happens, and that’s become in proximity to danger.

Of course, we’re not talking about anything outlandish, such as walking into a warzone territory or having to save the world from an evil genius (but if you do that, more power to you.)

No, it’s the practical, daily realities of world travel that we most need for personal safety while traveling. Doing so can give you the tools to enjoy your best travels, and to make the memories you most wish to curate. For that and more, please read these 11 safety tips for travelers.

1. Medication

Of course, heading abroad can be a stressful time, but one that’s worthwhile if you have everything you need close to hand. Aside from food and water, there’s arguably nothing more important than bringing along your necessary medication with you.

Depending on where you’re going, you might need a range of vaccines in order to immunize yourself against certain issues taking root in the country you hope to visit. This should be taken care of ahead of time.

It’s also essential to bring with you medication that you might hope you never need, or medication to help you through a problem you might contract. For example, malaria tablets could be one of these important items, because contracting it is likely not on your bucket list.

Remember to bring secure compartments filled with the items you might need, such as blood pressure tablets, insulin injections, and simple painkillers. Also, bring with you a humble first aid kit, because you never know when this being at the bottom of your bag could potentially save a life.

Medication matters, and it can help you to no small degree. Make use of your planning, or be sure to carry odds and ends matched by whoever you’re traveling with. And as always, be sure to consult with your doctor before you leave to go abroad.

2. Safety & Funds

It is essential when traveling to another country to keep hold of your money. Travelers cheques can help you convert your money correctly when you head to another country, as they are in your name and can be only redeemed by you even if stolen.

Protective pouches with hidden zips in your bag or belt can help you hide a decent amount of money if anything is stolen from you, helping you out if your belongings are stolen. Also, bringing a fake wallet with you including some old cards you don’t need and a paltry sum of money can help you if you are mugged or pickpocketed abroad.

Another option is using a banking app such as Revolut to store your money wirelessly, giving you access to your bank account, and also providing the best exchange rates on the fly. Not only if this safer (since the card that comes with these apps can be frozen from your phone if lost), but it’ll also save you money because of better exchange rates.

Of course, it’s unhappy to be wary of everyone in a country you hope to enjoy, but sometimes tourists can be targeted for their lack of carefulness, and you should hope to do everything you can to avoid being one of their number.

3. Groups & Street Smarts

While solo travel might have a certain allure to it, it isn’t the wisest option for someone not well versed in a particular region, or perhaps not as traveled as they like to think.

Heading with someone or a group you trust can help you stick together, explore places with the protection of numbers, and ensure that anyone looking to victimize tourists are discouraged by your group looking out for one another.

Also, learning a little fragment of the street smarts in a location can help you avoid issues as they might arise. For example, learning where the areas of poverty are might help you avoid them, or perhaps if a street is known for some kind of gang activity, you might wish to avoid that area too.

You can learn this information from online resources, or from asking the locals depending on where you are. An information tourist board might also help you learn some of this information.

4. Inspecting

Now and then, just give your body a once-over. Make sure nothing has been slipped in your bag, that you’ve had anything taken from you, or that you’ve lost your map. Simply keeping aware of yourself can be the most important thing to keep in check when abroad.

5. Share Your Details With Those You Trust

Don’t leave to go on holiday without first giving your loved ones a detailed itinerary of where you’re going, what you’ll be doing, and your contact details such as phone number, email address, and other social media profiles.

Ask them to contact you every other day or so to ensure you’re still ok. If you don’t reply within a certain number of days, let them know beforehand what they can do to alert the right people and authorities.

6. If You’re Traveling Alone, Don’t Tell People

If you’re traveling alone try to refrain from telling people that you are traveling alone. Seriously, even if they seem trustworthy, it’s better just not to risk it. Talk to people who travel solo and this is often one of their top holiday travel safety tips.

7. Blend In

Dress modestly and appropriately, wear a wedding ring (especially if you’re a single woman), try wearing clothes the locals wear, do a bit of research beforehand on your destination so that, in short, by the time you get there, you’ll know how now to stand out so much!

I know some of these safety tips for travelers may seem a bit paranoid, but they will actually go some way in helping you to immerse yourself in the culture. You’ll enjoy yourself even more this way!

8. Smile!

Probably one of the easiest tips on how to stay safe on holiday, it is so important that you smile! Looking anxious, worried, or nervous might actually attract the wrong sort of attention.

If you’re confident and relaxed you’ll give off the impression that you’ve been there before, and not phased by your surroundings.

9. Learn The Language Basics

Another essential international travel safety tip is to learn how to say the basics of the language including phrases such as, “No thank you”, “my friend/husband is just around the corner” and “I will call the police”, and any other essential phrases that might ward off any unwanted attention, or diffuse awkward situations.

10. Make A List Of Emergency Contact Details

Write down the number of the local police and other emergency services in the country you’re traveling to. Check out your local embassy if you have any concerns or want some more advice on good emergency contacts to be aware of.

11. Download Maps Offline Beforehand

Such as important tip on how to stay safe while traveling alone. 200 years ago this advice would have been, “don’t forget to bring your maps and compass”. These days, however, you are able to download maps to your phone which can be used offline.

That way, once you get to your target country, your phone can direct you whenever you get lost, no data will be used on your phone since you’ll be able to use your maps offline. Also, make sure to bring a power pack in your rucksack that can charge your phone up in case your phone battery dies.

Of course, this article makes travel abroad sound like a battlefield. It isn’t. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and we hope these safety tips for traveling abroad will help you know how to stay safe on holiday.

Have any other safety tips for travelers that have worked for you that you’d like to share with our readers? Please comment below!

Suggested next reading: 10 Smart Tips To Stay Safe When Traveling Alone

The post 11 Essential Safety Tips For Travelers You Need To Know appeared first on Modern Trekker.

But first of all, context! If you are knee-deep in wedding preparations, you will either be ridiculously excited, absolutely terrified, or a mixture of the two. Committing to your partner, saying “I do” and having the perfect ceremony, gathering of friends and family, and celebration is important to you. You have flowers to arrange, entertainment to sort, the caterers to book, the photographer to organize and the venue to source.

However, try not to lose sight of the fact that this is your day to make a promise to each other and God. You are planning the first day of the rest of your married lives together, so be aware of that and don’t spend too much time worrying about what other people may think of your wedding plans.

When you are planning the big day, the honeymoon can sometimes be put on the back burner, but it shouldn’t be. This is the week or two that you get to spend time alone with your partner after all the stresses of planning such a big and momentous occasion. You want it to be special, memorable and the trip of a lifetime.

Don’t neglect the planning of your honeymoon to concentrate on the color of your floral bouquets. What will be most important in the long run? Take a look at these four honeymoon planning tips and tricks that will help you make your honeymoon the best trip you will ever experience.

1. Set A Budget

It doesn’t matter whether you have $500 to spend or $5000 to spend, it’s vital that you give yourself a budget and that you stick to it. As you have quickly found out when planning your wedding, costings can dramatically increase and get out of control. To save this from happening for your honeymoon, you need to begin planning your finances early.

If you do have a little bit of debt to shift, it might be wise to look into consolidating this debt in one payment each month by taking out a personal loan. Even if your credit history isn’t glowing, you can still look at the best APR for a guarantor loan that could be more suitable for you. Consolidating can even decrease the amount you are repaying each month, but could see your debt shifting much quicker, leaving you with more readies to put towards your honeymoon.

Set yourself a personal budget as a couple and try and stick to it. Refrain from the takeaways, don’t eat out quite so often and steer clear of the most expensive wines bars when heading out with pals in an evening. By living more frugally in the months leading up to getting married, you will have more money to put towards your trip of a lifetime.

2. Work Out Where To Go

The biggest question is working out where you will venture to for your honeymoon. Your honeymoon ideas will all depend on your lifestyle, your likes and dislikes, and whether there is a burning desire to visit a particular place.

You might be the sort of couple that loves nothing more than total relaxation. The idea of an all-inclusive resort, five-star luxury, white sandy beaches, sun loungers, cocktails and no stress whatsoever may sound like bliss. If this sounds like you and your partner, you may fancy checking out places like Santorini, the Maldives, a Caribbean island or a Balearic.

For some couples, the idea of doing nothing but lie in the sun for two weeks sounds horrendous and boring. These couples prefer a more active lifestyle and want to cram their days with visiting sights, meeting new people, immersing themselves in new cultures and trying out new experiences. For people who want to enjoy a totally different way of life, they might fancy taking a jaunt to the Far East, or hot-footing on the Inca Trail in Peru or taking a trip down the Amazon in Brazil.

Alternatively, if you love wildlife, a Kenyan safari might be idyllic or a trip to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in Uganda might be perfect.

Consider your hobbies, interests, and likes, and build your honeymoon around that. You might even want a multi-destination honeymoon to cater for your different desires. A week sunning yourself on a beach followed by a trek through the Costa Rican jungle isn’t out of the question.

3. Find Deals

It doesn’t matter whether you are going to the Isle of Skye or Australia, there are always deals to be had. Venture onto comparison websites for accommodation and flights. You may find that by catching a plane at 2 am, you are paying up to half the price of the same flight at 2 pm. Sure, you might be a tad more jet-lagged, but you will have extra money in your pocket to spend with your other half to make your trip more memorable.

If you are visiting more than one destination, set a schedule and plan a skeleton itinerary. Many hotel booking websites will allow you to reserve rooms without paying up front. You can also cancel if you give enough notice without being charged. This gives you the freedom to play with your travel plans, hone your itinerary and work out the route you wish to take around the globe if you are planning a multi-centre trip.

4. Enjoy Time Together

The most important aspect of your honeymoon is the quality time you spend together. There’s nothing better than waking up next to your spouse for the first time and knowing that you are together on this adventure through your honeymoon and through life.

Be patient with one another and allow for a bit of give and take on your trip. You might need to eat at a restaurant that doesn’t take your fancy but that your partner simply adores. At the same time, your partner may need to show a bit of leeway when you book an excursion that doesn’t really appeal to them. Learning to appreciate one another will be another aspect to your honeymoon for you to enjoy.

Your honeymoon should be the most memorable trip of your lifetime. Follow these honeymoon precautions, and you will be able to start your married life together in style.

Suggested next reading: How To Honeymoon Like Harry And Meghan

The post 4 Perfect Tips On How To Have The Best Honeymoon appeared first on Modern Trekker.

Answer: Generally yes, you can leave the airport during a layover.

But! Can you leave the airport during a layover on an international flight? And can you leave the airport during a layover in the US? Are there other questions you should consider? Here are 13 things you really should consider first!

1. Is It A Domestic Flight?

Yes, you can leave airports during domestic layovers. For example, if you’re a US citizen on a layover within the US, then you can leave the airport legally and safely. (Just make sure you’re back in time!)

Another thing to know is that if your domestic layover is more than an hour, you’ll probably have 2 boarding passes. So just make sure your 2^nd boarding pass is printed off or downloaded on your phone before you leave the airport. You can usually print them off at airport counters.

2. Is It An International Flight?

This is the answer to the question of whether you can leave the airport on a connecting flight while traveling internationally.

If the country requires visas in order for you to visit, leaving the airport without a visa will get you into trouble and you will be violating the layover flight rules. However, you won’t need a visa for that country if you’re just passing customs to board the next flight. But remember, the moment you step outside of that airport you’re technically a visitor and so will be expected to have a visa if required.

So, if you have a visa (or your connecting country doesn’t require one), then, yes, you can leave the airport during a layover on an international flight. If you need a visa but you don’t have one, then you can’t leave the airport during an international layover.

3. How Long Is Your Layover?

If your layover is just a few hours then don’t get off the plane during a layover. Don’t risk it. You’ll need that time to pass customs and do other essential things. Also, if you leave the airport and come back in again, you’ll have to go through security again. Do you really have time for that?

Although it can be tempting to want to see as many countries as possible, just think about how bad it would be potentially getting stranded in a foreign country or having to fork out more cash booking a new flight last minute.

4. Does Your Ticket Allow You To Leave The Transit Area?

A “transit area” is a place travelers are allowed to visit without going through customs. A few tickets don’t allow people to leave transit areas or airports during layovers (airports count as a transit area). In this day and age it is much less common, but it might be a good idea to check with your airline before planning on doing so. Send them an email a few weeks before your trip.

5. Is Your Layover In A Safe Country?

Luckily most countries are safer places these days, but if your layover happens to be in a place prone to terrorism, you might want to stay inside the airport during a layover.

And, unfortunately, women traveling alone need to be extra careful. Is the country that your layover is in known for being safe for women? If the answer is no, it’d most likely be a bad idea to leave the airport during a connecting flight.

6. What About Your Luggage?

Even walking around a city with a carry-on would be a massive nuisance, but what about your main luggage?

If you booked two separate flights then you’ll be collecting your main luggage during your layover at the baggage claims. You’ll then have to check-in your luggage again for your next flight, but some airlines don’t allow this if its too soon before your flight.

If that is the case, you’d then have to find a place within or near the airport to store your main luggage (and your carry-on) before leaving the airport to explore.

If your flights were booked together then this wouldn’t be an issue since your airline would keep hold of your main luggage until you arrive at your final destination (even if you spend the night in your layover country). But you’ll still need to find a place to store your carry-on if you leave the airport during transit.

When storing your luggage, make sure you take out your ID, money and other essentials to carry around with you in person—not doing so could cause big problems in trying to return to the airport or getting your luggage back!

7. What Time Of Day Is It?

Not only is exploring a city at night on your own probably unwise, but they’ll also not be much to do anyway. If its dark outside, find a safe and comfortable place to try and catch a nap within the airport. Some airports even have sleeping areas!

8. How Far Away Is The Airport From Anything?

Most airports are quite a distance away from the center of cities or from interesting places. Be sure to check out how far away your airport is from anything good before you decide to leave the airport during your layover. You wouldn’t want to spend a fortune on taxis or spend all your time on just getting to the place you wanted to explore!

9. Do You Have A Backup In Case You Get Lost?

What if you get lost exploring? Make sure you have maps or a GPS to guide you back to the airport in case you get lost. Carry a portable battery charger so that your phone can remain charged up.

10. Is The Place A Tourist Trap Or Expensive?

Is the country your connecting flight is in known for being a tourist trap or expensive? Be careful how you spend any money, you won’t want to blow your budget for the country you’re actually intended to visit!

Moreover, don’t forget you may need some of the local currency that could be different than the currency of the country you’re traveling to. Not everywhere takes card, so this might make you want to stay in the airport during a layover.

11. Is There An Airport Organized Tour You Should Go On Instead?

Some airports feature organized tours that are designed for passengers with long layovers. So if want to leave the airport during transit, it might be best to do it through an organized airport tour. They’ll make sure everything is sorted out for you!

You could even plan to stay in your layover destination for a couple of days based on what kind of packages the airport tour offers! So, how about taking two vacations instead of one?

12. Would You Even Enjoy It Anyway?

The idea of exploring a new country might sound great when you’re not tired, sweaty and drained from traveling, but travel can take it out of you! Will you even want to leave the airport anyway?

Furthermore, isn’t there something to be said about seeing a country properly? Perhaps your perspective of that country will be negative by rushing it and seeing it whilst being tired or mildly stressed out?

13. Do You Know What To Do If You Miss Your Connecting Flight?

We’re assuming this won’t ever happen since you’ll have already read all our warnings, but on the off-chance that it does, do you know what to do if you miss your connecting flight?

The airline won’t owe you anything if you miss your next flight because of your own fault. Miss one leg of your flight and all the rest of the legs will be automatically canceled and will need to be rebooked.

Some travel insurances may help cover some of those costs if you do miss your layover, but the moral of the story is just to not miss your connecting flight.

If its the airline’s fault they should book you in on the next available flight and book you into a nearby hotel if its nighttime.

So, can you leave the airport during a layover?

Absolutely! But, if you want to leave the airport during a layover on an international flight or domestic flight, just be sensible about it.

Suggested next reading: 9 Clever Tips That’ll Actually Make Your Long Layover Worthwhile

The post Can You Leave The Airport During A Layover? (13 Things To Know!) appeared first on Modern Trekker.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Trans Mongolian Railway, and what you can do to make the journey as pleasant as possible!

Choose Your Train:

Passenger Trains

Passenger trains are the basic kind, slightly cheaper but slightly older and definitely not as comfortable.

My Chinese train from Irkutsk to Ulan Bator to Beijing was one of these; the bunks were solid, the carriage was old, the toilets were dirty with no toilet roll, you couldn’t buy snacks or water and the only plugs were in the hallway and didn’t work, but it is good enough and is sometimes your only option!

Firmenny Trains

Firmenny trains are slightly more expensive, but they will be a much more pleasant experience for longer journeys.

Your carriage attendant will do a good job at keeping the toilets clean and stocked, they can offer snacks and drinks, sometimes you’ll get fed, you’ll find plugs to charge your phone by each bunk and the carriages are generally newer and well looked after.

Choose Your Class:

First Class

First class is very expensive, but you get two single beds in a room. It’s perfect for couples with a bigger budget, or you can sometimes choose female-only compartments for women going solo.

Second Class

Second class means four bunks in a compartment and is significantly cheaper. Just remember, you can’t choose your bunkmates so you might be stuck with some weirdos, but it’s good for couples or groups, you can also sometimes choose female-only compartments.

You have a choice of the bottom bunk which doubles up as a sofa, you’ll be sharing this with your bunkmate during the day, but you have access to the table, plus storage under your bed. Top bunk is also great, room enough to sit up and a little bit of storage for your personal items.

Third Class

Third class is an open carriage with 52 bunks, like being in a big dorm room, and it’s the cheapest. Although there is no privacy, it’s also more sociable and fun to people watch, a great option for male or female solo travelers.

Third class bunks are like second class without the privacy, plus the extra “lateral” bunks running along the side of the carriage. The bottom lateral bunk turns into a table and two chairs, so you’re sharing it with your bunkmate during the day, but if there’s no one above you it’s all yours.

The top lateral bunk has to be the worst, it’s as cramped as the others (you can’t sit up in third class top bunks) but less private because you’re basically lying in the corridor, and you’re at the mercy of your bunkmate because if they want to make their bed, you’re stuck in yours.

Note for solo travelers: I’d recommend either the top or bottom bunk in second class, or the bottom lateral bunk in third class.

Seating

Seating is an option on some trains, I wouldn’t choose this for an overnight journey but it’s comfy and spacious and perfect for shorter trips. The seats recline, some carriages have a toilet, and even TV’s playing old school Russian movies.

Trans Mongolian Railway Tips:

Book Tickets Online

If you wait until you get to Russia and try to book at the stations, you might struggle to find a decent bed or it could even be sold out. You can use an agent like Real Russia, but they charge a high commission. I recommend downloading the Russian Railways app, once you’ve signed up you can easily view and book tickets online.

Note: you can’t book tickets between countries online, so you’ll need to either pay an agency to do it for you, or do it at the train station when you arrive.

Always Download The Ticket

Once you’ve booked through the app make sure you download the ticket because it disappears from the app once the train departs and they might check it again before you leave the station.

Check Out The Route

When booking the ticket you can see the route, plus the length of each stop. Screenshot this, keep your phone on Moscow time and you can plan which stops are long enough to get off and stretch your legs, but don’t wander too far, and take your valuables with you. It’s also listed in the carriage.

Wear Comfy Clothes

You’ll spend most of the time sitting around and watching the world go by. I saw one guy spend two days on the train (including sleeping) in jeans. No thanks. Be as comfy as possible.

Bring A Change Of Clothes

After even a day, you’ll start to feel a bit grimy. Have a comfy outfit to wear during the day, and something even comfier to change into at night. Don’t forget clean underwear!

Bring A Pair Of Flipflops Or Slippers

You aren’t really allowed to walk around in bare feet, and you wouldn’t want to. I bought a pair of slippers (I forgot to pack my flipflops) for $2 and it was a very good investment!

Bring Something To Keep You Busy

Sometimes you’ll find yourself too busy socializing to get anything else done, or staring out the window at the scenery, but sometimes the train can be really boring.

Pack a Kindle, a journal, coloring books, download movies onto your phone, or even bring your laptop… But don’t expect any power unless you’re on a Russian Firmenny train, make sure you bring a power bank!

Bring Something To Help You Sleep

Whether it’s earplugs to block out the snoring, a sleep mask to block out the lights, or green tea and a hot water bottle, do what you gotta do.

Pack A Small Toiletries Bag

Wet wipes will be your best friend. You could also bring dry shampoo, or perfume to hide the smell of cheesy feet. Don’t forget your toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant!

Pack Some Food

Although there’s a restaurant car, it’s expensive and limited. You can hop off and buy food on the station platform at the longer stops, or from your carriage attendant, but it’s not a great choice.

You want food that doesn’t need refrigerating or can be cooked just with hot water. A big part of the experience is sharing food with your bunkmates, so bring a little extra!

Most people eat noodles for every meal but you can get creative. Bread, salted butter, jam, honey or spread (I brought Marmite from home), cheese slices or hard cheese, cured meat, noodles, cuppa soup, instant mash, fruit, crisps, biscuits, crackers, chocolate, the list goes on.

I would also recommend bringing some sort of container to cook and store food in, I bought a large plastic soup cup with a lid and handle and it’s been a lifesaver! Some cutlery is also essential.

Bring Some Water

While there is an unlimited supply of boiling water on board, there is no safe drinking water. I brought a two-liter bottle and my own one-liter bottle, you can buy small bottles from the carriage attendant or larger bottles for cheaper on the station platform whenever you stop.

Have you ridden the Trans Mongolian Railway? Share any tips you have in the comments below!

You can also follow the adventure on Facebook and Instagram!

Suggested next reading: Train Travel In Myanmar: What I Wish I’d Known

The post How To Survive On The Trans Mongolian Railway appeared first on Modern Trekker.

By myself, I’ve visited over 60 countries on 6 continents. I did everything from cruising in the Mediterranean, scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, shopping in Paris, to climbing Kilimanjaro. I’ve almost always stayed in hostels, worked in exchange for room and board, or traveled carry-on only to avoid baggage fees on budget airlines.

I am no stranger to budgeting for travel. But then we had our son.

We didn’t want our travel lifestyle to change, but we needed to make some adjustments for our baby and to better suit our situation.

I’ve put together a list of my favorite ways to travel cheap with kids. Take a look to see if your family can benefit from any of these tips!

1. Travel Cheap With Kids While They’re Young

My little guy is under 2 which means most of what we do is no more expensive than if I was doing it by myself. We do pay a little extra for international flights, even as a lap child, but it is a fraction of what we’re going to pay after his second birthday.

On our most recent trip, we traveled from Texas, stopped in Boston, and visited Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. I paid $75 for my baby. That’s it.

Besides food (which we would be buying no matter where we were), I paid $0 for a ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm, $0 for hotel rooms (because they count per person in most hotels), $0 for activities, $0 for public transportation. The only money specifically for him was for the international flights.

2. Sign Up For Travel Deal Alerts

These sites are great for looking up the best-priced hotel and flight deals. They also give you the ability to sign up for deal alerts so you get information right into your inbox.

My favorite way to use this is to set a few alerts on Skyscanner for different routes or trips I’m thinking of taking. It alerts me to trends in prices, and I can see how they are changing daily. This helps when I want to hold off on buying in the hopes of price drops.

Here are some websites for you to check out:

• Skyscanner
• Groupon Getaways
• Travelzoo
• Living Social Escapes
• hotels.com
• booking.com
• Dealbase
• Airfare Watchdog
• The Flight Deal

3. Start Travel Hacking

Travel hacking is the art of accumulating points by patronizing travel companies (like airlines and hotels), using credit cards to gain more points, and finding great deals to redeem said points for hotels or air travel.

It’s definitely not for those in a shaky financial situation and shouldn’t be taken too lightly. The best place to start is to sign up for every reward program for each airline or hotel chain that you stay with. Just patronizing those companies help gain you points that can be used later.

However, the real “money” comes in when credit cards get involved. There are sign up bonuses on cards that will maximize your return. You’ll gain points for every purchase you make (1 point/mile per $ is standard but some get 2/$ or special 5x deals). There are other perks that come with cards like priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, and lounge access.

Check out The Points Guy online for guides and advice that I’m still learning from myself.

4. Stay In An Airbnb Or Similar

While some Airbnbs can be extremely expensive, there are plenty out there that will save you money in the long run. Not only will you be more comfortable as a family, as opposed to a one-room hotel, but you’ll have access to a kitchen and laundry facilities.

You can shop for groceries and cook meals at home instead of eating out every meal. Laundry facilities will help save on expensive hotel laundry services and will allow you to pack less, possibly saving on baggage fees on airlines.

5. Avoid The Busy Season

This is harder the older children get because of school and other activities they might be involved in, but steering clear of school holidays is essential when trying to travel cheap with kids. Flights, hotels, and activity prices all increase with demand.

You can travel during the week, instead of Friday to Sunday, when most travelers want to get away for the weekend.

For typical family trips like Disney, there are calendars that mark the most popular days. Visiting those areas in low-season will save on hotels and transportation. Other high-demand times are any school holidays like summer, Christmas or Easter. Even choosing to travel a week outside those times might save you, while still being able to appreciate the season or weather typical during those days.

6. Set A Budget For Every Day

To truly travel cheap with kids, you can’t just cut costs for travel. By setting a budget for everyday expenses like food, you’ll be able to increase your travel fund to either go on more trips or add some wiggle room for more expensive activities.

Try cutting out things that aren’t essential. We don’t have cable, instead we choose to use Netflix and save a ton every month not paying for a TV we wouldn’t really need. We also rarely buy clothes (except for my child who seems to need a bigger size every day), live in a home well below our budget, don’t spend a ton on home decor, and just generally try to save for travel.

Start by looking at your finances and cutting out things that you’re not getting your money’s worth with. Start shopping at less expensive grocery stores, use coupons, and plan meals to avoid food waste. Set up a separate account, or piggy bank, to store any money that you save and watch as your travel fund grows.

7. Be Flexible

As parents you know that things don’t always work out. How often have you left home with your kids thinking one thing was going to happen, but your kid had other ideas? It’s the same with travel.

Be open to the possibility of traveling to not-so-typical places or on routes that aren’t ideal. Usually, the cheapest option isn’t the easiest but having an open mind will let you still experience the world while saving a ton.

Look into traveling to less expensive locations. Southeast Asia might be far from home, but hotels, food, and transportation in the area are a fraction of the cost of similar locations in Europe. Your dollar will go further and you will be able to experience some amazing places along the way.

8. Travel Close To Home

Travel doesn’t always have to mean long-haul flights, weeks away, and exotic locations.  Travel can be a weekend away in the city a few hours from your home. It could be a small road trip camping in state parks. It could also be a week at the beach near where you live.

If you can’t work a trip to Europe into your budget today, there’s no shame in planning a weekend away to experience what your area has to offer. We often travel to cities around Texas. We aren’t originally from here, so we make it a point to visit as many places as possible.

You’ll save on flights, time away from work or school, but can still get away from home to create some new memories.

Try out a few of these tips so that you can travel cheap with kids and explore the world as a family. Good luck!

Suggested next reading: Fun Places To Take Your Kids This Summer In The U.S.

The post How This Family Is Actually Able To Travel Cheap With Kids appeared first on Modern Trekker.

1. Save money on booking your flight to Europe

Let’s start off with booking your flight to Europe, as this would take a huge chunk of your budget.

Start hunting for flights at least 6 months before you take the trip. The same rule applies to all international flights. The reason for this is that international flights are few and prices are more influenced by availability. As the seats fill up, the ticket prices increase.

Now, compare the rates and don’t commit to anything yet. Use flight search websites such as Skyscanner or Kayak to get an overview of the prices. After you’ve done your own due diligence, book directly with the airlines. This saves you a few bucks and prices will be without commission from any 3rd party sites. In addition to that, you can address any concerns directly to the airline.

Lastly, never book a round-trip ticket if you’re visiting several countries. There’s no point trekking back to your starting point again after your last country. That’s time-consuming and inconvenient. There are certain dates in some countries that’ll land you the cheapest flight deals. So it helps to be flexible with your location and dates.

2. Exchange currency beforehand

The biggest mistake that many travelers make is to exchange money at the airport. Even though it is enticing to see on the signage, “No Commission!”, just ignore it. They offer unbelievably low rates. The best place to exchange money is at your local bank. If you do forget to exchange euros before boarding your flight, your best bet is to withdraw money at a bank within Europe or at a currency converter outside the airport.

3. Avoid the red bus!

That’s right…I mean the popular “Hop on, Hop off” red bus. This bus is mainly for convenience if you want to go sightseeing. But it comes with a hefty price. If your goal is budget travel, the best option available to explore a new city is local transportation. In Europe, city passes are way cheaper than the HoHo bus. And a city pass might offer free entry to some museums or at a discounted rate. So, your first stop should be the tourist information to buy the relevant city passes that you’ll need.

4. Skip the taxi at the airport

For budget travel, an obvious step to take is skipping the taxi at the airport. But it could be tempting to take this option if you arrive at the airport late at night, and especially if you know that your hotel would require some lengthy walking to get to.

Not everyone is keen on walking around town trying to find their hotel with their luggage and, if they’re traveling as a family, with their kids who’ll most likely be complaining! The best alternative would be booking airport transfers in advance. These are prepaid taxis that you can book online that offer reasonable rates compared to taxis. It saves you from queuing at the taxi stand and getting ripped off (which happens every now and then).

5. Cash is king and cards are queens

Not all countries in Europe are avid fans of cards, and most European buses don’t accept them at all. Credit cards can’t be used everywhere and you don’t want the feeling of not being allowed to board the bus, right? Don’t miss the opportunity to visit your travel attractions because of zero cash.  Also, most of the best food bazaars offering the best local food take cash only. Cards, however, can be handy when making a large purchase like paying for a hotel room. But do check with your bank if they charge any international fees. Although technically this is not a budget travel hack, this is sure to be a lifesaver!

6. Grab some snacks before the flight

One last word regarding your flight. Just like other places in the world, Europe can be pretty expensive when it comes to airplane snacks. There’s a reason why jokes about airplane foods are so prevalent; the food is just that bad. Rather than buying snacks on the plane at over-inflated prices, stop by the small shops around the airport and get some food you can take on the plane. Even if you aren’t hungry before you get on the plane, you’re bound to be after sitting on the plane for several hours.

7. Eat on a Budget

Eating out each and every night is going to get pretty pricey. There are a few things you can do to keep your food budget down and to look after your wallet. Start by eating at less fancy and popular restaurants and find the mom and pop diners. If not, find the places the locals go. Your best bet to accomplish this is to find restaurants away from tourist locations. You can also try venturing into the food courts in shopping malls to check out their prices. The cheapest option would be cooking food yourself if you’re staying at an Airbnb.

8. Check Your Cellular Plan

Perhaps the most overlooked Europe travel hack is cellular data roaming. Not everyone is willing to invest in a Roaming plan because they have the impression that it is just another expense.

Trust me, it’s worth the investment. You can go places in any city spontaneously. And most importantly, when you’re lost and the locals don’t speak that much English. This can be a life-saver. Believe me!

Give your mobile carrier a call to make sure that you’ve got an extended data coverage in place and won’t be hit with roaming charges when you leave the country. If it’s going to be expensive to use your mobile data plan abroad, then you can pick up a pay-as-you-go phone for a cheap price in your destination country at the airport. If not, there are lots of international SIM cards that you can order online.

9. Avoid traveling in the summer if you can avoid it

Traveling to Europe (and generally to most other places) during the summer will not only be less satisfying—locals go abroad, everywhere is booked up and crowded, etc.—but will also be more expensive. If you’re able to, traveling to Europe during the winter can save you enormous amounts of money, and especially with hotel bookings. You should also try to avoid traveling in December if you can.

10. Be open to ride-sharing

Sharing a long distance ride with a complete stranger has become quite a common thing within Europe now. There are several companies that offer this, with the most famous one being BlaBlaCar. This is a great way to save money on travel within Europe if you’re comfortable with the idea.

11. Take the Eurail/Interrail

(Eurail for non-Europeans and Interrail for Europeans)

Sometimes it helps to compare the rates between flights within Europe and the Eurail. Most of the time taking the train is cheaper and saves you the trouble of checking your luggage at the airport.

12. Stay somewhere near the city center

I’ll probably get a bit of backlash for this tip, but in my experience staying central has paid off. It is true that you can save a few euros staying on the outskirts of the city, but the long commuting time and costs just aren’t worth it. You’ll want to cherish every moment and take your time walking along the cobbled-stone streets downtown, or leisurely exploring in search of hidden gems and those types of pleasant surprises that only travel can offer. In addition to that, everything is within reach around the central area; think about that short minute walk you’d only need to take to grab that late night snack, or not having to worry about when the last bus or train leaves the city so you can get back to your apartment. If you think staying at the city center is expensive, think again! Sure, it may take a bit of effort and planning beforehand, but booking a decent, central place to stay at a reasonable rate is always possible and shouldn’t be ruled out by default.

13. Choosing cheaper destinations

Some of the cheapest countries in Europe include Bulgaria, Romania, Greece (except Santorini), Portugal, Turkey, Hungary, Croatia, Latvia, Serbia, and Poland.

Suggested next reading: 10 Of The Best Things You Can Do In Berlin On A Budget

The post 13 Budget Hacks For People Who Really Want To Visit Europe appeared first on Modern Trekker.

For some, however, Christmas can be a painful time when spent away from loved ones. And for others who just itch to get away, it can be the worst time of the year from a financial perspective. For many, it’s the airfare cost that crushes their hopes and dreams.

While I can’t guarantee any Christmas miracles, here are at least 10 great tips to help you actually pull off cheap travel at Christmas.

1. Choosing When To Book (Be Strategic)

Most people say booking your airplane tickets WAY in advance will get you the cheapest tickets. Is that true? Only sometimes.

In reality, the airline industry is expecting you to think this. That’s why they’ll sometimes set their initial prices high because they’re expecting you to buy then. Or, they’re at least confident enough that if you don’t buy, someone else will.

Basically, they’re expecting you to be like one of the other thousands of people who feel like organizational rock stars by booking in Spring/Summer. While booking this early can definitely work at times (Skyscanner recommend booking Christmas flights between 20th August – 27th August), just be aware that you might be playing right into their marketing strategy.

So, if the price is just too high, don’t buy. Wait a few months. Pulling off cheap travel at Christmas sometimes requires patience.

It’s usually best to book throughout October and early November. This is when airline companies will start fussing when a certain flight isn’t getting filled up and so they may do a flash sale to fill seats. Often the flash sale will be quite low key though, so be attentive and watch pricing trends.

2. Don’t Book Tickets On Saturdays Or Sundays

Similar to point #1, they’re EXPECTING you to do this and so sometimes they’ll price accordingly.

Found a really cheap flight on a Monday afternoon? Good for you. But perhaps check it out again Tuesday morning…sometimes it’s even cheaper by then. Learn to give Tuesdays a chance.

3. Start With Google Flights, Go From There…

Google Flights has a great calendar in that it will show you the cost of flights for every day. That means you can really see which days would be best to depart and which days would be best to return. Google Flights makes booking returns SO MUCH easier!

Take notes. Perhaps Google Flights has shown you that arriving or returning on a certain day is cheaper than the day you originally planned.

With this new knowledge, try inputting these new dates into other airplane ticket search engines. Try Momondo first, then Skyscanner.

4. Be Flexible

If you can afford to, be flexible in the days you arrive or depart. Airlines don’t tailor their schedules towards you, for cheap travel at Christmas to work, sometimes you have to tailor your schedule around them just a little bit.

5. Be Open To Using Neighboring Airports

This is such a good tip for pulling off cheap travel at Christmas. Try inputting neighboring airports into your searches.

Sometimes great deals can be found this way and some websites even allow you to click an option that will mean it’ll automatically show nearby airports in your search results.

This tip allowed me to visit my girlfriend in France during Christmas so I could propose to her. So, you know…I was pretty pleased about that. (She said yes).

6. “Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe”

As Gandalf the Grey once said, “Keep it secret, keep it safe!” Why? Because airlines store cookies and so know how often you’re searching for a specific flight. Sometimes they’ll increase the price slightly to scare you into thinking it’s getting booked up quickly and to try and force you into purchasing ASAP.

Solution? Use Incognito mode. That way they can’t monitor your browsing behavior.

For Google Chrome / Safari: Press “Command” (“Control” if using a PC) and “Shift” and “N”.

For Firefox / Internet Explorer: Press “Command” (“Control” if using a PC) and “Shift” and “P”.

7. Consider Other Modes Of Travel

Could you get there by train? What about taking the coach or ferry? Got a car? Be like Vanessa Carlton and walk a 1,000 miles if you flippin’ need to. (I’m really sorry for getting this song in your head).

8. Choose Cheap Destinations

If you just want to get away, choose cheap destinations to travel to…It may feel a bit like a compromise but seriously some (read: most) of them are even better than the expensive ones.

9. Sign Up To Scott’s Cheap Flights Newsletter

So there’s this travel expert called Scott Keyes and if you sign up to his free newsletter he’ll send you regular emails with all the best travel deals happening right now. He once booked a world trip that spanned 13 countries…for free. Darn it.

10. Check One More Time…

Even if hope is almost all but gone and you think you’ve missed your opportunity, sometimes companies like Lastminute can throw you a lifeline. Check them out. Who knows? Maybe they have a few last-minute tickets that are going cheap?

Know of any more tips for cheap travel at Christmas? Please feel free to comment below!

Suggested next reading: 13 Budget Hacks For People Who Really Want To Visit Europe

The post 10 Great Tips To Actually Pull Off Cheap Travel At Christmas appeared first on Modern Trekker.