Forewarned is Forearmed

Well we're actually 3.5 months into our trip now - which is generally how long it takes me to completely disconnect, so I can simply while away the hours lying around reading a book. Which is precisely what I've been doing the last few days. I wake up with the sun and enjoy a light breakfast (instead of hitting the alarm multiple times and dragging myself out of bed), then my day is spent swimming, reading, listening to music... with little else. No matter how much I snooze in a hammock or doze on a sun lounge throughout the day, I'm still exhausted by bed time and can sleep uninterrupted throughout the night. My mind slows completely, my imagination is ignited - with no anxiety or endless 'To Do' lists running through my head.

This is what makes all the hard work saving and planning for a trip worthwhile. But it takes time for this feeling to set in - and that is what makes travel different from holidaying. Not that holidays aren't relaxing, or great fun. Of course they are. But for one thing, they're generally shorter - which means inevitably you return to the reality of home or work sooner. And in these days of smartphones and free wifi, many people remain 'connected' for the duration of their holiday, so it's harder to obtain the sense of peace I described earlier. 

However - because holidays are often shorter, there is a certain freedom when it comes to budgeting. With an end date firmly set, you can reconcile any excess spending by being a bit more frugal when you get home. You can compensate for any big nights out by spending a few more on the couch upon your return. Also, holidays tend to be more organised than travel. Generally the accommodation is booked in advance, the itinerary known, the tours organised, the return flight already paid for...

Whereas long-term travel requires a few more risks. Unless you want to sit down and schedule your every move for the next 6-12 months (I dread to think how long that would take!) you need some freedom to deal with the unexpected. Bouts of food poisoning (like the time in Laos when I couldn't leave the room for 5 days), transport delays (like the time we were stuck on a bus for 36 hours due to a landslide) or general mishaps, bad weather and misfortune can slow you down and cause your itinerary to go out the window.

Similarly, you also want some flexibility for when good opportunities present themselves. Like the time I made some friends in Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) and subsequently spent a week with them at a Serbian music festival. Or when my boyfriend and I were harangued by a Vietnamese xe ôm driver, until we finally caved in and let him take us on a tour from Huế to Hoi An (which became the best part of that entire trip). Or in Phnom Penh, where we met some expats who allowed us to volunteer within their non-profit organisation assisting some of the disadvantaged people of Cambodia - an experience I'll never forget. Had I been on a fixed itinerary, none of these would have been possible.

Not to mention when general travel fatigue sets in (and it will, at some point) and the thought of another bus/train journey fills you with dread. That's when you need to just stay put for a while. To simply recharge the batteries - to do some laundry, to cook some of your favourite meals, to have a decent shower. As tempting as it can be to cram in as many destinations as possible, it won't be worth it if you're too tired and grumpy to enjoy yourself.

So long-term travel means striking a balance between being organised and informed enough that you don't waste money, yet not being afraid to leave things open. Personally I prefer to plan as little as possible and love nothing more than rocking up in a town with my backpack and exploring it on foot before finding a bed for the night. But that has come back to bite me in the past (e.g. when I wandered around Siena in Italy at night in the snow, trying to find a cheap room. Or when I went door knocking in Novalja in Croatia because all accommodation was booked out).

Fortunately these days with so much information available online, it's much easier to strike that balance. You can read reviews on places from the guests they had there last night. You can use comparison websites to get a feel for the average cost of a room, or read travel forums to work out where the cheap neighbourhoods are…

Which brings me to my main point: forewarned is forearmed. One of the simplest ways to save money on the road is to do your research. Work out when the high seasons are for your desired destinations - then visit during the shoulder months. The weather is generally just as good (if not better - e.g. Turkey, which slows down in September and October once the summer is over, but is a pleasant 30 degrees instead of 40) and accommodation costs drop considerably. Read other travellers' blogs and comments in travel forums for tips on how to reach your destination cheaply - often there's more than one route, e.g. bus or train or plane. And with so many budget airlines, flying can sometimes be cheaper! Use comparison websites like Skyscanner to see if you can fly to a nearby airport and then travel overland.

When leaving Australia, we researched different routes into Europe instead of just doing the traditional ones via Singapore or Bangkok. As it turned out, within the last 12 months markedly cheaper routes had opened up to Europe from Australia via China, that were considerably less than any other carrier. And the cheapest port of entry into Europe was actually Munich, Germany - which suited us perfectly as we were initially heading east. So by doing a bit of research on the internet we saved close to $400 on each ticket!

Similarly by doing a bit of research into destinations within Europe we've been able to not only avoid the crowds, but avoid paying more than we need to by making some minor timetable adjustments. For example - we ensured we stayed in Prague during the week, when room prices are cheaper. As Prague is a popular weekend destination all year round (especially for bucks parties and hens nights) we decided to spend the weekend in one of the nearby towns instead, then return to Prague on a Monday. Room rates had dropped by then and didn't rise again until Thursday - at which point we moved on to the next destination. Likewise when researching Budapest, I discovered that the University of Film & Theatre rented out their student accommodation at a fraction of the cost of an apartment (and even cheaper than most hostels) - so for a week we had our own room with a fridge, balcony, bathroom and kitchen/laundry facilities at no extra cost (more accommodation tips to come!)

So whilst it's important to remain flexible and not pre-plan and pre-book too much, it is still good to do your homework as that can translate into BIG savings on the road. And whilst sorting through the endless amount of information online can be daunting - there's usually always someone who has attempted the same (or similar) before you, with an opinion or advice to share... 

…just like yours truly!