As a remote worker, you can work wherever and whenever you want, as long as you have an Internet connection. This is the ideal opportunity to explore the world, but travel can quickly become pricey. And, of course, the idea is not to have more money going out than coming in. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your travel costs. In this blog, I share 5 smart tips to travel cheaper and make the most of the freedom that remote working offers!
1. Choose destinations with a low cost of living
Your destination greatly affects your costs. Not every place is equally expensive to live and work. Destinations in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America are known for their affordable cost of living. Think of countries like Thailand, Portugal, Georgia and Mexico. Here you can often enjoy good accommodation, food and work facilities for a fraction of the price. Also, large cities are more expensive than villages. With the other added benefit that you get a much better impression of real local life there. At least I always really like that. That way you get to know the culture much better and stay away from mass tourism. Also, often the more popular your destination, the more expensive it gets. So definitely consider the less obvious destinations as well, which will allow you to travel a lot cheaper.
2. Take advantage of house swaps or housesitting
House swaps and housesitting are great ways to stay in beautiful places for free. In a house exchange, you temporarily swap homes with someone from another city or country, while in housesitting, you stay in a home in exchange for taking care of pets or plants, for example. This also gives you the chance to live like a local and save substantially on accommodation costs.
Tips:
- Websites such as HomeExchange, Swaphouse or TrustedHousesitters can help you find a safe and reliable exchange.
- Pay close attention to the conditions and make clear arrangements with the owner.
- For inspiration, read the blog of Vere, who regularly goes remote as a pet sitter.
3. Travel with flexible dates and destinations
Flying is often one of the biggest expenses of your trip, or traveling by train, which is often even more expensive than air travel unfortunately. By being flexible with your departure dates and locations, you can sometimes save significantly. Try to fly on weekdays and avoid busy periods. In high season, of course, all prices are higher. In addition, by choosing less popular airports, you can often find cheaper flights.
4. Make international friends
I myself have been traveling the world for about 20 years (damn I feel old when I say that). Whether as a solo traveler, with a partner or friends or with a group trip, you always meet new people while traveling. Sometimes traveling companions become your new friends, sometimes you meet new people on the spot who become your friends. For example, if you choose a coliving you quickly make friends from all over the world. Coworkspaces are also ideal for this and are visited by people from different countries to network, whether it’s business or personal.
It’s also fun to hang out with locals. Although as a tourist you are a bit less likely to encounter them. Then you really have to go to other neighborhoods and local events. But the more you network, the more people you get to know. And nothing is more fun than getting to know people who live in your destination. That’s how you really get to know the local culture.
All those new international friends, of course, you can visit later, or they can visit you. I have made wonderful friendships from my travels and now have acquaintances living all over the world. It is incredibly cool to go visit those people in their countries. I’ve already done that in Spain, Germany and even Cambodia. Conversely, an Australian travel buddy I met in Vietnam visited me once in the Netherlands, which was so much fun!
Tips:
- Websites such as Selina and Outsite have co-living spaces in different countries.
- Book in advance for longer periods, as co-living spaces often offer discounts for long-term stays.
5. Eat local and save money
Eating out is obviously part of your travelexperience, but then the costs of your trip also go up significantly. Instead, try visiting local markets and supermarkets and preparing your own meals. That way you will save a lot on your food and discover local flavors and ingredients. In some countries, street food is a great and inexpensive way to enjoy local cuisine anyway.
Tips:
- Do not go to the center of a city or a busy boulevard, but visit a restaurant in a neighborhood where many locals come, it is a lot cheaper.
- If possible, stay in accommodation with a kitchen so you can cook for yourself regularly, keeping your trip a little cheaper.
Traveling on a limited budget
Traveling cheaper as a remote worker doesn’t have to be complicated. By smartly choosing your destination, travel period and mixing with local life, you can save money and still enjoy beautiful destinations. With these tips, you can make your remote worker adventure affordable and memorable! Looking for affordable accommodation for your workation? With good wifi and a nice workspace. Check out our selection of workation accommodations.
