Do you want to travel but can't afford it?
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31053)
United Kingdom
February 16, 2011 10:52am CST
There are some people on My Lot that want to travel overseas but think that they can't afford it due to a lack of money. I suggest to these people saving money is worth it. When I was 13 years old I saved up money from my paper round. Then at age 16 years old I got a Saturday job in a shop. I was able in those years to travel to Greece and the Netherlands. The at age 18 I traveled around Europe by train after working as a children's nanny in Finland. That job had given me the necessary wages. I recommend working in a foreign country because it gives the chance to travel abroad. I spent four months studying in the Netherlands when I was doing my degree. I went on a trip for 10 days to Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. You see in mainland Europe countries are close together. I was able to get a working holiday visa for Australia when I was 20 years old. The cheapest accommodation can be camping in a tent and I have done that when I have been short of money. It can be worth staying in a dorm in a backpackers hostel. Cheap flights are sometimes available or a ferry ride might have a low cost. Bus and train travel might be available.
Are you getting an idea of how you might be able to afford to visit a different country? Do you actually manage to afford to travel with a low budget?
2 people like this
21 responses
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I want to travel. If I were able-bodied, I would get a job being a tour guide or being some busy person's nanny so I could travel with them. But as I'm in a wheelchair, I try for scholarships and writing retreats and conferences. I also try to combine activism and travel, so I can feel better about spending the money on travel rather than helping to save the world.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 11
I know that you do very well going around in your wheelchair. Good luck with your writing retreats. My disabled three year old son is going to be getting a self propelling sports style wheelchair soon. At the moment I have been using a Phil and Teds buggy with him in the back and my daughter in the front.
@naija4real (1291)
•
16 Feb 11
Travelling is one of the leisure activities that I would like experience in my life time. I have never travelled overseas before. All my trip has always been within my country.This is because I have not secure the kind of job that can enable me save enough. I can not risk the little money I am using to feed myself and pay my accommodation fees for this venture. However, I still think international travel is a very expensive venture because you are required to make a huge financial preparation. You have to prepare your mind to adjust mentally to a new culture and also a new people with a different way of life. You have to also prepare to adjust to the weather existing in your host country. It is not so easy but it is worth travelling.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 11
I hope that one day you might get a decent salary that will make international travel a reality. At the moment I notice that you only have enough money for your day to day expenses. If a person saves a dollar a day in ten years time he or she will be able to go on a fantastic trip. Adjusting to my home country's weather in the winter is always a challenge. I went from 30 degrees in Cartagena to 18 degrees in Bogota to 10 degrees in Madrid and the same as Spain in London.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
16 Feb 11
Working in a foreign country is a great way to earn money for travelling. I have done that as well and it gave me the chance to earn some money while I learned something about about another culture and practiced a foreign language. It was more interesting than working in my own country 
I think that it is often possible to travel with a low budget. I have done that several times for instanse in 2009 when I visited Latvia and Lithuania. It was right after our wedding and we didn't have much money to spend on travelling, so we choose to travel by bus instead of flying and we stayed at a hostel instead of a hotel.
I think that it is often possible to travel with a low budget. I have done that several times for instanse in 2009 when I visited Latvia and Lithuania. It was right after our wedding and we didn't have much money to spend on travelling, so we choose to travel by bus instead of flying and we stayed at a hostel instead of a hotel.@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 11
I am glad that you have had some work abroad experiences. It was excellent that you and your husband traveled to Latvia and Lithuania by bus then you stayed in a hostel to afford your trip with little money. Often a wedding can be pricey and leave a couple with a limited budget.
@mermaidivy (15395)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I would really like to travel but right now there is no reason to put a travel expense on credit card in order to travel. It makes most sense to save up for traveling if we want.
I would like to travel to some countries in Asia like Thailand and Japan; Carribean would be interest, I always look forward to visiting some places where all the nice beaches and warm Ocean are.
I am going to travel in this summer though to visit my family in Hong Kong.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 11
I hope that you will have an enjoyable time visiting your family in Hong Kong. You are so right not to put travel expenses on a credit card. Yes, saving up to go traveling makes much more sense. I also love tropical beaches with a warm and inviting ocean.
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I live in the United States and would love to just travel the United States and see some states i have been admiring to travel for a while. I would love to see New York City, Las Vegas and then go to California and see that. There of course is so many places in the United states and to see all of them is going to be hard but one day i would love to see it all and to just travel around.
I of course dont make enough money to travel and to go see the united states like i would like to but maybe one day it will happen.
I have been to other countires in the caribbean such as Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica, St Marteen, St Thomas and others.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 11
It is lovely that you have already visited Mexico and some of the islands in the Caribbean Sea. There are lots of worthwhile sights in the United States so I do understand your desire to see more of your home country. Maybe one day you will be able to visit all you wish to in the United States. Good luck.
@murtaza45 (173)
• India
16 Feb 11
our time for travel for the afford our next time for the affortable me good but about self me travel enjoy to not comfortable not feel better so good journey to the travel for must to silent here and there no sound or voice for here and there i ma good silent to the possible me my journey for the travel good afford me.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
17 Feb 11
I went through most of my life thinking I could never travel because I had to work to make money to make ends meet. When life got tough for me (in 2006), I got fed up with working and decided to take what little money I had left, get a passport and take a job in China. I was there for two years before returning to America for medical treatment in 2008. I tried working again there, but because of the economy, jobs were scarce. I finally took a job in China again last fall using all the money I had left to get there. That went ok until January when I had to return to America for medical reasons again. I guess for me, I just do what I have to do. Thanks for a great topic!
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
17 Feb 11
I thankfully always get reduced travel because of working in the travel industry but, there are still some trips I have not yet taken because I cannot afford them ! Most of the time we try saving and end up with something popping up we have to spend money on but, generally I do get good deals so can't complain! : )
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
17 Feb 11
Hi Max,
There are so many places I want to visit, and so far I've only been to 3 countries: Hong Kong China, Bangkok Thailand and the USA (California and Las Vegas). I want to go back to the USA to visit other states like Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, and in New York-the Niagara Falls. I also want to see the pyramids in Egypt (but not at this time
because of the political turmoil there). You're right, the only thing that's stopping me from going to these places is money. I'm always on the look out for cheap flights/promo flights and affordable hotel accommodations. Hopefully this year my family will be able to travel again.
because of the political turmoil there). You're right, the only thing that's stopping me from going to these places is money. I'm always on the look out for cheap flights/promo flights and affordable hotel accommodations. Hopefully this year my family will be able to travel again. 
@sonaimajumdar (950)
• India
17 Feb 11
Its not with me.I have enough money with me that I can travel wherever i want. Although I am wrong.Its not my money, means i am only 18 years old.My mom dad is my guardian , so i meant they have enough money for all this. Means , this statement is totally wrong for us,from the grace of god till now. But yes I totally agree with you. Many many people in the world is facing this problem . Just for not able to afford , they can't travel to their desired locations for any vacation or enjoyable time with their family.And your suggestion is really very impressive and good.I would like tell that , really if they follow this money saving technique then not only, they can travel, but they can do all those enjoyable works which they are barred to do.
@yspmyl (3435)
• Malaysia
17 Feb 11
I have always allocate a portion of money for traveling, but that amount that I save is only enough for me to travel to the near place. I have dream of to travel in Europe, but that will cost me a huge amount of money. So, that will always only a dream and hard to become a reality.
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
17 Feb 11
I love to travel and would love to travel around the world. I had the chance to travel to different places here in our country but not that much too. Traveling here is somewhat regarded as a leisure. But when we do, I often book advance flights, when one airline here offers cheap and affordable flights. Then go during off peak season so that hotel rates are cheaper than usual. For food, we are not really picky and would save money for a one time fine dinner but the rest would be the usual.
I am really saddened by the fact that I have to put traveling off my priorities, but only for now. when my kids grow, I would love to take them to places too! :)
@Ichiru101 (284)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I have only been outside of the country once and my parents were the one paying. In the near future I have high hopes of traveling to Italy. For now I would just work and save every penny I can.
@Ingkingderders (3832)
• Philippines
17 Feb 11
Yeah, the first time that I travelled with friends on a tight budget is when we went to Malaysia. We got super cheap airfares and cheap hotels.. In the end, we had so much fun, adventure and we managed to save a lot of money while doing it. I think travelling is really feasible, all you need is to save religiously and you can do it. The next problem will be if you can get out of work for a long period of time. LOL. 
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
17 Feb 11
Hi,
Nowadays lot of budgets airline and also hostel or budget
hotels available,so normally when I plan for my holiday trip,
I don't choose those high class hotel,but I will just opt for
those budget hotel because I am going there for holiday,not
to sleep.
Unless if I really want to go there for relaxing..most of the time
spent time in the hotel room,then maybe I will choose for better hotel.
As for transportation,it is best to travel around using public transport
instead of by taxi. Taxi for sure will cost more.
Before plan for any travelling trip,make sure you have sufficient money in your
pocket and of course, have to think about future. Use our money wisely and
whenever necessary.
@cmang83 (285)
• Malaysia
17 Feb 11
I am facing this problem now. I love travel so much but i am not afford to do it. I set my own target to have a nice trip to oversea this year.
I love Spain and i wish i can travel to Spain in future but not now because i think the expenses for me to travel there is very high. So i am planning for a low budget trip end of 2011. May be Korea, Taiwan or Hong Kong.
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
17 Feb 11
I don't think I would travel even with a lot of money. I really love to study, I think I would learn at least 2 new things per year, like getting into a webdesign school, then photography, and keep going like that.
I also would create a hudge institution for animals.
Traveling is actually really great but I would feel bad to spend on airplane, although is soooo exciting.
@tunetzkie (37)
•
17 Feb 11
Of course I want to travel overseas... but it is impossible for now because I don't have a money to spend for it. That's why I am aplying for a job abroad to save more money and especially to travel also outside my country.
