How To Travel Extravagantly On A Budget

By Author: Andrew Connor
Total Articles: 62
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Travelling is one hobby we all wish we could do on a regular basis. Maybe if we didn't have things to worry about like leaving work or more particularly a budget, we probably would've found ourselves taking off for exotic places that you mostly read about or hear about from other people.

But then again we can actually go and take off for exotic places if we wanted to, as long as we carefully plan our travel itineraries right? Most people would probably just shake their heads in reply but if you've heard about serviced apartments then you would probably nod in enthusiasm instead. After all, the advent of these convenient accommodations has certainly changed the way we define budget travel.

In the old days, hotels were the only options as far as accommodations went. You had to book in advance in order to get the best rooms but not necessarily to get the cheapest rates. Hotels were either the best or the worst so you really had no option but to book early to get the best and the best meant the most expensive.

Not this time, though. Serviced apartments used to be marketed only for business travelers since ...
... they are the ones who constantly needed a room to stay due to numerous business conferences or out-of-town meetings. Since companies wanted to cut down on operational expenses, most of these business travelers were forced to stay in mediocre hotels just to save on their day-to-day expenses but when serviced apartments came into being, expensive operational expenses became a thing of the past.

For one thing, it is much cheaper to rent an apartment for the entire duration of your stay rather than pay a hotel for your day-to-day stay. What also made hotel stays expensive was room service and that every service you avail of thereafter, also charged on a per-day basis. With serviced apartments, not only are you able to do your own cooking because you had your own kitchen, you could also do your own laundry and since cleaning services come with the rental fee, you saved enough money to splurge on a modest shopping spree.

So if you're looking to travel extravagantly on a budget, you actually can. You can choose to be a little adventurous about your travel mode if you wish – perhaps you can try backpacking or hitchhiking (as long as you do it during the day and preferably with a companion). You can also try to rent a motorcycle or scooter to get around and take buses or trains instead of taxis to save on transportation expenses. Besides, nothing will allow you to get to know a new place better than using the local transportation methods.

In addition to staying in serviced apartments, you can also try couch surfing, that is, staying at a friend's house and taking over their couch for a few days. Way cheaper than hotels that's for sure and even if it may be slightly uncomfortable, at least you'll be in good company. You could also try house-sitting or house-swapping (think Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet in "The Holiday") as a great way to save on travel accommodations.

You should also try out the local cuisine by shopping at the local grocery stores and trying out street food. Eating at restaurants, bars and cafes can be quite expensive since these places often charge quite a lot especially if you're a tourist. You can also bring along a stash of energy bars for those moments when your hunger pangs kick in but eating isn't a possibility.

So the next time you want to travel, worry no more because you now have more affordable options that can not only save you money but also be as memorable as the most expensive trip. So if it's affordable travel accommodations you want, search for serviced appartments online at www.westprecinct.com and find not just your money's worth but a home away from home.