So you want to travel, but are having trouble balancing travel and finances. Where do you even begin? Here are some tips to get you traveling sooner, longer, and more often.

Cut reoccurring expenses:
Start by analyzing your reoccurring monthly expenses that are more wants than needs. This includes things that are always the same price (e.g. phone bill, gym membership, etc.) and things that fluctuate (e.g. weekly drinks with friends, gas, daily coffee, etc.). Be sure to create a list of these and total costs in some sort of chart to really help you visualize where your money is going.

Once you have a list, set a goal of how much you want to reduce these costs by – $100 a month? $250 a month? Then consider how many months it will take to reach your goal if you were to reduce these costs. Can you wait that long? Are you disciplined enough to not spend the savings on something else?

At the end of the day, it’s all about priorities. Are weekly drinks with your friends or daily coffees worth more than the experience of traveling? If so, carry on. If not, it’s time to start cutting!

Charge up at work:
It might seem extreme, but if you pay for your own hydro at home, get into the habit of charging your devices at work.  Stuff like your smartphone, laptop, and tablet can be charged during the day and run off its battery at night.  Same goes for your water usage.  If you can, wash your lunch containers and cups at work instead of doing it at home.

With electricity costs on the rise, being diligent could save you hundreds over the year without much additional effort.

Start an automatic saving program:
Along with the above, take the savings and invest it into a savings account through an automatic savings program. Have the savings get transferred on the same day as each payday to make it seem more painless. $50 a week will turn into more than $2600 in a year! For context, that’s $10 a working day (assuming 5 working days in a week) so you really have no excuse.

Move back home:
If you’re considering traveling for a good while, moving back in with the parents for a couple months before departure can do wonders for your travel budget (assuming your parents don’t charge you for rent or food) and it will give you an opportunity to spend time with them before you leave.

See your stuff on eBay:
If you haven’t used something in 6 months, you’re probably better off trying to get rid of it on eBay. On average, a user can make over $1000 by cleaning out and selling their excess stuff on eBay.

This applies to buying as well. If you need travel gear, it’s usually cheaper to buy it on eBay or Amazon.

Start planning accommodations early with AirBnB:
AirBnB is a great site to find highly affordable places to stay both on and off the beaten path. It’s also a great way to meet someone that lives locally to where you are going that doesn’t necessarily work in the tourism industry. This usually means more authentic local experiences that most others won’t get to experience.

On the flip side, you can always rent your place on AirBnb (both while at home or while you’re travelling) for some extra cash.

Group travel discounts and freebies:
If you’re planning on traveling as a group, be sure to look for group discounts. For even larger groups, the organizers usually get a free trip or highly discounted rate if they are able to get a minimum number of people together for the same trip.

Pickup some part-time work during your downtime:
Even if you’re ‘time’ is worth more, during downtime you can either make $0/hour or pickup some menial work for $10/hour (that you can do while watching TV) through sites like Elance.

I loved the collection below. Full credits to Mella Noha via Distractify and photo credits are to the respective owners.

The Eiffel tower, Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum may be amazing in their own right, but there’s something special about going to a spectacular location that few travelers venture to. Take a virtual journey with me to these secretly underrated places…

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a medieval city is still largely intact. So much so, that parts of the city are used as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. The city is brimming with amazing architecture and surrounded by the Mediterranean on one side and walls on the other.

Albarracín, Aragon, Spain

Albarracín is a beautifully preserved medieval village in Northern Spain. The rock paintings in the cliff-foot caves of the Albarracin Cultural Park (some of the most important evidences of the Levantine prehistoric art of Spain) and the “Picaportes” (door knobs) are something to marvel at!

Bagan, Burma

Bagan is an ancient city hidden deep inside Burma. At the height of the Kingdom of Pagan, the city had over 10,000 Buddhist temples. Today, over 2200 of these are still standing, making it an amazing place to visit.

Aescher, Switzerland

Aescher hotel is so high up on the Appenzellerland mountains that you have to hike or get a cable car to reach it. Amenities are intentionally basic but the food is hearty and the nearby trails lead to exhilarating adventures.

Haiku Stairs, Hawaii

Known as the Stairway to Heaven, this fairly unknown hiking trail can be found on the island of O’ahu. The trail is steep and ends at a peak 2,800 feet above the sea, which offers amazing views of the island.

Pingvallavatn Lake, Iceland

Found deep within this huge National Park is the boundary between North America and Europe. Lucky divers can swim in between the tectonic plates of these two continents, which is getting 2 centimeters wider every year.

Chefchaouen, Northwest Morocco

Chefchaouen is best known for its blue buildings, painted in a spectrum of soothing hues. If you want to escape the city, make sure to check out the nearby Rif mountains and the Cascades d’Akchour!

Lord Howe Island, Australia

This beautiful island is mostly untouched by man, with a tiny native population and only 400 tourists being allowed to visit each year. The limit is in place to protect the amazing natural landscape of Howe Island, which is home to a beautiful crystal lagoon and coral reef.

Huacachina, Peruvian Desert

Huacachina is a tiny village of just over 100 people built around a lush oasis in an otherwise barren desert. For a few bucks, you can rent sandboarding equipment and try one of the locals’ favorite thrills.

The Bastei Bridge in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, Germany

Visit also Lilienstein, one of several small mesas in Saxony – it’s surreal to watch the fog roll over.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, best known for its unique moon-like landscape, underground cities and cave towns. All of which is best seen from the sky, with dozens of hot air balloons offering amazing bird eye views.

Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstat is a medieval village which is home to less than 1,000 people. High in the mountains of Hallstat, you can explore prehistoric mines that were some of the first in the entire world.

Leptis Magna, Tripoli, Libya

Leptis Magna was once a major city of the Roman Empire. Now, its ruins act as an adventurer’s playground. If you want to experience the amazing sights of ancient Rome, but avoid competing with the crowds, this is the place to go.

The Alcazar of Segovia, Spain

The Alcázar of Segovia is a stone fortification, located in the old part of the city. It’s one of the most distinctive castles in Spain by the virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship.

Hotel Moulin de Roc, France

Deep in the province of Dordogne, you’ll find an old mill transformed into an amazingly quaint hotel on the banks of a peaceful river, with nothing around for miles. It’s also home to the renowned Michelin Star restaurant, with plenty of outdoor seating.

The Peacock Room in Castello di Sammezzano, Tuscany

Within the abandon castle Castello di Sammezzano you can find the Peacock Room. A hidden jewel features intricate Moorish designs and a breathtaking assortment of patterns and colors. The beauty of the memorizing interiors is simply beyond comparison.

Deception Island, Antarctica

This ring shaped island is so remote that it can only be accessed by tour boats. The inside of the island offers sanctuary from storms and icebergs for a host of creatures, including hundreds of penguins. If you want to escape the cold, the island is situated on an active volcano and home to hot springs galore.

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece

In Greek mythology, nymphs (female nature deities) inhabited this breathtaking cave and lured men in with their beauty. Under a high sun, the amazingly blue is illuminated for any lucky swimmers.

Meghalaya, India

The hills of Meghalaya receive nearly 40 feet of rain every year, meaning that the valley floors of this beautiful but remote forest are often transformed into rivers. Complex series of skybridges help you to navigate the environment.

Craco, Matera, Basilicata

The medieval village of Craco is part of an incredible region with undulating shapes and vast farmland. Since the sudden abandonment of the village, rumour has it that the ruins have become inhabited by ghosts.

Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic center of Sintra, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Make sure to check out the Gruta do Labirinto (the Labyrinthic Grotto) and it’s mysterious wishing well! This 27 meter deep well resembles an inverted tower. Depending on the direction you choose, either a journey down into the depths of the earth, or a climb out of the darkness into the light awaits.

WeiBgerbergasse, Nuremberg, Germany

Be sure to also visit the small town of Bamberg and the Altenburg castle, which sits on the tallest of the seven hills, overlooking the city!

Procida, Italy

Procida is a beautiful Mediterranean island paradise. Terra Murata is the highest point on the Island aswell as its heart.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

The Lofoten Islands are a group of islands found in Northern Norway, within the arctic circle. The islands are home to seductively quaint fishing villages, the world’s deepest coral reef and amazing views of the Northern lights.

Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Cocos Island is an uninhabited island located 300 miles off the shore of Costa Rica. As a national park, the island is untouched by civilization and acts as one of the best scuba diving spots in the entire world because of its spectacular marine fauna.

Rock Tombs in Myra, Lycia, Turkey

After visiting the tombs you can go to the real Saint Nicholas Church. The perfect place to go to ask Santa why he got you the wrong gift last year.

Herrenchiemsee New Palace, lake Chiemsee, Germany

In 1873 King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the Herreninsel as the location for his new Royal Palace. Modelled on Versailles, this palace was built as a “Temple of Fame” for King Louis XIV of France, whom the Bavarian monarch fervently admired. And trust me – Ludwig II was absolutely crazy – the “mad king” even had a “magic table” inspired by the Grimm’s Fairy Tale in his dining room!

Fes, Morocco

You’re looking at the Leather Souq, the oldest leather tannery in the world. Don’t miss the marvelous Bab Boujloud (the blue gate) as well!

Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovin

Blagaj stands at the edge of the beautiful Buna river.

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

This town was first founded in the 13th century and little has changed since then. Stepping into the castle grounds is like going back in time, specially if you go during the Renaissance festival which is held every June.

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg, Russia

You should go inside, I have never seen such a colorful church in my whole life! The city has so much more to offer, like the State Hermitage Museum or the inaugurated Amber Room in the Catherine Palace!

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Both pronouncing and getting to Ittoqqortoormiit can be difficult, but it’s totally worth the effort. From the capital of Iceland, you’ll need to get on a once-weekly plane to Greenland and then get a helicopter ride to this small, colorful town which sits by the longest glacial river system in the world.

Mount Ai-Petry, Crimea, Ukraine

Located on the Kastron mountain, the fortress of Cembalo is also nice to visit. It’s a facade of spectacular views overlooking the sea off the Bay of Balaklava.

Marsaxlokk, Malta

Home to Marsaxlokk fish market, a sprawling and endless market held each Sunday in town!

“When I was in London bought a Sim card with 500 mb of data and 100 mins about $25 totally worth it for the ease of getting around and simplifying directions.” -S4H

“Sleeping bag liner. You never know how dirty some hostels/bungalos are. It’s also great if you’re in a super hot climate and just want a clean/thin sheet wrapped around you. Also makes a sleeping bag a few degrees warmer if you want to use it for what it’s designed for. Which I haven’t.” -Kalikoenig

“Microfibre Towel” -Many!

“A cotton scarf. So many uses. Turn it into a hobo bag, a towel, sun protection, dust protection, water filter, tie-down, eye-mask, bandage, arm sling, etc.” -ExpertVagabond

“Gaffer tape. Get the top quality stuff that is made for the entertainment and photography industries, not duck/duct tape. Why? The good stuff doesn’t leave any adhesive or residue behind. I’ve used it to hold a headphone plug in a loose jack in an airline seat, taped a book to a hotel vent to block noise, fixed a loose camera battery door, etc. Roll some around a couple of pens or pencils or other objects in your bag so that you have a meter or two. I roll full width around one pen and varying width narrow strips around another.” -tychosmoose

“Headlamp. Smaller than a flashlight, lights your path more fully, perfect for avoiding nasties on late night trips to the outhouse.” -nefariousmango

“I bought a Nexus 4 for $331 shipped to my house. Knowing that these devices were selling used for very close to MSRP, I figured it was a good investment. I used it oversees for one of my trips, came home, and sold it for $295. So technically this is $36 dollars. But this $36 investment allowed me to have (at the time) a cutting edge brand new unlocked, rooted smartphone. I tethered it at times to give my friend access to the net – which was nice. I think I went through $40 in data in Switzerland, $40 in data in Italy, and $20 in Dublin. After this though, I would highly recommend it. GPS walking directions? Yes. Google Translate? Yes. Pictures to help show people where we want to go (if our phone has no service or doesn’t work). Offline maps? Yes. Train timetables? Yes. Booking hotels/hostels while on the train? Yes” -factory81

One question I get asked regularly are my thoughts on the different tour companies like Contiki, Travel Talk, G Adventures, TopDeck, and Intrepid.  The following are my thoughts on each from both a traveller’s perspective and a marketer’s perspective (from a positioning standpoint).

G Adventures

G Adventures focuses on giving back to the communities where they offer tours, which comes straight from the top from its founder, Bruce Poon Tip (great guy by the way!).  It puts ethical and sustainable travel ahead of anything else.  As the name states, many of its trips are adventures more than tours where travellers come out at the end feeling like they accomplished something and made a difference.

G Adventures is great for singles, couples, and families looking to take a trip that would normally be difficult and risky to plan on their own.  It makes the impossible, possible for many people, but still provides the feeling of accomplishment at the end.  Overall, some travel experience and good level of fitness is recommended for many of their trips.

G Adventures’ strengths are in South America, especially Peru and the Inca Trail.  According to its website, it fulfills over 80,000 tours a year.  See G Adventures current deals here.

See my G Adventure related posts here (Galapagos) and here (Inca Trail/Machu Picchu).

Contiki

Contiki offers tours on most continents for the 18-35 y/o crowd.  For the most part, they are slightly higher in price than the other tour companies, but offer the traveller more comforts like a hotel room versus a camp site.  In other words, you get what you pay for.

The general consensus in the market is that (regardless of if this was its intention or not),  Contiki is known to be the ‘party’ tour company where people come to travel hard during the day, and play hard during the night – not that there is anything wrong with this, but more a personal preference.  Most tours include accommodation, transport, and some meals.  Great for the beginner or inexperienced traveller.

From a personal standpoint, I found that the company takes great pride in ensuring that each tour is executed properly and accurately, while maintaining its superior products/services.  As an example, the vehicles are cleaned daily.

In my opinion as a traveller and marketer, Contiki’s strengths are in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  According to Wikipedia it fulfills over 150,000 tours a year (as of 2007).  Surely this number as increased since then.  See Contiki’s current deals here.

See my Contiki related posts here.

Travel Talk

Being avid travellers themselves, Travel Talk know what is essential to creating that perfect trip, and have tried to combine all of these elements in each and every one of their tours, from exotic destinations like Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and Jordan or Russia, to the sunshine and sea of Greece and Sailing Croatia, or their festival tours like La Tomatina, Anzac and Oktoberfest. With their fascinating destinations, enthusiastic and experienced guides, the likes of people you will be travelling with, premium accommodation and travel – not to mention competitive prices; Travel Talk believes that they have ticked all the boxes to create that unique and authentic travelling experience.  See their latest 50% off deals here.

Topdeck

Topdeck offers tours to North America,  Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Australia/New Zealand.  Slightly more affordable than the others, and ideal for budget conscious travellers.  Similar to Contiki, it focuses on the 18-39 market, with slightly less tour options, which can make it easier to choose.

Positioning wise, it seems like Topdeck is the prefect balance between backpackers and those looking for a full-service tour.  It offers plenty of time to do your own thing at each location, yet provides the comfort of travelling with other like-minded individuals.

Topdeck’s strengths are in Europe, with recent expansions into Australia and New Zealand.  It has been in operation for over 40 years.  One noteworthy point is that tipping is not required to the Topdeck team on any of their tours.

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid’s focus is on price and for the most part offers the lowest cost per day of all the operators covered here.  It should be noted that the prices sometimes do not include any meals and should be factored into the decision making.

The focus seems to be on group size (about half of the other operators) and control for the traveller with the comfort of being in a group, yet the flexibility to eat and experience what you want at each stop.  In a ways, it’s a premium form of backpacking.

Intrepid offers tours on all continents, including Antarctica,  and travels to the most individual countries of all the tour operators listed here.

*If you click on one of the links below and purchase/book we will receive a small commission. You won’t pay more, but will be supporting Rain Travels.  Thank you!

So you want to become a travel blogger. Where do you begin? Where does one start?  Here’s a basic guide to get you started and what I’ve learned to-date.

1. Choose a focus or strategy.
Are you going to write about travelling on a budget? Focus on a particular continent? This is something I failed to do myself and am now trying to refocus after the fact (which is really hard!).

2. Choose your URL and email.
Having your own URL makes your site look more professional than a free site like www.xxxxx.wordpress.com and if you choose wisely it’ll probably be easier to remember as well.  Same goes with email.  What looks better and more trustworthy? firstname@gmail.com or firstname@raintravels.com?

Think all this is too expensive?  You can get your own URL for $4.99 to $9.99 a year through sites like Go Daddy.  Once you have a URL, setting up your email is relatively easy.  If you want to use Gmail as your email client, it’s only about $6/month.

3. Choose a theme.
Go to sites like WooThemes and Theme Forest to pick a website WordPress template.  Don’t worry, you can change the colours, add your own logo, and even customize it to your liking.

4. Get web hosting.
Your site has to live somewhere right?  Just like a domain, it’s pretty cheap to get shared hosting through sites like Go Daddy, Media Temple and Hostgator starting at $5/month!

It is recommended that you get CPanel with your hosting (usually included in the monthly fee) and sites like Hostgator offer tools to help you install WordPress themes quickly and easily.

5 (Or Maybe it should be 1?). Start writing.
Posts don’t have to be a specific length.  It can be long, short, just pictures, etc.  Get into the habit of posting as often as possible and writing (or at least coming up with ideas) during your downtime.

6. Spread the word.
Join the conversation online on Twitter and Instagram (don’t spam!) or go out and meet other travellers at local events like Travel Massives.  The only way people will find out about your blog is if they get to know you first.

For more in-depth advice, be sure to check out Will’s Travel Blog Breakthrough blog for some really great insights!

One of the hardest parts about going on a trip is worrying about the safety of your house while you are gone. Far too many times, people take a vacation and come back to a home that has been ransacked with valuable items stolen. Often, all the police can do is take a report and hope your stuff turns up somewhere along the way. Don’t worry, however, because there are steps you can take to help ensure your stuff and house stays safe and untouched while you are away.

Leave on Some Lights
One of the biggest things a would-be thief looks for is the lack of light for several days, especially in the evening when people are home and watching television. Head to your nearest hardware store and pick up a timer and set some inside lights on it. Have them turn on in the evening when you would normally be home, and turn off at a set time. This small action will deter more thieves than you realize.

Don’t Leave the Porch Lights On
It might seem counterintuitive, especially with the last paragraph, but make sure the porch lights are not the set of lights you leave on, unless you have a timer. People typically don’t have their porch lights on all the time; so it’s a sign to the would-be thief that you are out and are looking to get home late at night.

Have Someone Maintain the Outside of the Property
If you are going to be gone for a long period of time, invest in a groundskeeper to come give the lawn a quick mow and to park their car in the driveway every now and again. This will give the illusion that the property is being lived in because it’s still being taken care of. Also, either stop the mail and newspaper service or have someone bring them inside for you. Nothing says you aren’t home like a pile of flyers in the mailbox.

Never Post Where You Are Going on Social Media
It may seem like a fun idea to share whatever fun destination you’re headed for on Facebook and Twitter, but all it really does is give people access to your personal lives that they might not have had. Do you really trust all of your Facebook and Twitter followers? What about the people who follow them? All it takes is one person sharing your status or retweeting it, and then suddenly a whole mess of people know that your house is going to be vacant for a period of time.

Invest in a Webcam
By having a webcam handy, you can catch anyone that enters your house while you are not there. It can be set up so it only comes on when there is motion, and you can have the results instantly emailed or texted to you. Technology has come a long way, so it’s relatively easy to set all of this up, and it will give you some great peace of mind. Be warned, however, if you have a pet, you’ll probably end up getting lots of pictures of them.

Think like a criminal
At the end of the day, think like a criminal without being one. Where are the most likely ‘break-in’ points around your home? How visible is the inside of your home and belongings? Is there a security system sign on your lawn (regardless of whether you have a security system)? Where is the least visible section along the outside of your home?

Taking the extra time and effort to secure your home will not only reduce the likelihood of a break-in, but give you additional piece of mind on your well-deserved time away from home.

Save Travels!

One of the best ideas I’ve seen lately.  So simple, yet so beneficial!

Not Just Tourists is an organization that collects new medical supplies from around Ontario to pack and send to areas in need.

Their ask is simple.  They need regular travelers going to areas in need (Caribbean, South American, Africa, etc.) to take an extra suitcase with them full of these supplies (suitcases are pre-packed).  Once there, all that is required is to drop off the suitcase to the pre-determined drop off point (usually a medical clinic or hospital).  That’s it!  Some airlines won’t even charge you for the extra bag if you let them know ahead of time it’s full of humanitarian supplies.

Other ways to get involved include volunteering to pickup and/or pack these medical supplies or donate medical supplies, suitcases, or cash.

So the next time you go down south, please seriously consider taking an additional suitcase with you.  It could save dozens of lives!