Finally Yes!
My personal blog.
My views, my observations, my travel stories, my travel experiences and conversation with the global people I meet will be put down here to inspire my readers.
They say knowledge has no value unless you use and share it. So I am doing my part.
Thanks to myself for not being lazy enough. The foremost reason of any individual for not starting their blogs.
You know what, I do not have time. Yeah, I have lot of work; comes latter.
After few years, I believe I will have more fun reading my own blogs rather than somebody else's blog. The true fact! Don't waste your time. You're reading mine, start your own soon ;)
This is the outcome from the various people I have come across in my life:
Jijo who have truly inspired me from day one I met him in 2007 to blog down my crazy experiences that I keep doing everyday. I am sure he would be super happy to read this somewhere.
Aiyappa you have been in constant touch. One of the thing which inspired me was the story of Murad Osmann and his girlfriend. You actually made me start clicking trend setting pictures.
#ProjectSuperTramp @Jayshastry What a inspiration you are! A hitchhike nomad who travels from one place to another without single penny. Bow to you. Film Industry is supporting you. I am yet nowhere ;)
Akshi #ghumebanjarey who is another aspiring “female solo traveler” is so much looking forward to do her first backpacking this year. This is the result of your everyday small notes and conversations you do with me my lady.
Tanveer One of the regular customer at Decathlon Sports India where I work helps me put down my insights on traveling the world.
Mr Bhasin Thank you for asking me every day where is your blog.
Specially dedicating to my Mr & Mrs Shetty who sometimes travel more than me. Current status: They both are “backpacking” on Long Island, Andamans. #Proudofyou
My little kid brothers @Aakash @Umang @Meet: Thank you for making me run here and there when it comes to organize our trekking programs.
I want to dedicate this blog to something which I hear the most.
Palak, “I really don't have time to travel”
But Shetty, “I do not have penny to travel the way you do mahn”
Hey are you some millionaire rich girl; that's the reason you travel so much?
Are you getting paid to travel everywhere?
How much did you paid for that trip?
Let me tell you – “You really do not need to be rich to travel”
My answer to above is I am not millionaire girl neither I earn that huge amount; neither I get paid for my traveling, neither I have a rich boy friend or rich parents!
Yet I managed to save enough to travel the places that I wish to.
How did I made it?
I hope you have come across something called as “budget traveling”.
I will surely discuss this in my latter part of the upcoming blogs.
However I made it a priority to travel across the places that I wish to & I longed to go for.
If travel is not a priority for you; you will always find some other things to spend money on. And you will never have “enough” money to travel.
Make your focus on having money only and only for travel. And I repeat “You really do not need to be rich to travel”
Let's discuss how I made this work -
1) Subscription to the mailing list
I have literally signed up for all the airline mailing list.
Try to be little organized. I know it must be very hard for some of you but this little organization of yours will give you travel bug for all your life.
Here is the check list of the website that I have signed up for some cool cheap deals -
www.makemytrip.com
www.yatra.com
www.airasia.com
www.cleartrip.com
www.goair.in
www.airindia.in
www.goibibo.com
www.jetairways.com
www.book.goindigo.in
Here is the list check for International airlines which will help you budget your travel especially between European countries
www.skyscanner.co.in
www.easyjet.com
www.vueling.com
www.ryanair.com
P.s Definitely there are many other airlines too other than mentioned above. However these are the ones often used by me & I find it super convenient as well as low cost.
Tip:Watch out for the deals coming from such airline companies
2) How to book the flight?
Book early – I end up booking my flight or any other travel tickets like really early. If you ask me how much early. It's 6- 7 months. My recent trip to Andamans costed me Rs 7857 to and fro.
For a destination like Andaman (I am sure you had a look to my Havelock & Neil album on Facebook); can you even think it would have cost me this much amount. That to “To & Fro”; It's absolutely big NO.
One more thing which I did – A tip and the best advise I can give to all aspiring backpackers and traveler friends of mine. A personal experience -
“I was never going to go If I waited for someone to come with me”!
I usually book my tickets first and then convince others if they would like to join me. If no; Go and do solo backpack!! What are you waiting for.....
And once you are back; there are people lined up being jealous and envying you.
Ultimately they will end up being your bestest friend and would join you for all the travels trips with you in future. Hahahahaha ;) ;)
It does happen! Try out. Travel Solo!
3) Youth Discount
For the international flights – try to look for youth discounts. Especially European countries have one good system which I have noticed. I think in a way they are attracting good number of youth traveling in their countries.
If you are between 22-25 years, they have special discounts. Do keep this in mind while traveling in European countries.
4) Try alternative routes
This really works. If you selecting some touristy place to visit. Select your arrival port; flight or train to the closest next city to your destination.
For example: Vienna. Austria is one among the highly visited places by foreigners. It's little expensive if you fly down there. However if you end up landing at Bratislava, Slovakia which is around 80 km from there, it is damn cheaper. Like really cheaper.
So don't hurry. Spend more time on Google maps to understand your travel destination and places near by.
5) Fly to seconday airport
Try to take some time and study the expenses that you will spend if you plan to go to city which has more than one airport.
The famous airports and the airport which has more connectivity in other parts of the world will be more expensive than the small local airports who do not have connectivity to international flights. This is beneficial mostly in European countries to travel within.
6) Hitchhike
A free way to get around places for FREE. I have yet not hitchhiked but I am so so much inspired by fellow friend of mine #projectsupertramp who have recently hitchhiked from Ajmer to Mumbai without single penny. And this is so much in my list.
How hitchhike works?
You usually ask people to give you lift in their vehicle; usually strangers. So you end up traveling from one destination to other for free. It can be bicycle in small remote villages to fancy cars in the big towns.
Tip – Hitch hike during daylight hours.
“You really do not need to be rich to travel” :) Anything and everything is possible.
7) Couch Surfing
This have always been on my top list. Personal Favorite.
I have been doing couch surfing since many years. Thanks to my parents who supported this, while I was staying with them. And I still continue to host strangers at my place as well I stay with strangers when I travel. This makes a huge difference in planning my budget. It cuts out huge chunk of expenses. What if I say I ended up spending just Rs 40,000 (500 Euros that time) for 20 day trip – 5 countries (excluding my main to and fro tickets from Bangalore).This includes my lavish dinner in the streets of Amsterdam, Paris and expensive entries to places like Roman Architectures, Barcelona's FCB football stadium and so many European museums that I visited & not to forget including shopping I did for myself and my friends.
How does couch surfing works?
Couch surfing allows travelers to stay with locals who are willing to let them stay with them for FREE. Meaning travelers usually do not have to pay for accommodation.
See “You really do not need to be rich to travel” :)
Traveling in European countries is like a nightmare. It's damn expensive. Yes it is!
The other option is hostels which you can find in around lower rates depending upon the destination. If free; then why not couch surfing?
I felt people on couch surfing are a like minded. They all have travel bug within themselves. They are usually friendly, extroverts, kind, helpful and chirpy people. They want to show you the best their home has to offer.
Couch surfing allows you to see a hosts reviews, see hosts profile and photographs. And you can choose the best person that you want to stay with.
Wait up! The other question which arises here – Is couch surfing safe?
Such websites which helps people to connect with local and travelers are safe and well policed by the community.
If you are single woman, you can choose to stay with another woman; or why not with Family?
If you are a couple and looking for another couple to host you. Then why not?
CS is for everyone. Singles, couples, family, even bunch of friends traveling together.
You have many options to research your host. I have been hosted by single guy, single girl, bunch of guys & roommates, bunch of couples and also families. Everything is possible.
My experience tells that you can rely on the kindness of the strangers. It's just that you should spend enough time to do your research and select the right kind of profile.
Create your own profile today and send me request soon – and let's do couch surfing together :)
8) Travel Cards
I usually do not pay in cash. I put everything on travel card.
It's safe to carry
Swiping the card is cheaper than withdrawing from the International ATMs.
Usually all the banks in India have travel cards to offer to their customers. SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, CITI Bank etc.
I found ICICI Travel Card cheaper compare to rest.
How does it work: Walk to any bank where you have your account. If not, you need to open one. Carry your passport along with you which has VISA stamped already. They will scan it and give back to you. They will make you fill 2 forms and will ask you to deposit money in your account. Within few hours the card gets activated. And you can swipe it wherever you go international. There is no fee charged for swiping the card but they will charge you for withdrawing from the ATM. But at the same time I always carry little hard cash in the currency that I want before leaving Indian territory so that I do not have to withdraw money after reaching the destination.
Why? To save money & for the street shopping that I do ;) ;)
9) Travel Off Season
This is normal for every place in the world. If you want to avoid standing up in the queue or waiting for the tables to go and eat, try to go off season. You will enjoy more. In off season, expect to pay less most of the time. Try to study more about your travel destination before you make your final choice.
10) Plan but not too much
When you are traveling, it is really nice to have a peace of mind knowing that you will have some couch surfers who will offer a place to spend the night. However on the other hand, spontaneity and to get lost in the city is the most exciting thing while traveling.
Simply grab a map or ask locals for the routes. You will experience the best feeling in the world and you will pamper yourself by saying yeah I am one lucky girl on this entire planet ;) #personalexperience
11) Make friends
This are my best memories that I cherish today when I look back. Take time to know your fellow travelers or native locals that you met starting from the airport till you sit back in flight with your return ticket in your hand. You will be surprised how much learning exposure you get from just meeting the strangers & locals during your travel trips.
12) Invest in a good backpack
You might have to invest some thousands of bucks to get a good backpack but they are really worth it. Believe me!
I have recently invested in Quechua backpack which I bought from Decathlon Store. It's called as Forclaz 60 backpack. What I was looking for was some compression straps, chest straps & something which is in light in weight with as many as multiple pockets. And this was my perfect choice.
Tip:
I Do not go for some fancy colors but something in dark color. It's meant to get dirty.
II Pack light. Try to carry as much as you can carry. Do not overburden yourself.
III Please avoid trolley bags.
13) Travel Solo
To my travel stories – these is how people react.
Oh my god! Did you just travel alone?
How can you do that? I think it's not safe.
Aren't you bored traveling alone?
But people often say that traveling solo is the best way to travel. I am sure many of you have already read about solo traveling.
Solo traveling will force you to meet strangers and make friends for lifetime. It is definitely an experience that everybody should have. Frankly writing, I probably have had the deepest moments of the self introspection when I travel alone. You will know your self much better.
To my female traveler friends, try to create conditions that are likely to turn out in your favor, and you'll have a safer, smoother, more enjoyable trip.
Will try to give more limelight on solo female travelers in my upcoming blogs. Would definitely like to help as much as I can do.
14) Smile More
This is the best way to get the work done ;) Hahahah!
Whether you are talking to your host for the first time or to a random vendor on the street, smile as much as you can. Smiling at others instantly makes yourself seem much more welcoming to the other person; which can lead up to an interesting conversation.
