36 BACKPACKER TIPS FOR TRAVELLING

PREPARATION FROM THE HOUSE
(1) Research, research, research before traveling - Do not underestimate your research before moving to buy a plane ticket. For example: A friend has been planning a holiday to Bali at the weekend, when he got there it turned out all attractions are closed and the only airport operations. Do you know why? Because my friend came at Nyepi Day. When the 24 hours in which all citizens Bali forbidden to move, even to turn on the lights. Finally, my friend was just holidays spent at the airport. Take the time to find information about travel destinations will save a lot of time and money.

(2) Determine your budget streets - One thing that is important to control unnecessary spending is to determine your budget streets. Determine the minimum budget needed for transportation, accommodation, and meals everyday, then exaggerate about 30% to be safe. With the initial budget, you will get the limits and avoid the costs of unnecessary.

(3) Monitor the price of the dollar - Normally I use www.xe.com to see the latest exchange rate. If by chance the dollar is down, you should immediately buy dollars. To exchange a large amount, a penny means a lot.

(4) Monitor the promotion of cheap tickets - now there are so many airlines that provide massive promo, even up to 0 dollars. Surely this is 0 dollars marketing tactics, so you need to look at the terms so as not to be disappointed later on. If you have agreed with all the consequences, promo may be suitable for you. FYI, my friend never get tickets worth a total of Rp 30,000, - (including taxes) for one-way to Singapore.


TRANSPORTATION
(5) Be flexible about departure times and travel destinations - for transport tickets are usually cheaper if we depart / return on weekdays than on weekends. Example: Leaving on a Tuesday usually cheaper than leaving on Saturday.

(6) Book tickets ahead of time AND compare ticket prices from one airline to another - Often airlines offer a discount if we book tickets ahead of time, do this and then check the flight prices with each other.

(7) Use public transport to visit various tourist spots - avoid taxis as much as possible, use local transportation to get the experience of living like a local.

(8) Use the foot as a means of transportation if it is still possible - Go up the sights close to your lodging on foot, so order one inn is strategically close to the attractions you want to go.

(9) Use the train or bus for long trips - If you have a lot of time you can choose this option. Instead of using a plane, you better use the train or bus is usually cheaper than a plane ticket. By using the train / bus, you can simultaneously enjoy the scenery out there.

(10) Use the transport night - You can sleep on the train / bus at night, to save costs stay. Effective when applied to travel far who spend long hours.

(11) Ask the staff hostel / guesthouse - Ask them about the standard cost of transportation within the city, that way you will avoid the scams that are often carried out by public vehicle drivers towards tourists.

(12) Avoid costs porter with luggage and travel light - Avoid paying more for extra baggage to carry as needed, so that the load to be carried into the cabin. You were freed from the queue to check-in luggage and not have to bother using the help of porters.

(13) Use the subscription card - card subscription (eg EZlink to MRT in Singapore) is very useful if you often use public transport. It will also address the need for the hassle of having to exchange coins for transportation.


ACCOMMODATION
(14) Find a decent affordable accommodation, then compare the price to book online AND booking directly from the original website - Use hostelworld.com and similar websites to find cheap lodging. Previous Do not forget to check out the website we have chosen lodging, because we are cheaper when booking directly from the original website. There are also several websites that offer discounted rates by half if you book through the site, including hotels in Bali. Then be great if you get a lodge that provides free breakfast to save on meal costs. You can see some reviews of accommodation in this website.

(15) Find a wide range of lodging - Inn is close to many attractions will surely save on transportation costs.

(16) Try Couchsurfing - If you are interested to merge with the locals and try to follow their lifestyle, you can try Couchsurfing.

(17) Overnight at the airport - this option can be done if you have a long transit time to the flight. See Sleeping in Airports website for tips on staying overnight at the airport along with detailed information.


FOOD
(18) Shopping food and drink at the local grocery store - Buy snacks, cooking ingredients, as well as fruit from stalls and small shops, rather than buy a larger store or 7-11. Buy a large bottle of mineral water instead of buying a lot in a small bottle.

(19) Bring food & drink your own water bottle - Me and my friends usually bring snacks, food (shredded, jam, sauce sachet, etc.) from home, this was a very great savings our streets.

(20) Eat at local restaurants or street vendors - sometimes unique and favorite eating places known only to the locals. Ask the locals you meet on the street.

(21) Avoid the minibar - If you stay at a hotel that has a minibar, make sure you do not take anything out of the refrigerator, the hotel tax is usually very large. Better you buy direct from a local supermarket.


TOURISM DESTINATION
(22) Plan a route effectively and efficiently - Using Google Earth to plan the route will save you time and money.

(23) Be your own tour-guide - Make your own guidebook to rely on the internet.

(24) Take a free map at the tourist information center - Many maps are provided free of charge at the international airport and the hotel, the information is no less complete with maps that are sold in stores. Instead, it is usually free map contains a lot of advertising.

(25) Find info free attractions - Many interesting sites that do not require admission fee (entrance fee). Googling and searching for info on this will save you considerable money.

(26) Prioritize the attraction to be visited - often famous sights set high entry rates. There is nothing wrong if you desperately want to come to these attractions, you need to do is balance it according to your budget streets.

(27) Avoid tourist spot as much as possible - all which are generally expensive tourist spot. Limit your expenses as much as possible to bring their own lunch from home and hold your desire to buy souvenirs in the tourist spot, because you can bet the price will be very expensive compared to you bought elsewhere.

(28) Avoid if possible tour package - tour packages sometimes just exhausting than fun, because the allocation of time to explore the attractions are often limited, so sometimes we feel less satisfied. For that, hire a local vehicle to explore the environment you are in, for example, such as bicycles, motorcycles, tuk-tuk, or public transportation.


SHOPPING
(29) Redefine your concept of "by-by" - By-by do not need expensive, important impression. Some gift that is inexpensive but still unique postcards, pins, key chains, T-shirts, scarves, chocolates, traditional snacks. Look for a gift that reflects the local locality. Be creative.

(30) Purchase souvenirs at a traditional market AND bargaining lowest possible price - Bid price in traditional markets is a natural thing, use your best bargaining skills and you will not regret it. Tips for bid: arrange a 50% of the initial price. But the view also of the quality and price of the goods early, lest you are bidding outrageous because it would offend the seller.


COMMUNICATION
(31) Find a location that provides free internet or WiFi - Choose a specialty that provides free internet service, or if no, often free internet facility is also available in the café or coffee shop (for one cup of coffee). Find the best deals on the internet before you login.

(32) Use Skype - For city and state for outgoing calls, use Skype to save on communication costs.

(33) Buy a SIM card with a local number - If you often use your mobile phone, buy a SIM card with a local number is a wise decision. That way you will save costs for domestic phone use.


HOW TO SAVE OTHERS
(34) Avoid changing money at the airport and the famous tourist spot - usually money changer at the airport will give you the lowest rate, then you better find a bank or money changer in town to exchange currency.

(35) Wash your own clothes - Bring home and detergents from washing your own clothes, rather than using a laundry service during the trip.

(36) Use the student ID card / i and ask for discounts for seniors - If you are still a student, you're lucky, a lot of places that offer discounts for students. If you are traveling with seniors, you will probably get a senior discount as well. Make sure you ask about this.


ADDITIONAL TIPS +1 ...
There is one extra tips that I quoted from NPR: "Nine Tips To Travel Cheap (But Not Stupid)":

(37) Do not Be Too Cheap - Do not be too cheap or too far in frugality, because eventually you will personally regret. Do not forget that the concept of backpacking is "buying experience".

    "You can go through a lifetime of regret for being too cheap," Weissmann says.

    He knows from experience. He says he was backpacking in Egypt when he found himself in Luxor, near the Valley of the Kings. The admission price was $ 20, which was his entire budget for the day.

    "There were budget travelers saying, '$ 20? What a ripoff,'" he remembers.

    But Weissmann says he paid the fee. "I was cheap, but I was not stupid," he says.