Milica's chronicle
One of my favourite hobbies is travelling. Although only two months have passed since the beginning of the year, I have already visited 5 countries. I have to admit that this hobby is not the cheapest one you can find. However, it can be much cheaper than people assume it to be - only if you know how to travel wisely and how to maximise your budget. The three main expenses here are transportation, accommodation and food. By finding less expensive alternatives to the traditional ways of traveling, you can significantly reduce the amount you spend and increase the amount of trips you have. How, though?
Low cost airplane companies have revolutionised affordable travelling. Easyjet, Wizzair, Ryanair and Transavia are just some of the examples and they all fly to several locations from Serbia’s two main airports in Belgrade and Niš. If you want a wider array of destinations to which you can travel to using these airlines, check out the airports in Budapest, Timisoara and Sofia. These cities are all several hours away from here but traveling from there can really save you money. For example, I travelled from Budapest to Tampere in Finland for just 60 euros. Although low cost companies have been criticised for baggage restrictions, lack of comfort and lower quality of service compared to traditional airlines, nothing beats the price of their tickets. For just 40 euros you can find a return ticket from Belgrade to Berlin, small baggage included in the price. The less things you bring, the less you pay, so backpacks really go a long way when it comes to this type of travelling.
If you are looking for a more sustainable way of getting around, Flixbus provides affordable bus service all throughout Europe. This company also operates in Serbia, though on a very small number of routes (one of them being Belgrade - Budapest). Trains are another great alternative, especially in Northern and Western Europe where railway systems are highly developed and reliable. Unfortunately, railway in this part of the continent is underdeveloped and the trains are very slow compared to other European countries. However, there are still some scenic trips you can take here using trains, such as the Belgrade-Bar route which has frequently been labelled as one of the most beautiful rail routes in Europe. From Belgrade you can also get to Ljubljana for about 80 euros (return ticket) and in a little over 10 hours. Although the ride is quite long, it is an overnight train which means you can book a bed and sleep on board. Interrail and Eurail are another great way to see as much as possible for as little as possible. These two passes offer unlimited rail travelling in Europe within a given time period. Through the #DiscoverEU contest, I have received a free Interrail ticket which allows me to travel to as many destinations as I want within one month during summer. It is needless to say that I am counting the days until July, when I am about to embark on my trip across the continent together with my friend Erica from Portugal.
The traditional market for accommodation, mostly comprising of not-so-cheap hotels, has been shaken by the outbreak of modern hostels and airbnbs. Although hotels provide comfort and luxury, hostels provide more convenient, efficient and more affordable stays. In most European cities you can find many youth hostels which are clean and have decent kitchens and are a great way to meet people - fellow young travellers like yourself. If you value privacy above price then airbnbs are the right choice for you. The value for the price increases if you rent one with several other friends. Do not overlook hotels, though - websites such as booking.com provide very good deals from time to time. My main advice here is to look through every option there is, write out a list of pros and cons of each and based on that make the final decision. Keep in mind that you will spend most of your time outside, especially if you want to see as much of the destination as possible. Therefore, luxury and comfort are maybe not the top priority when you compare the amount of time spent in the room and the price you pay for your accommodation. Do not be lazy and book through an agency - in 99% of the cases you can find a much better deal yourself just by spending some time looking at what the Internet has to offer.
When it comes to food, my opinion is that you should not cut too much of your spending on this because it is a part of the cultural experience. The worst thing you can do is mostly eat at McDonalds, KFC and other global fast food chains. Not only is this option unhealthy, but it is not that much cheaper than meals in regular restaurants. Also, it is available here in Belgrade and you can eat it whenever you want. However, true Italian pizza in the heart of Rome is something that is exclusive to its location. Do your research about the destination before you travel and find out what the locals eat - it can vary from Currywurst in Berlin to Ikea meat balls in Stockholm. Trying out new things will help you get out of your comfort zone as well as get familiar with the culture and traditions of that place. I do not suggest eating at fast food restaurants as a way to cut costs but there are other ways you can achieve this. For example, many hostels and airbnbs offer kitchens where you can prepare your own food. Bring a plastic box or zipper bags, make a healthy vegetable burrito from the ingredients bought in the local supermarket and you’re ready to explore the city. Always have a snack with you, such as fruits or almonds, since sightseeing can exhaust you and you need something to replenish yourself. Also, always carry a water bottle. A refillable one goes a long way in cutting costs so check online if tap water in that city is drinkable.
Traveling hacks are numerous and if you want to find out more about this topic, there are many helpful blog posts and youtube videos. Volunteering and youth organisations, such as European Youth Parliament, also helped me travel all throughout Europe. On many occasions my travel expenses were reimbursed by the organisations, which made traveling even more convenient. It might take you time to get accustomed to this type of traveling but I can assure you that it is worth it. You will be able to see more places than you imagined, meet people from various places and learn about how our world works. So what are you waiting for?
