My four-step plan:
1. Fly cheap. I flew on points to London with Virgin Atlantic, which has one of the industry's fairest, most accessible frequent flier programs. It's linked to my American Express card, which I use instead of cash at every opportunity. Round-trip price: under $300, booking the day before I left. From London, Ryanair flies to Marrakech — pre-tax fares begin at around $3. (Add about $90 in taxes and fees for the final cost.)
2. Travel where the dollar’s strong. The most exotic destinations are often the least expensive. I went from the northern port city of Tangier by train to fascinating Fez and glam Marrakech, with first-class fares around $30. The Moroccan trains I traveled on were efficient and comfortable — the equal of British rail, where an equivalent journey would have easily cost 10 times that amount. Food, attraction tickets, taxis and other costs were similarly affordable.
3. Budget accommodations are a must. I'll often stay in the cheapest safe accommodations available, scouting out hostels on hostels.com or hostelworld.com — they're not just for college backpackers. My Marrakech hostel was $18/night. But then, everything's relative: My one Moroccan splurge was a couple nights at the picture-perfect Riad No. 9 in Fez, which offers five-star lodgings at around $200/night; in a more expensive destination like the Caribbean, the rate could have easily been twice that.
4. The most authentic experiences are often the cheapest. Hiking through the Middle Atlas mountains? Free. Wandering through the medinas? Free. For activities you do have to pay for, it's unlikely your hotel will offer the best deals — scout expat hangouts for local (less expensive) offers.
For example, the message board at the fantastic Cafe Clock in Fez had ads for cooking lessons by native foodies: an unbelievable opportunity to access local culture at a reasonable price. Eat where the locals eat — street food is usually delicious and cheap (just be sure it’s hot all the way through!) And shop local, too: Cafe Clock sold jewelry made by a cooperative of female artisans, with gorgeous knotted necklaces under $25, much more appealing than the higher-cost offerings at fancy boutiques.
Authenticity is, after all, the new luxury — and it’s the key to a meaningful experience in the world’s most fascinating places. If you’ve seen one Hard Rock Café, Louis Vuitton shop or Philippe Starck hotel interior, you’ve practically seen them all.
What are your tips for traveling like a jet-setter? Share your experiences with other travelers by leaving a comment below.
— Diane VadinoDiane Vadino is a frequent contributor to Bing Travel who writes about travel, art and design from her base in Brooklyn, N.Y.
It's a great tips and i though i am not rich but now i would like to visit once there.
It's also a good practice to travel with a credit card that does not charge a foreign currency conversion fee. Many card companies add on 3% to every transaction when you're out of the USA. Capital One is one of the few cards that does not add a fee onto foreign currency transactions.
This is great info and certainly how I travel (so of course it's good!).
Seriously though, one thing to keep in mind is that baggage allowances differ wildly between low-cost airlines such as Ryanair (particularly Ryanair) and larger carriers plying the transatlantic routes. You need to pack considering the smaller allowance otherwise the cheapie $3 fare will bloat to much, much more with additional baggage fees.
Great article, very informative. Thanks and greetings!
TREKKING IN NEPAL
Trekking in Nepal is an intense cultural experience as well as an exploration of one of the world's most walker-friendly and spectacular environments. Home to 8 of the world’s 10 highest mountains, Nepal has a staggering number of routes suitable for trekkers of all ages and abilities stretching the length of the country from the boarders of Sikkim in the East to Uttar Pradesh in the far West.
Trekking regions in Nepal – Everest, Annapurna’s, and Langtang & Helambhu - the pathways you will tread will not only take you past some of the world’s highest mountains and through jaw-dropping scenery, but will envelop you in the spirit of Nepal and its people. As you pass through villages following traditional trade routes you will be given an insight into life in rural Nepal and marvel at the adaptability, resilience and tenacity of Nepal’s different ethnic groups.
There are two main seasons for trekking in Nepal, the spring season March – May and the autumn season, mid September to mid November. Trekking in Nepal outside of these times is possible in some regions, however, the weather can be extremely cold or wet but definitely unpredictable. Trekking permits are required for all non nationals for each of the national parks and for those routes that are in a conservation area, you will be required to pay a conservation area fee as well.Trekking in Nepal...
Morocco is an exotic and fascinating place to travel to. Like you said, it's cheaper than most Western cities.
since I'm from Indonesia, I would like to share that Indonesia could also be a cheap destination...where dollar is strong here :)
That's what I've been doing for a loooooong time; I skip europe and go to other exotic beautiful places where the dollar is king. I don't stay in hotels; I stay in hostels and b&b's
This is great news. Best of luck for the future and keep up the good work.
Work hard and strive to make money!! :)
Cheap is easy on the pocketbook, however sometimes this does mean cleanliness is not always up to par. I would be careful when taking temporary habitance at a low budget place. Bed bugs are growing in popularity. Recent reports disclose that bedbugs are not selective on where they reside no matter the property star level, but one pays for what they get when staying in a thrifty property.
Great post & Great Strategy. The Morocco Dirhams is 80 cents to the dollar. I've stayed at some hostels that are simply fantastic. Pigeon Point outside of Half Moon Bay,CA being one of them. I've made it a practice to travel with just a carry on to avoid paying baggage fees with some airlines charging 50 bucks for checked in baggage ($100 bucks round trip)throws off your budget real quick.
I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand....one of the least expensive and most beautiful areas of Southeast Asia. If you catch a great airfare deal from the States, (there are tons lately), hotels, food, and 5 star treatment are at rock-bottom prices here!
work hard save money then treat yourself everybody diserves a hotel treat at least once a year, reward yourself guys.
great 4 tips for the jet setter
