Happy hump day, fellow
nerds! It's been a while since I posted, primarily because I've been editing my thesis proposal nonstop. Since it's a rainy day and I have a lot of desk work today, I figured I'd take a break to day dream about my vacation with S to Puerto Rico and share some travel tips that we've learned over the years:
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| A few photos from our trip! |
We had a great time in
Puerto Rico and I think we were able to enjoy the trip without breaking the bank. So here are our thoughts:
1.)
Choose home rentals over hotels. While a lot of hotels are pricing competitively
with the emerging market share industry of home rentals, I’m still getting
amazing deals from renting homes. We usually go to AirBnB for our
rentals.
2.)
Use budget airfare apps and
websites. S and I used Hopper to get to Puerto
Rico for less than $250 roundtrip per ticket.
3.)
Make your own meals. This will be perfect if you rent a place with
a kitchen. S and I eat either one or no meals out when we stay in a place with
cooking capacity. We usually eat an easy hot breakfast (e.g. eggs, toast, tea,
etc.) and we have sandwiches for lunch. It’s amazing how much not eating out
makes a difference in a budget.
4.)
Do the free stuff. When I visit a new place, I love exploring and
seeing as much of the place as I can. Now that I’m on a budget, I’m realizing
that a lot of activities (and in my opinion the most interesting stuff) are
free! Outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, or biking are usually pretty
cheap with the right gear. Museums often have suggested donations and student
discounts. Make a list of all the free and discounted stuff before you get
there so you don’t feel unnecessary pressure to blow cash when you’re in the
middle of it.
5.)
Visit friends. As someone who deeply values building
long-term relationships, I care about keeping in touch with friends and family
no matter how far and wide they spread. That means that my door is always open
to them, and it also means that I usually prioritize visiting places where my
friends and family have moved. A convenient part of visiting friends means that
you may not have to pay for a place to stay if they have the room. More than
that, it’s a unique experience to catch up with old friends in a new place and
to learn about the place they now call home.
6.)
Get TSA Pre-check and/or Global
Entry. For $85, you get to
forego long lines and you don’t need to take off shoes and whatever else. It’s
worth the time you save, so that you don’t have to go to the airport early just
to wait in long lines.
7.)
Invest in ear plugs, eye covers,
and a neck doughnut. Our
budget plane trips often lead to red eye flights, but it’s amazing how easy it
is to sleep upright with a few gadgets.
So good luck with your
travel plans and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in the
comment section below!
