I’ll admit it: I’m a bit of a travel junkie. That doesn’t mean I’m some cool, jet-setting, she-traveler but I get away when I can and daydream/plan twice as much. Additionally, I’m also a full-time writer. Which means, like many of you, I’m not exactly a Rockefeller. Fortunately, there are endless numbers of stir-crazy and cash-poor wandering spirits out there and where there’s demand, there will be supply. I’m sure you’re always hearing about this person and that person going here and there and wondering just how they’re managing their finances so differently from you as to be able to afford such a glamorous lifestyle.
Psst. Secret: they aren’t doing anything different with their money. The just know where the good deals are hiding.
Lucky for you, so do I. Here are a few places in the wonderful land of online to help you cast a broader web around the wide world:
CouchSurfing.com
Plush hotels and romantic bed and breakfasts are swell and all but man, they can cost you. The time for places like that would be honeymoons. And when you’re visiting family (if you have to spend your time with your annoying cousin and creepy uncle, you might as well splurge on a relaxing oasis to rest your head in). But when you and your pals or your sweetie run off to an exotic locale (or even to the next state for a concert), the excitement is in the destination, not where you’re leaving your suitcase.
Thus, the amazing culture of couch surfing. Through websites like couchsurfing.org, you can create and profile and peruse thousands of people living all over the world who host guests in their town. Not only is it a great way to find foreign accommodations for free but you also have an automatic in on the local scene. I’ve both traveled and hosted through this site and I can’t speak higher of any online travel tool. See great places and meet new people. Win.
Kayak.com
There are…sigh…way too many online sources for finding discount flights. Of the many suitors, I pick this one as my date to the travel dance. You can put in flexible dates, and the search engine will not only give you cheap rates, but it will show you the whole month with prices from all other the airlines. You get way more options than other sites, without all the guessing.
STA.com
This travel agency is a complete force. They cater mostly to students and have offices on campuses all over the country. But they also service non-students in their 20’s and teachers. You can do all the typical flight/hotel/rental car searches but you can also purchase rail passes, travel insurance, and more. All of that is super great, yes, but my favorite thing on this site is the last minute deals and the RSS feed of up-to-date cheapest flights from everywhere to everywhere else. They put together immaculate packages, where everything is considered and taken care of for you. You can find work/study/volunteer abroad opportunities. All in all, it’s a sweet little playground for the wandering-inclined…even if you log on with no specific idea of where you want to go yet.
