How to Choose the Most Affordable Travel Destinations
If only selecting a travel destination was as easy as throwing a dart at a world map and heading out! The reality is several factors must be considered when thinking about how to choose travel destinations. Thoughtfully making your travel decision is especially important when working within a teacher’s budget!
I’ve narrowed down my top strategies for how to choose travel destinations and they’re all here for you! Hopefully, this relieves some of the stress from choosing your next travel destination.
Type of Destination
I almost always start here when planning my next travels. A word of caution: Don’t set your heart on a specific destination. Instead, focus on the type of travel that you want to experience. Being open to different locations is a quick and easy way to make travel more affordable.
What do I mean? Instead of getting your heart set on visiting Daytona Beach, keep your search open to any beach.
Last year, the onset of winter hit me hard and I was longing for a warm location with great snorkeling. The exact destination was less of a priority. So, I began my search by finding great flight deals to warm areas. After a bit of digging, an affordable summer break trip to Belize was arranged, complete with the sun, Caribbean Sea, and stellar snorkeling!
When to Travel
For teachers, when we can travel is pretty well set by the school calendar.
Being just a little flexible with your travel dates can save hundreds of dollars. I saved $700 on a flight by staying in Europe one extra day over winter break; definitely worth it.
Unfortunately, teachers don’t have the opportunity to travel during shoulder-season which is a major money-saver. Since we almost always are traveling during peak season, I highly suggest booking travel as far in advance as possible.
Who to Visit
Do you have friends or family that live in areas that would be fun to explore? Make a travel journey out of visiting people you know across the country or even throughout the world.
Reaching out to friends and family when choosing travel destinations has several benefits. You potentially have a free place to stay for a few nights, a private tour guide, and opportunities to catch up with people you don’t typically see.
If you’re worried about being a burden, let your friends and family know that you’re there to explore and are comfortable checking out the sites without them.
Your Travel Dreams
Have you always had your heart set on seeing the Northern Lights? Or perhaps watching sea turtles lay eggs on the beach? Don’t completely rule out your travel dreams just because you think they may not be affordable.
Track prices on Google Flights to your dream destination to catch a deal you just can’t miss. Keep coming back to your travel dream until the time (and budget) is right.
Travel Expenses
When determining how to choose your travel destinations, look at travel expenses in two categories: cost to get to the destination and expenses while traveling.
Recently, western Europe has been fairly inexpensive to travel to but can be costly when factoring in accommodations and food. On the other hand, Southeast Asia is more costly to get to, but incredibly affordable once you’re there.
I highly recommend Central and South America for finding affordable travel international destinations that are fairly close to home. Colombia is beautiful and does not require a large financial investment for accommodations, food, or entertainment.
Both the cost of travel and the expenses while traveling are important when evaluating the overall budget and value of choosing different destinations. Don’t rule out a specific location solely based on the price to get there.
Who is Traveling
Your travel goals change based on who you’re traveling with and that’s okay. While traveling with friends who love outdoor adventure, we plan lots of hikes and time to explore nature.
When I’m traveling with friends who are new to international travel, I make sure to select destinations that won’t push them too far out of their comfort zones.
My mom and I traveling to Spain for spring break on our first mother-daughter trip. Western Europe is perfect for a newbie traveler. Although she is not an experienced international traveler, she has been very open to trying new experiences including staying in hostels!
If you’re planning a solo trip, the only person you need to please is yourself! Easy, peasy.
Professional Development
Teacher conferences occur all over the world and provide a great excuse to travel, especially if your school district will help offset some of the expenses.
A friend of mine, Holly, presented at a conference in Denmark through a grant she received. Not only did she present and network with some of the greatest tardigrade researchers around the world, but she also explored Copenhagen. As an added bonus, Holly flew Iceland Air and tacked on a week of travel in Iceland for NO additional airfare.
Check out Teachers Take a Trip for exciting teacher
travel/professional development opportunities!
Special Events
Is there a concert or convention that you would just love to see? Choose your travel destination based on an event that you just can’t miss. Keep in mind that other people will probably head to the same event, so book early to keep costs down.
I ended up in Dallas, Texas for several days thanks to Leaky Con, the largest Harry Potter convention. The event was magical (yeah, I went there), I visited Dallas for the first time, and I stayed in an up and coming neighboorhood, Deep Ellum.
Top Affordable Destination Recommendations
- Colombia
- Belize
- Asheville, North Carolina
- National Parks
Make the Travel Destination Decision
There you have it, all the factors to consider when determining how to choose travel destinations! The great thing is, you really can’t go wrong when selecting a travel destination; you get to travel.
Woo hoo, you’re going on a trip! Now you can start to truly get excited as you begin planning accommodations, scout for the best food, and figure out what to do while you’re there! Happy travels and safe adventures!
