Think about your dream destination. For that matter, think of the three most expensive and sought a

But what does that mean? It means that traveling inexpensively is a decision for creativity, not simply a decision against excessive spending. Throwing money at a trip means you are ordering from the normal, plain-vanilla menu (e.g. Marriott holiday inn sunspree jamaica or Four Seasons holiday inn sunspree jamaica hotels). This often means physically changing locations without changing your perspective or worldview at all.
In contrast, looking at how locals live and find hidden gems ensures you have amazing experiences that no guidebook can capture. This post is written by Matt Kepnes, better known as Nomadic Matt. He didn t have his first overseas trip until age 23, and now he s traveled holiday inn sunspree jamaica to more than 70 countries.
holiday inn sunspree jamaica When I started traveling the world in 2006, I made many rookie and costly mistakes. holiday inn sunspree jamaica More than 70 countries later, I've developed a handful of strategies and tips that can be applied to any destination, no matter holiday inn sunspree jamaica how expensive.
Thanks to this handful, I ve relaxed in the fanciest hotels in the world and stayed in hundreds of hostels. holiday inn sunspree jamaica I've flown first-class, flown economy class, and hitchhiked through Central America. I've eaten at luxury restaurants and street stalls. Seven years of traveling the world on a budget has shown me that you can enjoy the best the world has to offer without sitting in your room eating instant pasta. Budget travel doesn't mean you can't have some luxury.
Think about your dream destination.  For that matter, think of the three most expensive and sought after cities: Paris, New York or Hong Kong . Wouldn't it be great to spend a week in any of these cities while only spending $50 a day?
I'm going to show you how to hack these cities from top to bottom: what to do, where to eat, and where you can stay. In reading this post, you ll also learn flexible principles that can be applied to any city you choose.
Flights and Airline Points - I normally fly about 40,000 to 50,000 miles per year, which earns me enough frequent flier miles for a free flight in economy almost anywhere but you don't need to have to fly to get a free flight – you can use branded travel credit cards and their sign up bonuses to fly free.  I've accumulated close to a million miles by taking advantages of credit card bonuses.
1. Sign up for a branded airline credit card : All U.S. airlines have a branded travel credit card that gives you 25,000-50,000 points when you sign up and meet their minimum spending requirements (which is sometimes just one purchase). Airline credit cards are the best way to jump-start your mileage holiday inn sunspree jamaica balance.  You can gain a lot of points really quickly.  Personally, I use American Airlines Citi Card but for someone just starting out, I would consider getting two cards: one for your favorite airline—whatever it is and a second card that has flexible points, i.e. points that can be used on any airline. Probably the best beginner card the second card is the Chase Sapphire Preferred because holiday inn sunspree jamaica it s easy to get, has a lower annual fee, and a larger holiday inn sunspree jamaica sign up bonus.
2. Sign up for a non-airline credit card : Sign up for a non-airline credit card like a Chase or American Express card. You can use the points earned from these cards and transfer them to your preferred airline. Used in conjunction with step 1, you earn a lot of points very quickly. I recently got two Chase Ink cards and received 120,000 points, holiday inn sunspree jamaica which I can transfer to a variety of different airlines.
3. Watch out for special promotions : I sign up for all the airline email lists on the airlines website. I always watch out for special 2-for-1 mile deals, or when they have special card offers to earn extra miles. American Airlines gave me 1,000 miles for watching a demo on their new shopping holiday inn sunspree jamaica toolbar. I once got 5,000 miles for joining Netflix! Often times you get miles for filling out surveys or they will give you a 100% bonus on purchasing miles. Promotions help big time, and airlines seem to always be offering them. Utilizing promotions over the course of a few months can yield big results.
Words of caution: While it's true that "churning and burning" (i.e. opening an closing a lot of credit cards at once) can hurt your credit, opening a few accounts over a year won't kill your credit rating. I've been opening and closing accounts for years and I still have a credit score close to 800 and have never been denied holiday inn sunspree jamaica a card. [Of course, be sure to pay off the balance/debt on the cards so you don't pay fees, but I hope that goes without saying.] ( A complete holiday inn sunspree jamaica guide to the ins and outs of travel credit cards can be found here )
Accommodation :  Hotel points are just as good as airline miles. I usually sign up for one or two hotel cards to get points for a couple of free night stays in any destination I visit (Recommendation: Starwood American Express ). Hotels are not my first accommodation holiday inn sunspree jamaica option holiday inn sunspree jamaica but in case I can't find budget accommodation or just want to pamper myself, these points are a good back up.
Bank fees : Don't give banks your hard earn money via needless fees. If you're American, you can avoid all ATMs fees by getting holiday inn sunspree jamaica a Charles Schwab ATM card (no fees and they reimburse you for other bank's holiday inn sunspree jamaica fees).  For non-Americans, join a bank in the Global ATM alliance . This is a group of banks that have come together to waive each other's fees. Additionally, use one of these credit cards that don't have any overseas transaction fees:
The first time I stepped out of the metro and onto the Champs-Elysees, I feel in love with Paris. The lights, the ambience, the people. I was in love for life. Every subsequent trip has only deepened that love. All those movies about how wonderful Paris is aren't lying to you. Paris exudes culture, sophistication, and style. Its museums and monuments are among some of the best in the world, especially if you love art. The food, the music, the wine, the women! (OK, for me, the French woman).
There is so much history in Paris, and the magic I see in movies like Midnight in Paris come alive every time I wander the streets, turn down cobblestone holiday inn sunspree jamaica alleys and stumble upon a little café on a plaza where I can sit, drink some wine, and just enjoy the city's magical energy.
However, Paris is not one of the cheaper cities in the world and a visit here can be expensive if you don't plan right. It's what turns most people off from visiting. They search on Expedia or Hotels.com and see $1,000 USD flights and $250 a night hotel rooms and think "no way"! But Paris has its secrets and as always there's myriad of ways to reduce your expenses.
Lodging is the biggest barrier to doing Paris on a budget. holiday inn sunspree jamaica The single best decision you can make is to avoid Paris in July and August when rates are there highest. (Also, Paris is crazy crowded and hot then too! Go in the spring or fall to get better rates)
Use Eurocheapo.com – This is the most comprehensive budget accommodation website for Europe and lists tons of properties not usually found on websites like Hotels.com or Expedia. When I'm looking holiday inn sunspree jamaica for budget hotels, this is where I go. You'll find small, family owned guesthouses they personally review not found anywhere else. Double rooms can start at $50 a night (i.e. only $25 per person).
Rent an apartment – In Paris, hotels are the most expensive place to stay. Enterprising Parisians have used this to rent out expensive space in their apartments to help pay their high rent. You can find a lot of guest rooms and apartments on sites like Airbnb , Wimdu , and Roomorama . Private double rooms begin at $40 USD per night ($20 per person). Single rooms or shared rooms start at around $30. Book at least a month in advance as these bargains book up fast and last minute spots are closer to $100.
Hostels holiday inn sunspree jamaica – Hostels aren't just for young kids – people of all ages stay in them. My favorite is St. Christopher's Inn . Hostels in Paris are the cheapest option for single travelers with dorm rooms starting at $20 per night. You can book hostels on either Hostelworld or Hostelbookers .
Couchsurfing – Couchsurfing is a site that allows people to stay with locals for free. It's a wonderful site – you not only get free accommodation but also get a local guide to give you the inside holiday inn sunspree jamaica track on a destination. Through the site, I've learned about Aussie politics, Danish culture, and saw a German rock shows in Munich.  Tim has a comprehensive guide to Couchsurfing here .
The city of lights has some of the best and most expensive food in the world. Moving from market stall to market stall, sampling rich French food, and buying picnic supplies for lunch in front of the Eiffel Tower is an ideal morning for me. If you really want to try some truly amazing (and affordable) French holiday inn sunspree jamaica food, skip any place listed in a guidebook, and do what the locals do, and visit the small cafes and markets.
Rue Cler Located near the Eiffel Tower, this street is filled with good Parisian eateries. You'll find cheese, meat, bread, vegetables, and chocolate stores to explore. It's one of my favorite streets in the city. Due to its location, holiday inn sunspree jamaica it's one of the more touristy markets, holiday inn sunspree jamaica with slightly higher prices holiday inn sunspree jamaica than others. Stick to the breads, meats, and cheeses here.
Rue Montorgueil Half market, half foodie-paradise-shopping street, the pedestrianized holiday inn sunspree jamaica Rue Montorgueil is filled with flower vendors, rotisseries, tempting bakers and fragrant cheese shops. Here your delicious and cheap options include hot chocolate at Charles holiday inn sunspree jamaica Chocolatier, a pastry at Stohrer (the oldest pastry shop in Paris), and fruit and vegetables from the stalls. You can walk away from here with a large meal for 2-3 people for around $13 USD.
Monge – In Place Monge, not far from the Jardin des Plantes, the Arènes de Lutèce and the Panthéon, this little open-air market is one of the most well known markets in the city center. This market is open from Wednesday and Friday from 7.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and Sunday holiday inn sunspree jamaica between 7.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. It's a popular market with locals and prices here tend to be the cheapest. Visit early to get the best selections. By the time lunch has rolled arou