The Ultimate Guide To Cheap Travel
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Feeling burnt out? Want some quiet time to reconnect with yourself? A personal retreat could be the answer.
Accomodations are free of distractions like TVs and radios. There are usually tables and chairs to encourage reading and writing. Many retreats offer small libraries to peruse. Beautiful natural settings and even walking paths are common.
There are some things to check in advance. Most retreats, regardless of their own religious affiliation, welcome people of all faiths, but make sure. Some retreats don't have telephones or even mobile phone service. Find out about amenities ahead of time. Prices range widely, but excellent deals can be found. This is just a sampling:
Buddhist:
Personal Retreats In California - Land Of Medicine Buddha
Catholic:
A number of convents and monasteries around the world open their rooms to guests. If you know that you'll be near a convent or monastery during your travels, you may want to call and see if they have lodging available. Be forewarned that these stays require you to follow some rules and be respectful of silence. See this article for more details:
Staying At Convents & Monasteries
Personal Retreats - St. Benedict Center
Episcopalian:
Protestant:
Personal Retreat - Living Water
Personal Retreats - Four Springs
Personal Retreats - The Heights
Lutheran:
Loma Conference & Retreat Center
Quaker:
Secular & New Age:
Earthdance
White Lotus Foundation
Or create your own cheap or free retreat!
If you're traveling internationally, homestays are an option. For these, you stay with a host family, getting immersed in their language and culture. Some meals are included. Homestays are often offered in conjunction with language courses. Prices vary widely. To find homestays at your chosen destination, go to the Google search engine and type in "homestays" and the name of the country in which you'll be traveling.
Camping is a great way to save money while traveling. The cheapest way to camp is to stay at state and national parks, which have the added benefit of nature's immense beauty. Many offer cabins and RV spaces in addition to campsites:
National parks:
National Park Guide - National Park Service
State parks:
State Park Agencies - About.com
Canadian national parks:
National Parks - Parks Canada
You can reserve USDA Forest Service and US Army Corps of Engineers tent sites and cabins in advance. There are some real adventures to be had!
If you'll be visiting parks frequently, purchase a state or national parks pass. You'll still have to pay camping fees, but you'll save on entrance fees:
National passes:
Recreation.gov (see left menu)
State park passes:
State Park Entrance Passes - About.com
Parks Canada's national passes:
National Passes - Parks Canada
If you're adverse to roughing it, some commercial campgrounds offer inexpensive cabins with electricity and plumbing in addition to their more traditional campsites. 4 or more people can share a cabin, making this a cost-effective option:
KOA Campgrounds
Camp Jellystone
If you're traveling in an RV and need more camping options, take a look at the Free RV Campgrounds of the American West website.
You may also want to consider a membership with one of the following, which assure you RV camping at discounted prices:
Recreation USA
Passport America
And finally, if you're flat broke, but still need a place to sleep, there are several ways to get some sleep:
Couchsurfing: People worldwide may be willing to put you up on their couch for free.
Free Sleeping: If you have a car, you probably already have what you need.
Sleeping in airports: For air travelers, this option is still popular, even with increased airport security.
