Spending and saving, so you can still get the full experience, spoil yourself.
PHOTO ALEX BAKER-BROWNWhen on vacation, we like to pamper ourselves, and it is completely in our right to do so. Traveling is a break from our normal surroundings and it is important to take this time out to invest in ourselves: mentally, spiritually and economically. We all like to indulge when abroad, and when in a foreign place with innumerable new foods, sights and shops to enjoy, you should spend a little extra to make sure you get the full experience. You should not, however, completely lose your head and spending right and left like you have Bill Gates’ bank account. Even when traveling and indulging, most of us still have to stick to a budget. So here’s a guide of what to spend on and what to save on, so you can still get the full experience, spoil yourself, and feel like a million bucks without spending that much.
1. Food/drinks
It’s definitely a great choice to shell out some extra money on a few fantastic, authentic meals, or for dining and grabbing a drink at a historic restaurant, bar or café. However, don’t be tricked into thinking you’re pampering yourself just because you’re spending a lot of money. In touristy areas, the food will be very expensive and not much different than the cheap stuff you can get farther down the street for a quarter of the price. The touristy area may be charming and bustling with life. However, most of the people there are travelers. So take this chance to see the city. Do your research. Look up restaurants and bars in areas of the city you haven’t seen yet, find someplace truly unique and enriched with the local life.
2. Shopping
It’s thrilling to come back from a trip sporting a great new shirt or dress you picked up abroad. However, keep in mind that when traveling, especially in countries rich with luxurious style and exploding with indicators of enormous wealth, it’s very easy to get caught up in the glamour. Be reminded, you are not Louis XVI (things didn’t end well for him anyways). The best tokens you come back with are usually truly local and unique, reminiscent of the country you were in. The two mistakes you can make when shopping abroad:
- Buying at brand name or chain stores we have in the U.S. This is a mistake I made numerous times in Europe before I became wise to the big-brand-name scheme. It was probably the third or forth time I walked into an H&M in Italy, intent on buying a “unique, Italian” shirt, when I realized that the top I was holding was one I had seen in the U.S. It was the exact same numerical price as it was at home, except the price was in Euros, not Dollars. With a 1.33 exchange rate, that means I was paying 30% more for the same shirt I could have gotten at home. This is exactly what you don’t want to do. Again, do your research, look up trendy shopping areas of town, ask the locals or someone at your hostel/hotel where the boutique or craftsman districts are, etc. It’s completely acceptable, spending some extra money on something truly unique that you couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.
- Buying souvenirs at kitschy shops in tourist central. Save! Just say no. You may want a souvenir to remember a place by, or a gift to bring home to a friend or loved one. So take a picture and Photoshop their face in; they will get more enjoyment out of that than a fifteen dollar keychain that says “I ♥ Roma.” If you really want to remember a place, take a picture of it! Or better yet, take a picture of yourself at the place! When you’re old and senile, you’ll have concrete proof that you were actually there, instead of wondering why you have a mini license plate that says “#1 Pope” on it. Or, ask a local to find out where the cool artisan districts are. Different areas usually specialize in different types of crafts or goods to buy, so have an idea of the types of things you’re looking for. If you’re really dead-set on getting that masquerade-mask key chain or the shot class that says, “I got tipsy in ____,” you can find it for cheaper in these areas, and get great cultural stuff along the way. It’s a perfect chance to explore other areas of town and to experience more of the local culture. I promise you will look much more fondly, and often, upon the one of a kind hand blown glass chandelier that cost you small fortune than the Parthenon mini-figure you skipped a meal for.
PHOTO ALEX BAKER-BROWN3. Experiences
This is where you should splurge. You’re only there once, so pay the entrance fees and go on the tours. It’s really tempting to wander around a city for free, save your money eating at cheap places, and then head to the bars/clubs at night. But, in the end you realize that all you did in an amazing city was sleep in a lumpy bed, eat bad food, and get a hangover. All things you could have done at home without paying for a thousand dollar plane ticket. Take the time and pay the money to see all of the big landmarks, and go to the museums! I will never forget the amazing view from the top spire at the peak of the Vatican, and it was definitely worth the extra fifteen Euros to see it. If you want to save some money on tours, a great option is paying for the audio guide. It costs less, you get most of the same information you would on a tour, you can move at your own pace, and you can split the cost when you’re traveling with friends. Also look into pre-booking tours and buying tickets online. In a lot of places you save up to ten dollars by booking in advance. Plus, you get to skip the crazy long lines at the major sights. If you’re a student, don’t forget to cash in on your student discount!
So, use your judgment and follow your gut. If you know you’re getting caught in a tourist trap or getting a bad deal, retreat! Spending your money also means not wasting your resources on cheap junk. If it’s not a one-time chance, save! Whatever it is, a meal, clothes, furniture, collectibles, only shell out the extra bucks when something is truly unique.
