Hidden Costs of Cheap Accommodation

I'm still getting used to normal sleep after my trip. Since Japan is 14 hours ahead of Philadelphia, my body clock was really mixed up last week.

However, I'm taking it easy and giving myself time to get back to normal.

Even though I've talked about dealing with jet lag before, I want to find a way to stop it from being a problem at all.

So I have some new ideas I want to try out.

And of course, I'll tell you what works best.

Many try to find the best prices for accommodation.

And I get it because hotels or Airbnbs can be one of your largest expenses on a trip.

However, I don't want you to fall into a common trap.

The biggest mistake when trying to save money is booking accommodations too far from your planned activities.

Booking too far away has its own issues like:

More Expensive

The extra transportation costs from Uber rides or other transit options often exceed any savings on cheaper lodging. A single roundtrip Uber ride can easily cost over $50, and with two roundtrips per day, you're spending over $100 daily on transportation alone. This money would be better spent on staying closer to your destination.

Loss of Time

Time is your most precious commodity when traveling —this applies to life in general too, but that's another topic. Booking accommodations far away means longer travel times for everything you want to do. Even waiting for an Uber can eat up time. By the way, have you noticed Uber wait times seem longer these days?

Increased Complexity The farther you are from your activities, the more likely things can go wrong. Travel delays are common—metro delays happen frequently, especially in the States, and traffic jams or accidents can disrupt your plans. And let's not forget the mistakes we make during travel, like waking up a little later or getting lost. Therefore, staying at a location that is too far away decreases your margin for error.

More Physically Draining Let's face it—travel itself is exhausting, so a distant location makes your entire trip more tiring. For example, a 40-minute trip to reach your destination can drain your energy and limit your capacity to enjoy activities throughout the day. If you need a quick nap to recharge, it's much harder when you're far from where everything is happening.

Boring Every location is different, but areas far from attractions are often cheaper for a reason—they typically lack things to do. While you might save money on lodging, you'll likely find yourself cut off from restaurants, stores, and activities.

That said, you can still find affordable places to stay. Remember that locals don't pay tourist prices, so budget-friendly areas exist. Just be careful—if a price looks suspiciously low compared to everything else in the area, there's probably a catch.

However, staying in a city center isn't always ideal either—it can feel touristy and overpriced.

So in the end, it's all about striking the right balance between value and cost. Let me know what you think.

Keep traveling, 

Andrew

Would you rather pay more to stay close to the attractions, or save money by staying a bit farther away?

Cocktail of the Week

The Batida cocktail originates from Brazil, where it combines the nation’s beloved spirit, cachaça, with tropical fruits and sweeteners. Its name, which means “shaken” in Portuguese, reflects its preparation style and its role as a refreshing drink that celebrates Brazil’s vibrant culture.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz cachaça
• 1 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 1 oz coconut milk or fruit juice (passionfruit, pineapple, or lime are common)
• Ice cubes

Preparation:

• Add cachaça, condensed milk, and coconut milk or fruit juice to a blender.
• Add a handful of ice cubes.
• Blend until smooth and creamy.
• Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with a slice of lime or tropical fruit, if desired.

Random Travel Thought

I’m not a budget traveler, I’m an experience maximizing traveler

Follow me on Instagram.

The Plug

Cheap flights:

• Going.com: This might be the only discounted flights website you need. It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!! 
• Secret Flying 🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
• Skyscanner: An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.

Insurance:

• Safety Wing: I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.

Travel Gear

• Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep yourself healthy enough to go on more trips. Link
• Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
• Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
• Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
• Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it. Link
• Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
• Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
• Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
• Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
• Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling, it's time to live it up!  Link
  
  *Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

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