Who doesn’t have a dream of travelling the world without worrying about expenses?
I dreamed it and now making it a reality.
I am not rich yet but I became a smart traveller. (You can also learn how I started earning money online without any major investment)
I decoded how to travel for longer duration in the same budget that we spend on the short vacations.
“short vacations are hectic and no fun“
Short vacations are more like a punishment than a pleasure. I remember how painful were my vacations a few years back.
(Note: If you are planning a foreign vacation then read my reviews on forex cards in India)
I booked a 4day/3nights trip, and boarded the flight in the afternoon (or early morning);
I did not want to waste my precious first day of vacation, so I always planned my days with a hectic schedule of visiting each and every popular location on destination city.
The result? All I did on vacation was…
-
- trying to touch all popular places (to check-in on Facebook)
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- do all activities in the town (fear of missing something that my friends enjoyed)
- not to miss any chance of clicking photos (to upload on Facebook)
I came back from a location with a tired face rather than fresh. It was like if I was on a photography assignment and there was a penalty of missing any popular place.
All my vacation was for Facebook.
No Fun.
Not a good way of spending time and money on a vacation.
I dumped the idea of the short vacations.
I wanted a long vacation but neither I had leaves nor I had the money.
I learned the new way of enjoying a vacation with my trip to Goa last year
Let’s see how much it costs for a typical 4-day vacation (for a small family of three) in a beautiful destination like Goa from a city like Delhi.
Air fair in economic airline = 3 * 4000 * both ways = 24,000
Taxi required to/from Airport = 4 * 500 = 2000
Accommodation for three nights in 3-star hotel = 3 * 4000 = 12,000
Lunch & Dinner expenses for six meals over 4 days = 6 * 1000 = 6000
Shopping and other activities = 5000
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An expense of about 45K to 50K for a family of 3
When I tell someone that I am on vacation in Goa for a month-long duration, the first thing that came into mind is — “From where he is getting so much money to waste on a long vacation”.
You will be surprised to know that I am poorer than average Indian IT guy because I am earning less than what I was earning two years back in my IT job.
Here are the expenses that incurred on my travel to Goa
Going to Goa by Train = 2 * 2200 = 4400
Coming back by Air = 3 * 4500 = 13,500
Accommodation for 4 weeks through AirBnB= 20,500
All other expenses = 19,291
Total Expenses = 57,691
here is snapshot of my expense tracking app [MoneyView]
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wait, wait.. here are some savings also.. we bypassed some expenses that would have occurred had we stayed at home.
Electricity = 3000
Fuel/Travel = 4000
Groceries = 10,000
Savings of total — 17,000
The effective cost of our trip is 40,000.. cool, it’s even cheaper than our last trip that lasted just for 4-days and 3-nights (effectively 2 days of enjoyment and 2 days of hassle)
Key Learnings for hacking travel in India
- Book AirBnb rather than a hotel if you are planning a long vacation.
- Don’t book a package online but make your own travel plans
- Get ‘Work From Home’ if you can not get long leaves (or Learn how to earn money with leaving your job)
- Combine train & air travel to save a lot of money (depends where you are travelling)
- Cook your own food at long vacation (find an apartment with kitchen on Airbnb)
Long vacation means keep working and enjoying the stay. A balanced mix of work & enjoy.
To repeat my long vacation experience, I am staying in Thailand for 50 days now.
We are spending almost the entire summer vacations in a pleasant place because we wanted to avoid the heat of Indian summer. Actually, that is the purpose of summer vacations in Schools.
But most of the people don’t think about spending peak summers in cool places. The first obstacle is a job and second is money.
I solved both issues by working on assignments that can be done from any location.
I will share more about managing foreign travel trips in a pocket-friendly budget.
Let me know if you want to know any details of domestic long travels.
Pradeep makes me want to think an alternative way for lesser expense for each and everything I do.
Lovely article Pradeep, But who in India can go on a month-long vacation. Especially if you are a working professional.
I dislike short hectic vacations. Helpful article on what I want to do in the coming year soon.
As much as I love your post about this hack, I’d slightly differ on some aspects – A vacation is an “inclusive” experience. It isn’t only about going to exotic places – but also about trying local cuisine, not eating home-food for a stretch of time, staying at a hotel with everything being taken care of (and not stay-at-home and DIY stuff). I think a “vacation” is being represented as a “tour” here. I strongly feel a vacation is also a chance to unwind and not follow the routine which we’d otherwise follow at our home.
But yes, great way to economise travel if it suits one’s style.
Hi pradeep, Alfia dis side. Very impressed by the way u live.. Wanted to ask some imp questions about how u travelled. How can i contact you? Can u help?
You can leave a comment here and I will reply.
Great work man, I came across your blog from google and now I am really liking your articles.
Hello,
Seriously 😛
I’m stuned pradeed.
You really have amazing logic behind spending long vacations.
really loved your concept.
I also loved reading your blog.
Thanks,
Piyush
Hi Pradeep. I landed on your blog from this blog post. Great blog. You have seriously got a good niche. Keep it up.
Glad you liked it.
hi can you share us the name of the hotel where you stay. i have checked into the traveling portal and could not find 4 week room for 20 k. can you please share the name of hotel.
Thanks
Hi Sam, It was not hotel but AirBnb room. I can send you email with complete information + how to earn 1200 rupees on just signup 🙂
Hi Pradeep,
Nice post. Keep up the good works.
Please share the same info to me also. Thank yo u
Hi Pradeep,
Pl. share the AirBnB email with info on Goa room booking to me also. Is it thru online or talking to their executives as we don’t know the place and we can go with trust only. Also pl. share the locations and must see/do in Goa like you shared for Thailand trip. Thanks, Surya
Pls share your airbnb details
Nice Pardeep, this experience sharing was a good learning. Looking forward to your international experience also.
Sure Vijay. Stay tuned. Subscribe to emails and move my emails to your inbox folder of Gmail.
whats the name of the expense tracking app
I used moneyview but there are many apps that help you keep track of expenses.
Thanks Pradeep for sharing this travel tips. Great to see your blogging journey and how efficiently you are managing your work & life. 🙂
Hey Santanu, Glad you liked it.
I love your work. Would be happy if you can write something for our audience 🙂
As much as this awesome hack, the app is also great which helps you track to such granular details. Please share this app.
Som, you can use any expense management app. I used moneyview.
very nice article. I was not aware whether it is possible to enjoy long vacations in such little cost. Thanks
I will share more on how we are living in Thailand since June 1st, again in a budget that any IT professional can manage.
Great hack Pradeep..2 thumbs up from my side. Could you pls. share your foreign/Thailand vacation plan. I plan to undertake the same by year end..thanks.
Sure. I will write about my Thailand trip in upcoming posts.