For world travelers 30 years ago, some of our overnight resting places included a sleeping bag under a tree, an empty building or even a cemetery. Snakes, rats, and rain were some nuisances we withstood for a free night's sleep. Washing up in the morning was done in a mountain stream or a service station restroom. If you were lucky enough to have camped out in an airport or train station terminal, you may even have had a clean restroom.

In today's world, traveling like this may be a bit more dangerous, depending on where you are. Whether you use a sleeping bag or hotel, you should always be aware of your surroundings. There are, however, still ways to travel and hold on to your cash.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

• In the U.S., there are camping sites in many of the smaller state parks that have small fees. (Prices can start at as low as $8 - Google "(your state) state parks" to find websites with pricing).
• In every major city of Southeast Asia I found a YMCA to be the cheapest place to stay for individuals or families. They are slightly different in Asia from the USA - more like large hostels. (Google "YMCA" to find links to YMCAs around the world).
• In Central America, hostels and hotels are generally cheap everywhere (In Costa Rica, for example, you can find places to stay for $5 to $12 per night).
• Lonely Planet and Let's Go travel guides offer lists (by price) of hostels and hotels in every city.
• Stay away from tourist areas because prices are usually higher there. Instead, eat and sleep in a neighboring town and travel to your destination for sightseeing. (Mexico, too, has its bungalows or cabañas at low prices - in the $30-$40 range if you stay in the smaller towns along the coast)
• It's best to commit to three days or a week at a hostel or bungalow in order to get a better price.
• Traveling in the off-season (July-November) is always significantly cheaper than high-density tourist months. During these times, you may also be able to negotiate for discounts. In some cases, you may be the only traveler for the whole month; ask for the nicest room for the same price as a regular room or ask for discounts in diving, snorkeling, parasailing, etc. Always ask for a discount - it's worth a try!
• Any time you make friends with someone the opportunity is there for an invitation to stay at their home and enjoy local hospitality.

FOOD

• Buying food from a grocery store is always cheaper than eating out.
• Many times in Latin America families will be honored to have houseguests. If you are bold yet cautious, knock on a door and introduce yourself. You could end up meeting a pen pal and a free place to stay whenever you visit.

TRANSPORTATION

• If you have the fortitude to sit through a "Time Share" or "Points Sales Plan" presentation without buying or signing up for anything, you can get some fantastic rewards. (I sat through a 90 minute presentation in Mexico and received a rental car for one day: an air conditioned Volkswagen Pointer with unlimited mileage. I rented it the next day for $55.)
• In Costa Rica, you can get a small plane ride to just about anywhere in the country for $40 (even to Managua, Nicaragua) or share a boat ride from $25 per person across the bay or down the coast.
• In Europe, discounted airlines offer practically free trips. Go to ryanair.com or easyjet.com for a listing of the cheapest flights out there.
• Any time you can get a group of people traveling in the same direction, you can cut your travel cost to a fraction. Don't be afraid to talk to other travelers and ask them where they are heading.
• Never book a rental car from an airport (airports have additional fees added on). Independent car rental companies are cheaper than popular companies - but you do run the risk of having to deal with the company if something goes wrong.
• Used rental cars are always cheaper than new ones.
• The public bus system is always cheaper than taxi, plane or boat; the ride may be bumpier, more crowded and slower, but it's another good way to interact with the local people!
• Taxis are always expensive. Walk as much as possible - you will see and save more. Get directions (i.e., from your hostel's front desk) before you go. (It is probably not a good idea to walk at night, depending on where you are.)

This article was originally written for Authentic Travel, a student-created, student-run magazine. Authentic Travel is packed with true travel stories, advice, study abroad and volunteer opportunities, international music reviews and much more. All staff and writers for the magazine are volunteers. To learn more or to submit your story to Authentic Travel, visit www.authentictravelmagazine.com.

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