Travel Hacking 101
mod (Andy) note: "Blast from the past - Best of Eddie" - This one is originally from December 2010. If there's an old post from Eddie you'd like to see up again shoot me a message.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." - St. Augustine
It's been a while since I've written a travel post, and I came across something yesterday that I had to let you guys know about. A buddy of mine sent me this article about a guy who is going to fly 35,000 miles, hit 4 continents, and visit 15 cities in 9 different countries all for $418. You read that right: $418. Total. Even better, he tells you exactly how he did it.
It's not well-known, but the fact is that round the world (RTW) travel is surprisingly affordable and flexible. In fact, you're not even held to scheduling constraints on an RTW ticket - if you need to change the date or time of your scheduled flight you can do so with no penalty (you can't change cities once you purchase the ticket, however). For those looking to spend the summer traveling, it's definitely worth looking into.
Travel hacking has become a popular practice for many. Maxing out frequent flyer programs and credit card offers to pay for airfare is now common. No one is better at this than Chris Guillebeau, and he's about to offer an alert service for those of you who want to be tipped off to travel hacking deals. For an excellent video teaching travel hacks, go HERE.
Anyway, I thought you guys could use the tips. Nothing broadens your world view like travel. Here's one other bit of travel advice from your Uncle Eddie: you can save a ton of dough if you're willing to be a pioneer. Here's what I mean.
My wife and I have traveled the world and enjoyed some of the plushest resorts because we're willing to be among the first to try them out and we have the flexibility to travel off-season. For example, we were one of the first guests of The Verandah in Antigua when they opened in November 2007. This place was unbelievable, and it was still under construction when we stayed there. It was all-inclusive (yup, that means free booze - an important consideration for me) and we spent a week there for $2,200 total, including airfare.
A week later we were off to Rome, where we stayed at the Hotel Artemide downtown for $100 a night and get this: they stocked the mini bar with free beer every morning. I could go on and on. We spent 10 days in Paris in early 2003 for $1,200 total (for both of us), including airfare because we were willing to travel at the drop of a hat.
So if you love to travel, learn the hacks. If you can fly around the world for less than $500, why wouldn't you? One of the best books written on the subject was actually written by a drinking buddy of mine, Rolf Potts. The book is Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel and you should check it out if you're the least bit interested in long-term travel. Rolf just completed a 6-week round the world trip with no luggage just to see if it could be done. Watch the videos if you want to laugh your ass off.
It's time to start planning for Pamplona in July guys. Don't let me be the only one running with the bulls this year. I'm telling you - it'll be one of the exclamation points in your life.
I'm gearing up for my trip back to New Orleans next week. Anyone have any exciting travel planned?






Comments
hey does any 1 know is 4000
hey does any 1 know is 4000 pennies will get past airport security? don't ask.
This is some absurd shit. I
This is some absurd shit. I had no idea.
A lot of people do certain things to add days to their life. I do things to add life to my days.
Where's the sign up sheet for
Where's the sign up sheet for Pamplona? Count me in! My new goal is to acquire the frequent flier miles through these techniques. Too cool!
I'm heading to Machu Picchu in January. Any monkeys have advise for me? (Oops, asked too soon...it's at the top of Steve's Epic Quests)
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
Great post. Lately, I've been
Great post. Lately, I've been thinking of doing the same thing. Take a year off and just go travel the world.
Taking off after the summer for a year, and then come back and finish off my degree / go through full time recruiting.
I'm starting to put stuff
I'm starting to put stuff together for Pamplona now. I'll do a post about it soon. Looks like round trip airfare from JFK-PNA is right at $1,000 right now. That's leaving Wed July 6 and returning Mon July 11. Not asshole flights, either. You get to Pamplona at 10:30 am on Thursday, and your flight out leaves at 10:30 am on Monday. For those monkeys in the NYC area, anyway.
blastoise wrote: hey does any
hey does any 1 know is 4000 pennies will get past airport security? don't ask.
Keep your goddamn money squirtz
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
This is unendingly awesome.
This is unendingly awesome. Just spent about 5 months living in Europe, did some travelling but was mostly planted in one capital. Had never been outside the US before, this was really the best experience I've ever had. Definitely getting in on some of those miles deals....
I am already planning for
I am already planning for Pamplona
WSO Conf - June 29, 2013
Couldn't agree more with the
Couldn't agree more with the post. I was born in America, but I've been to (off the top of my head) canada, mexico, peru, ecuador, argentina, france, spain, italy, greece, germany, england, monaco, botswana, zambia, zimbabwe, south africa, morroco, holland, switzerland, russia, jamaica, antigua, sweden, norway, finland, turkey, japan, veitnam, thailand, dubai, and Taiwan ("and") China... And I actually live in China now.
some of that was on a budget, some of it wasn't... great experiences either way.
I will have to tell my
I will have to tell my stories about thrifty Dutch vacations at some point. After spending two years working, I finally decided to treat myself to a quick vacation. I spent a week in Key Largo for $1000, including airfare, food, hotel, and car rental (for a 24 year-old).
My extended family also has some crazy stories from the early days of the Green Tortoise Line:
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/alaska.loo...
Work hard, play hard.
I just made a mock itinerary
I just made a mock itinerary for fun. This stuff SERIOUSLY makes me want to quit my job and take a year off...
CompBanker
I've got 150K+ American
I've got 150K+ American Airlines miles burning a hole in my pocket. I was going to wait until next year to use them because I have a few shorter trips planned this year (and got married and bought a house), but maybe a trip to Europe is in order this summer.
A fun week or so with the wife in Spain and an awesome weekend in Pamplona could be a great time.
I was a Premier Executive
I was a Premier Executive (star alliance gold) on united airlines in tenth grade.
LetsGoSailing wrote: Where's
Where's the sign up sheet for Pamplona? Count me in! My new goal is to acquire the frequent flier miles through these techniques. Too cool!
I'm heading to Machu Picchu in January. Any monkeys have advise for me? (Oops, asked too soon...it's at the top of Steve's Epic Quests)
When I was still in college, my family and I traveled out to Machu Picchu. We didn't do the Inca Trail, but we did hike to the top of Huyana Picchu (the mountain in the background of all the photos). It's about 1000 feet and takes 90 minutes to climb. DON'T LOOK DOWN, and DON'T TRIP. That said, it's well worth the (kinda scary) hike. The Temple of the Moon is near the top and the view from the rock at the top of the mountain is breathtaking.
Lake Titicaca would be a great trip, too, but we just stuck to Cuzco, The Sacred Valley, and Lima.
In the Sacred Valley and around Machu Picchu, being able to speak Spanish is good; speaking Kechua is even better.
The accomodations in Aguas Calientes are a little primitive. Might not want to have a finicky girlfriend spend the night there- the "nice" hotel we stayed at had a plastic roof. Needless to say, it was tough for us to find the any aguas calientes there.
Work hard, play hard.
IlliniProgrammer wrote: My
My extended family also has some crazy stories from the early days of the Green Tortoise Line:
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/alaska.loop.denali.glacier.html
That trip sounds awesome, dude. I've been to Alaska 3 times and can't get enough of the place. That might be one to consider when my boys get a little older.
I have a 2 week italian
"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish"
dmcd, Florence is pretty
I have 0 desire to travel
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SAC wrote: I have 0 desire to
My new job starts in January.
SAC wrote: I have 0 desire to
dmcd wrote: I have a 2 week
It's not the desire to never
Work hard, play hard.
tyrets wrote: dmcd wrote: I
You have some great places in
Illini, thanks for the Machu
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"
I stayed in Pamplona a couple
"The only point in making money is so you can tell some big shot where to go.”
-Bogie
In case anyone wants to see
dmcd wrote: I have a 2 week
cpops16 wrote: First day I
Edmundo is right, i was on a
dmcd wrote: Anyone have an
Whoops just read the posts
This is what scares me about
More is good, all is better
LetsGoSailing wrote: BTW, I
More is good, all is better
In Singapore, check out Rawa
Verandah in Antigua is a nice
LetsGoSailing: BTW, I
SAC: I have 0 desire to