How to Travel on a Teacher’s Salary
Paris, France. Stayed in an AirBNB with a group of friends for about $8 per person per night.
We all know that teachers don’t get paid enough. That becomes quite a bummer when we love to travel, and especially annoying when we can only travel during peak season when everything is more expensive. But I want to see the world, and I’ve found a way to do it. So here are my Top 5 Tips for traveling on a teacher’s salary.
Start with a Budget
I know, I know. Ugh. Budget. Everyone hates that word. But, honestly, it’s the number one thing that has made travel possible and, believe it or not, even more enjoyable for our family.
Each month, I sit down and write out our budget. You can use whatever kind of budget speaks to you. The goal is to have a savings category that you put money into every month for travel. I know it’s easy to argue that it’s impossible, but if travel is important to you, then it’s time to take a good, hard look at your expenses.
Check out your monthly bills. Are there any you can call and get a better rate on? Car insurance, internet, and cable are great places to start. I mean, heck, get rid of cable altogether if you’re bad. What about your cell phone? I used to spend $150 a month for two lines on a familiar provider, but we switched to Mint Mobile this year (partly because it’s super cheap and partly because I have a crush on Ryan Reynolds) and it’s been a game changer at $30 a month for two lines.
The hardest part for us is spending less on food (I like to eat y’all) so we focus on other areas we can live without, or with less. Then, we put what’s left over into a travel fund. Same thing with any “extra” income we might get - tax returns, birthday gifts, pennies found on the sidewalk, you get the idea.
Petra/Amman, Jordan. Stayed in an AirBNB for about $5 per person per night.
Get creative about where you stay
It’s always nice to stay in a luxury hotel. I feel that. But if the cost of lodging is holding you back from exploring a new place, there are plenty of other options to consider.
Traveling solo? Or with a group of adventurous friends? I LOVE staying at hostels. You can find a bed in a hostel for super cheap if you’re up for it. Here are a few tricks I use:
I stay in all-female dorms. The rooms are usually smaller when it’s not a co-ed dorm, so there’s less room for snorers.
And speaking of snoring, pack earplugs or headphones, just in case.
Bring shower shoes and a travel towel or sarong
Use the kitchen! Many hostels have a community kitchen where you can cook your own food, which will totally help with the budget part.
Get recommendations for food and adventure from the people working the front desk. They usually have more “local” options that will save you money by avoiding the standard tourist areas.
Hang out with other travelers! You’ll meet lots of like-minded travel friends who want to explore, and if you’re solo, you’ll have someone to take all your Instagram pictures for you.
If you hate the idea of a dorm, plenty of hostels have private rooms too. They can be pricier, but it can be worth it for a good night’s sleep.
Okay, so hostels are a no-go? But do you love pets? Or plants? Consider house sitting. You can check out this website and stay in someone’s house in exchange for walking Fluffy or watering the ficus.
I don’t personally support or advocate for AirBNB or VRBO, but I can’t argue that they’re great for families. If you’re traveling with a big group, it might be most cost-effective to rent a house. Plus, you’ll have a kitchen and can save on eating out by visiting a local market or grocery store and cooking some of your own meals.
Fes, Morocco. Stayed in a cheap hostel and ate lots of food from the markets.
Skip the rental car
Yup. Skip it. Or at least mostly skip it. I know there are some places that are only accessible if you drive, but hear me out.
If you’re in a city with public transportation, use it! Take the subway/metro/train/light rail or whatever it’s called in that locale. Find a map, pay a couple bucks for a ticket, and don’t be afraid of accidentally missing your stop. You can always hop back on and turn around! Not only is this most cost-effective for you, but it’s also friendlier for the planet.
Walk. Do it. There’s something about taking in a new place on foot. You get to slow down and see things you would probably otherwise drive past.
Rent a bike. Or scooter. But probably just a bike. Many places are bike friendly and have rentals readily available - both electric and human-powered. Again, it’s friendlier for the environment and allows you to see sights you’d miss in a car. Plus, if there’s traffic, you’ll probably get to your destination faster on a bike.
All over India…stayed in hostels, an AirBNB, and the floor of what I think was a church?
Take your PTO and travel during the “off-season”
But sub plans. But the pacing guide. But admin. But it’s frowned upon.
Just do it. Seriously. Take a random week in October or February when flights are cheap and attractions have off-peak rates. The school will figure it out without you. Your class will function without you (granted, maybe not as smoothly, but it’s nothing you can’t set right when you get back from a week in paradise).
Not convinced? Check out Google Flights and compare the cost of traveling to your destination on your winter break dates to the cost of traveling three weeks after winter break.
Ecuador. We camped here. In a tent.
Earn travel rewards through credit cards
This one might be even more controversial than starting a budget or getting a sub. But, if you’re in a place where this sounds like a good idea, read on. If not, just skip this one. I’m not offended, promise.
I used to be a firm believer that credit cards are the devil. Thanks to all of my time spent with debt-destroyer Dave Ramsey. But recently, I’ve taken a turn to the dark side.
Credit cards can be a great way to rack up mass amounts of hotel and airline points, earning you not only free flights and rooms, but also things like loyalty status, upgrades, and, depending on the card, even perks like TSA pre-check.
I’ve booked round trip business class flights to Europe, free nights in hotels, and got cash back to spend on trips just through using credit cards.
So here are my rules for earning travel rewards through credit cards.
Rule #1: Pay it off. Immediately. Some “travel hackers” will say to pay it off monthly. I literally pay it off as soon as the purchase goes through because I’m a control freak.
Rule #2: See Rule #1. It’s that important. You don’t want something that’s supposed to help you afford to travel to actually just put you deeper into debt. So don’t even think about financing a vacation on one of these cards unless you have the cash to pay for it.
Rule #3: Only make purchases you were planning to make already. I use my credit cards for things I would use my debit card for - groceries, gas, books, whatever. I’m not buying extra just because it earns points, because that’s the opposite of what I’m trying to do here. Remember, “extra” cash goes in the travel fund, not into another pair of shoes (unless that’s what brings you the most joy).
Rule #4: Have a plan. Do your research. I make an order of operations for which cards to apply for and in which order, based on which would bring the most value to my upcoming travel experiences. Not sure where to start? This card is my favorite and a generally great initial travel credit card.
Rule #5: Sign-up bonuses are where it’s at. The goal is to earn a sign-up bonus by meeting the minimum spend (don’t sign up if you can’t meet the minimum spend with just your regular monthly expenses) and then moving on to the next sign-up bonus. Again, do your research and make sure you understand what this looks like first.
Moab, Utah. We stayed in a hotel using credit card points.
Hopefully, these 5 tips for traveling on a teacher’s salary have been helpful. What other ways have you been able to afford travel? What tips would you like to know more about? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to add another blog about the most frequent topics!
