Saving money is always a good thing; being cheap is not

With airlines consistently cutting back on their customer service, why the hell do prices keep going up? It used to be that you paid for the flight and got a free pillow, blanket, headphones and semi-decent meal (if you were flying far enough), or at least a snack. You were able to check two pieces of luggage and have a carry-on and personal item on board for no additional cost. I understand the airlines are in serious financial troubles — I get it, really — but if you’re cutting back on all the frills, then charge the same prices as no-frills airlines do. Why are we paying more than ever for no-frills flights and then paying extra for the frills on top of that?

In Europe there are several no-frills airlines that offer inexpensive flights to most cities. They provide a great way to save money on the actual travel part of your adventure, and you’re not sacrificing all that much comfort seeing as most destinations in Europe are no more than 3 hours apart. If you get particularly hungry, you can purchase a meal on most flights. But remember to factor in a fee for your carry-on. Don’t worry, the flights still cost WAY less than any major airlines flight.

RyanAir and EasyJet are two popular options, but prepare to be creative with your travel plans, since the two mostly fly through London to get to other destination. For example, there are far fewer direct flights from Madrid on EasyJet as there are from London. So, if partaking in these cheaper travel alternatives, allot yourself enough time for the catches.

Also, I’m a much bigger fan of EasyJet as it actually flies into the main airports of the cities you want to visit. RyanAir, with the exception of Dublin, flies into East Bumbfuck Nowhere — case in point, Reus, Spain. “Fucking Reus,” as it fondly became known amongst my group of friends, is a very small town outside of Barcelona. I’m sure it’s a fine town, but our experience at the airport consisted of a broken ATM (so we couldn’t take out Euros) and a closed down exchange booth (so I had to exchange our pounds for Euro at the café — you can imagine the exchange rate I got). The only way to get from Reus to Barcelona was on a bus — the bus cost us 11 euro each. That same 11 extra euro could have booked us a spot on an EasyJet flight that would have taken us into Barcelona’s main airport, from which it is possible to grab any number of modes of transportation to get to our location.

Another example is Amsterdam. I don’t know from personal experience because by that point I had learned, but RyanAir flies into Eindhoven, not Amsterdam. Have you ever heard of Eindhoven? I certainly hadn’t.

My friends and me waiting for a train in Italy

Trains are another possible travel alternative. Though train tickets can be pricey, many train companies have discounts for students and/or youth (those under 25), or other deals. Trains provide you with entry into city centers (whereas airports are usually far outside city limits), and less stringent baggage limitations. While international train stations still have customs and security checks, you can bring back a bottle of French wine in your carry-on luggage (which you obviously no longer can do on planes).

Basically, explore all your travel options to find ones that will save you money, but don’t be cheap — it’ll end up costing you.

What are some of your favorite methods of inexpensive travel?

Why I travel

The New York Times is asking readers to show "Why We Travel" by submitting their favorite photos to the site. Below is a sampling of why I travel.

1. The people ... both the locals and those you share the adventures with.

My TopDeck group in Egypt

Egyptian schoolgirls who were very eager to pose for pics.

An Indian family that agreed to pose for a picture in Orcha.

Old and new friends in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Edam cheese in the Netherlands (above)


Paella in Barcelona (below)

2. The food. I find one of the best (and yummiest) ways to truly experience another culture is through the food.

Food market in Barcelona

Interesting chocolate in Brugge, Belgium

Pasta and wine in Florence, Italy

3. And, of course, the sights! I don't care what kind of a traveler it makes me, but when I go to Egypt, I expect to see the pyramids. When I'm in Paris, you better believe I'm going to gander at the Eiffel Tower. And I'm sure as hell seeing the Taj Mahal if I've taken the 17-hour flight from New York to India. I'm all for seeing things "off the beaten path," but I don't think there's anything wrong with seeing a country's, city's or town's famous landscapes. Besides, that's all other people want to hear about when they ask you about what you saw and where you've been. If anything, those sights are great conversation starters to then open up people's perceptions to everything else a place might have to offer that you were fortunate enough to experience as well.

A street in Prague, Czech Republic

Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain

A liquor shop in Denmark 

The Tart with a Cart, Dublin

Sunrise over the Sahara, Egypt

Sugarcane trucks in Egypt

Fancy gardening, Brighton, England

Punts in Cambridge, England

Leeds Castle in England

View from the river in Orcha, India

A pretty park in fall, Minsk, Belarus

Up close with a Nepalese elephant

The Magic Garden in Philly

People bathing in Ganghes

Iconic London

Collosseum in Rome, Italy

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Realto Bridge in Venice, Italy

      And those are the reasons why I travel!
      Why do you travel?