After vacationing in 86 countries, I reveal the best tips for saving money while traveling

As a small-town teenager, I was obsessed with traveling. I collected mountains of books whose authors had traveled the world on their own. I vowed to do the same and landed a job at a bookstore to finance it. There’s nothing like working for hours to learn to appreciate money. And I vow not to waste a dime if I were to see the world.

After a safari in Tanzania when I was 18, I caught the travel bug. It motivated me even more to save as much money as possible for future trips. Now, 20 years later, I have visited 86 countries on a budget.

While lonely backpacking trips conjure up images of sacrifice, it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, there have been many occasions where I’ve stood next to other tourists and experienced exactly the same thing, except I paid a lot less for it.

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Courtesy of Jennifer Sizeland

Stay with locals instead of hotels

I save money by booking directly with local companies instead of through booking sites. For example, when I took a trip to the Kinabatangan River in Borneo to see wildlife such as pygmy elephants and orangutans, I found a host family’s direct contact details online.

The host there owned a boat and took us to explore Malaysia’s wildlife several times during our two day stay. My partner and I watched the incredible elephants. We also saw the other boats with tourists who paid $900 (822 euros) for them, compared to the $130 (118 euros) we paid for two nights, all meals and four boat trips. By the way, I know this because I wrote down the names of the companies to research and compare these prices. It also feels more ethical as our money goes directly to local people rather than to a travel company elsewhere.

Courtesy of Jennifer Sizeland

Cheap tip for vacation: Use buses and trains

While some travelers turn their noses up at public transportation, it offers a great way to meet people. So the journey will also be part of the experience. Countries like Chile and Argentina have excellent long-distance bus services. And some even offer travel-accompanying cheese and ham sandwiches.

Courtesy of Jennifer Sizeland

It is also worth using different types of transport, especially in smaller countries. For example, in Tunisia, my partner and I took trains, buses, and shared taxis across the country to see everything from the ancient ruins of Carthage to flamingos in the ocean. My next tip for hitting lots of sights in one day is to rent a scooter and drive yourself. This is particularly true for countries in South and Southeast Asia, as they can use a small vehicle to avoid heavy traffic in busy cities.

Just remember to convert your driver’s license to an international one. Otherwise, the police may stop you and fine you.

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Check whether you can drive through the national parks independently

If you love wild animals and want to explore national parks, research in advance whether you really have to go on a tour or whether you can drive through the landscape in your own car. Some national parks allow you to book a slot yourself in their system to avoid paying a brokerage commission.

In places like Baku National Park in Borneo, you can rent your own boat without an official tour. You don’t have to go far into the park to see wildlife either, as there are so many of them around the administration building.

Courtesy of Jennifer Sizeland

Book tours on site first

Sometimes you have no choice but to book a tour because it is the only way to reach a certain place. If this is the case, I advise you not to organize it until you are already there. I did this in The Gambia – and booking it myself was much cheaper than booking through the airline. The money also went to a local business and benefited local causes, rather than an anonymous travel provider.

Money or not, you should be able to relax on vacation. Just because you’re traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself every now and then. I put a little aside so I can pamper myself every time I go on vacation. I usually eat from street food stalls or buy groceries in supermarkets. But if I particularly like a bar or restaurant, I allow myself a nice evening there. In Singapore, for example, I went to the Raffles Hotel to try one of the famous Singapore Sling cocktails – a very special experience. Traveling cheaply is hard work, but we all deserve a little reward!

Read the original article on Business Insider.