Travel Hacks-Saving Money While Adding Value When Traveling in Ecuador
Budgets for adventurers of all walks of life are often stretched thin to include a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos Islands. The archipelago itself isn’t cheap and saving money when traveling the four regions of the mainland can sometimes afford an extension to the islands. Keep reading for a few friendly tips for saving some scratch while enjoying your time traveling in Ecuador.
Go in Groups
Finding, joining, or instigating group tours while traveling in Ecuador helps to keep costs down. Rates of extensive trips around the country drop with each additional person added, saving a substantial amount of money while adding value to the trip.
Group tours very rarely exclude private transportation, accommodation, and guides-a- a big bonus when factoring in the time and energy spent arranging these details and the costs of individual or two-person day trips.
In the cities, day tours around town or to incredible hot spots nearby are significantly less expensive with more people. Having a group to explore with adds to the charm, bringing fresh energy to time discovering the culture, architecture, and history of Ecuador.
Use Local Expertise for Accommodation
Local expertise can be a tricky thing, as there are many conflicting agendas competing for recommendations. While this is the case, asking the right person for help when it comes to places to stay is the way to find that hidden gem that’s been in your mind for months.
Ecuador and its cities are a series of communities and neighborhoods. Aside from the groups of expats who call the country home and can give you their picks, there are transplants all over the country whose friends and family live and work in tourism in the four regions of the country.
Finding a one-of-a-kind place in Quito for the same price as a cookie-cutter hostel or hotel is a matter of asking, many locals have a goto place to send guests and friends traveling here.
Volunteer Instead of Taking Spanish Classes
Volunteering when traveling in Ecuador puts a different spin on both learning the language and experiencing the vibrant and welcoming people of the country.
Many times opportunities for helping out in cities, rural communities, and even the Galapagos come with housing, meals, and formal and informal Spanish lessons a great way to practice as you learn. After a week or so volunteering, traveling the country becomes easier as the language barrier starts to fade away.
Find the Right Travel Deals
Travel deals in Ecuador are literally a dime a dozen- advertised online, in shop windows, and from people at the airports vying for your travel funds. Sifting through the deluge can be exhausting, leaving you no closer to finding the right trip for your budget.
Some things to look for are inclusions-are airfare, accommodation, food, and additional fees part of the package? Are there additional add-ons such as day trips and activities to specific destinations?
Finding the right travel deal that gives you space to plan exotic travel elsewhere in Ecuador is a mix of chance and experience. Look further than the advertised price and ask questions about the trips, the guides, the schedule, and the transportation to avoid booking a tour that fails to impress.
As a rule of thumb, traveling in Ecuador on any budget gives you good value for your adventure fund. The country’s accommodations, natural attractions, and historic cities are a good mix that lends itself to savvy travels exploring, occasionally splurging, and enjoying time off without breaking the bank.
For information about Happy Gringo Travel’s custom-made tours for a spectrum of budgets, contact a member of our team by Skype, our toll-free numbers.
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