Traveling: Price vs. Comfort

Planning your next adventure is one of the best things to look forward to. The anticipation of going on a trip is a great feeling – almost as good as actually being on the trip! While planning for your next getaway, there is more to think about than just location. For budget-minded travelers looking to keep it on the cheap, it’s important to consider what price you are willing to pay and weigh it against your comfort level.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Accommodation

As a frugal traveler, I always stay in hostels or with a friend. I personally don’t need a nice hotel to sleep in as I hope to be exploring and gallivanting as much as possible – not being stuck in a hotel. However, I am very mindful of where I stay when I choose a hostel. I consider the location of the hostel and how close it is to nearby attractions and public transportation. In addition, it’s important to assess the safety of the neighborhood before you book. As a traveler, you are often not privy to the inside politics and safety issues of a city. However, it’s important to try to figure this out ahead of time, to avoid any uncomfortable situations.

A few years ago, I was taking a trip to Vancouver and found a cheap motel for $50/night. I was so excited I almost booked it without thinking. I then decided to be smart and check out some reviews of the motel and the neighborhood. Boy, was I glad I did! It turned out the neighborhood was a haven for druggies that were strung out and had a high rate of violence. I found this out for myself later on when I was walking and within a 2-block radius, it turned from nice to scary.

Sometimes it’s absolutely not worth it to save a few extra bucks – put your comfort and safety first!

Flight

Anyone that has been on a long flight knows the pain of being in those tiny seats for 12 hours or more. It’s hard to stretch, and can feel really cramped and uncomfortable. The price difference between coach and first class is rather large (even if it’s for cheap first class flights), but in some instances you can get an upgrade for a reasonable price. If you think your traveling experience will be enhanced by being more comfortable, getting more leg room, or boarding first, consider the price and determine if it’s worth it to you.

Transportation

Getting around a new city is such an adventure. You get to explore new geography, see the sights, and enjoy everything it has to offer. When traveling, public transportation or walking tends to be the most frugal options. But once again consider your comfort and also the time it takes to get around. If it takes 2 hours on public transportation to get from the airport to the hotel, maybe it’s worth it to take a taxi. If you walk around all day, but are too tired to do anything because of it, you should splurge a little on making yourself comfortable so you can enjoy your trip and get the most out of it.

I know for me, it’s always a balance between saving money and enjoying myself on vacation. I tend to be very frugal when it comes to transportation and accommodations, so I can splurge on dinners, museums, and music. I think it’s important to spend money on your values, but also put a price on your comfort so you are not defeating the purpose of being on vacation. If you know you can’t sleep in a hostel or do Couchsurfing, that’s ok. If you are not down with public transportation, that’s ok too. We all have our own comfort levels and when traveling it’s key to know where we stand and what we want out of a vacation and how we can be comfortable.

I’ve stayed in some sketchy neighborhoods just to save a buck and I completely regret it. Worrying if someone is going to break into your car, or being scared to walk alone in the dark doesn’t make for a good vacation.

So when you are planning your next adventure, consider price, comfort and what you want to get out of your vacation. You’ll thank yourself later!

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