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Vacation hacks to get away from TO on a budget

Summer is a great time for moving around the town and seeing everything you can, but if you’ve lived in Toronto your whole life, or if you’re just interested in a new location for a week or so, it’s also a great time to travel!

The biggest impediment to new journeys is almost always financial, so being able to travel on a budget is one of the best ways to help yourself have a great time, and still have some cash in the bank so you can pay rent when you get home.

Here are some vacation “hacks” to use for your next getaway from Toronto:

Live out of your backpack

Being able to travel light is a benefit and downright skill for a lot of different reasons, not the least of which being airplane costs. Those checked baggage fees airlines feel compelled to charge can really add up, so travelling with a backpack only can represent some pretty serious savings. Plus, you’ll save with other costs, such as not having to take taxis, for instance (you can walk with your backpack) and you’ll be less inclined to buy more things you don’t need (because you won’t have the space for them).

Getting access to a kitchen to cook your own meals

By getting access to a kitchen, you can drastically decrease the amount you spend on food by not going out and, just as importantly, you’ll be able to eat a lot healthier by not relying too much on easy fast food. It’s all about savings in the long run – that $1,000 vacation seems a lot less daunting and hard on your wallet if you’re able to bring it down to $500 or even $750. Not only will you save money by cooking your own food in a hostel, for instance, you’re certain to make new friends who are doing the same!

Drive!

Maybe you can’t afford to go to Cancun. Maybe Japan isn’t going to be possible this year. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a trip to New York, Montreal or anywhere else near Toronto that you haven’t seen yet. Road trips are great, cheap, and lots of fun and the best part is that you’ll always be able to return whenever you want. Your schedule is truly your own when you’re in charge of transportation.

Travel in a group

The more of you in the group, the cheaper it is for every individual. Save money by stacking bodies in hotel rooms, getting group discounts on flights, or buying food in bulk to make meals for everyone. It’s amazing how great of a bonding experience it can be to travel in a group – not to mention how amazing the savings will be!

Erin Cardone: Born on the Prairies, Erin Cardone grew up knowing there was more to life than canola fields and AAA Alberta Angus. So she escaped, living in Europe and Australia, white-knuckling it through plates of calf brains and raw horse meat, and learning languages she can't remember anymore. After a stint as a jaded, skeptical journalist, she changed tack and began writing rather awesome blogs and showing businesses that advertising is dead, so long live social media, with her businesses Legendary Social Media. She now splits her time between various Canadian cities, Costa Rica and wherever else the wind blows.