Saving Money for an Adventure of a Lifetime

Be a Thrifty Adventurer with These Tips

If you’re spending a night on a horse trip or looking for a mountain experience, expect to save lots if you plan to budget carefully. What’s best about a trip centered on an adventure is that you can indulge on all the thriftiest ways without looking frugal, as you’ll always have thrill and fun as an excuse. Check out these sites for some adventure ideas:

• California. Exhilarating sums up the word for clambering up rock faces with only a headlamp for light. In Sequoia’s National Park’s Crystal Cave, a wild tour can lead tourists through hip-hugging crevices or above needle-sharp stalagmites. There are 45-minute tours that cost around $13 for rugged wild trips. There’s no need to worry about lodging as affordable options can be found at the John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, and Montecito Lake Resort.

• Idaho. Tracking a beast may seem to be a scary adventure for some, but not when you’re tracking the United States’ gray wolf. There’s a weeklong adult tracking program in Boise, Idaho, which includes transportation, instruction, food, and lodging. Trips educate guests on hunting ways and tips on tracking wolves.

• Belize. The world’s largest fish can be the center of an awesome adventure. Belize is one of the best places to swim with the 40-foot gentle giants. Many boat operators can be found around town, offering transportation, tanks, and equipment.

• Canada. In Fathom Five National Marine Park, diving is the standard for an adventure. The place is home to at least 27 shipwrecks, mainly due to its location on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. The water’s clear and the atmosphere’s almost Mediterranean. You can explore perfectly preserved wrecks for a fraction of the price. The town is pretty much geared towards a sophisticated diving community, and the rates are cheap. For Canadian $40, you’ll get a diving experience plus rent.

• Moab, Utah. Utah’s grounds have been tempered and formed into a wind-scoured landscape. Its terrains are not only a beauty to look at, but also provide opportunities for rugged adventures. There’s enough reason why outdoors enthusiasts have called the area as the United States’ extreme sports capital. Slickrocks, mountains, needles, pinnacles, and canyons are a delight to explore from the back of a mountain horse, atop an ATV, into a jeep, or even in a rock-climbing gear. See sweeping views through a hot-air balloon. Best of all, most of these ranger-led tours are budget-friendly. Outfitters abound and offer reasonable prices. Moab has several affordable in-town lodgings like the Bowen and Apache Motels.

Tips on Saving More from your Adventure:

Set a basic itinerary, especially if you do not have an initial schedule. Manage expectations about how much time—and money—you expect to devote to activities like hikes, treks, and other adventures. Map out a budget. If you’re not going on a tour, be sure to plan on the rate you expect to spend per night on lodging and on meals. Adventures are best shared with friends and family, so try not to go alone unless you really want to. You can plan to share a room and save a lot. If you’re traveling by road, keep a list of expenses.

Bring your own materials. Once you have decided on your type of adventure, you will know what to bring and pack. The list can include a tent, sleeping bags, and some can openers. This will save you lodging especially if you love backpacking trips.

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