South Carolina is quickly becoming a popular retirement state. This beautiful state features mountains, the ocean, and plenty of activities for those looking to retire here. Here is a list of the best places to retire in South Carolina.

First, let’s look at the reasons people enjoy retiring in this state.

Tax Friendly Retirement in South Carolina

South Carolina is one of the most tax friendly states for retirees. They don’t tax Social Security income and there are deductions available for other types of retirement income as well. Property taxes here are also one of the lowest in the nation and the average home value in South Carolina is just $148,000. All of this makes South Carolina a good financial decision for many retirees.

SC Activities in Retirement

South Carolina is beautiful, mountains, lakes, and sunsets highlight this gorgeous state. It even features one of the oldest living things in the country, the Angel tree at over 400 years old. Home to a very active population, golf, hiking, boating, and many other activities await you here in South Carolina. It’s rich in culture and history, so you will never run out of amazing things to learn.

Retirement Haven

South Carolina is a very popular vacation destination. Many of these vacationers turn this into their ideal retirement location after visiting several times. There is really no better praise then those who visit this beautiful state wanting to make it a permanent home. South Carolina continues to grow as not only a tourist destination but as a retirement haven. Those looking to enjoy the later years of their life with beautiful weather, activities, and financial incentives will love it here.

Of course, there are many great cities to choose and all have something a little bit different to offer. Let’s look at some of the best options available.

1.    Seneca

Seneca is a beautiful town surrounded by lakes and mountains. You will find many of your retired peers in this beautiful town as seniors make up about 20% of the population. Seneca is a very active community and common recreation includes hiking, kayaking, and boating on Lake Keowee Marina.

Seneca also has several museums for you and your family to visit and learn about culture, energy, and science. It also has many medical facilities available for you to use. This makes Seneca a great place to continue living a happy and healthy life throughout your golden years.

2.    Murrells Inlet

This quiet community is just a few miles from popular Myrtle Beach. It has only about 8,000 people and seniors make up over 30% of that population. This maritime community has plenty of golf courses and beaches to keep you active. With some of the best seafood in the world you will enjoy eating at one of the many popular restaurants here in Murrells Inlet.

3.    Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is another great place for retirees and is one of the most popular destinations. You will always have fun experiences to entertain you and your family here. Enjoy one the 100 golf courses, endless shopping and restaurant choices, and popular shows playing at the local theater.

Moreover, you can enjoy your retirement years relaxing on the soft white sand beaches while watching the sunset. Myrtle Beach is home to one of the longest continuous beaches on the planet, the Grand Strand. This is a great place for those looking for a little adventure in their retirement. With its large tourist population and all the excitement that comes with it you will never be bored.

4.    Greenville

Greenville is a great small town that is home to several colleges. With a great taste for art the town hosts several events and festivals throughout the year. If you’re looking to retire in a smaller, quieter area that still has attractions and a quaint downtown, Greenville may be the perfect option for you. It has maintained a historic presence. Its Main Street features many original buildings creating a unique experience for residents and visitors alike.

5.    West Columbia

West Columbia is a great choice if continued education is something you look forward to during retirement. The University of South Carolina is nearby and offers free tuition to those who are over 60. Known for its southern hospitality along with a vibrant city life West Columbia has been gaining popularity as a place to retire. It has a multitude of recreational centers located in and around West Columbia. This means you will never run out of fun activities for you and your family.

Conclusions on our List of Places to Retire in South Carolina

Retirement can be an exciting but stressful time in our lives. Especially when still deciding on where we want to live. South Carolina has so much to offer retirees. From its beautiful scenery, active lifestyle, tax benefits, and excellent health care you will find that one of these cities in South Carolina can make a great permanent home for you.

Other Fantastic Retirement Cities and Communities:

• Mexico

• North Carolina

• Florida

• Arizona

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Here are the best places to retire in Florida. A state that is home to the highest percentage of retirees. With good reason!

One of the main reasons that retirees are drawn to “The Sunshine State”, is for well, the sunshine. With almost 250 days of sunshine each year you can always get out and enjoy the many activities offered here in Florida.

Tax Friendly Retirement in FL

Florida has some of the best tax friendly policies for retirees. There’s no state income tax here and they don’t tax retirement or Social Security Income. With no inheritance or estate tax you can pass on your wealth onto your children tax free. Property taxes are also reasonable in Florida, making it a financial haven for retirees.

Florida’s Active Lifestyle

Florida is a very active state, which has attracted the attention of healthy minded retirees. It’s easy to connect with others who are in the same position as you; trying to enjoy retirement in this beautiful state. You can go to the beach, hiking, running, or go on one of the many excursions offered throughout the state.

Family Activities

With over 1,200 miles of coastline and soft white sand beaches, you will always have something fun to do. Florida is also home to Disney World and is a great experience for both you and your grandchildren when they come to visit you. This is one of the amazing benefits of Florida, it has plenty of activities. These will help keep you and your family connected even if they don’t live nearby.

Florida Retirement Communities

Many of the communities in Florida are 55 and over communities. This means that you will find others who are at a similar place in life as you are, creating a strong sense of community. You will create lasting friendships, bonding over tennis, swimming, or book club. These communities also offer varying levels of living assistance, so assistance can increase as you age.

Of course, there are many cities to choose from in Florida, so take a look at our list of the five best places to retire.

1.    Sarasota

Sarasota has a population of just a little over 50,000 people and 26% of them are over 65. The slow-paced lifestyle features a colonial Spanish history that attracts many of these retirees. Along with plenty of amenities and about an hour drive to Tampa you’re never far from the city. However, with its nearly 100 stores and restaurants you will never need to leave your little slice of heaven. With its miles of white sand beaches, lush landscape, and plenty of wildlife Sarasota offers a beautiful backdrop for all your adventures.

2.    Gainesville

Gainesville is about 75 miles inland, meaning that you won’t go to the beach as regularly. However, when hurricane season hits, this may not be such a bad thing. Home to the University of Florida residents over 60 can enroll in courses for free. If you’re looking to continue learning during retirement this is a great advantage. Just about 10% of its 130,000 population is 65 and older, so they have a wider range of residents. Initially founded as a health care resort, Gainesville now has medical care available at both the Sands Hospital and North Florida Regional Medical Center.

3.    Naples

Naples is another beach town featuring around 20,000 people and over half of those are 65 and up. The miles of beaches, high air quality, and beautiful scenery have attracted retirees for years. Residents of Naples report feeling good about their health, financial security, community, and their sense of purpose. All of these are great things as we age and being surrounded by others who feel the same creates a unique experience here in Naples. However, home prices here reflect this reality, starting around $400,000 for a condo.

4.    St.  Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is the largest city on our list today. With over 250,000 people 17% are over 65. Home prices are lower here starting at just $165,000 depending on the size and location. Getting around in St. Petersburg is easy and you will find many people biking or walking downtown while enjoying the arts scene and local restaurants. Tampa is just a half hour away, meaning you can escape for the day to enjoy its theaters, colleges, and other conveniences of city life. Then you will return to your quiet paradise.

5.    Punta Gorda

Another small town, at around 20,000 people, over half of those are over 65. Retires are drawn by the canal-front living and plenty of retirement communities. Golfing is a popular pastime and there are over 18 miles of trails for those who prefer biking or walking. The average home price in Punta Gorda is $325,000 and rent is just around $1000 a month. This makes it a relatively affordable place to call home.  

Conclusions on Places to Retire: Florida

When looking at places to retire, Florida is always one of the top US states and rightfully so. This trend of people retiring to this temperate, active, and beautiful state shows no signs of stopping. If you want the good life filled with others who are at the same place in their lives as you are, there is no better place than one of these cities in Florida.

Other Excellent Places to Live in Retirement:

• Mexico

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

• Arizona

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North Carolina is quickly becoming a retirement haven. In fact, it has even beaten out two of the most popular states for retirees: Florida and Arizona. Here are the five best places to retire in North Carolina.

Tax Benefits of the Best Places to Retire North Carolina

Over the years North Carolina has developed tax friendly policies that attract retirees. If your main source of income is Social Security North Carolina is a great option for you as they don’t tax this type of income. You will also benefit from their low property taxes and sales tax that’s around the national average.

In 2013 North Carolina repealed their estate tax meaning that you can transfer any amount to your heirs without paying state taxes. This is another benefit that is attracting those with substantial income to retire in North Carolina.

Natural Beauty

North Carolina is a beautiful state; from the ocean to the mountains. You haven’t seen true fall colors until you’ve experienced it here. Along with its cultural history you will always have something new to experience.

Retirement Home Options in North Carolina

 As North Carolina has continued to grow as a retirement state, more retirement homes have become available. These are available at a variety of price ranges, care levels, and locations to meet whatever your needs are now and in the future.

Now that you know what North Carolina has to offer retirees, let’s look at some of the best cities to choose from.

1.    Asheville

If you enjoy going to a good brewery, Asheville is the place for you. With more breweries per capita than any other US city you will never run out of amazing craft beers to taste. Along with its arts and music scene Asheville provides the perfect place for retirees. Here you will enjoy the beautiful scenery, temperate climate, and downtown entertainment.

This town is large enough to provide a lot of city life conveniences while still being small enough to maintain a quaint feeling. Asheville also has amazing outdoor options as well. Biking, hiking, and golf are common pastimes for residents. Follow this up by hitting the downtown shops, watching the street performers, and then relaxing with a drink at an amazing restaurant.

2.    Brevard

If something a little smaller is more your speed Brevard is another mountain town located in western North Carolina. Their goal is “to promote a high quality of life, support economic prosperity, and cultivate community while honoring its heritage and culture.” This beautiful town offers waterfalls, mountain biking, and rock climbing for retirees who want to remain active. In Brevard you will enjoy nearby Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forest thanks to its moderate year-round climate.

3.    Davidson

Lakeside living is also easily available in North Carolina. Davidson is a small town with just under 13,000 people located on the shores of Lake Norman. With its small-town feel and southern hospitality, you will enjoy a quiet lifestyle.

With nearby Charlotte only half an hour away you can always enjoy the city before returning to your lovely community. Davidsons’ historic character and walkable downtown area make it a great community. Along with fishing, boating, and nearby hiking trails you will never get bored living in this beautiful small town.

4.    Highlands

If 13,000 people still seems too big you will enjoy the tiny town of Highlands, with less than 1,500 permanent residents. However, keep in mind that this number peaks to around 20,000 people during the heavy tourist times: spring through fall.

This tourism provides ample business opportunities for its more entrepreneurial residents. Highlands also features the beautiful landscape North Carolina is known for. You will enjoy hiking to beautiful waterfalls, antiquing in downtown, or watching a play at The Highlands Playhouse founded back in 1983.

5.    New Bern

New Bern is a little bit closer to the sea with a population of just over 30,000 people. You may even recognize its downtown streets from the movie “The notebook”. New Bern is also the second oldest town in North Carolina and was even the capital in colonial days. While it remains a small town it still has a beautiful arts scene. Street performers, waterfront concerts, and bi-monthly art walks ensure retirees will enjoy the finer things in its four historic districts.

Conclusions on Places to Retire North Carolina

North Carolina has plenty to offer retirees and you can find just about any lifestyle you’re looking for in one of the many cities or towns here. With great tax policies, beautiful scenery, year-round temperate climate, and retirement community choices, North Carolina has everything you need. Your family members will love to visit with all of the experiences North Carolina has to offer.

Read Next: Best Places to Retire in Mexico

Other Best States and Cities to Retire in the United States

• Florida

• South Carolina

• Arizona

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In this article we cover the 5 best places to retire in Mexico.

When deciding on somewhere to retire many people imagine drinking Mai Tais on the beach. One of the best places to do this is Mexico, which offers a little bit of something for everyone. In fact, International Living has rated Mexico as one of the top 5 countries in the world for retirees.

Mexico’s geographic diversity means that you can have mountains and the ocean all while being in a temperate climate. This makes Mexico somewhere that you and your loved ones can enjoy year-round.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a popular retirement destination for many Americans as it is warm year-round and offers a lot of fun activities. It’s a very convenient place to retire with direct flights throughout the United States and to other countries.

This beach town offers plenty of nightlife, music, and theater to keep you entertained. Of course, you can always spend a relaxing day enjoying the beach if you decide to retire in this area of Mexico. Puerto Vallarta has a great mix of local culture while still being easy for expats to navigate. Most expats find that they need very little Spanish to get by in Puerto Vallarta.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Puerto Vallarta is cheap especially in comparison to American standards. Typically, a couple can retire on well under $3,000 USD per month for everything you need. An average 2-bedroom apartment costs around $900 a month while groceries and other household items will set you back around $300 a month.

San Miguel de Allende

Retiring in San Miguel de Allende means living in a quaint community with a temperate climate. The average daily temperature is in the 70’s and drops into the 50’s at night. January and February are the “cold months” dropping into the 30’s at night.  

This town has a lot of cultural history to share with those who choose to make it their home. With its thriving art scene, you will never get bored or lack a cultural experience.

Cost of Living

The average cost of living for a couple is less than $2,000 per month. The temperate climate means that there is no need for heat and AC, keeping electricity bills low. While going out to a nice restaurant will only cost $40 to $50 including drinks and appetizers.

Merida

If you’re looking for something a little more upbeat Merida is a great option for you. With close to 1 Million people this huge city still maintains a quaint feeling when walking the cobblestone streets. The culture, sports, and modern infrastructure along with world class medical care makes it a great retirement community for expats. This will prove to be an easy transition for those leaving the US and moving to Mexico as the lifestyle and amenities are similar. However, due to the high number of locals you will need to learn more Spanish to live in Merida.

Cost of Living

Merida is another cheap place to retire even by Mexico’s standards. A couple can live comfortably on $1,500 to $1,750 every month. Temperatures get higher in Merida so your electricity bill will likely be more during the hot months. But a 3-bedroom apartment in the heart of downtown starts at just $550 a month.

Tulum

The town of Tulum is a charming resort town that has been growing in popularity over the last several years. With the beautiful beaches and crystal waters of the Caribbean, it is becoming quite the tourist destination and an ideal spot for many retirees. If you choose to live in the center of town you will not need to have a car. Walking, biking, and mopeds are popular modes of transportation for those who live within the city.

Cost of Living

As interest in Tulum has risen so have the prices to live here. This is the most expensive city on our list today but is still cheap for American standards. A couple can live comfortably on just over $3,000 a month. This higher price is almost entirely due to the increased housing costs caused by increased tourism and population. Renting a furnished two-bedroom house will set you back about $2,000 every month.

Huatulco

This breathtaking coastal town is another great choice for retirees. It features some of the best scenery in the world. With over 30 beaches lined by the beautiful Sierra Madre mountains it is an amazing place to call home. With great healthcare available in town and reasonable rates you will be wondering why you didn’t move here sooner. A typical doctor’s appointment will only set you back around $20 depending on what specialty you’re seeing.

Cost of Living

Living in Huatulco will set a couple back about $1,500 every month. This includes a two-bedroom condo ranging around $500 to $700 a month. If you are looking for something a little fancier, a house with an ocean view will cost around $1,000 to $1,500.

Conclusions on Places to Retire in Mexico

When deciding on a place to retire, Mexico should be at the top of your list. It’s an easy flight for family members to come visit you and the amazing weather. With the great climate, great healthcare, and affordable prices it’s hard to go wrong in such a beautiful place.

Best States to Retire in the United States

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Retirement is something we’ve looked forward to throughout most of our adult lives and it provides the most freedom we have had in decades. With no job to tie us down, no kids still living at home, and no responsibilities beyond doing what we enjoy, the options are limitless. Sometimes however, the endless choices of things to do after retirement can seem overwhelming. So, let’s take a look at some of the best options to create a fulfilling retirement with things to do after retirement.

Travel Things to Do in Retirement

One of the biggest things people want to do during retirement is start traveling. If you have the ability to do so, traveling can be a very rewarding experience. There are many different ways that you could begin traveling and each offers its own advantages. Take a look at some of these possibilities and see what fits your lifestyle best.

Cruises

Cruises are a great option for those who want a relaxing travel experience. The majority of the time you will be relaxing by the pool, having a drink, and watching the beautiful scenery. This is an all-inclusive option, you don’t have to worry about setting up transportation, places to stay, or food choices. You simply choose the destination you want to go to, take a cruise to get there, and then explore the area.

RV

Another great option is to buy or rent an RV and travel around the country. This provides you with significantly more flexibility in your travel plans. RV travel allows you to experience the joys of slow travel. You decide when, where, and how long you want to stop and have no time limit on experiencing an area. However, this is more involved, requiring you to determine the destination, route, food, and all other factors of your trip.

Tours

If you decide to go to other countries and want to truly experience all they have to offer, a tour may be the best option for you. This combines some of the benefits of both cruises and an RV. You get more experience in the culture that you’re visiting, without having to completely plan an entire trip on your own.

Hobby Things to Do in Retirement

Have you ever wanted to try a new hobby or sport but found that you were just too busy? Now is the perfect time to get started in the things you always thought were interesting. Take a pottery class, start playing tennis, or start writing a book, whatever you think would be fulfilling is worth a try. Finding a hobby that you will enjoy for years, can be somewhat of a trial-and-error situation, but once you find what you’re passionate about, you’ll be happy for all the other experiences you’ve had.

Become a Mentor

Many people find that after retirement their life isn’t as fulfilling as it used to be. Becoming a mentor and using your experience to help a younger person on their journey can be one of the most rewarding ways to use your retirement years. Young people are constantly seeking input from those who have been where they want to be and advice on how to get there. Whatever experience you have had in life can be something useful for a younger adult or child going through similar experiences.

Start a Business

With all that free time on your hands, why not start the business you’ve always dreamed of? You could open a bakery, start a blog, or anything else you’ve always imagined. Starting a business can be rewarding for many people and a great way to use your retirement years. Now is the time to go for your dreams, however big or small, so don’t resign yourself to giving up on achieving them.

Take a Gap Year

Gap years are typically used for young adults who’ve graduated high school and are not yet ready to start college. It gives them time to experience things in life and decide what they want to do going forward. This is a similar point in life to initial retirement. You’ve done all of the things you had planned and now you need to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. Taking a year to just experience the things that you have always wanted to experience and explore the possibilities of what you want going forward, can give you a lot of insight that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Move Somewhere New

Jobs and responsibilities often hold us in places that aren’t our ideal location. Maybe you have just always wanted to really immerse yourself in another culture overseas, or your family lives in another state. Moving to somewhere new can give you the opportunity to experience what you’ve always wanted.

Regardless of what your reasons are for wanting to move, you have to remember that now there’s nothing holding you back. There’s no reason that you have to stay where you have been, if somewhere else seems more enticing.

• Related Reading: Downsizing Tips for Seniors

Watch Your Finances

Lastly, it’s important when going into retirement to keep an eye on your finances. You’ve worked hard and planned for your future, so you need to make sure that you’re living within your means.

It can be a hard adjustment to go to a fixed income when you retire. But by giving yourself some time to transition to the new lifestyle and keeping an eye on your spending, you can make sure that you can enjoy your retirement for the rest of your life without worry.

• Related Reading: Minimalism for Baby Boomers

Conclusions on Things to do After Retirement

Retirement is a very exciting time, but it leaves a lot of options available to you. Sometimes deciding what to do after retirement can be harder than we initially thought. Just go for something, give it a try, and see what sticks. This time in your life can be used to experience new things and there’s nothing wrong with trying something, finding you don’t like it, and trying something else. Now it’s all about the experience.

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So you want to travel cheaply, and have the time to do it. Slow travel is the perfect way to get traveling done on the cheap, especially if you are practicing frugal living.

An Introduction

Since I (Cathleen) live in Hawaii, and travel anywhere involves an airplane, this is geared more towards air travel. These tips have been garnered over the years starting from my college days of travelling across the country and halfway across the Pacific 3-4 times a year, having to travel from Hawaii to DC every month for the last 5 years, plus the Mister’s extensive travels around the world.

Y’all didn’t come here for my life story, so let’s get to it:

Slow Travel + Frugal Travel Tips

Research

The library is a really good place to start with travel books. Keep in mind these are likely older, so probably aren’t up-to-date on restaurants and hotels, but should be a good source for a general idea of what you need to go, tried-and-true attractions, etc.

The second best thing is to use the internet – just Google the location you want to go, and things like “free things to do” or “cheap places to stay”. Generally, I make a list of places I’d like to see, with instructions on how to get there from my hotel or major transportation hub, to take with me on the trip.

Google Translate

If you are travelling internationally and you don’t speak the language, Google Translate is a must. You can get the Google translate app on your phone, and set it from English to whatever language you are doing (assuming you speak English).

The best part is you can record someone speaking, and google will do a terrible, but somewhat understandable, translation. And vice versa. You can also take pictures of words on signs and such and do translations- though they are hilariously terrible.

Frugal Access to the Internet

Rent a WiFi puck, or get T Mobile or Google Fi. A Wi-Fi puck will let you use your phone on Wi-Fi (no using data or calling), without having to pay the ridiculously high temporary prices for “using” your cell phone out of country. If you have T-mobile, you can make wifi calls from anywhere in the world back to your home country.

If you have Google Fi (which I do, and I have successfully used it’s international feature from Japan several times), you don’t even need a wifi puck in most of the developed world- you can also make phone calls and use data at the same price as you pay at home. I have used both T-mobile and Google Fi- each to progressively reduce my monthly cell phone bills.

Saving Money on Lodging

Shop around for lodging or get in on house sitting. You can cancel most hotel reservations up to 24 hrs before, so if you keep looking (though at some point you’re going to get tired) you can cancel the more expensive location. If you are taking public transportation, my rule of thumb is no farther than 0.5 miles from a transportation hub.

Places like hostels for not-20-year-old college kids can also be a great deal, so consider those. There are people that swear by Air BnB, but I’ve never used it, so I can’t speak towards that one way or the other. If you’re traveling in Japan, the homey Ryokan (traditional inn) can be inexpensive, usually at $50-100 a night.

Bonus: stay at places that has a laundry facility. This will let you save $ on dry cleaning, and not have to bring so much stuff. If not, wash your undergarments in the sink , and wring dry.

Slow Travel to Cheaper Places

Places like Thailand, Prague, and Portugal are all awesome and quite cheap to travel in. Just get a good deal on the airfare, and you’re set for a cool adventure.

Public Transportation

Often, this will be the most economical way of travelling. It might not be the fastest, but it will usually be much cheaper than renting a car, getting a tour bus, or using Uber. The cheapest option is to walk everywhere. You will also have the added bonus of learning to love your car again. 

Japan Rail has a pass where you can ride unlimited rides on their system, including the Shinkansen Bullet Train- so if you want to travel between cities this can be a great deal. Similarly, EuroRail has a pass for Europe, but it seems that more and more restrictions are being placed on the Eurail pass.

What to Pack for Slow Travel

My Packing List:

• Day bag, wallet clutch, empty bottle, and cosmetics
• The blue rectangle is my collapsible duffel.
• My two pair of shoes, and tops
• Bottoms (maternity tights fit awesome)
• Dress, Silk Scarf, Leather Jacket, and fleece

This is literally ALL that I packed for my trip to Japan in May. Plus a pair of shoes I wore on the plane

Try to Carry-on Only

Carry on only, with a collapsed bag for souvenirs on the way back.  This will save you money on checked baggage fees. Though many international flights permit free checked baggage, if you have any plans of taking public transportation or domestic flights within your destination, you’ll save time, frustration, and money by just travelling with a carry-on.

The strategy here is to pack your lightweight stuff, and wear your bulky stuff on the plane. I also pack a small cross body purse that I can take out and use when out and about.

Here’s what to use:

• A backpack
• 1 rolling carry-on bag (that can expand, to hold your extra goodies)
• Plus, 1 collapsible duffel bag for bringing souvenirs back.
• Optional: 1 lightweight collapsible day-bag or cross body purse.

Trust me, after traveling with my parents thru Japan where my mom INSISTED she needed a check in luggage each person and the carry on…lugging all that luggage thru Tokyo sidewalks was not fun. Not. At. All.

Drive vs Fly – Slow Travel Wins

How do you determine when it’s cheaper to drive than to fly? First, you need to determine how quickly you need/want to be there. If the total drive time isn’t too much more than the total flying time (including security, waiting in line, waiting for you luggage, and getting a rental car or finding public transportation), then generally it’s cheaper to drive, even accounting for gas.

Think about it- for even a tank-full of gas, you can transport 4 people comfortably, or 5 people less comfortably, plus your stuff. If you take the plane, then you need tickets for each person, plus a way to get to the airport (or pay for parking if you choose to drive yourself), and a rental car or public transportation at the destination.

If you take public transportation, you can discount the cost of parking (unless the place provides it for free). So adding on an hour for showing up in time to go thru security, and an hour after to get yourself sorted out, even a 1 hour flight from say, Houston to Dallas, takes up to 3 hours of your life, anyway. So why not just drive?

Slow Travel Flights 

You can use mileage points, or shop around. Or, as the ultimate cheapskate way of traveling, you can just see what deals there are and be flexible about when you go.

You’d be surprised at the strange airfare pricing structure airlines have. You’d think that a trip from NYC to London would be more expensive than from NYC to Chicago, since it’s further. But there are often times that it IS cheaper to travel to London than to Chicago.

So if you are flexible on where and when you go, some pretty cheap airfare can be found. This is how my friend does it- she regularly travels 6+ times a year to exotic places like Johannesburg, London, Thailand, Australia, the Antarctic.

Should you waste miles on cheap flights?

My thoughts are, no, I have better use for the miles. This is dependent on your situation: how often will you fly, and what’s most important to you. If it’s going a couple of states over to visit family, then by all means, spend the points.

If it’s going to Hawaii, then just buy the $300 tickets to see your family. Save up the points to offset a $1000+ ticket instead. I’ve been going back and forth every month from Hawaii to DC for work the last 5 years, and I’ve had at least 2 free trips per year from miles (BTW United needs at least 45000 miles to get a free trip. Some airlines use more or less miles) 

Bonus: Whacky ways to get to Hawaii for free.

Every single one has been tried by someone (maybe not necessarily me). I cannot vouch for the safety or sanity of some of the ways. 

Extra bonus: if you’re retired military, military dependent, or current active duty, you can FLY FOR FREE on Space-A (Space Available, formerly known as MAC or Military Air Command) flights. I am not an expert on this, but Doug Nordman over at The Military Guide is. He has some really good tips (like you have to be VERY flexible about timing, and bring a down sleeping bag since it gets cold on some of the military cargo jets). He recently got back from a trip to Portugal.

Suck it up and stick it out on economy/coach

Unless you get a free upgrade, the cheapest option will usually be economy. Especially for international flights. I know, economy is incredibly uncomfortable-but just think- the extra $2000 for first class would really go nicely towards the rest of your travel, and buy a lot of massages on vacation.

Have I just flat-out paid for first class? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably (but not very often. The times I did pay for first class I was pregnant). You may also be able to pay for first class for only a portion of the trip by upgraded either at the time you buy your tickets or at check in.

It’s a good strategy to pay for the longest portion of your ride or for red eye flights where you’d like to be able to sleep (maybe), but cutting out the extra expenses of the shorter flights. Although this isn’t a guarantee that the first class flights will be available. (this does not apply to those that have medical conditions that make economy class extremely uncomfortable or medically dangerous).

Health Insurance

Check if yours cover international trips (like Medicare Advantage or some Medigap plans) or the areas you plan to travel. If it does, yay! you don’t need to buy extra coverage for travel health insurance. If it doesn’t, boo- you might want to look into purchasing extra travel health insurance coverage, just in case.

How to Exchange Money

Do a currency exchange at the bank, or get a card with low atm transaction fees and no foreign fees for atm access there. Those kiosks at the airport are a ripoff, in my opinion. Your best bet is to get a debit card from a bank that does business both in your home area and in the country you want to visit (for me, it was Central Pacific Bank, since they do business in both Hawaii and Asia), or get a credit union that goes international, like Pen Fed or Navy Fed, if you can. Often times the ATM fees are cheaper than paying a conversion/transaction fee.

Don’t eat at tourist places

Find out a place office workers go, follow your nose. If you see a bunch of people in sneakers and day bags…they’re tourist and you’re in a touristy spot.The Mr., who’s filled 3 extended passports during his travels for work, follows his nose. If it smells good, then it’s probably a good place to try. Google maps is a great resource to see what’s close to you.

Stay at hotels that offer free breakfast or cocktail hours for dinner to cover ⅔ of your food expenses.  You can also find hotels that have kitchenettes and cook for yourself. Farmers markets and local markets are pretty awesome especially if its a foreign country.

Shopping – Slow Travel Style

Don’t buy souvenirs, only buy quality. I don’t know as if I really have to say much more on this subject matter. You have to be selective on what you buy if you’ve only got carry-ons and are taking public transportation and carting stuff around yourself. It’s much easier to buy a bunch of junk when you’ve got a porter. That’s a completely different tax bracket than I roll.

Bonus: if you’re in Japan (sorry, I love Japan!), and are a crafter, go to Tokyu Hands. It’s like a Hobby Lobby on steroids, with high quality craft supplies, each department has its own floor.

Miscellaneous Slow Travel Tips

• Be flexible and have alternatives- sometimes you miss the bus. Literally. Having options on getting around can keep you from panicking and grabbing a more expensive option. Being flexible can also lend itself to slow travel- where you can find the best deals and opportunities.

• Do a little research to know the area’s specialty, it usually will be cheaper. Bordeaux in France is higher quality and probably cheaper than getting it back at home. Same with pineapple in Hawaii. Seriously, it’s regularly on sale for 89 cents a pound, and super fresh. You’d be surprised at what’s at the local farmer’s market or grocery store.

• Travel with a water bottle and some snacks- this will keep you from buying overpriced snacks and liquids on the plane, at the airport, or at convenience stores. If you’re flying, just bring an empty bottle, and fill it up at the airport wherever it’s safe to drink the water. There’s usually water bottle filling stations around. This will easily save you $3+ per person. Take into account the $9 sandwiches and $7 snack packs, for a plane ride, you’ll save about $20 per person, each way. If it’s 2 of you, that’s $80!

• Travel with a secondary debit card not attached to your primary account to limit how much can be drawn if it’s lost or stolen. Leave your main one at home. If you’re traveling internationally, see if they have low or no foreign transaction fees so you can get money out of the local ATM.

• Car rentals: though I really don’t like renting a car, sometimes, it’s necessary. When you’ve ruled out public transportation, walking, or Uber, a car rental might be the best thing. That said, you can also typically cancel car reservations up to 24 hours prior- so continue to shop around. I’ve had really good luck with Enterprise, finding a location not at the airport, and just having them pick me up at the airport, and drop me back off at the airport. You can also try booking through your travel site or the airlines- I’ve also had good luck booking through Alaska Air (while not even having a flight reservation with them!). And if you have a travel reward card, it typically will include car rental insurance, so there’s no need to add on the extra insurance that the rental cars push. Your car insurance will likely also have a rental car provision, as well. So read up on those to save yourself potentially a couple hundred bucks.

• House sit– for longer stays, find someone to house sit for. This usually entails caring for a pet (dog or cat), though. For more details on House Sitting gigs, Tim and Amy at Go With Less have been doing it for years, and plan on making this their current permanent Early Retirement living situation. You can also reverse this, and have someone house sit for you to watch your dog or cat, instead of paying for a kennel. Though I mentioned house sitting already, I think that this strategy saves so much money that it warrants it’s own area.

• Bring less junk: (I wanted to say “cr@p”, but this isn’t my blog, so I’ve toned down the swearing. A lot.) Keep your valuable stuff at home or wherever you feel is safe. You don’t need your 6 carat diamond ring or your Cartier watch to travel. Just more to worry about and keep track. The less you have to cart around, the better. Unless you plan on staying in one place. Even then, if you are taking public transportation (and you really should be if you want to save money), you’ve got to get all that junk to and from your lodging.

How to Maximize Travel Rewards:

1. Get a travel reward card. Choose FI has a good comparison chart (they may or may not get referral money at no cost to you should you sign up with a card through their site).
2. Pay all your expenses on this card, and pay it off every single month. This is important- you want to gain points, but don’t want to have to pay interest to get it. So make sure that you aren’t changing your spending just to get the points. It’s no good to have travel points but be too poor to enjoy them.
3. Travel with a single group or carrier- and get a mileage account (this is not the same as a travel reward card) that is linked to your travel reward card. This will earn you miles as you travel, in addition to earning miles for buying the tickets in the first place.
4. When travelling, volunteer to be bumped for the travel vouchers every single time. This is very easy to do if you have a flexible schedule and you’ve only got carry on luggage.
5. Keep an look out for “bonus miles” earning periods. You usually have to sign up with the card company, but you then spend as normally. If you reach the goal amount (ex. $5000 in 3 months), you will automatically get the bonus miles (ex. 2000 more miles).
6. Buy the tickets or book the rooms when it’s the slow season for that area to get the lowest mileage-cost booking.

Extra Slow Travel/Frugal Travel Tips

• Keep copies of your important documents somewhere separate from your wallet, just in case you lose it or it gets stolen. Credit cards so you can call your company, your passport, and your itinerary. At least this way you can get home.
• Bring a USB power bar (charged) with you out and about so you can charge up your phone or wifi puck and still be able to use google maps.
• Google maps is pretty accurate, especially for the developed countries, to figure out how to use public transportation. For the most part.
• Bring at least 2 pairs of shoes (in case one gets gunky or breaks). Wear one on the plane, and pack the other. One genius idea: one guy I saw tied his sneakers to the outside of his backpack to carry on the plane!
• Bring a thin silk sheet– it can double as a wrap, a scarf, or keep you warm on the plane.
• Packable down jacket– if you’re going anywhere that’s kinda cold (compared to what you’re used to), this is super convenient. Wear that on the plane, too. I’ve seen that Tumi and Marmot both have very good packable down coats. I can’t really say because I use a packable down vest I got on super clearance, but I have other friends that regularly travel all over the world that swear by them.
• Bring detergent sheets to wash laundry.
• Bar soap doesn’t count towards your permitted liquids, so I usually use that to soap up with, and just bring minimal shampoo/conditioner all in one.
• Bring meds you may need– even over the counter stuff for stomach ache, heartburn, allergies, especially if you’re going to a foreign country where you can’t read the language. Caution: make sure that the over the counter meds are permitted in the country. For example, Japan does not permit psuedophedrine or codeine, even if it’s over the counter meds in your country.
• Comfortable supportive shoes are a must. If you’re sightseeing, your feet will thank you. I generally bring a pair of supportive boots (I love Vionics), and a pair of sneakers with supportive insoles. High heels suck for doing any type of walking.
• Be friendly– you’ll be surprised how much a smile and a thank you (in the host language) will do.
• Be safe-be situationally aware of where you are. Don’t go out into the ocean if the surf is rough and don’t turn your back on the ocean. Stay on the hiking trail, bring water and a cell phone with you. Deviate from trails and you might get lost. Explore, but pay attention to where you are going. Look both ways before you cross the street (don’t forget to look RIGHT first, then left, if you’re in a country that drives on the other side of the road). I can’t tell you how many tourist I’ve seen here in Hawaii disregarding basic safety common sense. Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt- so please be safe.

Conclusions on Slow Travel + Frugal Travel

Slow travel can be done on a budget- even for free (you’ve probably seen plenty of people bragging about credit card churning to get bonus miles for free vacations. I’m not really into that, but, if you are…have at it).

Slow travel and frugal travel comes down to 4 basics:

1. Be flexible.
2. Take public transportation
3. Eat/shop local.
4. Enjoy the experience

I wish you joy and fulfillment on your next trip.

Aloha.

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