David C. Mulhauser

About David C. Mulhauser

David C. Mulhauser is a hobbyist and travel enthusiast. David first developed a love for travel in 2007. In the time since, he has traveled to countries such as Canada, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Italy, France, Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Slovenia, and Serbia. David is also an active scuba diver who began the hobby in 2007. To date, Mr. Mulhauser has completed around 80 scuba dives and maintains an advanced open water certification. Previously, David held a D license and coach rating as a skydiver with around 700 skydives under his belt.

David Mulhauser finds that participating in activities such as travel and scuba diving helps him expand his worldview in a variety of ways. Not only does he speak to how his hobbies allow him to meet new people, learn more about different places and cultures, and reconnect with himself as well, but they are also excellent for maintaining healthy outlets and positive mental health. For this reason, David mentions that all people can benefit from investing time into their favorite activities.

Is Traveling on a Budget Still Possible?

David Mulhauser has traveled to around 23 countries, and seeing the world has played a huge part in helping to develop the worldview and sense of self that he holds today. Travelling is something that many of us speak about wanting to participate in, however, there are a variety of factors that may hold us back. In the period since the pandemic, one thing that has prevented many from exploring is the associated costs.

With inflation still impacting different parts of our lives — including travel — many travel enthusiasts are naturally wondering if traveling while on a budget is still possible.

Here, David provides a few insights on how travelers can plan their trips without breaking the bank.

Try to Avoid Peak Season

One of the simplest ways to travel on a budget is to avoid peak season. During peak season, there is a high demand for travel, and the industry can take advantage of the opportunity to hike prices for flights, services, activities, commodities, etc. By avoiding peak season, travelers can often enjoy lower rates due to their simply being less demand. Peak season in the Northern Hemisphere is normally around June-August. Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, and other holidays where travel is often a fixture are also considered peak travel days many parts of the world.

An added benefit of avoiding peak season is that travelers will have to deal with smaller crowds, which provides more time to enjoy your trip. In many parts of the world, travel during the off season can also mean that the weather is more temperate, providing the opportunity to enjoy certain activities that may have been difficult to do in the heat. On top of this, generally, services will be lower cost, higher quality, and more personalized.

Plan in Advance

Planning in advance can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a trip, and there are several ways that you can do so. One effective strategy is to plan a basic itinerary and a budget for each day before you set off on your trip. David knows that it can feel tough or even restrictive to adhere to a budget, but having a guideline really helps you focus money, time, and energy on what you enjoy the most.

If you trip involves a flight, it can be very beneficial for your budget if you book well in advance. Airlines typically will release their flight seats up to a year before they take place, which allows travelers to book well in advance. The closer that you get to a departure date, the more likely that prices will increase, especially within the last month. David C. Mulhauser finds that, for last minute trips, it can be possible to book not long before departure while still saving if you frequent apps that track flights and alert you on great deals.

Planning in advance can also extend to accommodation. On rare occasions, places that you are visiting can offer economical places to stay on short notice, however, many times you will be better off booking something ahead of time. That way, you can get a better rate and won’t be stuck choosing from overpriced places if all cheaper options are booked.

Pack Smart

Packing smart can prevent you from needing to buy unnecessary items that you may have forgotten at home, which can certainly save a few bucks on your trip. David recommends making a packing list well before you depart just to be sure that you have all of your essentials. This can also help with packing economically. If you can avoid paying to check a bag, you can save on flight costs and time that is usually spent picking up your things at baggage claim.

Consider Public Transportation

If you are traveling to an area that has a solid transportation network, public transportation can save you a ton of money while traveling. Renting cars, paying for taxis, grabbing Ubers, etc. can really add up quickly, when many places can be traversed safely, effectively, and cost efficiently through public transport. In some areas, public transportation is one of the best ways to really see different parts of the region. An added bonus is that you can relax on a train in ways that you cannot when driving or grabbing rideshares or taxis. Studying or reading on the way to your next destination can really make you feel like it was time well spent.

Choose Your Activities Wisely

Many expert travelers know what types of activities that they enjoy while out and about and plan accordingly. You would be surprised to know how many interesting activities you can access in different places that are cheap or even free. Spotting opportunities and adding them into your itinerary of activities that you are paying good money for can really stretch your budget, help you have an even better time, and even help you find cool things off the beaten path.

One particular activity that can be helpful to reduce unnecessary costs on is dining out. While many of us enjoy trying new cuisines while traveling, costs can really add up at times for meals that are not spectacular and just keep us going. If you are able to plan out your meals, occasionally prepare something simple where you are staying, or find enjoyable cheap spots that the locals can attest to, you can often save hundreds.

For More from David Mulhauser

This website was created as a platform for information of some of David’s favorite activities. With this in mind, readers can tune in to this site for more information on a variety of topics such as:

• Travel
• Scuba Diving
• Skydiving
• Personal Development

If you are interested in reading more on these subjects through content based on David C. Mulhauser’s insights, be sure to check out the blog!