Traveling for cheap is easy if you're not going far. If you have dreams of traveling to exotic locations, as in outside the US, forget about it. My tips only apply to local or domestic travel. Traveling internationally is outside my jurisdiction, knowledge and bill size.
Consider the methods I've concocted carefully knowing traveling with kids or animals is far more difficult than traveling alone or with other physically fit individuals. These methods do not include sleeping accommodations or meals.
Plane, Trains and Automobiles
Plane travel is hard to do cheap. Stowing away is next to impossible considering the security, unless you're a flight attendant. And shutting yourself inside a piece of luggage will do nothing but freeze you before landing. Naively, cheap plane travel consists of flying the red-eye with multiple layovers and purchasing tickets months in advance. If you're not naive you can try shopping or trading for discounted airline gift cards online.
Train travel is affordable in select regions east of the Mississippi where cities are closer together like Detroit to Chicago. However, train travel west of the Mississippi is not affordable unless you stowaway on a container line or freight train. This is fun with friends and dogs but hard with kids and relatives--anyone who can't run 10 mph will struggle.
Automobile travel can be cheap if gas prices are stable and you have multiple passengers. Traveling in a van with a lot of people is very affordable if you go slow. If you don't have a van you can borrow one from a rich neighbor while they're in Cancun. Automobile travel alone is a pure waste unless you do a ride share through Craigslist or are prepared to siphon gas at truck stops.
Boats and Bikes
Boat travel is similar to car travel. It's cheap if you own a boat and live near water. If you don't again you'll need to borrow or stowaway. Boat travel is limited to water ways. If you live in Louisville, KY you can travel to New Orleans, LA. Traveling from Colorado to Canada is not going to happen. If you live on the gulf or coast you could attempt an island vacation but be prepared for night travel in international waters. Also be ready to evade foreign shore security and negotiate with pirates.
Bike travel is more than a destination vacation. It's an exercising vacation peppered with snake bites, hit and runs and sweat. Biking with a group is more intimidating to onlookers. Biking alone makes you a target. Biking a long distance is easy when you're unemployed. Biking with family or a lot of animals is a challenge to the normal level of human endurance.
Traveling for cheap is easy if your definition of comfort is flexible and you leave your travel expectations at home.
Happy trails.
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