Yes, international traveling requires money. But if you want to travel, you can do it even on a limited budget. Just look at young backpackers traveling around the world.

There are numerous ways to save on your trips. When our daughter was just seven years old, we decided to go to Europe. At that time, our income was very modest, and we did not have any savings. Therefore we had to travel on a shoestring.

We started planning this trip before they created Internet sites like Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, etc. To save money on airfare, we had to check travel sections in the newspapers. After a few weeks, we found a great deal: $500 per round trip ticket from Los Angeles to Brussels, Belgium, on the Hawaiian Airlines. Who would think this air carrier had flights from Los Angeles to Europe?

We purchased three tickets and started getting ready for our first trip. We bought three suitcases at a garage sale. Looking back, we still shudder thinking about those heavy suitcases without wheels.

To save money on food, we bought a large aluminum mug to make coffee in our hotel rooms, a spiral water heater, collapsible cups, three aluminum bowls for soups and salads, portable silverware. Also, we bought a few travel packets of laundry detergent to wash our clothes in a bathroom sink, and a thin, but strong twine and tiny clothespins – to dry clothes.

To save money on hotels, we contacted our friends in Belgium, Germany, and England and were happy to know that we could stay in their places. Staying at friends’ apartments saved us a lot of money.

We wrote to the embassies and consulates of 8 countries with requests for free maps and booklets. To find cheap bed-and-breakfast places and hotels we used the services of European visitor centers.

We found out that it would be much more expensive to rent a car in Europe if you are already there. To save money on car rental, we reserved a vehicle before leaving for the trip.

During that long, eight-week trip, we visited Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, and England. Despite our extremely modest budget, we had a fascinating and memorable trip.

Too dangerous in comparison to what? New York? Baltimore? Detroit? Chicago? We do not think twice about visiting these megapolises. Everyone knows that in these cities it’s better to avoid the areas with high crime.

You should use the same caution when you choose a foreign country. It is a good idea to check with the State Department and read the advisory about the situation in the country of your choice. If this country is not involved in a war or doesn’t have a coup or political unrest, it is alright to go there.

Of course, everyone has to use common sense. Do not walk alone at night, do not show your wallet with a bundle of cash in it, do not wear expensive jewelry or clothing (I do not wear any jewelry when I am on the road).

Almost all countries in the world have pickpockets. Exception – some wealthy countries like Dubai where the thief can lose an arm (I heard that they do not have pickpockets in Dubai).

If you travel with a guided tour, you are taken to hotels, restaurants, and sightseeing in safe areas. When you have free time, usually a half day here and a whole day there, always ask your travel guide about the safety of the area you want to explore. You can count on getting an honest answer; the tour company does not want something bad to happen to their customers.

Several years ago we visited Ireland. The tour included the Northen Ireland as well. We stayed in Belfast for three nights. Our hotel was in the heart of the city: old churches, parks, beautiful buildings. However, our guide warned the group that in the evening we should stay close to the hotel for safety reasons.

To us, this beautiful city looked peaceful and safe. We ignored the advice of our guide and decided to go to one of the best parks in Belfast. It was sunny Sunday and families were picnicking, playing games, and sunbathing. We decided to have early dinner close to the park, and then walk all the way back to the hotel.

We checked out two cafés, but they were getting ready to close and already ran out of many items on the menu. Walking back to the hotel, we noticed that almost all the cafes and restaurants were either closed or closing. There still were cars on the road, but no pedestrians. It looked eerie.

We started feeling uncomfortable. Finally, about half a mile from our hotel we saw people on the street. The restaurants and shops were opened. We felt safe again.

In South Africa, we had a fantastic guide, probably one of the best we ever had. He took us on a city tour. In Cape Town, one of the stops was a beautiful park in the center of the city. We learned a lot of interesting facts about flora in this part of the world. We also learned something that not many independent tourists know.

This park is a safe place until the end of the workday. After working people go through the park on the way home from work, this place becomes deserted. At that time, some uninformed tourist can become a crime victim. As much as we loved this park, we did not return there in the evening.

While being abroad, we experienced the crime three times. The very first one happened in Italy where we were waiting for permission to immigrate to the United States. We took advantage of this free time to explore Rome.

We had very little money from the foundation which supported the political refugees from the Soviet Union. The $30 that my husband had in his pocket was all that we had for the next two weeks.

When we were on the crowded bus, going to see the Vatican, the pickpockets stole all our cash from my husband’s pocket.

Needless to say that on that day we did not see the Sistine Chapel: we had no money for the tickets. Also, we had to return to our apartment on foot, not by bus.

The second time, in Lisbon, pickpockets stole from our backpack $2,000 and the E-book (read my page “Safety Abroad”).

We encountered the third “crime” in Japan. We had been robbed by the monkey (read my page “Why do I love Japan” about this unusual event).

We hope that 3 is a charm. We learned our lessons in safe traveling and are done being victims of petty crime.