Vegan Travel Guide: Traveling on a Budget

At a bus stop in the English countryside

When you're self-employed and have a love of travel, you have to get creative. I've tried couponing and other strategies to save money, but most were challenging to apply to a vegan, eco-friendly lifestyle. Instead, I focused on saving money on the trips themselves to make each journey more affordable.

Airfare

Almost everyone is a member of a frequent flier program or knows how to tack on a few vacation days at the end of a business trip. But did you know you can get domestic and international tickets for free each year by utilizing a series of strategies known as travel hacking? I recently found out about this wonderful startegy (thanks, Chris Guillebeau!) and am well on my way to flying to Japan for free. If you're looking for a place to get started, I highly recommend Chris Guillebeau's Frequent Flyer Master.

Eco Tip: If you're worried about the carbon footprint of your flights, consider purchasing a carbon offset. You could also extend your vacation or take advantage of stopovers so you can visit more destinations with each roundtrip flight.

Vegan Travel Guide: Favorite Travel Snacks

Eating a Genuine French Baguette in Paris

One of the biggest ways to reduce stress when traveling is to bring some food with you. Having your own stash means you always have an option and will continue to have the energy to trek up those sand dunes, explore all of London, or snorkel in the clear blue sea.

I started traveling with a few snacks on a high school trip to Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. While the food in Scandinavia was great, I practically lived out of my suitcase once I got to Russia. Even as a lacto-ovo vegetarian, there wasn't much I wanted to eat.

I've continued to travel as a vegetarian and a vegan, refining my travel snack picks with each trip. Read on for my latest and greatest favorite travel foods.

Vegan Travel Guide: Tips for Vegans Eating Abroad

Eating out at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, staying vegan is a big priority for me. Instead of using it as an excuse to stay home, I use it as an opportunity to explore vegan communities around the world. Below are some basic guidelines I follow as a vegan:

• Safety is your #1 priority. Don't eat foods that could make you sick. I have a severe dairy allergy, so I avoid anything that looks like cheese. And just because those raw vegetables are vegan doesn't mean you should eat them unless you are sure they have been washed in potable water. For more on food safety, see this World Health Organization guide.