Want to Travel the World on a Budget? Think Groupon

Kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland.

When we were planning our honeymoon, my husband and I knew we wanted to go out of the country. With wedding expenses and a new house to pay for, however, we were strapped for cash. Since we were in our early twenties (and therefore way less risk-averse than we are now), we decided to take a chance on a Groupon travel deal. For a little less than $2500, we booked two tickets for an 8-day trip (flights, hotels and rental car included) to Ireland. We had no idea what to expect, but our champagne taste on a beer budget led us to take the leap.

Sitting near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Our Ireland trip was truly magnificent. We flew into Dublin and visited Killarney, Kilkenny, Dingle, Cork and Blarney. The people, the sights and the pubs were unforgettable. The quality of the hotels, the comfort of the flight and the ease of our travel itinerary made such an impression on us that we decided to plan another trip to London, Paris and Rome with Groupon a little more than two years later and to Tokyo, Fuji, and Kyoto in Japan in 2017. Both trips, with flights, hotels and excursions, clocked in at under $3500 each.

You may be wondering: how can Groupon offer such good travel deals? The company contracts with travel agencies to book blocks of travelers for the same trip, giving customers steep group discounts. Many of the trips come with predetermined activities or bus tours. Some young travelers prefer the freedom of an unscheduled trip and don’t like this aspect, but we found it extremely helpful in countries where we couldn’t even attempt to speak the language – like Japan. The tours were well-structured so that we had both an English-speaking tour guide as well as free time to explore the sights and sounds on our own.

A photo my husband took of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan

So next time you’re considering a getaway, take a peek at what Groupon has to offer. Trips of all types and prices are available for booking. If you, like us, are on a budget but still have a taste for world travel, you can find a perfect balance of price and quality on Groupon.

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