‘Travel hacking,’ the key to traveling affordably alone

Like going to the movies or out to dinner, not many are keen to travel alone.

But, if you've got the guts, Matt Russell and Kris Ockenfels agree, the benefits are tremendous.

Both are self-proclaimed travel-junkies and not only venture out alone, but also on a budget.

In just the last year, Russel went on eight trips. In three years, he's visited nearly all 50 states, as well as Haiti, Canada, Puerto Rico and most recently Mexico.

Ockenfells typically travels once or twice a year, but will leave for several weeks at a time. She's visited China, Greece, Turkey, Antarctica, Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, Germany, Russia and most recently India.

Both agree being single and childless loosens the belt on their budget, and having a good job helps — both work for the University of Iowa Community Credit Union — but the key to traveling cheaply is a tactic called 'travel hacking.'

It all comes down to understanding 'the rules' of the airline mileage 'game,' Russell said.

By opening credit cards with sign-up mileage bonuses, meeting purchase requirements to get rewards and paying down a balance before gaining interest, jet-setters are able to travel for a lot less than average using miles instead of money. You just have to 'plan it right,' and 'have good credit,' Russell explained.

Russell, for example, has 30 different credit cards he's opened for mileage rewards. He flew round-trip to Boston and stayed in a beachside hotel in Puerto Rico for free. Ockenfells flew business class from Chicago to India for only $50 out-of-pocket and in her three and a half weeks there, spent only $2,000.

The key, though, is staying away from credit card debt. If you can't pay it off immediately, don't put it on plastic, Russell said.

'Never carry a balance,' Ockenfels agreed. 'As long as you're careful, it doesn't hurt your credit ... If you can't pay it off, it cuts away the benefit of the rewards.'

'You have to be extremely disciplined about it,' Russell said.

Before signing up for a card, Russell plots out what he would have to spend to get the bonus and always makes sure he can afford it.

And if you cut the fat from your budget — avoiding buying new clothes, going out to eat, etc. — 'You can always afford to travel,' Ockenfels said. 'It just depends on where you want to go and what you want to do.'

Russell also uses other 'travel hacking' resources like Google Flights or ITA Matrix to find cheap flights, travel forums like flyertalk.com — what Russell called a 'travel nerds paradise' — and blogs like Frugal Travel Guy, The Points Guy, Mommy Points or Solo Travel Blog for insider tips.

As for traveling alone? No biggie.

'A lot of people say they're afraid to travel on their own, but people are really nice,' Ockenfels said. 'As long as you learn the courtesies and some charades, people will bend over backwards to help you.'

You're also 'more approachable' when you travel alone, she said. As long as you use common sense and be aware of what's going on around you, you're safe. Most people will just want to help, she said. 'People will adopt you,' she added.

Even though Russell said he's 'pretty introverted,' traveling alone forced him 'to grow.'

'It makes you resourceful,' he said. 'You just have to belly up to the bar and make a friend ... It's exciting to meet new people and learn about different places.'

Ockenfells said she's shy too, but it's 'easier when no one knows you,' she said, agreeing that traveling alone made her 'a lot more confident.'

'If I can figure out my way on a Moscow subway, I can do anything,' she said. 'I've gone in clueless and yet I figured it out.'

Many say they don't have time or money to travel, that someday they'll make the time, Russell said.

'People say they'll travel when they retire, but you don't know what your health will be,' Ockenfells added.

So why not now?

'If I can do it, anybody can,' Ockenfells said. 'I'm nobody special.'

'Sometimes you've just got to do it,' Russell said. 'Just get out there and have fun.'

Follow Russell on his blog, travelingwizmatt.com, to learn more about his travel tips.