I advocate for experiencing the world, and it’s great to do so while not spending needlessly. Make no mistake, I love a fight-class flight, and those lay-down pods are a taste of luxury. However, flight upgrades are expensive, and upgrades and add-ons can significantly increase the final cost of a trip. And if budget travel is the priority, the total price can quickly add up to something that may make you think twice about hitting that “pay now” button at the final step of your flight booking.

With some additional free time this month, I have been planning a solo trip these past weeks. When looking at how I could use this time, there were many destinations I was considering. Using Google Docs, I was working on multiple itineraries and flights to consider. What would be the best option?

It is a 20-minute drive from where I live to the airport. I’ve done that drive often, to and from, dropping off and picking up. The route there isn’t exclusive to the airport, as it’s the main route from Nova Scotia to the neighbouring provinces. But those first 20 minutes always remind me of travelling. Passing the airport, the cargo planes are visible from the road, and if I’m lucky, some arriving or departing flights.