Traveling for genealogical research and finding our ancestors’ homes, farms and faith communities can be enriching. There’s nothing quite like seeing the original baptismal font in your ancestral family’s church, or standing on the land your family farmed and perhaps were buried on.
Being on the ground can give you a glimpse into your ancestors’ everyday lives. Some travelers even experience a deeper, spiritual connection, or “feel” their ancestors when looking over the landscape that they viewed centuries ago.
While meaningful, heritage travel can also be expensive. Careful planning—and selecting budget-friendly options—will help you travel more frequently and have resources left over for other important pieces of your research.
This article (based on several of my own heritage travel experiences) will help you save money on your way—seven tips to maximize your travel dollars, and seven tips for what not to do.
7 TIPS FOR ECONOMICAL TRAVEL
1 PLAN AHEAD
Perhaps the most important strategy for saving money while traveling is planning ahead. The better you pre-plan, the more money you’ll save. And every penny saved is a penny that can be redirected to other facets of your research. By planning, you’ll also allow yourself to more fully, richly experience your time abroad.
Research from home as much as possible:
• names, dates and locations associated with that part of your family• how the historical community relates to modern geography• cultures, languages and socioeconomic conditions of the place today• precise addresses of places you’d like to visit: landmarks, ancestral homes, cemeteries, and any
