This is a guestpost from Trish at Simple Life in France. Trish was born in the United States and is currently living in France (ahh my ultimate dream!!), having made a few stopovers along the way. She is out of the rat race and prancing through lavender fields…and is young and thrifty, in France! Please subscribe to her RSS for more updates on her thrifty adventures in France. Thanks Trish!!
Wanderlust anyone? You may be planning a trip abroad or just fantasizing about one, but don’t forget to include a little language learning in your preparations–if you want to save money, that is.
How speaking the language will save you:
–You’ll avoid more tourist traps. The more you know of the language the easier it is, but you certainly don’t have to be fluent to find better deals. On my first trip to Spain, before I spoke any Spanish, I was able to find a very cheap, cozy and well-placed pensión in Zaragosa by asking a few local shop owners in the neighborhood. My limited language skills and my ability to use them allowed me to ditch the overpriced (and obnoxious) youth hostel rent a room from some locals for the night. You can get deals on all kinds of travel necessities this way.
Of course, knowing the language helps with finding necessities like the bathroom. The german translation for “where is the bathroom” is: “Wo ist das Badezimmer?” Remember that, it will come in handy one day 
–You’ll be able to use cheaper transportation. Language can open you up to the possibility of travel by smaller bus systems used by locals instead of forking over the cash for a taxi driver who can understand you—or who can understand you just enough to overcharge you!
If you can read the departure and arrival signs and can ask a few questions of fellow passengers, the public transportation systems of remote/exotic locations become more user-friendly. I used cheap buses all the time during my stay in Mexico. My developing Spanish skills allowed me to find out which ones were safe for me (a woman traveling alone). I also found better deals by chatting with locals I knew. Cheap and safe—now that’s the way to go.
–You’ll have increased haggling powers. Even if you only know a few expressions, being able to say the local equivalent of, “No way! That’s a rip” or “Come on, you’re killing me” can make even the toughest market hagglers crack a smile and maybe a deal too. I used this trick with great results in the markets in Antananarivo, where merchants expect you to pay a ‘tourist tax’ if you are not a local.
It’s as easy as getting a bilingual local to teach you a few good expressions before you hit the markets. You only need a few of them to pull this off—once again, no need to be fluent! Speaking just a smidge of the local language, even badly can often make you stand out from the majority of tourists and change the negotiations in your favor. (And it’s amusing for all involved).
–The ‘schmooze factor’ and the ‘good will’ factor will work in your favor. Now, I certainly don’t engage in friendly conversation only for the purpose of getting freebies. It’s something I naturally enjoy . . . however, an added benefit of engaging other people (aside from the fact that people are just fascinating) is that you will often get a ‘freebie’ of some kind. I’ve had locals invite me in for a cup of tea or coffee or give me great advice. I’ve had café owners toss in a free desert or cocktail after a bit of good conversation. I’ve also had locals help me negotiate a better deal with a local vendor on such purchases as . . . a live chicken, a taxi trip and even a small set of hunting spears . . .ok, that sounds random, but all were useful at the time.
Do you try to speak the local language when you travel?
I could go on, but I’ll stop here, because I know there are some other great travel tales out there that deserve a spot in the comments section. Do you find that speaking the local language saves you money? Does it provide you with other benefits?
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