Brief Overview
The key to learning how to travel on a budget is to make use of money-saving applications and websites that help you save money, find creative ways to reduce costs, and even find ways to generate money while on the road. It’s all about saving money without sacrificing your freedom to pursue your interests, and that means learning to recognise and take advantage of opportunities to save money.
The key to learning how to travel for free is to make use of the many options for free lodging, public transit, and entertainment that already exist. With the right combination of points and miles, you can also get free lodging and transportation. Here, you give up luxury in exchange for maximum trip duration.
You can go anywhere in the world even if you don’t have enough money but have the right mentality to make your travel dreams a reality. It’s possible to travel internationally even if you don’t have a lot of money or don’t have much in the way of savings. They aren’t going to blow your mind, but if getting out of town is your first priority, you can make it happen.
Let’s get straight to saving you money:
Pick the right destination
It’s only natural that certain locations will have a different cost of living than your own. My first piece of advice for anyone looking to travel on a budget is to do some homework on destinations that are affordable. This may be a place with a lower cost of living than your own country, a favourable exchange rate for the currency you bring with you, or a place with a poor economy.
Travel in the off-season
You can’t control the weather, but at least your travel destination will be far less crowded. You’ll not only spend much less, but also enjoy complete exclusivity.
Most of our Country Guides have the best times to visit.
Research to find the lowest airfare
The cost of transportation is typically the highest when planning a trip. It’s common practise to take a plane to faraway destinations.
If you want to save money on airfare, one tip is to use the private browsing mode (incognito) of your web browser to look at other airlines and select the one that best suits your needs.
On some airlines, booking on a Tuesday will get you the lowest rate, while on others, it’s preferable to look at prices in specific months, like September. If you want to save money on airfare, planning your trip around the kids’ school schedules rather than vice versa is a smart move.
You should also think about the most cost-effective means of transportation to get there. Flights are normally the quickest option, but if taking a bus or train will save you 50% of the cost, it may be worth the extra time it takes to get to your destination.
If you’re looking for low-cost international flights, Skyscanner.net is your best bet. Simply enter your origin airport/country and your desired destination to view availability for a given date range or, if you’re flexible, for an entire month.
Book in advance
If you’re on a tight budget, you might live for last-minute offers, but planning ahead can save you money (and stress) on things like transportation, lodging, and activities.
Try booking 3 months in advance, the closer you get to your travel date the more expensive the flights will be.
Live it up with some free events
The greatest way to learn about and appreciate a new country is to throw yourself into its culture, discover its hidden gems, and interact with its inhabitants. Expensive trips may seem appealing, but they sometimes lack the genuine experience travellers are looking for.
A great way to explore the sights and meet new people in most cities is to sign up for one of the many free walking or cycling tours. One of the finest ways to make lasting memories and friends while travelling alone is to participate in activities like these.
Free activities like cooking lessons, tours, and bar crawls are sometimes provided by hostels. There is a lot of free content available; you just have to know where to look.
Pack light with a minimalist packing list
As a first step, minimise the weight of your belongings. You shouldn’t bother bringing more clothing than you absolutely need because you won’t use half of it and it will just add to your baggage fees.
One of the most crucial pieces of advice for travelling is to double-check that you’ve packed everything you’ll need. Costs for replacing forgotten necessities can add up quickly while shopping in a foreign country.
Ditch what you know you don’t need!
Lookout for discounts to travel cheaper
If you are a student looking for ways to save money on travel, you should take advantage of the numerous student discounts that are out there. Everything from transportation to lodging to alcohol to activities.
While the rest of us might not be able to score as many deals on meals, we can still save money on transportation using railcards and bus passes.
And if you really need to get from point A to point B without breaking the bank, there are always bus services like the well-known Mega Bus and Flix Bus.
Don’t eat out all the time
Shopping at supermarkets and preparing your own meals is another way to save money while travelling. Incorporate (if at all possible) the cost of sampling regional specialties into your travel budget, but otherwise plan to cook most of your own meals. In most hostels, you can use the kitchen whenever you choose. Food that was left behind by departing backpackers may even be available on a shelf.
Be aware of ATM charges
Fees associated with using an ATM to withdraw cash or convert currency can add up quickly. However, it is usually more cost-effective to withdraw cash while travelling rather than to exchange currency at home. Take out as much cash as you can afford to lose all at once to avoid fees. While fewer frequent payments are required for larger withdrawals, greater amounts also increase the risk of loss or theft. Put separate amounts of money in different pockets and leave some in a safe place at your lodging if you’re carrying around a large sum of money.
We recommend using cards like Monzo or Starling that allow you withdraw money for free.
Bring your own water bottle or coffee cup
We never leave home without our reusables! If you bring your own water bottle, you can fill it up for free at water fountains, cafes, and even natural springs in the mountains. Bringing your own mug to the coffee shop can save you money as they often give you a discount because they wont have to wash it.
Walk everywhere
The best and cheapest method to go around and get to know a new region is on foot. If you need to travel a short distance, you can save money by renting a bike. Bicycling and walking are excellent strategies to maintain your fitness routine while you’re away from home.
Buses are commonly the least expensive public transportation option. Taxis and services like Uber should be avoided at all costs if you’re trying to keep your travel costs down. As long as you do some research, you can usually find a far more affordable bus or train option.
Get a local SIM
It can be very expensive to use data roaming or pay for WiFi while travelling. Getting a local SIM card with locally priced data packages can be a good way to save money when travelling. Having data at all times will be useful for finding your route and maintaining contact with loved ones back home. We’ve done this in both Egypt and the Ukraine, and it’s a breeze to set up.
Use your skills to make money travelling
Nowadays, many people rely on digital nomadism as a means of producing money, so exploring this lifestyle option may be worthwhile.
Opportunities abound in the digital realm, as evidenced by the proliferation of social media marketing, blogging, video production, etc.
This does need some work and some self-exposure, but if you strike the appropriate balance between employment and travel, you’ll discover that your adventures are richer and more fulfilling than before.
Decide on a Budget and stick to it!
Almost anything in the world is accessible on a shoestring. There are always free things to do everywhere you go; you just need to adjust your expectations for how often and how much you can spend on things like guided tours and restaurant meals. Don’t add extra stress to your trip by spending more than you meant to spend.
These are some very effective ways if you want to know how to save money for travel in advance, but certainly not the only ones.
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Other Budget Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Budget travel:
Do you have any money-saving tips to share with us and help other readers save up for their next trip? Let us know in the comments!
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