Traveling on a budget is possible and fun with the right tips and tricks. Here are some of the best ways to save money while you’re away from home:
TO TRAVEL ON A BUDGET YOU MUST HAVE A BUDGET
- To travel on a budget, you must have a budget.
- You need to be prepared for the unexpected.
- You need to be disciplined and flexible in your approach to saving money, but also realistic about what it will take for you to get where you want to go—whether that means booking flights or hotels far in advance (even months ahead) or waiting until later in the year when prices are lower.
- Finally, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from our experience here at Budget Travel Tips…it’s this: patience is king!
SET A TARGET OF SAVING AMOUNT EACH MONTH AND STICK TO IT
Set a target of saving X amount each month and stick to it.
This is where you will learn how much money you need to save in order to achieve your financial goals. The best way to do this is by setting realistic yet challenging targets that are high enough but not so high that they’re impossible for you (or anyone else) to reach. For example, if your goal is $10,000 saved by the end of 2019, then try setting aside $200 per month—that’s only 10%!
But if we were talking about saving 20% more than what we currently have saved up today (which still seems pretty damn good), then maybe something closer like $250 would be better suited for our purposes here today? Maybe even higher depending on how much time/effort it takes us each month?
MAKE YOUR FLIGHT CREATIVE
- Use air miles.
- Use reward points.
- Use a rewards credit card.
- Use a travel rewards debit card (or prepaid).
- Use cash back on your purchases at restaurants and stores that offer it, or buy gift cards for these places instead of using actual money, if possible!
START WITH THE THREE ‘P’s
When it comes to budget travel, you need to start with the three P’s: Planning, Patience and Perseverance. These are all important if you want your trip to be a success.
Planning is key because if you don’t plan ahead then there will be no way of knowing what will happen next in your journey or where exactly you’re going when you get there!
Patience is also very important as sometimes things take longer than expected but persevering through these obstacles can lead us toward our destination safely and securely.
DON’T BUY NEW THINGS FOR YOUR TRIP
Don’t buy new things for your trip. These are the items that you don’t need, and they end up taking up space in your luggage or backpack. Instead of buying them, try to find second hand ones that have been used before and then sell them when you return home. You can also go on Craigslist or eBay to find people who want to get rid of their old belongings and sell them cheap!
It’s always better if someone else has already traveled with the item so that there won’t be any issues with it breaking off during travel (or even worse). The last thing we want is for our phones or laptops dying while we’re away from home!
SLEEP IN HOSTELS, COUCHSURF, OR CAMP
Hostels are cheap and fun, but they’re also not for everyone. If you’re looking for a more social experience than sleeping in your own bed, couch surfing is an excellent option. Couch surfing allows travelers to stay on someone’s couch (or even in their home) while traveling the world. The hostel-to-hostel aspect of this exchange can be a great way to meet locals and save money.
Camping is another popular way for budget travelers to save money on accommodations by staying off the grid—and it’s a great way to get out there! Campsites range from simple tent sites with no amenities at all up through fully equipped campsites with hot showers and WiFi access; however, if you want some creature comforts while roughing it out then make sure that you choose one with electricity nearby so that you don’t have trouble charging your devices during those long days spent exploring nature’s beauty!
DITCH THE EXPENSIVE TRAIN RIDES AND TAKE THE BUS INSTEAD
You can save money on train tickets by taking the bus instead.
With less people, you’ll get a better view and be able to learn more about your destination. Plus, it’s often cheaper than taking trains or planes! If you’re planning a trip in Europe, look into local buses that run between cities and towns.
They’re great because they offer both comfort and accessibility—you don’t have to worry about finding an expensive ticket or waiting around for hours before getting off at your final destination (as with most trains).
CONSIDER GOING BY CAR
If you’re traveling alone and have room in your budget, consider renting a car. Car rentals are typically cheaper than taxis or public transportation options, and they allow you to get around on your own time schedule. In addition to this, many companies offer optional insurance coverage as well as roadside assistance if needed.
If you do decide that renting a vehicle is right for you, there are several options available:
- Car sharing services (such as Zipcar) allow people with similar interests in cars or driving styles to share their vehicles with other people who need them at certain times of the day or week; these companies usually provide free membership cards so users can reserve vehicles at any time without having to call ahead first (the only thing required being an email address). These types of arrangements tend toward convenience because everyone involved knows exactly when/where their ride needs arrive; however there’s always some risk involved since nothing prevents another user having access at any given moment unless both parties agree otherwise beforehand!
CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION CAREFULLY
- Choose your destination carefully.
- Popular destinations like New York City and Las Vegas are usually crowded, so choose a destination that has fewer tourists. This can be done by looking at the number of visitors on Google Maps or using an app like Foursquare as well as other travel websites such as TripAdvisor and Airbnb.
- Choose a destination that has many free attractions: museums, parks etc., which will help you save money on transportation costs when visiting those places (if they are not within walking distance). You should also check if there are any discounts or coupons available for these attractions in order to get more value out of them!
EAT STREET FOOD AND AVOID ALCOHOL LIKE THE PLAGUE
Eating street food is usually cheaper and more authentic than dining in restaurants. You can also find inexpensive, delicious snacks that are better for your health than junk food sold in restaurants.
Avoid alcohol if you are on a budget. Alcohol adds extra cost to your trip, so it’s best not to drink while traveling abroad as you’ll end up spending more money overall by doing so!
Avoid buying things that aren’t necessary for survival (such as bottled water) when on the road for long periods of time—you’re better off buying some fruit or vegetables from local vendors instead!
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR RENT A BIKE WHILE YOU’RE THERE
- Use public transportation or rent a bike while you’re there.
- Use the bus, subway, or walk to get around.
- Take a taxi if it’s available in your destination.
- If you have access to a car and are able to drive yourself around, then by all means do so! But if not, try renting one from an agency like Hertz or Avis before arriving at your destination so that when you arrive (yesterday), there will be no need for any additional expenses associated with getting dropped off at the airport or train station by way of car service company.
PLAN AHEAD, BUT NOT TOO AHEAD!
Planning is important, but don’t over plan. Booking too many things in advance can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out. You may end up cancelling some of your plans if you find yourself too busy to go on them.
- Don’t book flights too far in advance: Planes are often full by the time they leave their destination, so booking a flight earlier than necessary will increase your chances of having trouble getting one!
- Don’t book accommodation too far in advance: This is especially true if your trip coincides with an event or holiday (like Christmas), when most hotels are at capacity and prices increase accordingly! If possible, try to stay somewhere nearby instead—it’ll save money while still giving yourself plenty of time to sightsee around town before hitting the road again later today (or tomorrow morning…).
BE FLEXIBLE WITH DATES – YOU’LL GET CHEAPER FLIGHTS
Flexibility is a great way to save money, time and stress. If you’re flexible with dates, airlines will often offer lower fares. This can mean that you can get a flight for less than the cost of renting a car or staying in an Airbnb over two nights!
GET FREE ACCOMMODATION IN EXCHANGE FOR WORK!
- Volunteer for free accommodation in exchange for work.
- Work as a hostel or hotel receptionist.
- Become a tour guide, translator, teacher and photographer/photographer assistant at an organization that you can trust and be open with your experiences with them (e.g., Couchsurfing).
CHECK OUT AIR BNB, AS IT CAN BE A GREAT MONEY SAVER
Air BnB is a great way to save money and get to know the local culture. If you’re traveling alone, it can be an affordable way to find accommodations. You don’t have to worry about paying for anything extra like parking or meals at a restaurant—you just pay the host directly via PayPal or Venmo (if they accept it).
The entire process takes seconds and can help you get an idea of what kind of neighborhood your would-be host lives in before committing yourself!
Air BnB also offers many benefits beyond just saving on lodging costs: It gives travelers an opportunity to connect with locals who may share their passion for travel or offer insight into where locals go when they want some retail therapy.
Some hosts even offer tours around town if there’s something special that interests visitors from out-of-town; others will show off their favorite hangouts within walking distance from the guest house location.
WHEN IN DOUBT, GO LOCAL! YOU’LL SAVE BUCKS AND GET MORE OF AN EXPERIENCE TOO!
When in doubt, go local. You’ll save bucks and get more of an experience too!
- Food and accommodation: If you’re traveling on a budget and want to eat good food, consider eating at street vendors or local restaurants instead of going out to fancy restaurants that are often overrated (and pricey). You can find great food at these places too!
- Transportation: Don’t take taxis when traveling because they cost very much money; instead use public transportations like trains/buses etc., which are cheaper than taxis but still provide transportation services with amenities like air conditioning etc..
TRAVELING ON A BUDGET IS POSSIBLE AND FUN WITH THE RIGHT TIPS AND TRICKS
Traveling on a budget is possible and fun with the right tips and tricks. Here are some of my favorite ways to save money while traveling:
- Book online. This saves you time, hassle, and money! You can search for flights to your destination or even book an Airbnb if you’re staying in a hostel or Airbnb rental instead of booking your own room at a hotel (which will still be cheaper). Plus this means that if there are any changes in prices or availability after booking online—it won’t cost extra because they already charge much less than hotels do anyway!
- Check out social media groups like Facebook Groups for travel bloggers who share their tips about where to go for cheap eats near by areas where they live so everyone knows what’s happening around them without having too far away from home base either way though 🙂
CONCLUSION
Traveling on a budget can be a lot of fun, but it’s not easy. You have to know where to look for deals and make sacrifices. But if you’re willing to work hard and smart, then there are plenty of ways you can save money while traveling!
