Are you wondering how to travel on a budget? While traveling the globe can seem quite expensive, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are numerous alternatives to save a lot of money while on the road.
Travel used to be a luxury out of reach for many, but these days, people can explore far and wide without spending a fortune. We now have smarter transportation options, more accommodation choices, and more knowledge on how to travel cheaply.
Whether it’s a city break, a staycation, or backpacking across the globe, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a lifetime trip without breaking the bank. In this article, I’ll share the best tips I’ve learned from my own experiences and from talking to other travelers.
How to Travel for Cheap? 8 Tips to Help You Save Money
Before we begin, the first tip is to be realistic about your trip. You might dream of a luxurious all-inclusive holiday in the Maldives, but if your bank account doesn’t allow it, it’s best to be practical. Make sure to have a rough budget and stick to it, so you can have fun without worrying about expenses.
Here are 8 top tips on how to travel the world on a budget:
- Choose the Right Destination to Make the Most of Your Budget
- Do Your Research to Find the Cheapest Airfare
- Control Your Meal Expenses by Cooking on Your Trip
- Enjoy Free Events to Have Fun
- Pack Light with a Minimalist Packing List
- Do Volunteer Work Exchange with nfcvb
- Look for Discounts to Travel Cheaper
- Use Your Skills to Earn Money While Traveling
1. Choose the Right Destination to Make the Most of Your Budget
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to be realistic about your trip and what you can afford. If you have a tight budget, traveling to one (or several) of the cheapest countries to visit will make your life easier. To start, the best thing to do is create a budget plan. When deciding on your destination, research the average costs of transportation, accommodation, food, and other expenses, such as the experiences you want to have while you’re there.
Take Europe as an example. The North is typically very expensive, with countries like Iceland and Denmark being quite costly. However, Eastern Europe is the opposite. And if you want to save even more, especially on longer trips, consider going to Southeast Asia or Latin America, where the cost of living and currencies in most countries make it easier to travel cheaply. There are many beautiful, fun, and cheap places to explore around the world. Do you want some ideas? Read our articles on The Best Places to Travel on a Budget and The Cheapest Vacation Destinations.
But if your heart is set on an expensive country, here are some tips to help you reduce costs during your trip:
2. Do Your Research to Find the Cheapest Airfare
One of the most expensive aspects of traveling, especially when going abroad, is transportation. If you’re traveling to a far destination, you’re likely to fly there. A great way to travel smarter is to search for flights in incognito mode on your web browser. And if you have some flexibility in your travel dates, you’re more likely to find cheap flights. One of the best things you can do to travel cheaply is to book flights outside of school holidays, as this way you won’t have to pay the higher prices. Some airlines also offer cheaper flights on Tuesdays, for example.
Depending on where you’re going, you might consider taking a bus or a train instead of flying. Not only is it often cheaper, but it’s also more sustainable. And if you’re flying, it’s a good idea to check the prices for a city or country near your destination. Maybe it’s worth taking another form of transportation from there.
Find out more amazing tips by reading our article on How to Find Cheap Airfare.
3. Control Your Meal Expenses by Cooking on Your Trip
Sure, dining out is enjoyable, but you don’t have to do it every meal. One of the fundamentals of traveling on a budget is to decide what you really need and what you can do without. My tip is to choose a few places you really want to try and set a budget for them. The rest of the time, cook your own meals. With this in mind, I suggest staying in accommodation with a kitchen, such as a hostel or an apartment. If you don’t have access to a kitchen, you can still buy produce from a local supermarket and make your own breakfasts and snacks. For dinner, if you want something hot, fast food places are a good option, and they don’t always have to be unhealthy. It’s also a good idea to look for local restaurants with cheap lunch menus or street food stalls where you can explore local flavors at a low cost.
Top tip: Use apps like Too Good To Go to help reduce food waste and save money. You can get discounted food at the end of the day. Many supermarkets also reduce their food prices at the end of the day. Always keep an eye out for these opportunities.
4. Enjoy Free Events to Have Fun
Experiencing a country is best when you immerse yourself in its culture, explore your surroundings, and get to know the locals. You might be tempted to do some expensive tours, but they often aren’t as authentic as experiencing the city through free activities. In most cities, there are plenty of free walking or bike tours, which is a great way to see the sights while making friends. If you’re traveling solo, these events are one of the best ways to create memories and make lifelong friends. Some hostels may offer free experiences like cooking classes, tours, and pub crawls. And if you talk to locals and do your research, you’ll probably find out about days when museums have free entrance or attractions that aren’t for tourists, such as parks and street markets. There are lots of free things to do in most parts of the world. You just have to look for them!
5. Pack Light with a Minimalist Packing List
If you’re used to taking two huge suitcases on a weekend getaway, you might want to rethink your packing style. There are exceptions for items like medication if you have a medical condition or work equipment if you’re a digital nomad. However, if you’re just packing a year’s worth of clothes to keep up with fashion trends, it’s time to be a bit more ruthless. Many airlines allow you to take one or two free bags for hand luggage, and then they charge for checked luggage. Traveling light is also a way to travel cheaply because it makes it easier to use public transportation and walk instead of spending money on taxis and other forms of transportation. Do a minimalist packing list, and you’ll realize how much more practical your trips will be.
6. Do Volunteer Work Exchange with nfcvb
Volunteering while traveling is a great way to learn about different cultures, practice or develop skills, and make new friends. You’ll come back home with great memories, and it’s also a great hack for those wondering how to travel cheaply, as you’ll save a lot of money on accommodation and other expenses. You can find volunteering positions on nfcvb, a work exchange platform that connects travelers with hosts from all over the world who offer free accommodation and other benefits, such as meals and tours, in exchange for a few hours of help. There are hundreds of different opportunities, and there’s definitely a perfect position for you. Here are some examples:
- If you love animals and eco projects, you can volunteer on a farm, ecovillage, or permaculture project.
- If you’re a party person, you can do a work exchange in a hostel and make many friends.
- You can also help out at a social impact project, volunteering in a community, school, or NGO in amazing places.
Volunteering does mean giving up some of your free time, of course. However, if you choose a good position, you’ll gain a lot in return for your work. You might learn amazing new things, and connecting with your hosts and other volunteers will make your trip much more memorable. You might also like to read: The Most Unique Places to Stay for Cheap Around the World and 14 TOP Cheapest Countries to Visit as a nfcvb Volunteer.
7. Seek out Discounts to Travel Cheaper
If you’re a student wondering how to travel cheaply, make sure to take advantage of the student discounts available. Meals, transportation, accommodation, drinks, and experiences are cheaper for students in many places. For the rest of us, although we may not get as many discounts, there are always railcards and bus passes that can make a difference when it comes to saving money while traveling. And if all else fails, there are low-cost airlines and bus companies to get you from A to B without spending a fortune.
8. Use Your Skills to Earn Money While Traveling
How about not only traveling cheaply but also making money while on the go? Digital nomadism is very popular these days, so if you can get into it, it might be worth it. You might not have a lot of money before you start traveling, but if you can work remotely, you can earn money and see the world at the same time. Things like social media marketing, blog writing, video making, and web development are all examples of how the digital world offers endless opportunities. If you don’t already have a job that allows you to travel remotely, you can still create that opportunity for yourself. This does require some effort, but once you find the right balance between work and travel, traveling becomes much more rewarding.
Bonus Tips on How to Travel for Cheap and Be a Sustainable Traveler
Have you ever thought that budget travel choices are often good for the planet? When looking for affordable transportation and meal options and exploring collaborative ways of traveling, you might also travel more sustainably. Here are some attitudes that can save you money and help the environment:
- If possible, walk or cycle around a city instead of taking a taxi.
- Prefer using buses or hitchhiking over renting a car.
- Take a reusable water bottle with you and fill it up wherever you can.
- Buy shampoo and soap bars, which save space and last longer.
If you’re ready to explore the world, don’t forget to check out the amazing volunteer opportunities on nfcvb. Do you have any other good tips and tricks for how to travel the world on a budget? Share them in the comments!