Last week I posted a Twitter thread on ways to save on travel and shared it on my Instagram as well. It was my most saved post to date! Of course, I’m going to give the people more of what they want, so here is a few more in-depth tips on how to travel on a budget. These tips are tried and true and sharing is caring, so let’s jump right in!

Be Flexible

My number one tip for traveling on a budget is to BE FLEXIBLE! I know this is not always possible, but being flexible with your destination and flight logistics can save you $100s! I typically let price dictate where I travel to and not so much the destination. Always be on the lookout for flight deals and error fares. You may be able to snag flights that are usually upwards of $1000 for fraction of the cost, like the time I booked a trip to Abu Dhabi for $187. The only caveat to these deals is that often times they are out of an airport that may not be the hotel closest to you. So, you will have to book a separate flight. However, the costs generally are still significantly less than what you would generally pay. Save money on flights by flying from an airport that is less expensive, or flying into a different hub and then catching a separate flight to your destination. For example, it is often cheaper to fly into Ireland and then booking a budget flight to your next European destination versus flying directly into said destination.

Pack Light

Ok ok. I know this one is a doozy for some. It was for me, for the longest. I was a notorious over packer. Now, I’m team carry on all the way. But, think about it. How often do you pack a crap ton of stuff that you never even end up wearing. You pack for a beach vacay and pack 8 outfits for a 4 day trip and end up only wearing your swimsuit and beach cover up and maybe 2 outfits. It’s just unnecessary. Become deliberate about what you pack. Do you really need to pack that shirt that’s been in your closet for 3 years that still has the tag on it, but maybe just possibly, you might all of a sudden decide to wear it on vacation? Probably not. Minimizing your packing also minimizes the fees associated with checking a bag. Unless you have airline status or credit card perks, you’re going to be paying for checked luggage. That can easily add $50-$100, roundtrip, to your travel expenses. That money could be allocated to actual experiences, so take that into consideration.

Opt for Airbnb over a hotel

You guys already know how I feel about Airbnb. I love me a good hotel, but Airbnb is typically my preferred accommodation because you’re typically able to find accommodations for a much cheaper rate than hotels. Plus with an Airbnb, if you rent an entire space, you will likely have access to a full kitchen which can save you money on meals versus eating out three times a day. Also, with Airbnb, you often get a discount the longer you book. You’re more valuable to the host, by booking for longer periods versus one or two nights, so you’ll often see discounts when you book for a week or longer. If you’re looking for something long term, you can try negotiating a cheaper rate with the host by clicking on “Contact Host” before booking the Airbnb. Get $40 USD off your first Airbnb stay, on me!

Check out a Hostel

Despite popular beliefs, hostels are not all creepy and murdery. I’ve stayed in some pretty swanky hostels myself, as they are an excellent way to not only save money, but also to meet new people, especially when traveling solo. If you’re not about that bunk life (like me), you can typically book a private room with your own personal bathroom. Hostels also often have a communal kitchen you are able to utilize and often hosts various activities for its guests – another way to save on dining and entertainment.

Eat Like a Local

Those cute little restaurants in the center of town, or downtown will woo you with the bright colors and/or sparkly lights; however, a lot of times, those restaurants are all looks and no substance. They cater to tourists and tourists will flock there because of how “cute” it is, but so many times the quality food will be subpar or downright trash. Why? Because you’re likely just stopping through the city so the restaurant is not concerned with you being a repeat customer or creating dishes to keep you coming back for more. Skip those restaurants and eat like a local. Check out the street food scene or venture outside the city center and find the little mom and pop eateries where somebody’s grandma is in the back throwing down in the kitchen. How do you spot these places? Just look for the restaurants where there are tons of locals and few, if any tourists. You won’t find white table cloths or fancy cushioned chairs. If you see a checkered table cloth and plastic chairs and it looks a little suspect, that’s your place!

Do Free Activities

Every city has free stuff to do. You can always find a free walking tour, which will give you a layout of the city and also a bit of the history. Take a stroll through the parks, catch a free show in the town square, or live music at a local eatery. A lot of museums offer free admissions on certain days or discounts at certain hours. You can find these activities by simply Googling “free activities in XYX + month and year” or sometimes the city prints magazines or brochures with upcoming free events. For example, Mérida has Yucatan Today, that is printed monthly with all the upcoming events, free and otherwise.

Get a City Pass

You will always get a better deal when you bundle things; whether it’s flight + hotels or city attractions. To get to see all the city has to offer at a discounted rate, check to see if the city has a City Pass, which basically allows you access to attractions in the city all with one card instead of paying a la carte for everything. They also sometimes come with discounts to restaurants and other things to do in the city, as well as unlimited transportation. If you’re going to be doing a lot of site seeing and wandering about the city, this is the best way to do it all and save a few coins in the process.

Use Free Apps for Communication

I used to work for a telecommunications company. I’ve seen where people have unknowingly racked up THOUSANDS of dollars in international fees. Even with an international plan with your cellphone provider, these costs can add up. As an alternative, use free mobile apps to communicate while you’re traveling. My favorite is WhatsApp. You can call, text and video chat via this app and it’s FREE 99! Other alternatives are Skype, Kik, Tango and Kakao.

Start a Travel Fund

One of the best things you can do is set up a travel fund so that when it’s time to travel, you can simply use the money that you’ve stashed away instead of dipping into your personal funds or putting off that cable bill until next month or the month after, because they are super lenient. My favorite way to save for travel is with the Digit App. You set up an amount that you want to save and the date you want to save it by and Digit will automatically save increments on your behalf, based on your spending habits. Sometimes, it may only save a few dollars, other times it may save significantly more. It depends on your bank balance and, again, your spending habits. Here is a more in depth post about Digit and here is $5 just for you, just for signing up 🙂

Avoid ATM & International Transaction Fees

When you’re traveling on a budget the last thing you want to do is throw away money in ATM and international transaction fees. What are these fees exactly? An international transaction fee is a fee that you are charged every time you swipe your card. And the ATM fee, well, it’s just like when you’re at home and you use an ATM that is not your bank’s and you’re charged a fee. The same goes when traveling internationally. These fees are usually between $1-$6. However, in addition to being charged by your bank for using another bank’s ATM, you are also usually charged a fee by the owner of the foreign ATM. Double whammy! These fees add up big time! So, that’s why it’s best to make one large deposit versus lots of smaller ones.

However, the best way to avoid these fees altogether is to bank with a company that does not charge ATM or international transaction fees. My recommendation is Capital One 360. I recently switched over to them from my credit union and have saved so much money in fees, because they are an online bank that does not charge ATM and international transaction fees. It’s nice to be able to look at my statement and not see a gazillion fees from all the times I use Uber and Uber Eats, which is pretty much daily.

Join Facebook Groups

Facebook is the plug! The ultimate resource. Facebook groups are chocked full of information from other travelers and locals who can give you the scoop on travel info. I’ve found flight deals thanks to these groups, been informed of the best places to eat, things to do, and places to stay. The search function is your friend. Join these groups and search for whatever information you’re looking for, as it’s probably already been asked before. Here is a list of some of my favorite Facebook groups for all things travel related.

Travel in the Off Season or Shoulder Season

Traveling during peak season is naturally going to come with peak prices. The best way to save a few bucks on travel is to travel during the off seasons or shoulder seasons. Flights will be cheaper. Hotels and accommodations will be cheaper. Rental cars will be cheaper. Off seasons vary based on the country/city; usually based on the climate – i.e. rainy, hurricane or monsoon season. Shoulder season is the season between peak season and off season. Research to see when these seasons are for the destination you want to visit and plan your travel around that time.

Don’t Knock Budget Airlines

Spirit Airlines gets a bad wrap. It’s the airline that people love to hate, even if they’ve never even flown Spirit. I get it, they’ve had some pretty bad press and admittedly, the memes are pretty funny; however, Spirit is not as bad as seems. It’s actually ranked #1 for the most on-time airline in the U.S. industry. Not only that, you can save tons of money by flying Spirit. Yes, they will nickel and dime TF out of you, but if you exercise some of the other tips I mentioned previously – such as packing light, then you can keep your costs to a minimum. Some other favorite budget airlines are Norwegian, who offers cheap flights to Europe, Frontier for cheap flights within the U.S., Air Asia for cheap flights in Asia and Ryan Air for cheap flights in Europe.

***BONUS***

Get free lodging and meals by volunteering abroad

Accommodations are often one of the biggest expenses when it comes to travel. You can drastically cut your expenses down by volunteering a few hours of your time and a little bit of your knowledge and know how, in exchange for accommodations. Worldpackers is an online community that connects travelers to hosts all over the world, as a part of a work exchange program. Those social media skills or handy hands or even your shining personality can be a huge asset for helping you save money on your travels. You help your host and they provide you with accommodations and meals. Not only that, you get to connect with people from around the world, learn new skills and simply feel good about making an impact in someone else’s life.

Get $20 off your membership with promo code WORLDOFAWANDERER

These are just a few tips on how to travel on a budget. I have an entire list of 100 different ways to save money on travel! 

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