Travelling on a budget and experiencing new cultures, cuisines, and landscapes is a dream for many. And the truth is, it’s absolutely possible to do so without breaking the bank.
All it takes is some proactive planning and a few savvy tricks up your sleeve. With that in mind, here’s a straightforward guide to 10 practical ways to travel on a budget.
So let’s dive in and start exploring the world without spending a fortune!
10 REALISTIC WAYS TO TRAVEL ON A BUDGET
(BEFORE THE TRIP)
1. COME UP WITH A BUDGET PLAN
Impromptu trips are great if budget and time isn’t a big deal for you. But if you’re travelling on a budget, the first thing is to plan a budget.
No, you don’t have to get anxious and plan every detail of your trip. Do some basic research and plan a rough budget to understand the amount of money you’re going to spend.
Trust me, having a budget for travel doesn’t mean that you would have to slum it out. We all have different budgets for different times when we travel. Nevertheless, creating a budget will make your travelling much easier and more affordable.
One of the helpful tools that I usually refer to is “Budget your Trip” to get a rough idea. On this, you can search for travel costs of any country and choose your travel (budget, mid-range, luxury). This tool helps you understand the budget for a specific country you’re interested in travelling to.
2. AVOID TOURIST TRAPS
Big cities and tourist hotspots are always a lot more expensive than travelling off the beaten path. If you’re travelling on a budget, try off the beaten path. There are so many hidden gems in this world! Explore them.
Even within your chosen destination, try to avoid restaurants/cafés that are located on the main strip or are very popular. Try something down a sidewalk, and you’ll probably find better and cheaper food!
Try to bring your picnic food to tourist attractions to avoid paying a ridiculous price for the food.
3. FLEXIBILITY IS KEY
If you want to save some cash on travel expenses, it’s wise to be flexible with your travel dates. You can save hundreds of dollars by avoiding peak seasons and looking for deals during off-peak times or shoulder seasons.
Also, keep in mind that sometimes, it’s not about where you go, but when you go. While you might have a specific destination in mind, it’s worth considering other places that offer similar experiences at a fraction of the cost.
Off-season travels have pros and cons. Though you can’t guarantee weather, your destination will be less crowded and you’ll save money.
4. USE SKYSCANNER TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS
This tool is my personal favourite and is the easiest way to find cheap flights.
Open Sky scanner and select the “whole month” search feature. This feature will help you find the cheapest travel date to your preferred destination. You may not get to fly on your preferred dates, but that’s a trade you make for a good travel deal.
For even more flexibility, you may search using the “everywhere” tool, to find all your flight options from your departure city/ country.
You can also read a few tricks to book cheap fight tickets here.
5. CHECK NEARBY AIRPORTS WHILE BOOKING THE TICKETS
There is no harm in adding “nearby airports” when you are booking your air tickets. Sometimes, flying into a smaller airport might help you save some money.
6. ACCOMMODATION
Your choice of accommodation will depend on a lot of factors such as destination, travel and comfort style, number of people, interest and of course, budget.
Depending upon the length of your trip and destination, you can decide on the accommodation style. These are some of the tips that will help you find cheap accommodation:
Apartments:
As a family, if it’s a long weekend, an apartment is a better choice; as you’ll have access to a kitchen, separate bedrooms. And you can split the cost if you are with a set of other family/friends.
- Independent Hotels
If you choose to stay in hotels, try to look for independent hotels/ B&B’s instead of chain hotels. Chain hotels are expensive.
- Think of a location
It will make no sense to find cheap accommodation if it is far away from major places and you have to pay the extra transportation cost. Choose your stay wisely.
Stay in the central area and close to public transport, local food outlets and within a walking distance to major places.
- Hostels
Gone are the days when hostels offered only dorm rooms. Today, many hostels offer a private or family room, and the same is typically cheaper than hotel rooms. Also, hostels can be a fantastic way of meeting fellow travellers!
No matter what type of accommodation you choose, always read reviews before booking them.
- Follow your favourite sites on social media
Follow your favourite sites on social media (like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). It is common for sites to release special accommodation deals on social media accounts.
(DURING THE TRIP)
7. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE ATTRACTIONS
Research for free stuff that you can do. For example, most of the museums/ palaces have days with free entry. Take advantage of the same. There are also free walking tours. That’s the best way to meet other people and explore the place.
8. TRANSPORTATION
The best thing while travelling is to get local knowledge. Seek out local transport. Check out the local timetable for buses and trains, ask locals how to get around, get an idea how comfortable you’ll be in travelling local mode of transport.
Moreover, some reliable and trusted websites will give you a general idea of the transportation cost. Below are some of the websites, which are helpful:
Check my Bus: A site that lets you check and book local buses all around the world.
Rome to Rio: A global trip planner that shows rough estimate by any mode of transport
The man in seat 61: This super popular site is one of the most comprehensive train travel guide/searching and booking portals. It includes local, inter-city, trans country train journeys all over the world.
9. EXPLORE ON FOOT WHENEVER POSSIBLE
Not only it will save you money, but the best way to discover the local hot spots and hidden gems are by waking!
10. EAT LIKE A LOCAL
Get into a travel mindset and adopt an attitude of adventure and flexibility. It doesn’t mean that if you are traveling on a budget, you can’t enjoy the local cuisine.
Food memories are long-lasting for many of us, so embrace it! The trick is to act less like a tourist and more like a local. I suggest following the lead of locals by avoiding tourist-filled restaurants and opting for local spots that serve authentic and less expensive meals.
Alternatively, you could purchase some groceries and cook your own meals.
Eating on a budget can be challenging, but if you dine and shop like a local, you can find some great bargains.
That’s it from us! 🙂
Travelling on a budget is an art! It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your trip to the fullest. It is all about getting the most value for your money.
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You may like to read:
“7 Best Websites To Help You Find Cheap Flights”
