Yes – travel is expensive. And prices seem to go up each year. Here are my best budget travel tips to help you travel more for less – and save money on accommodation, flights, food and activities/experiences!
It’s important to decide what aspects of travel are non-negotiable to you (i.e. private hotel room vs hostel dorms, good hotel locations, good food etc.) and allocate a bit more to this and aim to save money in other aspects of your trip. I am used to staying in dorms (ear plugs go a long way!) and enjoy cheap local street food (rather than luxury restaurant meals) so save a lot of money here, allowing me to spend more on activities and tours. Find what works for you.
1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates or Destination
Price of travel, flights, accommodation and activities varies based on demand. Therefore, traveling during off-peak seasons or midweek can save you a lot of money. Use flight search engines like Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the cheapest days to fly. I also love to use airhint.com and Jacks Flight Club to monitor my chosen flights to secure the cheapest price possible!
If you are travelling off-peak, definitely do some research to make sure certain activities/tours are still running as some businesses and restaurants may close or have reduced hours during the quieter months. It really depends on your goals and what you may want to see! Often a good compromise would be the shoulder season (just between peak and off season) – usually has better weather than off-season, cheaper prices than peak-season and fewer crowds.
Likewise, if you don’t mind where you travel and have a few destination options, you can be more selective and have a higher chance of finding a bargain.
2. Use Budget Airlines and Compare Public Transport Options
Use low-cost carriers and book in advance to secure the best deals (I find 3 months before the sweet spot for most destinations, however this may vary – use sites like airhint.com to check what prices may do!). In many countries, using local buses or trains instead of domestic flights can be significantly cheaper so investigate all your options.
The top 20 budget airlines from the Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2024 included: AirAsia, Scoot, Volotea, Flynas, Transavia France, IndiGo, Vueling Airlines, airBaltic, Iberia Express, Ryanair, EasyJet, flyDubai, Jet2.com, Eurowings, Jetstar Airways, SKY Airline, JetSMART Airlines, Allegiant Air, Jestar Asia and Sun Country Airlines.
3. Stay in Hostels, Guesthouses, or Couchsurf
Researching different accommodation options is a must. Accommodation can be one of the biggest expenses, so look for hostels, guesthouses, or Airbnb rentals instead of hotels. Use sites like booking.com or hostelworld.com to compare your options! If you’re open to meeting locals, Couchsurfing offers free stays with hosts around the world. But please don’t treat Couchsurfing as free accommodation but more of a way to meet and experience the local life.
4. Stay outside the tourist zone
Depending on the destination, sometimes just outside the city can be much cheaper and only a short public transport away. You could end up with nicer accommodation for a cheaper price.
5. Eat Like a Local
Avoid touristy restaurants and instead eat at street food or small local eateries. Shopping at markets or cooking in hostel kitchens is another great way to save money. I personally will shop at local supermarket stores (which is often a fun experience in itself!) and live off cheap snacks and sandwiches, to save money for activities or adventures instead! Or book a hostel or airbnb with a kitchen to make your own meals.
6. Walk, Walk, Walk
Obviously, this depends where you travel, but most city destinations or small towns are very walkable and accessible on foot. You can save money on public transport, and often you find more hidden gems in the city by exploring on foot, that you would have missed if using public transport. If you do need public transport – it’s worth using the local bus or train service rather than taxis or private transport as this is going to be much cheaper.
7. Travel Light and Avoid Extra Fees
Many budget airlines charge extra for checked luggage (following the rules will help you avoid these fees!). Traveling with a carry-on only can help you save money and make your journey more convenient as you don’t need to carry a heavy bag around.
8. Use a duty-free bag at the airport
If you are close to your luggage limit or are struggling to fit everything in your suitcase on the way home, airlines are much less likely to challenge your extra items if it’s in a duty-free bag as it looks like you’ve just been shopping at the airport. Or just be sure to wear your heaviest shoes or pop your jacket over your arm so that you can wear it if called upon!
9. Use Free Walking Tours and City Passes
Many cities offer free walking tours, which are a great way to explore without spending money. Some destinations also have city passes that provide discounts on attractions and public transport.
10. Work or Volunteer Abroad
Consider options like Workaway, WWOOF, or teaching English to fund your travels while experiencing a new culture. There are also plenty of social media groups to find volunteer opportunities. Depending on your profession or job, you may even find specific volunteer options for you.
11. Travel Overnight
If you need to cover a long distance, for a bit of discomfort, taking an overnight bus or train can save you money and might prove to be a unique experience.
12. Plan Ahead But Stay Open to Last-Minute Deals
In general, booking essentials in advance ensures the best prices. If you’re a last minute person, travel may cost you more unless you look out for last-minute deals on flights, accommodations, and tours.
13. Avoid eating and shopping near popular tourist attractions
Shops and restaurants near popular tourist attractions usually have inflated prices to make the most profit from visitors – these are tourist traps. Often the food is not as good as other local food as well.
14. Research free activities
A lot of places will have certain activities or things for free – such as parks, scenic panoramic views, libraries and museums. If you stay in hostels, sometimes they will run free or cheap activities! Do a google search of ‘free things to do in…’ for your destination to give you some ideas. Speaking to someone local for ideas is always a great idea!
15. Utilise Travel Websites
A list of my favourite sites!
Flights
- Skyscanner or Google Flights
- Use this to set alerts and find the cheapest flights across multiple airlines. Book via the airlines directly as this is often cheaper and easier to manage if things go wrong!
- Airhint.com
- I love this site – it lets you know if the time is right to purchase specific flights and can give you alerts on price changes.
- Jacksflightclub.com
- A great resource for good flight deals and tips!
Transport
- Rome2Rio
- A useful site to get from Point A to Point B using flights, buses, trains and ferries. I find it useful to research the available routes, however, it’s still best to book directly through the transport company/provider.
- BlaBlaCar
- Cheap carpooling service that helps travellers save on transport costs
Accommodation
- Hostelworld
- One of my favourite platforms as it has plenty of reviews and a chat to meet up with other like-minded travellers. A great option if you are solo or backpacking.
- Booking.com
- A great way to compare what’s available and utilising the map function if you want to stay in a certain area (i.e. near the airport or beach)
- Couchsurfing
- A platform to connect with locals offering free stays and cultural exchanges.
- Airbnb
- Depending on the location, airbnb may not be the cheapest option unless you travel in a group. Though occasionally you can find a decently priced room in someone’s house so is always worth checking out. I’ve definitely travelled to tourist hot-spots and found this to be the cheapest option if no hostels are available.
Activities
- freetour.com
- tourhub.com
- getyourguide.com
- viator.com
- tripadvisor.com