I’m a big believer in the idea that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to see the world. I’ve traveled to more than 20 countries so far, and I’ve never spent more than $500 per week on accommodations or food. That’s cheap, even by budget backpacker standards! I know this can be hard to believe — especially if your last trip involved staying at an upscale hotel and renting a car. But trust me: It’s possible to visit some of the most interesting places on Earth for very little money if you’re willing to make some sacrifices. In this post, I’ll share my tips for traveling cheaply so that you can start saving up for your next adventure.
Skip the hotel.
If you’re on a budget, one of the best ways to save money when traveling is to skip the hotel and stay with family or friends. If you’re traveling alone, consider using Airbnb as it can save you a lot of money compared to staying at hotels.
If all else fails, look for hostels: they are great places where people from all over the world come together to share their stories. A good hostel will offer cheap accommodation and provide things like kitchen facilities which allow guests to reduce costs by cooking their own meals. The best thing about hostels is that they provide travelers with an opportunity to meet like-minded people who are interested in meeting new people and sharing their stories too!
Pack light.
Packing light is an art form. It can be difficult if you’re not used to it, but it’s worth trying—especially if you’re traveling on a budget. The less stuff you have with you, the less money and time it’ll take to get from Point A to Point B.
If this sounds like your cup of tea (or something), here are some tips for packing light:
- Don’t bring anything that isn’t useful or necessary. If you need something else, buy it abroad! There are tons of things available in most major cities across the world—and they’ll probably be cheaper than any equivalent item back home.
- Be honest about how much space food takes up in your bag; unless it’s really good food, ditch it! Eating out every night will cost way more than buying snacks from grocery stores or markets along the way and packing them carefully in sandwich bags or Tupperware containers.
Get to know peak travel times.
If you want to travel cheaply, get to know peak travel times and plan your trip around them.
The summer holidays and school breaks are two of the most popular times for families to go on vacation. If you can avoid these times, you will save a lot of money on airfare and hotel rooms.
Aim for shorter stays.
You can eliminate much of your travel costs by staying in one place for a shorter period of time. If you’re staying with friends or family, this will be cheaper than an Airbnb. If you want to stay at a hostel, look for one that offers discounted rates when booking through HostelWorld (which is what I did). This can save you anywhere from $3-10 per night depending on the hostel and where it’s located.
And don’t forget about car rental! If you’re traveling with more people, renting a car might be more economical than taking taxis everywhere and buying transportation tickets every time someone needs to get somewhere different from everyone else.
Don’t fly during high season.
- Flying during the high season is one of the easiest ways to spend a lot of money on your trip. The reason for this is simple: When weather and temperatures are at their best, most people want to be outside as much as possible. This means more competition for seats on planes, trains, and other travel vehicles.
- It’s also important to note that not all high seasons are created equal: Some destinations have very long winters or very hot summers that make traveling difficult at those times of the year. If you’re planning a trip somewhere harsh or dry (think Antarctica or Arizona), then taking time off work in another season might be worth it just so that you can enjoy yourself—even if it means spending more money.
Choose your destination carefully.
In order to travel cheaply, it is important to choose a destination that is not too popular. Popular destinations tend to be more expensive and may have long waits for transportation or attractions. You should also pick a destination that will not cost too much money. If you plan on visiting multiple countries, then your budget could easily get out of hand if you do not take care in choosing where you want to go.
Finally, consider where you want to visit before booking your flights and hotel reservations. Make sure that the place has amenities such as food stores, internet access, and public places like parks so that when traveling on a budget there will always be something available nearby when needed
Take advantage of local transportation.
In some cities, public transportation is the best way to get around. When you’re traveling on a budget in a city like this, taking advantage of local transportation can save you money and help keep your carbon footprint low. Here are some options:
- Take the bus
- Rent a bicycle or scooter
- Use car-sharing services
Skip the car rental and explore on foot or by bicycle.
- Bike rentals are a great way to get around in a city because they’re cheap and more environmentally friendly than driving. If you want to be able to explore on your own, however, it’s best to bring your own bike.
- If you’re traveling by car (and if you have one), skip the rental and leave it at home. Instead of using up gas in a rental car while exploring the city, walk or ride around town! This will save money and help you avoid getting lost—which is especially important when traveling abroad.
- Before setting off on foot or by bicycle, make sure that you’ve got all the information about where exactly you should go; Google Maps can be helpful for this purpose if someone else has already been there before or has written about their experiences online.
Plan ahead and book early.
The first and most obvious way to save money on your trip is by booking ahead of time. If you can plan the entire trip in advance and book everything from airfare to hotels to restaurants, then you’ll have some control over what you pay.
It’s also important to keep an eye out for deals on airlines, hotels, and other travel-related services. For example, if you travel a lot for work or know someone who does (or if you work at an airline), check out frequent flyer programs that offer upgrades or special rates for preferred customers.
And don’t forget about hotel loyalty programs! These are great ways to earn points that can be used toward free stays at various locations around the world.
Finally, consider purchasing rail passes—these allow unlimited train use within certain regions during set periods of time (usually weeks or months) while providing significant savings compared with individual tickets purchased one by one.
Look for cheap airfare before booking a flight to your destination.
- Look for cheap airfare before booking a flight to your destination.
- Low-cost airlines, like Spirit and Frontier, are often cheaper than the major ones.
- Groupon sometimes offers deals on return flights from certain destinations at a reduced price (e.g., a $99 round trip from Atlanta to New York City).
- If you’re flexible about when you travel, consider flying during off-peak travel times or on-budget airlines that offer cheaper fares during these times of the year. For example, if you’re planning a spring break trip to Europe, look into flying with Ryanair or EasyJet instead of British Airways or Lufthansa; these two airlines offer flights as low as $150 per person one way!
Save money on plane tickets by being flexible when you fly.
- Flexibility is key.
- Be ready to change your plans at the last minute.
- Look at other destinations, airlines, and airports.
You can see the world without spending all your money
- You can see the world without spending all your money.
- Being flexible with your travel plans will help you save money.
- Choosing a destination carefully will ensure that you get the most out of your trip.
- Renting a car is expensive, so use public transportation or explore on foot or by bicycle instead.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to travel the world on a budget, there are some simple ways to make it happen. We hope these tips will help you save some cash and get out there!