Disclosure: This is a collaborative post about travel on a budget.
When everything seems to cost so much it’s hard to feel like travel is still an option. However, there are still some awesome hacks you can use to travel cheaply, particularly if you are travelling slowly. Here are 30 great ideas on how to travel on a budget!
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Cheaper Flights – Travel on a budget
Discount Vouchers
There are various sites to get cheap discount vouchers for travel. If you are looking for cheap deals on flights then you may want to check these Jet2 promo code flights. With a low travel budget this is a good option to try and keep some of your cash for other activities.
Travel Out of Season
The main tourist season for most areas in Europe and North America is June – September. Exact dates vary, but it’s best to try and travel in the shoulder seasons, where the weather is still ok, but prices are cheaper. Make sure you find out what the high season of travel is for your destination and then work out when it’s slightly cheaper to visit.
Book Flights in Advance or Last Minute!
If you book flights well in advance then you will find that they can be very cheap. So if you are able to plan and be organised, then you may find the best deals this way. However, it’s also known that last minute flights can be a bargain too, so if you are able to wait until last minute to gamble on cheap flights, then you may just be pleasantly surprised!
Flexibility With Travel Dates
Being flexible with your travel dates really helps when you are trying to find some cheap deals. Search by cheapest month or the weeks before and after certain dates. This will help you find the cheapest deals on flights. Obviously this is more difficult to do if you have to stick to school holidays. However, even if you have the ability to move your travel dates by 2-3 days you can find the flight prices can alter dramatically.
Use Nearby Airports Search Function
When searching flights for your next trip, consider using the nearby airport function. Sometimes other airports that aren’t too far away may have significantly cheaper flights. Always check other airports for cheaper routes, this includes airports near to your intended destination airport.
Choose Cheaper Travel Destinations For Budget Travel
It seems pretty obvious, but certain destinations are going to be cheaper for budget travelers. Consider South America or perhaps Southeast Asia if you’re on a tight budget? Both these areas tend to be on the cheaper side of travel. However you can also find some amazing places in Europe that are cheaper. Consider the Eastern Europe countries of Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria. You can also consider alternatives to popular destinations, such as visiting Panama instead of Costa Rica in Central America.
Check if 2 1-Way Trips Is Cheaper Than Return
Sometimes you may find it’s actually cheaper to book two 1-way tickets rather than a return ticket. This applies to both plane and train, so definitely check if it’s cheaper by choosing 2 x 1-way tickets than a return to your destination.
Pack Light
Save on your luggage charges by packing light. Most plane companies now sell hold luggage separately and also hand luggage that can go in the overhead compartments. You can often find that adding hold luggage can be another £60 return per person, which really adds up for a family of 4! Check the costs between adding on hand luggage or having no hand luggage and a single 23kg hold bag. Even on long plane journeys a rucksack that fits under the seat in front of you is more than enough. So consider travelling light with just one piece of hand luggage if there’s only 1-2 of you, or forget hand luggage and use one large hold bag for a family. The cost can change between flights with the same company, so do check different baggage combinations before you book.
Make use of Layovers
On long haul trips you will find that it can be cheaper to use flights that have stopovers. Sometimes the stopovers can be quite long on the cheaper alternative flights. However, you can turn this to your advantage by using the layover to explore more of a new country or city for a few hours or even a day. Some large airports do actually have organised trips for a quick tour outside the airport for a few hours, check out Singapore Airlines free layover tours.
Travel Credit Card
There are many travel credit cards to choose from. Consider choosing a card that has rewards such as travel insurance included, or AirMile rewards. Providing that you choose a card with low APR and always pay it off in full.
The Frugal Flyer is a great resource if you want to learn how to utilise travel credit cards, frequent flyer programs, and hotel loyalty programs.
Cash back Sites
When booking flights, buying insurance or booking accommodation you should always do this through cash back sites if possible. Earning you cash to be used elsewhere on your trip. This is actually a particularly easy way to gain extra cash to spend on trips and reduce overall cost of your trip.
Learn A Foreign Language
Being able to speak the local language can really help when you are trying to bargain or find cheap deals. Locals are much more likely to give you a better deal if you speak their language and charge more to those that can’t haggle well! You can also then read information about prices and availability of tours and travel within the country easily. This will give you the opportunity to save money rather than paying out for expensive tours.
Save Money On Accommodation
Self Catering Accommodation
With self catering accommodation you can definitely save a lot of money on food costs. The beauty of self catering is that you have your own kitchen and dining area to avoid the extra cost of eating out for all meals. The best way to do this is to make use of local markets and street food that you can take back to cook or eat at your apartment. Search for aparthotels on Google to find good places to stay, there are quite a few available in Europe.
Camping
Camping is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly can make it a lot cheaper to travel. If you are on a road trip around Europe or the United States then why not consider camping. One of the best places for this particular tip are the National Parks of the USA. They have some great campsites that are perfect for cheap trips.
Campervan
A great way to save on accommodation is to travel by campervan as this can be cheaper than booking separate accommodation and vehicle. Campervans are easy to hire in Europe or North America. In African countries it may be easier to hire a Land Rover with a roof top tent, which you can park in camping areas of different National Parks for a DIY safari experience.
Cheap Chain Hotels
Although having cooking facilities in a self catering apartment is my preferred option. For short weekend breaks you may find a good deal on cheap chain hotels. In the UK we have chain hotels such as Premier Inn, which are significantly cheaper than surrounding hotels, even in cities like London! They may not have luxury rooms, but you will generally find them clean and often they will offer a free breakfast option.
While budget travel often focused on hostels, camping, or cheap chain hotels, another option that is becoming increasingly popular is family friendly boutique hotels. These types of stays offer a balance between comfort, design, and affordability when travelling as a group or family. In many cases, booking a larger boutique room or suite can even work out cheaper per person than multiple hotel rooms.
Stay Outside The City Centre
Staying inside the city centre is always the most expensive option. The further from the centre you are the cheaper accommodation can be. This doesn’t mean it has to be difficult to get around. Instead make sure your accommodation is near a metro or bus station. That way you can easily get into town, but have cheaper accommodation. We found this to be a very useful idea when visiting Athens and Rome.
Eating Out
Eat At Local Restaurants
Local restaurants will have tasty local food made by local people. A much more cultural experience than eating at the expensive restaurants. In some countries local restaurants will also offer a set meal choice, which can include of 2-3 courses for a lower cost. It might not be a good idea for fussy kids, but it could be a good way of keeping costs down for adults.
Buy From Local Markets For Picnic Lunches
Lunch doesn’t have to cost much money. Instead of a sit-down restaurant meal, consider just buying a few items for a picnic lunch. Most cities and towns have bakeries where you can buy pastries or bread for a a good price. Add some cheese and fruit from the local market and you have an easy and cheap lunch that you can eat wherever you are.
Transport For Travel On A Budget
Use Public Transportation
Rental cars aren’t essential, it can actually be more fun to try using public transport. This is easiest in cities with regular transport options. However, you can also use buses and trains to travel across countries for a fraction of the cost of a rental car. Definitely look up the type of local transport in the area and whether you can travel without a car.
Make Use of Rail Cards
Most countries with railways have rail cards that are open to people from other countries to buy. In the UK it make sense to buy a family and friends Railcard for £30 when planning a more expensive trip, such as Edinburgh to London. It can save over £100 in cost! Many other European countries also have similar railcard options. Alternatively check if a Eurail card would be a good option for travel through European countries.
Walk!
Save money by walking. Walking is not always the favourite option, but you will see a lot more if you walk around villages, towns and cities. It’s also a fantastic way to discover hidden away areas of the place you’re visiting. Especially beautiful murals and graffiti art. We had a great time walking around London when everything was shut, exploring areas we would normally have missed.
Cheap Things To DoWhen You Travel On A Budget
Visit The Tourist Office
The first stop when arriving in a new location should always be the local tourist office. They can advise you of any upcoming events, free tours and attractions in the area or walking trails you may enjoy. Their whole job is to help tourists in the local area, so you can definitely expect some good and knowledgeable advice.
Free Walking Tours
Many cities have free walking tours. If you enjoy the tour you can tip the tour guide depending how much you are able to give, but otherwise it can be totally free. Just look up the city you’re visiting and type in ‘free walking tours’ in the search bar. You will find plenty of different options available and a lot cheaper than paid for tours.
Use Local Guides
Local guides can save money on the big name guides and give you plenty of local advice. They may not all be cheap, but they do tend to be cheaper than those in larger companies. For example, when we visited Machu Picchu in Peru it was cheaper to hire a guide on the street touting their services than a larger company. You can also haggle with local guides for a cheaper cost.
Make Use of City Cards
Many cities, particularly those in Europe have city cards that you can buy for discounts or free entry into attractions. We particularly like the Copenhagen card which offers free entry to many musuems, free use of public transport within the city centre and other free tours or discounted food. It’s an excellent way to make a city break cheaper. Plenty of cities have these cards, so check out if there is one at your destination and whether it will be worth the cost to buy it.
Consider Free Attractions
Free things are always a hit when you are travelling. Fortunately you can find many free things to do in cities all over the world. I have plenty of ideas of free things to do in Scotland for when you’re trying to keep the daily costs down. Definitely google ‘free things to do’ wherever you’re visiting and find out what free attractions are available. Don’t forget to check the attraction opening times too!
Check Out Free Festivals
Mots areas have local festivals at different times throughout the year. These can certainly be a good time to visit for a good cultural experience and also free activities! The Free Fringe at Edinburgh Festival has lots of shows and events for people of all ages. You can either pay a small donation or choose to pay nothing, but it certainly makes for a cheap day out visiting many of the different shows!
Buy A Local SIM Card
It can cost a lot to use your phone in a foreign country. Instead head into a local shop and buy a local SIM card to pop in your phone and get the best price for using apps and texts. This can really help if you are using apps such as Uber to get around.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Many people may be tempted to forget about expensive travel insurance when travelling. However, this is a bad idea! When something goes wrong you want that knowledge that you are covered by insurance and you can get help when needed. Imagine being charged £1000’s at a hospital just for a short stay, when you can have it covered for next to nothing on travel insurance. Don’t skimp on this!
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