Traveling on a Budget | 10 Tips on How to Travel on a Budget

Are you looking for ways to travel on a budget? Check out these ten tips for traveling cheaply!

If you are like me, you have so many saved posts of all the exotic places you dream of traveling to. What’s holding you back from visiting all these incredible places? The answer is almost always MONEY! Travel seems glamorous and at times exclusive to those with money to spare but you don’t have to break the bank to get out of town. You can have a rich, full, memorable experience traveling to incredible international destinations without denting your wallet.

There are many ways to travel on a budget— you just need a pinch of spontaneity and a whole lot of creativity. We’ll share proven ways to give you a bang for your buck and maximize your travel experience. Stretch out each dollar to give you your money’s worth without compromising on safety or the quality of your experience.  Here are ten tips on how to travel on a budget

1. Be flexible with your destination and travel dates

2. Make the most out of travel rewards programs

3. Travel in groups

4. Know where to look for budget-friendly flights

5. Explore alternative accommodation

6. Be adventurous, eat in or eat local

7. Embrace alternate transportation

8. Start planning early

9. Do not buy  Souvenirs

10. Earn while you travel

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1. Be flexible with your destination and travel dates

The first rule of budget travel is to have a budget and to stick to it. Allow your budget to dictate your travel dates and destination. There are destinations that are naturally more expensive than others, there are exotic locations that fall within your budget range.

The same goes with flights, Flexibility on your travel dates may save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. Do a little research and compare prices on different days.  

2. Travel Hacking and Loyalty Programs

What is travel hacking? Instead of you using your hard-earned dollars to pay for accommodation and flights, you use points you accumulate on credit card purchases and redeem them for free flights car rentals, and hotels. These are purchases you would have made anyway, but with travel hacking your purchases go into a travel reward credit card build-up points which you can use later on travel.

 It’s worth looking into loyalty programs from hotels. You know what’s better than visiting exotic places? Getting rewarded for it. And why not? Every time you spend your hard-earned money to travel you should get rewarded. Sign up for loyalty programs that earn you points with every swipe of a card.

3. Travel in groups

Like most things, traveling in groups has its advantages and disadvantages. Planning group travel can get really difficult, deciding where to stay, when to travel, what to eat, and how much to spend but the amount of money you save traveling in groups outweighs all the potential challenges. From carpooling to cost-sharing accommodation to activities discounts, group travel is a great way to travel on a budget. Apps like Groupon let you book experiences at a cheaper rate.

4. Know where to look for budget-friendly flights

One of the biggest travel expense is airfare. There are several ways you can maneuver around the cost of flights to make it fit your budget. The first is flexibility in your travel dates and your destination. You need to do your research to scout for the most affordable flight. Make sure you delete your cookies, airlines and booking sites use them to hike or alter prices based on your previous searches. However, it’s important to note that getting the cheapest flight could mean added travel time, longer layovers, or additional connections. Here are the sites we recommend when you need the most affordable flights

• Scott's Cheap Flights

• Momondo

• Kiwi

• Adioso

• Kayak

• Skyscanner 

• Hopper

• Fareness

5. Explore alternative accommodation

You’ve picked your travel dates, you’ve booked your flight, and now it’s time to choose accommodation. Hotels are great, you can earn points, and get free upgrades to a better room not to forget room service. When you are trying to cut costs you may want to trade the expensive hotel suite for a more affordable alternative like an Airbnb. 

Choosing to stay at an Airbnb might seem like a compromise but giving up room service could get you more space, a yard for the kids or pets to play in, great views of the city, a more authentic connection with local culture, privacy and so much more.

 Other affordable accommodation alternatives

• Couchsurfing

• Hostels

• House Sitting

• Outdoor Camping

6. Be adventurous, Eat in or Eat Local

Another tip for traveling on a budget is to eat local or street food. Especially in Asia, the street food is amazing, you get to try new food at a fraction of the cost of eating in a restaurant. Avoid tourist hotspots that are a lot more expensive, go for hidden gems and less known eateries the food is probably better and a lot cheaper.  If you are staying in an Airbnb, you could also prepare your own food to cut costs. 

7. Embrace alternate transportation

Walking is the cheapest form of transport and by far the best way to discover new places. Renting a bike is often cheap if you need to go a little bit further. Both are great ways to keep fit when you’re on vacation. Substitute taxis and Ubers for public transport like the bus, a train, or tuk-tuks

8. Start planning early

Planning early will save you so much money. It gives you a lot of wiggle room to adjust your travel dates, it gives you the best chance of finding discounted flights, accommodation, and activities.  Travel prices tend to rise and fall with demand, the prices mount as your travel dates get closer. Planning early allows you to keep an eye on the fluctuating rates so your book what’s in your budget range. It also allows you to cancel bookings without any repercussions.

9. Do not buy  Souvenirs

To be honest, souvenirs are overrated. Seriously! Instead of bringing back a suitcase full of touristy paraphernalia, it’s better to collect memories, experiences, and photographs instead of material things. It makes your travel lighter and your wallet happier.

10. Earn while you travel

Getting a paying job on travel is the best way to afford traveling abroad for several months or even years. There are endless opportunities to earn while you travel. Teaching is a good place to start even if you don’t have extensive experience. Teach English or any other language you speak conversantly. Teach skiing during winter. Work remotely or become a freelancer these are brilliant ways to afford you sustainable travel for long periods of time.

How do you travel comfortably on a budget? Share your tips with us.