As we all know, travel isn’t exactly the cheapest thing in the world when we take into to consideration everything that goes into a trip – from flights to visas, food, and everything else in between, the costs can soon mount up. Of course, this certainly doesn’t mean that every trip is going to be expensive. Some places are just going to be more expensive than others and some are also going to be cheaper. There are also other factors that come into play, such as the time of year you travel, the type of traveler you are – for example, if you like luxury hotels or if you prefer going for a lower key travel style such as backpacking. So, if you’re planning to travel for a longer time, then in this post we’re going to share with you some tips as to how you can save money during your travels without worrying about every penny you spend during the trip.
Avoid Hotels
Accommodation can actually be one of the biggest costs when traveling, and obviously the longer you stay somewhere, the more this will cost you, so if you’re looking for ways to save money when traveling, then staying in hotels probably isn’t the best plan of action. Instead, you should look at other options, such as hostels and couchsurfing.
Hostels are great for their sociable atmosphere, and although they’ve historically gotten a bit of a bad name for being places that are loud, full of party people and not the best in terms of hygiene, hostels nowadays are totally different and some even rival hotels in terms of their services and amenities, so don’t be put off by the stereotypes. You can find amazing hostels at great prices in every country around the world by searching online or using sites like Hostelworld to find something in your budget and that meets your needs. Hostels are a great way to get to meet other travelers and many will also arrange things like tours and meetups, so if you’re solo traveling, then this could be a great option for you to get out and about with other people.
Couchsurfing is an amazing way to really get to know the place you’re traveling to and where you can meet locals. On the couchsurfing app, look in the place where you’re traveling to, then you’ll find hosts who offer up their couch or even a room for a few days during your trip and in exchange for them putting you up, you can offer to help them with things like cooking and household chores. Couchsurfing is a cultural experience for both the visitor and the host and is a really great way to save on costs and definitely a great alternative to hostels if you’re still looking for a more authentic experience, but don’t want to be in a hostel full of people. If neither of those options is appealing to you, then you can look into things like Airbnb, which can be quite affordable depending on where you go, the time of year, and whether you take a room or a complete property, but sometimes renting a beautiful villa somewhere can actually be cheaper than a hotel. Places like Airbnb and even ruko are great alternatives, and can make a lot more sense if you’re going to be traveling for a longer time, plus it’s a good way to get your own space and feel like you’re actually a local for a while.
Use public transport
Many countries have fantastic public transport systems, such as bus and train connections that people use to get around and these are often far cheaper than driving, plus it’s more of an authentic experience since you’re going to be traveling alongside locals and it’s a great way to really get to know your way around the country. Although there are certainly times when hiring a car makes sense or taking a domestic flight is going to be necessary, it’s public transport is mostly going to be far more cost effective.
Eat where the locals do
Food is often another huge cost when traveling, but then it always depends on where you’re eating and the kind of foods you like. If you want to save money on food, then one good way to go about this is to find the places where locals are eating. There are even apps that can help you find this out. Not only is eating at the same places the local eat going to save you a good chunk of change, but it’s something that will be a far more authentic experience than the inflated tourist places.
Book things in advance
Of course, a big part of traveling is all about being spontaneous, so you certainly don’t have to make too many plans in advance, but if you want to save a bit of money, then you should definitely book things in advance that you know you’re going to be doing – such as day trips, famous sights or excursions. Another good reason for booking things in advance is that you often can add in options of skipping the queues, which can be especially good if you’re visiting somewhere in peak season or in a particularly popular spot.
Avoid tourist traps
Whilst we’re not saying that you shouldn’t visit tourist spots – for example, if you’re in Paris, then you should definitely see the Eiffel Tower. However, it’s a well known fact that the areas directly surrounding tourist spots are highly overpriced and often not the most authentic experience either, so go and visit those sights by all means, but make sure you go to the more authentic places when you’re looking to spend your money. Not only is this good for your wallet, but it’s a good way of giving back to the local businesses and economy, since many of them will be competing against the bigger places.
Use loyalty points
If you’re someone who travels a lot – especially by plane, then one of the best things you can ever do is sign up for an airline’s mileage account. You can also sign up for their credit card which gives extra bonuses such as travel insurance and bonus miles, but racking up airmiles is a great idea because it allows you to get things like free flights, upgrades and other bonuses that can save you a lot of money if you’re traveling a lot.
Take hand-luggage
Although it’s not always going to be possible to travel with hand luggage, some airlines allow up to 10kg of hand luggage, which is actually quite generous, so if you’re able to do it, then try to travel with hand luggage as much as you can because you can save yourself quite a bit of money when compared to using checked luggage.
Travel during off-peak season
As we mentioned above, travel is not always going to be expensive, and one of the factors that usually determines how much you’ll pay for things like flights and accommodation is the time of year you’re planning to travel. Typically peak seasons are going to be summer and Christams – of course, depending on the location, so if you’re able to then avoiding travel at peak times is going to save you a good bit of money. Another good reason for traveling off-peak is that it’s far less busy, so you may even get lucky with no one sitting next to you on a flight and other little perks of traveling at quieter time of year.
Thanks for the list of useful tips on how to save some money while traveling. As for the first point, I must say that I don’t like hotels. Unfortunately, most of them are completely without climate and you can’t get to know the local culture there. Instead of booking a hotel room, I prefer to stay in a private apartment where I can talk to the host and I feel more like a guest, not like a tourist. Public transport is also a great thing. Not only is it much cheaper, but it gives you the opportunity to see what everyday life of local people looks like.
I think the biggest one here is eating where the locals do. When you first arrive in a place, it’s hard to know how much things should actually cost, so you don’t know if you’re getting ripped off because you don’t have a clear picture of how much things should cost. It’s always good to go where tourists aren’t!
Solid tips! I was always so weary of hostels thinking of them as dirty and unsafe but I stayed in them most of my trip in Europe and had mostly great experiences! I was also worried local / street food would make me sick but that also hasn’t happened yet. SO it’s so worth it to stretch your dollar further!
I am always amazed at how some people I know refuse to use public transport while travelling. The price difference can be astronomical compared to taxis or hiring a car and is much better for the environment. Most cities the public transport options are usually quicker than taxis or uber.
Travelling during off peak season is a great idea. I recently travelled Myanmar this way and while it was great, I missed a few places due to rain. Public transport is also a good suggestion.
I love these tips! I’m a budget traveler myself and do all of these things as well. To save money I also cook my own meals sometimes and walk everywhere. Booking in advance only saves you money in some cases, in Southeast Asia it’s usually cheaper not to book ahead. I also use Workaway to save on food and accommodation, and it’s a fun way to immerse in the local culture as well.
These are really important tips to save money while traveling. Especially, I like the points like eating local food and using public transport. They save a lot of money.