13 Affordable Tips for Traveling on a Budget

People may think millennials don’t have any money, but it’s also the same generation that loves to travel. Who can blame them?

Traveling gives you a broader perspective, beautiful memories, amazing sights and experiences, and a chance to get to know other cultures.

If you relate to a broke millennial who wants to travel around the world, you need to learn how to do so on a budget. You can still do what you want without spending too much cash.

Check out our tips about traveling on a budget below so you can realize your dreams while making sure you don’t go hungry afterward.

1. Plan Your Travel

A spontaneous trip is the dream, but it’s a rather expensive dream. Traveling without a plan makes you susceptible to unexpected spending, and you won’t get the best deals this way.

If you’re working on a tight budget, you need to research. Aside from Googling things like, “how to find out if I have a warrant” to avoid legal issues, make sure you also stay within your budget and avoid places with high crime rates.

You’ll also need to research the cheapest places to stay, low-cost activities, and so on. Having a general idea of what you want to do is enough.

2. Be Flexible in Your Travel Plans

Still, you have to be flexible; don’t create a tight itinerary – leave some things to chance.

There might be some deals and opportunities that will arise while you’re traveling. Having an hour-by-hour itinerary won’t allow you to take advantage of these things.

3. Book Flights in Advance

Airlines publish their schedule and rates months or sometimes, a year, in advance. That means you can start booking a flight as soon as you can.

Flight prices go higher the closer it is to your departure date. If it’s far enough, you can set up alerts on websites like Skyscanner when the prices drop.

4. Learn How to Pack

The first tip – travel light; this allows you to save on baggage fees at the airport. Plus, you’ll be able to move much more freely if you don’t have much on you.

The second tip – bring (almost) everything you’ll need. This way, you won’t have to buy your essentials at your destination; you can spend more money on activities or food.

5. Take Advantage of Off-Peak Rates

Flights, hotels, activities, tours, and almost everything cost higher during the peak seasons. Traveling off-peak will allow you to enjoy the same things at a lower cost.

A bonus is that there will be fewer tourists, although you may have to endure the reasons why it’s off-peak in the first place, like a rainy season in the Asian countries.

6. Skip the Hotel

Hotels offer the best comfort, but that comes with a price. If you’re traveling on a budget, skip the hotel and go for the hostels – it’s an excellent way to meet friends, too.

You can also try sites like Airbnb to find better deals than hotels. Couchsurfing is a great idea, too, as you get to sleep for free in willing hosts.

7. Stay Away from Tourist Traps

Tourist traps tend to cost higher because, well, they’re traps for tourists who are willing to spend money. While they’re popular for a reason, we’re sure there is so much more to the destination besides what’s in the brochure.

Don’t be afraid to venture the off-the-beaten-path. You may discover amazing sights and create wonderful memories this way.

8. Prioritize Your Meals

It’s tempting to skimp on food to have more money for activities, but eating local food contributes to your whole experience. By prioritizing your meals, you can still eat good food while managing your finances.

For example, lunch costs lower than dinner in many places. You can take advantage of this by eating out only at lunch. For breakfast or dinner, you can cook or buy from the convenience store.

9. Try the Street Foods

Street foods are usually cheap, and they’re pretty tasty, too. They’re a part of local cuisine, so if you’re interested in immersing yourself in the culture, don’t skip the street foods.

Look for the stalls that have a queue – they most likely have the best food around. You can try as many types of street food you want if you go to something like a street food market.

10. Make Friends

Wherever you go, try to make friends with other travelers and the locals.

Locals can give you invaluable tips about non-touristy but beautiful spots. They can also tell you where the affordable places to eat and stay are.

Other travelers can give you tips, as well, especially if they’re on a budget, too. You might also make a friend who’s traveling the same way you do. You’ll be able to save by splitting costs like hotel rooms, transportations, and such.

11. Take It Slow

If you pack too many trips on your itinerary, you’ll have to take the fastest transportation. And the fastest ones often cost the highest.

The key is to go slow; instead of taking a plane, try to see if you can take a bus instead. They’re slower, but they’re much less expensive.

12. Walk More Often

Speaking of which, why not skip the bus or train altogether? If your next destination is within walking distance, take a stroll instead.

This is a good idea both in the countryside and the city, and this is also a good way to take in as much of the place as you can.

Join walking tours, too, as they’re free most of the time. You’ll learn a lot, and you might make a friend or two along the way.

13. Work on the Road

There’s a way to offset the money you’re spending on your travels – by working. Some hostels, for example, give free accommodation in exchange for work.

You can housesit to earn money while having a free place to stay, too. You can find all sorts of part-time work if you know where to look.

As everything is digital nowadays, you can even do freelance online work from anywhere. All you need is your laptop and an internet connection.

Start Traveling on a Budget Now!

Liked our tips? Save this article for future reference so the next time you need to be traveling on a budget, you’ll know what to do.

If you need more inspo, check out the rest of our blog posts today and get all the travel advice you need!