How to Travel on a Budget: 5 Tips to Spend Less on Travel
Many people assume that travel is an expensive privilege, and neglect the opportunity to do it because of concern about the price.
There is so much value in travel, and the truth is it does not have to be a luxury experience that only the rich can afford. Don’t let the price tag of travel stop you from seeing the world!
Here are 5 ways to budget travel.
1. Research Your Destination
Before you even start planning your trip, make sure you are choosing a destination that won’t break your bank.
Realize that food and accommodations are going to be significantly more expensive in places like France than they will be in South America. Take a look at the flight prices as well and see if they balance with other travel expenses. For example, flights to southeast asia can be pricy, but other expenses like food, activities, and hotels will be very cheap.
Research things to do, places to eat, and where to stay and see if the prices align with your budget.
TIP: I like to use Skyscanner to find the cheapest available flights.
2. Travel in the off season
Know that prices will always be more expensive in the prime tourist season. Flights and sightseeing prices will go up.
The off season will be different for each destination, but typically it’s in the summertime or when the weather is nicest. You will find good travel deals if you decide to travel to a place when most people wouldn’t.
3. plan ahead
Planning ahead is helpful for traveling whether you’re on a small budget or not.
However, if you choose your destination far enough in advance, you can track the flight prices on sites like Expedia or Skyscanner to see when the prices are lowest. Keep an eye on these prices and check the predictions of when he will rise and fall.
4. transportation and accommodation
Taxis and Ubers can be really expensive, especially in touristy areas.
 Use public transportation instead like buses, metros, and trains, as they tend to only cost a few dollars. These can usually get you to many of the important attractions in a city.
Try looking for places to stay other than hotels.
5. Activities
This is what makes travel the moat fun and memorable. Luckily there are many ways to enjoy activities on a budget!
- Skip the tours: sightseeing tours can break the bank. Explore on your own or download an audio guide and listen on your own.
- Search for free museums: many cities have museums that are free and open to the public so you can learn about the history of your destination
- Look for nearby hiking trails: Hiking is a great way to take in the scenery of a new place, and most of the time it doesn’t cost anything.
- Limit the excursions: while excursions can be fun and exciting, a lot of times they are the most expensive part of traveling. Limit yourself to only one or two, or explore the destinations in the other ways listed above.
My go-to booking sites.
- Hotels – Booking.com to find reliable accommodations with good prices
- Flights – Skyscanner for the absolute cheapest flight prices
- Large Accommodations – Airbnb for booking larger places for a larger group
- Tours & Excursions – Get Your Guide for the best deals on activities abroad
Don’t be intimidated by the price tag of travel! You can still go on the trip of your dreams without spending your life savings on it. It’s not as hard as it seems to budget travel, so don’t be afraid to get out there! With proper planning and budgeting, your trip is within reach!
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