How to Travel on a Budget

You want to travel, but you’re on a budget. I got you covered. Here are tips that will make travel more affordable for you so you can see the world.

Flights:

There are multiple ways to get cheap flights. One is an app called Skyscanner. It shows you the cheapest flights and when to book your flight for the best rates. I also like to use Expedia. It has always been reliable for me when booking and Expedia has a rewards system in which you can collect points. The more points you have the more money you can take off on future bookings.

January is the cheapest month to fly.

Lodging:

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I prefer to stay in hostels. A hostel is a shared space with other people. You usually have a few bunkbeds in a room. They are super cheap, and many are in amazing locations. They can be right on the beach, in the city’s center, or fully immersed in nature. Some have pools, restaurants, bars, and organized tours. All kinds of amenities for a few dollars a night and the ones I have stayed at have always been clean.

Since I have traveled alone to many places, I will sometimes book a female only room for extra safety and comfort. If you have a family or you are just uncomfortable with this, some hostels even have private rooms for $30-$50 a night.

Other cheap stays include couch surfing and homestays with a local family.

Transportation:

Public transportation is always the cheaper option.

1. Local Bus. I took the bus in Oahu and it cost me like $2 dollars for a destination that was over an hour away.
2. Trains/subways. I always buy a card and reload money onto it depending on how long I am there.
3. Uber and Lyft (especially in the US). This is always better than a cab fare.

If you must use a cab, make sure they use their meter.

Food:

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Street food is legit the best. It tastes fresh and is light on the wallet. If you see a street vendor with a large line than that is a sign that the food is tasty. I lived off of street food in Japan and Thailand. Filling meals are available for .50 cents or a couple bucks.

Another option on saving money is by cooking some of your meals.

When you do eat out at restaurants avoid eating at places in big touristy areas.

Activities:

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Many cities offer free walking tours. All you have to do is tip them whatever you think the tour is worth.

Lots of cities offer city tourist cards for a good deal if you are going to be seeing a lot of the main attractions in the area.

An example would be San Francisco. You would pay $76 for the pass to 4 different attractions.

I used the Jordan pass on my most recent trip and it saved me over a hundred dollars on my visa and the sites I had seen.

Extra Tips:

1. Go in the off season! You save oodles of money by doing this.
2. Many places require you to haggle down prices to get fair deals.
3. I save up my money by doing things like cooking at home instead of eating out, buying only essentials instead of wants in my everyday life, and thrifting.
4. Pack light to avoid baggage fees. Just take a carry-on item and a personal item.
5. Plan in advance.
6. Try not to use ATMS too much.

I use all of these tips to travel on a budget and they have saved me thousands of dollars. Travel is more possible than one may think. It isn’t just for the rich.