Traveling does not always need to break the bank. Despite what many people in your life tell you, you do not need to wait until retirement to travel. Are you going to be staying in 5 star hotels? Probably not. But you don’t travel to stay inside a hotel. If your goal is to see as much as you can see, then there are many ways to make travel affordable. Remember I said affordable and not comfortable so it won’t always be glamourous.

Here are 15 tips to help you travel on a budget.

1. Be flexible

The more flexible you can be with your travel dates the more likely you are to find better deals, especially with flights. On sites like Skyscanner you search the cheapest flights by choosing your starting point and then selecting Anywhere as your destination. You can also then select anytime and it will give you the cheapest times to fly. Or if there is a specific month, you can select the whole month to find the best deal.

2. Hostels

If you don’t mind sharing a room with other travelers, a hostel could be perfect. The average price of a dorm room bed ranges from $12 to $30. It is a super cheap way to stay and also really great if you are solo traveling and trying to make friends. Hostels tend to offer free breakfast and I have even stayed at some where they had free dinners a couple nights. Hostels also tend to offer group activities, either for a small price or for free.

3. Travel in a group

If you travel in a group you can get an Airbnb or Hotel and split the cost. And if you are traveling by car you are able to split the cost of gas. There are other occasions that may be financially beneficial if you are traveling in group.

4. Pack light

You do not want to risk your luggage being overweight because you will incur a fee. It is usually best to just use a carry on, if possible. And even if you are traveling by car, try not to weigh the car down too much because it won’t get as good of gas milage.

5. Don’t eat out on the touristy streets

Restaurants near any touristy attraction are almost guaranteed to cost more. Go a couple blocks over and you will probably find a place that is less expensive and tastes better.

6. Buy groceries instead of eating out

Eating out in general can be expensive. If where you are staying has a kitchen (most hostels have one), then you can buy groceries and make your own meals. It can also be an activity in itself to see how the locals shop for food. Even if I am not cooking my own meals I always try to stop at least one local grocery store.

7. Pick a place that offers free breakfast.

If you are staying at a hostel or a hotel, try to find one that offers free breakfast. This way at least one meal is covered. I have even stayed at an Airbnb that offered free breakfast. Even if you don’t eat in the morning, there is usually fruit or some type of package item that you can take with you as a snack for later.

8. Take free walking tours

Walking tours are personally one of my favorite ways to see a city. And the tour guide usually gives good recommendations on things to do and places to eat. To find one just type in the name of the town and free walking tours. A lot of times if you are staying at a hostel they will offers these.

9. Pre-drink before going out.

Alcohol is expensive, especially at fancy bars. If you have any plans to go out at night, drink a few before you actually go out, it will save a bunch of money. Then when you are at the bar get one fancy drink that you can sip on while there.

10. Walk

If it is a walkable destination, then choose to walk. Your feet are free, Ubers are not. Walking is one of the best ways to understand a city. The only thing I caution, is if you are a solo female and it is night, then I would recommend taking an alternative method of transportation. In general though walking will allow you to see things that wouldn’t driving in a car.

For instance, I would have never known about this festival if we had not decided to walk to castle.

11. Take public transportation

Bus, train, metro. Whatever the local public transportation is it is likely to get you where you need to go. And it is cheap. If you know that you are going to be using it for multiple days, many metro systems have day passes so you can pay once and ride as much as you need.

12. Credit Card with no international fees

If you are traveling internationally you want to make sure whatever card you are using does not charge you international fees every time you swipe your card. As a bonus try to get a card that earns you rewards as well.

13. Don’t buy souvenirs

Souvenirs can add up really fast especially if you are getting them for other people. The cheapest and best souvenir that I recommend getting if you have to get one is a postcard. They typically cost no more than $1 and lightweight and easy to travel with. You can even send them to your friends and family with a personalized message.

14. Travel Off-Season

Off season is going to likely be when the weather is not as nice, but the prices are. So, if you don’t mind a little rain or snow or extreme heat, travel during off season and save lots of money. Accommodation and flights are going to be where you save the most which is great because those are 2 of the largest costs.

15. Plan Ahead

Having some type of plan even if it is a loose itinerary will help you budget. Know how much you want to spend each day on food, activities, etc. Planning will give you more control of your budget and you will be less likely to go over.

Don’t wait until you retire, travel now, it is possible! If you have any other tips for traveling on a budget comment below. And as always laugh a little today 💕

💌Morgan