How to Travel on the Cheap
Dreams of travel to exotic locales often involve significant costs; however, there are ways to travel on a tight budget without compromising your experience.
As an example, it’s usually cheaper to book flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays rather than weekends or holidays; apps such as Spothero and Parkwhiz may help reduce parking costs further.
1. Know Your Budget
Before planning any major trip, one of the key aspects of budgeting should be setting one. Doing this will give you an idea of what everything will cost and allow you to assess whether your savings are enough or whether additional savings should be set aside.
Save yourself from expensive or overpriced attractions with an app’s help by learning which activities are worth your while and which aren’t. Furthermore, this technology can save money by showing which restaurants and meals to skip or where the best deals on food are found.
Budget planning will also enable you to make smart decisions about where to travel; certain countries can be more expensive than others; for instance, Thailand might be less costly compared to Japan if traveling within Asia.
2. Be Flexible With Your Destination
Planning a vacation, whether for yourself, with family or for an exotic escape can be costly – and flight prices often increase closer to departure dates. Being flexible when choosing your destination can save time and money when planning travel plans.
Skyscanner can help you locate the best travel deals when your dates are flexible; just enter “anywhere” or “everywhere” into the destination field and a list of inexpensive destinations will appear.
Though having some structure is essential when traveling, Franco stresses the importance of keeping an open mind when choosing your destination and being flexible about activities can save money and make the trip more fun. For example, this could mean forgoing tourist-marketed activities in favor of discovering your own adventure; or making connections with locals instead of opting for guided tours.
3. Track Your Expenses
Before you dismiss the idea of traveling on a tight budget, take note: doing it doesn’t necessarily involve staying in questionable motels or eating at fast-food joints; rather it means learning how to save, track expenses accurately and find money-saving tricks and apps.
Budget travelers or anyone wanting to increase awareness of spending can take great advantage of money-tracking apps, like Splitwise. With this app you can add expenses while traveling while keeping tabs on who owes whom. Or use an easy spreadsheet for recording expenditures.
Save money and do things the local way by dining at street vendors or markets instead of restaurants – the food can often taste just as great and be less costly!
4. Read Travel Blogs
Travel blogs are an incredible source of information about any destination. They can provide vital tips for restaurants, transportation options and much more – plus many even feature stunning photographs to inspire.
One fantastic example is Classe Touriste, an adventure storybook with large typography and gorgeous photography. Additionally, Joan Torres encourages his readers to challenge preconceived notions and step out of their comfort zones by traveling to countries rarely visited by others.
The Poor Traveler, created by two friends to demonstrate that travel can be affordable, offers tips and advice to save money on airfare, hotels, and other expenses as well as help avoid common travel mistakes.
5. Don’t Buy Souvenirs
Souvenirs can quickly derail a budget while adding weight and stress. Plus, many aren’t even worth keeping!
Some may feel obliged to buy souvenirs for friends and family as keepsakes, but it is essential to remember that these objects only matter to yourself.
Experience is at the core of any vacation, so instead of spending money on trinkets that will languish in your closet, focus on collecting memories and knowledge instead. If you must bring something home from your trip, try something like postcards or maps as keepsakes or take part in local culture through food or music!
