When it comes to traveling, although is one of the most amazing and fulfilling activities, it is an expensive sport! I am aware of it myself since I managed to travel on a budget for the past 10 years. That is the reason why I’m pulling out here for you my ultimate 10 ways to save money while traveling!
1. Travel off-season and use budget airlines as one of the first ways to save money while traveling
Okay, so let’s start with an obvious one. During the summer season and around the Christmas holidays, everyone is on the road! Therefore, travel tariffs skyrocket around that time. On the other hand, traveling in spring and fall, not only is the most beautiful time to travel regarding the weather and nature, but in some parts of the world, you can still catch summer times and beach days.
2. Avoid extra fees, skip paying non-essential costs
As you may already know, airlines usually try to make some extra coins by charging you for extra luggage or even choosing your seat on an airplane.
Learn to travel and pack your luggage smart, plan outfits, and don’t bring half of your apartment with you on a trip. Take time, add a pinch of cleverness into your packing and stop paying for additional kilos. Just use the dimension of the luggage that is already included in the price of the ticket. Those are also ways to save money while traveling!
On the other hand, do you really need that exact seat on an airplane? Do you? Really? For me, it seems pointless to pay to reserve a specific seat on an airplane. Why?
Well, primarily because it’s just a flight that serves you to arrive at your wanted destination, not your actual holidays. Secondly because if you wait till the check-in and ask the lady at the airport politely to give you a window seat – she most likely will if there is available one.
3. Save some coins on food and cook some local dishes as ways to save money while traveling
We all know that when traveling nobody wants to think about cooking, buuuuut, hear me out, it can be a quite fun activity!
Coming to your accommodation after a long day of sightseeing and fulfilling your soul with new adventures can be rewarding. So why not put into the equation a deliciously cooked home meal with a pinch of local culture.
Another way of saving money on food while traveling is looking for the “plate of the day” where restaurants cook a lot of one meal that day and serve it as the plate of the day for cheaper.
Also, street food is a cheap and yummy alternative!
4. Save some coins on your daily coffee
Why spending 4-5 euros per day on a Starbucks coffee when you can easily buy an instant coffee in the market for 2-3 euros and mix it with water every morning as ways to save money while traveling. If you bring your reusable thermo cup – you get extra points!
5. Save money while traveling on accommodation
Accommodation sometimes can be the most expensive purchase of the trip. Luckily, over the year of constant traveling, I did learn some ways to save money.
The first and obvious one is – choose hostels over hotels. Hostels are an awesome way to meet other cool (solo) travelers and find some travel buddies. If you stay in a hostel, you will never be alone on your solo trip!
A real HIT is a ho(s)tel that has breakfast included in the price.
Another way is to exit from the comfort zone and try couch surfing. However, since I am all about safety while traveling, probably is a better idea to try couch surfing with a friend or a group.
6. Travel to “cheaper” countries to serve ways to save money while traveling
Here we are, already halfway done, and the best is yet to come!
Speaking of one of the best ways to save money while traveling is visiting countries that have a “lower” life standard than your country. Since I am coming from one of the countries where people go because it is cheap, I can tell you from first hand how much people enjoy cheapppp holidays!
7. Cut off that souvenir shopping and focus on digital souvenirs and ask locals for advice
Do you really need that lamp that will take half of your luggage and you will never use it back home? Or 20 magnets for each member of the family and every co-worker you don’t even like?
The truth is that while traveling it is okay to be selfish. I used to be like this before, buying stuff for friends and family. But since my traveling became too frequent it made no sense anymore and I realized it wasn’t a good practice.
Instead of physical memories, maybe focus on taking nice photos and seeing more of the city or country you are visiting. Get a postcard or two, they don’t take any space and are super cheap. 😊
Besides that, talk to a local and find out where to buy your necessities as a local, with tariff for locals!
8. Find free activities and attractions, save on guides and another time-wasting, and spend on trips!
Instead of wasting your precious time and money in every museum on the list, cut them off!
Take a walk and visit other interesting attractions. Of course, if there is a particularly interesting museum that you really want to see, it is definitely a good investment, but do you really need to see them all?
When visit museums don’t take a guide, they can be pricy and pointless. You will get all the important info from the posters.
Instead, invest in a daily trip or a tour! Experiences and adventures from this kind of activity are truly PRICELESS.
When in a new city, a good idea is definitely a free walking tour. It is not actually free, at the end of the tour you tip the tour guide as much as you want, it can go from 1€, but is a great way to get to know the city. Check free walking tours here.
P.s. Don’t forget to use your student card wherever you can!
9. Take public transport and check rent-a-car prices when road tripping
Public transport is probably the best way to move around the city. Often cities offer a city pass or similar. Check here for your city of choice. They most often offer transportation for a number of days and free entrance to some of the attractions.
On the other hand, if you are on the road, don’t forget to compare prices of buses/trains with rent-a-car options. I always use ECONOMY BOOKINGS – check here.
10. Use a credit card for paying and avoid fees
The beauty of traveling in the 21st century is that you can use your card wherever you go. And in 99% of cases, there is NO fee when paying with a card. So why take money on the ATM and pay a fee or exchange it in a local currency and again pay the fee? Cash while traveling is so 2010!
The best options for using cards while traveling is Revolut and N26 – Click here to read my blog post on the topic.
There you go! Now I spilled all the tea just for you. Now when you know my secrets of a cheap way to travel, it’s your turn. Get that plane/bus/train ticket and see you on Instagram! <3
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Now you know 10 ways to save money while traveling, but you also need accommodation on the trip?
- See the discounts that Travelina brings you HERE.
- Provide a transfer from the airport to the accommodation at LINK.
Avoid unnecessary surprises and get travel insurance HERE.
And how I find cheap airline tickets every time, I wrote here: Cheap Airline Tickets in 15 Steps – Complete Guide. - Find interesting tours and attractions anywhere in the world that includes FREE WALKING TOURS see HERE! <<<
For all other travel tips, check out the blog. <<
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