If it’s one thing in this world that everyone should have the opportunity to do, it’s travel! Who doesn’t want to explore a new city or country, try new things, new food, or a new language (if you don’t, you’re crazy!). It’s the one way we can de-stress and temporarily leave our day-to-day lives behind to experience something truly special. Hey, traveling led me to where I am now! Now, there are always those setbacks and little things that get in the way like, well you know money, but, this shouldn’t stop you from booking that trip that’s been on your bucket list for as long as you can remember.
While there are some vacations that are necessary to splurge on, it’s still always possible to travel on a budget (and still have a memorable trip!). Of course, with anything in life, there are compromises that must be made but, at the end of the day, it all pays off and it’s another stamp on your passport.
Read on for my tips on how you can travel on a budget!
How to Travel on a Budget
1. Plan your trip during off peak times
When planning a vacation, it’s always best to be aware of the seasons and to thoroughly research this before solidifying any plans. Certain ‘off-peak’ times will vary depending on the country or city you plan to visit. Those tourist-y seasons always vary! This will make your wallet, and piece of mind, much happier as you plan around those crazy price hikes. At the same time, it’s also about finding that right balance. Maybe you’re willing to splurge a little on the flight to gain better deals on your accommodations. Again, this fluctuates throughout the year so always be on the lookout. Remember, off-peak times don’t always have to have a negative connotation to them. Think about how nice it feels being on vacation with less crowds, tourists, or lineups to the places you wish to visit most.
2. Adjust your accommodations
As I talked about above, sometimes it’s in your best interest (and in your budget’s best interest!) to consider opting for budget-friendly accommodations as opposed to a 5-star hotel, resort, or rental property. As an example, hostels are much more economical and can cost less than a couple hundred dollars a night. I’ve stayed in hostels for as little as $50/night! Most importantly, accommodations were clean, beautiful, and near major parts of the city I was touring. You’ll also be surrounded by other travelers and have a greater potential to make new friends and memories to last a lifetime. Hostels usually have amenities and/or common spaces for people to gather making it super easy to find a friend to grab dinner with or share a ride to your next day trip. What’s more, some hostels offer free food! (um, yes!)
3. Volunteer your time
If you’re up for it, you can save even more money on your accommodations by volunteering your time. Working in a hostel is a great way to do this as most of them require extra hands around the property (think cleaners, receptionists, etc.) and offer programs where you work a few hours in the day in exchange for free accommodations (yay!). Other companies also offer rides to your destination in exchange for a small amount of your time to lend a hand. Total win-win!
4. Travel with a group
Think about the last girls or guys trip you took – despite the fact that it was so much fun, you probably saved a ton of money by sharing rooms, rides to dinners, etc. This is an amazing way to, not only figure out which group of friends/relatives you travel best with (‘cause let’s be real, we all have those certain people in our lives right?), but super easy on the budget as well. Consider a beautiful destination you’ve always wanted to travel to but have felt set back due to your budget. Now would be the best opportunity to round up your best buddies and work out your budgets collectively to make the most out of your vacation. Besides sharing rooms, maybe there’s someone in the group that’s willing to pay for dinners to rack up extra rewards points on their credit card (while everyone in the group pays back at a later date). Anything is possible when you put your minds together!
5. Travel Light
Ok, I must confess, this used to be a huge issue for me as I would love to travel with every pair of shoes I own, all my accessories, and more nonsense that I knew I would probably never use (and honestly never did use!). If you read my post on ‘How to Pack for Vacation’, you know there are ways to be efficient with your packing and totally lighten your load! Some examples would include packing for the weather or use packing cubes (they’re the best! I’ve even convinced my mom to use them). What’s more, most airlines nowadays are charging WAY too much for baggage. Save yourself some $$ and consider traveling with a carry-on only. Not only will your wallet be happy but YOU definitely will, especially if you’re traveling to multiple destinations!
What are your best ways to travel on a budget? Let me know in the comments section below!
