When traveling on a budget you need to make every penny count. I know how it is to travel with a family. Heck my oldest now counts as an adult! However, this does not mean that you have to cut back on the experiences that travel can bring. I have compiled the following list of tips to help you stretch your money as far as it can go. All of these tips are based on my own travel experiences…
My Top 14 Budget Travel Tips
1. Tip #1: Be flexible with your dates
If you are able to be flexible with your dates you can save a lot of money on flights etc by traveling out of the main tourist season.
2. Tip #2: Book very late or early flights
You can also save money on flights if you are prepared to fly early in the morning or late at night when demand is lower.
3. Tip #3: Check Hotel Websites Daily
Prices for hotels often change on a daily basis according to demand so make sure that you check their websites on a daily basis to ensure the best possible price.
4. Tip #4: Book your Accommodation via Airbnb
Airbnb is a service that connects you with people that are looking to rent out their homes to travelers. Using this service can often be cheaper than booking into a hotel.
5. Tip #5: Be flexible with your destination
Be flexible with regards to your destination because you will be able to take advantage of the best deals. It also makes traveling more of an adventure and you will see places you never thought you would see. This has happened to us more often than not and one of these times were when we visited Bremen, Germany. Such a beautiful city we never knew existed before…
6. Tip #6: Walk Everywhere
When you´re at your destination you should walk everywhere to save transportation costs. This also means that you get to see things that you may not have otherwise discovered. The most quaint of streets are normally not on the major transport routes.
7. Tip #7: Visit sights on free days
Many museums and other attractions are free to enter or have days where entry is discounted and these can make for cheap days out especially when you´re a family of four 😉
8. Tip #8: Travel overnight
If you are able to travel overnight, do it, as it makes the price of the travel cheaper and saves you a night’s accommodation. We did this on our recent trip to the south of France. We flew to Barcelona because the flights on Ryan Air were cheaper there than to the south of France, rented a car and drove throughout the night to Montpellier where we stayed in our Airbnb apartment.
9. Tip #9: Take a road trip
Taking a road trip is a great way for you to explore an area and it can also be a lot cheaper than traveling by plane or train. We normally rent a car which saves us on transport cost and allows us to see more than just the city where we are staying.
10. Tip #10: Visit Food Markets
If you visit a street market there is almost certainly going to be food stalls that are giving away free samples. These make for excellent snacks. Meals sold at markets/street vendors are normally more affordable too.
11. Tip #11: Eat where you´re staying
Dining out is one of the biggest expenses that you will face when you are traveling and that´s why we treat ourselves to eating out only once per trip to savor the local cuisine. The rest of the time we buy food from the local supermarkets or markets. We normally prepare breakfast and dinner where we stay.
12. Tip #12: Don´t dine out
If you booked a hotel, and it includes dinner and breakfast, make sure to eat the meals at your hotel rather than paying again to eat elsewhere. Use Skyscanner to compare prices/best deals when planning a trip! AND don´t forget to check out Ebates to book your travel needs because that way you can earn cash back on many of your bookings!
13. Tip #13: Avoid eating at popular tourist spots
The popular tourist areas in your destination are always going to be the most expensive to shop and eat so when visiting these areas make sure that you eat either before, or after you go.
14. Tip #14: Use Apps to save or download coupons
Most countries have an app or website where you can find the cheapest gas in the areas that you are staying in. This can help you save some money if you are traveling by car.
I have linked the How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes (aka Nomadic Matt who has used his massively popular travel blog to teach readers how to travel the world on a budget) to help you achieve our travel dreams on a very low budget. This book will show you how to gain free flights, hotel rooms, find alternative accommodation, get into attractions for free, websites to find the best deals, and as well as detailed costs and saving tips for destinations around the world…
I often get asked about the equipment I use when traveling. I mean this is the only real thing you´ll keep from your trip and therefore it needs to be really good! The camera I use for my blog photos is the Canon T3i/600D EOS (with the Canon STM 50mm 1.8 lens). I would like to upgrade to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (however my budget does not allow for it yet) because of its full frame (22MP full frame CMOS) sensor capacity. My current camera has a cropped frame which means I need to stand further away from my subject when I shoot.
Then, I use the Osmos DJI Mobile for my videos/vlogs. I love the Osmo Mobile because you control it via an app on any Android or IOS phone. It seriously has changed the way my travel videos look! Some of its features are:
- Active Track technology, automatically keep your smartphone facing you as you move
- Smooths and even cancels out the movements you make, stopping camera shake and turning every shot into a cinematic video!
I hope these tips help aspire you to make your travel dreams a reality!
Johlene
xoxo
RESOURCES
I often get asked about the equipment I use when traveling. I mean this is the only real thing you´ll keep from your trip and therefore it needs to be really good! The camera I use for my blog photos is the Canon T3i/600D EOS (with the Canon STM 50mm 1.8 lens). I would like to upgrade to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (however my budget does not allow for it yet) because of its full frame (22MP full frame CMOS) sensor capacity. My current camera has a cropped frame which means I need to stand further away from my subject when I shoot.
Then, I use the Osmos DJI Mobile for my videos/vlogs. I love the Osmo Mobile because you control it via an app on any Android or IOS phone. It seriously has changed the way my travel videos look! Some of its features are:
- Active Track technology, automatically keep your smartphone facing you as you move
- Smooths and even cancels out the movements you make, stopping camera shake and turning every shot into a cinematic video!
Vanessa Brune says
I totally agree with being flexible with dates if you can and visit lesser known destinations! I see it in Norway – everyone is flocking to Bergen and Oslo which are incredibly expensive, while there are so many rural regions that have lots to offer and are much cheaper but nobody knows about them. It’s such a shame!
Johlene Orton says
It is Vanessa! We´ve discovered the most amazing places booking low cost flights via RyanAir, flying to smaller, unknown airports…
Agness of aTukTuk says
I love all your practical and effective tips, especially for taking road trips! Do you usually carry some healthy snacks/food with you?
Johlene Orton says
I do! We normally have energy bars or balls (if I have time to make them before), dried fruits – my favourite being banana chips, and we all really like coconut chips too 🙂 And you?
David @ Spiced says
Great tips, Johlene! We love to travel, so it’s helpful to remember ways to travel without breaking the bank! And I totally, 100% second that tip to walk everywhere. We’ve found that we really get to know a city by walking (and even getting lost from time to time).
Johlene Orton says
Yes!!! And the best part is that you don´t pile unwanted weight 🙂 🙂