How to travel cheaper. 16 Tips to stretch your travel budget.
When the travel bug bites you, you will find yourself looking for all kinds of reasons to go on that trip you have been dreaming about for a long time.
But travel does not come cheap.
For most people, it is a dream realised after many years of hard work and savings. However, travel doesn't need to be super expensive. All it actually requires is some research, smart planning, advance booking and an adventurous soul.
I only started travelling in my forties and had to learn a lot of things through trial and error.
Travel has taught me many lessons but most importantly I learned how to do it a bit cheaper and still had lots of fun and adventures.
I once had a conversation on a bus with a fellow traveller from Italy and he told me that he has travelled since he was 19 years old. He said that his secret is to travel always in a way that he has money left for his next travel.
That advise I took to heart and since then had implemented that in my travels and my life and found that if you are conscious about your spending every little bit saved adds up.
So whether you are just dreaming or are already in the planning stage for your dream trip I have some ideas to share with you that might just help you to manage a sustainable budget on your trip.
1. Decide what is your priority.
The first step into cheaper travel would be to prioritize.
Whether you plan your trip for the next year or in two months you will have to cut down on your expenses to save money. So instead of buying the new shoes or jacket, you saw at the mall put that money away for your trip. For sure we all want to have beautiful things but half the things you want now won't be important in ten years time. It's the experiences that you pay for that you will remember and not the things you bought.
Know the difference between what you need and what you want.
There are many ways to save money and I am not one to preach about saving money but what I can tell you is the results of a little money saved will provide you with that extra peace of mind.
2. Cheaper flights and flexible travel dates.
Book your flight at least 3 months in advance. Shop around and compare prices. You can use Skyscanner and punch in your dates as flexible. It does a comparison of prices a couple of days before and after preferred flight dates
3.Travel during low season
If you want to travel on a budget the golden rule is to travel during low season. This way you can achieve cheaper prices on everything from food to accommodation.
4. Travel to low-cost countries or visa-free countries.
By doing this you, you will avoid costly visa fees and you also spend less money. Such countries have a lower cost of living. But that doesn't mean you can go on a splurge. It just means that if you are careful with your budget it can go a long way. You can travel longer and have greater experiences.
5. Have a travel budget as a go-to guide.
It always helps if you can sit down and write your plans and daily budget down.
Off course budgets won't be the same for each trip or each country. It is best to do your research about the country you are going to visit, how long you intend to stay and the things you would want to do there.
Having the numbers in front of you makes it seems real and is a good point of reference to keep track of spending. There might be days when you change your plans or go over your budget but other days you may do less and that will even it out.
Accommodation is usually the biggest day-to-day cost of any traveller's expenses.
It's best to stay in small locally- run guesthouses or homestays or find out about cheap hotels in the town you are staying. Most of these places offer basic and clean accommodation with the bare necessities that travellers would need. Cutting your cost of accommodation will give you more opportunities to explore the world around you.
Don't fear the local transport. It is really the cheapest way to get around compared to taxis and tourist buses. Not only is it cheaper but definitely a lot more fun to travel like the locals. It may be a bit uncomfortable but it is surely a much more adventurous way to travel and will indeed help you stick to your budget. If you really need to use a taxi try to share one with other travellers that are going to the same place as you. Renting a motorbike is also a really cheap option for travelling around a place if you intend to stay a few days. If you have really good driving skills this is the way to go. Always keep safety in mind by wearing helmets and sticking to speed limits.
The locals usually know where to find the cheapest and best food. If a place has a crowd you can almost guarantee it will be good food and safe to eat. Local food is available everywhere in the food markets, street vendors or local eateries.
9. Cut down on alcohol
Don't get me wrong, I love a drink or two. But alcohol will cut deep into your budget. A night out now and then is great but travel is also much more fun without a hangover. If you fancy a really ice cold beer after a long day of adventures be on the lookout for a local pub or restaurant with half prices or happy hours in the afternoons. You can also buy alcohol at the local convenience stores for a lot cheaper than restaurants.
The local markets are great and usually very cheap. Whether you want to buy fresh fruit, clothes or souvenirs, the markets are the place to go. The stalls have lower overheads than stores do and as a result, their products are cheaper. Buying at the local markets not only helps to save your budget it also helps to support the local families and their dreams for a better life.
11. Buy only what you need
If you see something that you always wanted then, by all means, go ahead and buy it. But keep in mind that you have to carry it in your backpack or suitcase and it might add to extra cost at the airport on your flight back. In the case of long term travellers after a few weeks on the road, the extra weight in your backpack will become an intense back pain. Buying souvenirs are great but keep in mind the size and keep it low cost.
12. Do all the free things first
Seek out the things that you can do for free at your destination. Once you arrive you can go to the local tourist information centre where you can get a map and lots of useful information about which sights/activities are free or low cost. Many cities have free buses to tourist attractions. It is also helpful to see how many attractions are in walking distance from your accommodation. Walking is a really good way to see more of your surroundings and explore things that would go unnoticed while in a car or on a bus. Once you have done all the free things, you can plan on the more costly ones that you have on your list.
13. Travel Insurance
Whilst Travel Insurance is a costly thing. It is very important to have it. Accidents do happen and that way you will have peace of mind in any case of emergency.
14. Do the things that count
Always keep in mind that you will probably not remember the night you slept in $200 hotel but you surely will remember only paying $10 for a room so you can spend $200 dollars on a once in a lifetime activity like hot-air ballooning over the Bagan Temples.
15. Travel slower
Staying in a place for a longer time will allow you to work out where the cheapest places are to eat and drink. Some accommodations also give a discount if you stay for a longer period of time. If you stay longer you will have more time to go for a beach walk, take a rest day or other free things instead of rushing through a list of things to do. The slower you travel the less you spend.
16. Be creative and adventurous
Travelling presents us with wonderful opportunities to have fun and make memories to last a lifetime. It might sound like hard work to stick to a budget but the rewards are always worth it.
Many times, instead of sitting at a fancy beach restaurant looking at the sunset, we have walked down the beach with a bottle of cheap wine, two plastic glasses, sat down and enjoyed the same sunset for free.
Another very creative option is renting a bicycle to explore the countryside and having a roadside picnic with fresh fruit from the markets. You can have the most beautiful experiences for free or a fraction of the price by just being a little creative.
The last word
I hope these useful tips come in handy or at the very least open you up to the possibility that travel doesn't need to be expensive and that it can be enjoyed on a budget.
Regards from Bangkok
M
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