Many would agree that traveling the world is one of the most valuable experiences one can have.
Exploring unfamiliar landscapes, learning new languages, meeting unique people, and immersing yourself in a different world will make you a more open-minded, resilient, and compassionate person.
Traveling expedites your personal growth and deepens your understanding of the world.
While travel has shaped my life in so many ways, it’s budget travel specifically that I am the most passionate about.
Many think of traveling as just staying in luxury hotels, dining at fancy restaurants, and taking taxis all over a foreign city.
However, the majority of people can’t afford to travel that way (myself included). But that doesn’t mean travel is off the table!
These top 10 budget travel tips are my go-to methods for planning epic international experiences cheaply.
I’ve been traveling consistently for the last 10 years, including many long stints abroad where I studied, worked, or volunteered. And without disclosing my exact income, I can say honestly that I’ve never made amazing money by American standards.
All of these money-saving methods have truly changed my life. They have taught me to be frugal and responsible, and they have allowed me to experience so much of the world without depleting my savings.
Anyone with an impressive bank account can travel the world.
But it takes creativity and resourcefulness to travel the world on a budget.
You can discover the wonders of our world for much less money than you might think!
My Top 10 Budget Travel Tips
Here are my top 10 ways to save money while traveling. These are all methods that I personally use whenever possible, so I can have incredible experiences on a budget.
1. Do a work exchange
If you have a flexible schedule and want to experience a new culture more in-depth, do a work exchange.
Out of all my budget travel hacks, work exchanges have definitely saved me the most money over time. You get to work in exchange for free accommodation, and sometimes you get free meals, free tours and other perks.
So you can stay in beautiful places around the world for a few weeks or a few months at a time, while barely spending much money at all!
To earn free accommodation, you get to work usually around 20 hours per week for your host.
Some jobs I’ve done abroad include housekeeping, bartending, blog writing, reception, social media, gardening, farm work, and more.
Though the work isn’t paid, the unique cultural exchange is totally worth it.
Some work exchanges are so much fun that they barely felt like work! I have met lifelong friends, learned new skills, lived in stunning places, and immersed myself in new cultures through work exchanges. They are the best way to travel on a budget!
You can easily find work exchanges online via verified websites such as Worldpackers.
2. Visit cheap countries
If you want to plan an epic trip abroad but you have limited funds, pick an affordable country as your destination.
The cheapest countries to visit tend to be in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central or South America. Examples include Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and more.
Regardless of how much money you have, your money will stretch further in these countries than in expensive places like Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain, USA, or Canada.
You can often find full meals for 1 USD or less.
Stay in a hostel dorm room for 5 USD per night, or treat yourself to a nice hotel room for 20 USD per night.
Your entire trip can be affordable if you just select an affordable country. This also gives you more freedom for spending once you get there!
3. Learn how to search for cheap flights
Regardless of where you are traveling, having a keen eye for cheap flights can save you lots of money over time.
I like to use comprehensive web search platforms like Skyscanner or Google Flights.
If you are flexible with your travel dates (which you should always try to be if you want to save money), you can plan your trip around the cheapest flights.
Websites like Skyscanner allow you to adjust the search settings and view daily flight prices on a calendar. Then you can select the cheapest day to fly.
I also recommend taking your time when researching flights. Shop around, check multiple routes and airports, and check multiple websites or search engines.
This makes the whole process more enjoyable, as you’re not rushing to buy a flight but you can get the hang of what flights cost and then pull the trigger when you see a great deal.
4. Travel off season
Traveling off season is another one of the best ways to save money abroad!
Every destination around the world has a peak travel season and an off season. Peak season generally has the best weather, which brings in more crowds and higher prices.
Off season is usually the rainy season in tropical places, or winter in cooler climates. If you can brave the less-pleasant weather, you’ll save money on everything when you travel off season.
Flights, accommodations, and activities are often cheaper in the off season.
I’ve traveled to many countries in the off season, and I’ve never had a bad time because of weather. Through heatwaves, blizzards, and tropical rainstorms, traveling is always a blast in my experience.
It’s always worth visiting somewhere in the off season rather than not visiting at all!
5. Stay in hostels (or other cheap accommodations)
Budget accommodation is so overlooked when traveling the world.
Lots of people imagine staying in all-inclusive resorts or fancy hotels when they travel. But nice hotels are not the only option!
You can often find hostels, homestays, and cozy B&Bs that have much more character and a much lower price tag than a standard hotel.
Hostels in particular are a must for budget travelers.
You can find beds in a shared dorm for $5 per night in cheap countries and $30 per night in expensive countries.
Most hostels these days also have curtains around the bed for privacy, as well as lockers to keep your stuff safe. They often have nice facilities and cool common areas for relaxing and socializing as well.
Sure, you’re sacrificing some privacy and comfort when you opt for a hostel dorm bed. If you’re traveling as a couple or with a family, a hotel room may be more suitable.
But if you’re a young, adventurous solo traveler who wants to meet new people and travel on a budget, hostels are the place to be.
6. Cook some of your own meals
If you choose an accommodation that has kitchen facilities, you can cook some of your own meals when you travel. This is another amazing way to save money abroad.
Dining out is always the most expensive option, anywhere in the world. Though a meal in a restaurant can be dirt-cheap in some countries, it’s still handy to know how to prepare some of your own meals.
And if you’re in an expensive country where a meal out costs you $30USD or more each time, cooking your own food can really extend your travel budget further.
Definitely treat yourself to some nice meals in the local cuisine, and branch out to sample street food and local restaurants as well.
But if you want to save money, cook at least 1 meal a day! You can still experience the local culture as well by shopping at the local markets and browsing the local grocery stores.
Just don’t feel like you have to dine in a restaurant for every meal, because that can get really expensive.
7. Choose walking or public transport over taxis
This budget travel tip applies to everywhere in the world, even at home. But try to avoid taking taxis or Ubers everywhere if you’re on a budget.
Walk where possible, or take public transport.
Both of these are cheap ways to get around, and they help you get more familiar with a new city.
Walking lets you see more sights up close. Public transport is a great way to practice your local language skills or try to decipher a foreign transit map.
Once you conquer navigation in a new country, you’ll feel so accomplished. And you will have saved money on a taxi!
I use websites like Rome2Rio and Bookaway for comparing transport options all over the world.
8. Prioritize free activities
Most of the best things to do when you’re traveling are free!
Hiking, swimming, beach-hopping, and sightseeing are most of the best ways to explore a new place. Just walking around and absorbing your surroundings is always fun in a new country, and it’s always free.
Some places have free museums, churches, monuments, viewpoints, and other attractions.
Lots of major cities also have free walking tours, which are an amazing way to learn about the local history and culture while exploring the city centre.
By all means, pay for attractions that really interest you. Most things are worth the money, especially if they are contributing to the local economy.
But if you’re on a budget, you can easily fill most of your days with free activities!
9. Research activities and attractions
You can also save money while traveling simply by researching the local activities beforehand.
Many attractions might have an entrance fee, but discounts or special free entry days might be available as well.
For example, in world-famous cities like Rome and Florence, many iconic museums and attractions are free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
If you’re a student, always take your ID card with you while traveling. Places all over the world offer free or discounted entry fees for students.
If you’re planning a day trip or a longer excursion, research guided tours vs. public transport online before you go.
You may find that some guided tours are affordable and require much less planning and hassle than going on your own. Alternatively, you may find it very straightforward and affordable to go somewhere on your own without a tour.
A little bit of research goes a long way while traveling on a budget!
10. Focus on balance
My last budget travel tip is an important one. Focus on balance!
All of these tips will help make your trip abroad more affordable. But you don’t want to get so caught up on budgeting that you forget to enjoy yourself.
The whole point of traveling is to experience a new place and live life to the fullest. This costs money, but it’s money well-spent.
Just adopt a few of these budget travel tips if you want to lower costs and make a trip more financially achievable.
Work hard to save some money, then do a bit of research to see what you can afford and where.
Work exchanges, traveling off season, visiting cheap countries, and staying in hostels will save you the most money abroad.
Then the little things like cooking at home, finding student discounts, or taking public transport will help lower smaller day-to-day costs.
Hopefully these tips have given you a better idea of how to travel on a budget. With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can explore so much of the world and have memorable experiences without emptying your bank account!
