10 Tips For Travelling On A Budget: Adventure Minus The Splurge

Nothing beats the freedom of stepping off the plane to a new destination. The possibilities, the experiences, the new friends. Life-long memories are waiting to be made. 
However, it often feels like there’s a significant financial barrier between us and these memorable experiences. The misconception is that seeing the world is difficult without coughing up an exorbitant fee. 
But is this really true?
This blog looks at the best tips for travelling on a budget. Those picture-perfect landscapes and crazy adventures are available for everyone with the right travel tips. 
Scroll down for our secret budget travel tips everyone should know when booking a dream holiday.

1. Keep Track of Expenses

When on holiday, the last thing travellers want to do is keep track of a spreadsheet or roleplay as an accountant. However, staying on top of vacation expenses is a must when travelling on a budget.
It’s a pain to write down everything spent, especially when planning to splurge on a big night out. However, being mindful of expenses is one of the best ways to save cash while on the road. 
Keeping track of expenses doesn’t just mean writing down everything spent. This budget travel tip works best with a pre-prepared holiday budget. Uh-huh, before heading out of the country, sit down and work out the costs. Estimate daily food costs, and remember to factor in those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Travellers always appreciate arriving home with spare cash.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be a maths exercise, though! Hundreds of budgeting apps are available online to make expense tracking accessible for all. These allow users to plan an overall budget, divide spending into clear sections, and save for the future. From Mint to Goodbudget, smartphone-friendly apps are one of the best money management hacks. 

2. Zip from City to City

Travel on a budget shouldn’t mean only visiting one destination. Yup, travelling from city to city (or even country to country) is doable on a tight budget and only a few smartphone taps away.
Bookaway is an app specifically designed by travellers for travellers. Once downloaded, users are connected to affordable bus, ferry, and train tickets worldwide. From the breathtaking Mexican coast to incredible Thailand views, Bookaway has routes for all travel styles. 
Buying bus and train tickets can easily consume a chunk of a travel budget. But Bookaway works with local travel providers to ensure users don’t receive inflated costs. Plus, all tickets are stored in one place with 24/7 customer support. 
No more bus station wobbles and more time to soak up the experience. Perfect.

3. Embrace the Chef Life

Food is a significant part of travel plans, and many travel the world to experience new cuisines. Sadly, eating out two to three times a day is expensive while on the road. Many assume travel on a budget doesn’t allow for extravagant meals or fine dining. But that’s totally wrong. A budget-focused trip skips the excessive dining out and instead focuses on a few curated restaurant meals. Yes, travellers have to cut back—but they don’t have to go without.
Instead, budget travellers should embrace local grocery stores or markets. It’s surprising how different ingredients are worldwide, and this is a chance to play the role of the international chef. 
‍Cooking at home is an essential budget travel tip, and it’ll unlock more culinary knowledge, too.

4. Forget the Traditional Hotel

Eeek! To some, deviating from traditional hotels is abhorrent. But experiencing a hostel is a rite of passage.  
Travelling on a budget is all about saving, and accommodation usually takes up a big chunk of the vacation costs. Alternative accommodation options cost a lot less than premium hotels. 
Now, we’re not suggesting everyone should book into a wild party hostel. Travellers can find relaxed hostels, eco hostels, dormitories for women, private rooms, and infamous party hostels. There are options for all walks of life. 
‍Hostels are a vital example of affordable accommodation, and they’re readily available worldwide. 
Guesthouses, Airbnbs, and staying with friends are also good options for travel on a budget. The key to nailing affordable accommodation is to always shop around. So, get looking now.

5. Travel Like a Local

When travellers arrive, zipping about and taking in the sights is the first motive. But this doesn't have to be via an expensive taxi ride! Exploring public transportation is another age-old tip for travelling on a budget, but it’s seriously worth it. Relying on taxis and rental cars can quickly empty a travel budget. Instead, take five minutes to make sense of the local metro map. It may seem daunting. But travelling without the surcharge is a satisfying experience.
Local transportation often includes: 

• Buses
• Trains
• Metro routes
• Trams

These options are a must for keen travellers.

6. Cap any Shopping Sprees

Avid shoppers might not enjoy this budget travel tip. However, capping the amount of cash spent on shopping is a vital tip. Yes, souvenirs are a timeless way to remember a vacation. But most travellers don’t need to return home with gifts for everyone they’ve ever met. Overbuying souvenirs also takes up valuable packing space alongside running down spending money. Lugging a weighty bag from hostel to hostel isn’t fun, trust us. When completing a travel budget, set a minimal budget for souvenirs per destination or country to keep spending in check.

7. Choose Free Activities

There are plenty of free activities in every city in the world—even the “expensive” ones. Budget travel tips are all about shaving down expenses, so opt for freebies when possible. Examples of affordable city activities include museums, parks, and popular walking tours. Yes, some tours are free! Tourists can typically find more information about free tours and activities with their hotel/hostel check-in or at a local information centre. When in doubt? Google and first-hand blog experiences are invaluable.

8. Dodge Tourist Traps

Look, those Instagrammable tourist activities may fit a social media feed perfectly, but they’re curated to fleece tourists. That might seem a little dramatic, yet it’s true (kinda). While some tourist attractions are worth tourists’ time, be sceptical before booking tickets. Consult reviews, local opinions, and weigh up the experience vs the cost. Often, it’s better to turn up, snap a few pictures and not pay the high entrance fees. Instead, when travelling on a budget, tour popular neighbourhoods and dive into the local culture. Try some of the free activity ideas listed above and enjoy the destination’s ambience. Once tourists start avoiding over-hyped traps, they never look back…

9. Enjoy Shoulder Season

Planning a vacation in the middle of the school summer holidays? This is a big travel on a budget no-no. Though the weather is great in the peak season, costs are higher, cities are busier, and tourists have to spend more to have a good time. Thankfully, travellers don’t have to kiss sunny days goodbye to save some money. Introducing shoulder season—the period between off and peak seasons. During this time, the prices drop, and the weather is still warm. A win-win for anyone with a flexible schedule.

Here’s a quick overview of shoulder season for different destinations:

• Europe — September to October and April to May.
• South America — March to May and September to November.
• Southeast Asia — April to June and September to November.
• Caribbean — May to June and September to November.

10. Be Ready & Book in Advance

Finally, our last budget travel tip is one of the most obvious but forgotten hacks.
‍Whenever possible, book in advance. Remember that this isn’t always feasible. However, reserving early is a surefire way to save money. Costs go up the longer tourists wait to book. It’s a sad fact of life. But they can beat these time-dependent surcharges by planning a basic itinerary and filling the gaps with accommodation and activity reservations before arrival.

Travel is a life-changing goal, and one everyone should experience. Hopefully, these budget travel tips have inspired any keen travellers to book their next adventure. From riding the metro to booking out-of-season, these tips will shave off some big savings. Enjoy!