This post is all about the 21 best ways to save money while traveling.
Looking to travel the world on a budget? You’re not alone. In fact, many solo females are looking to stretch their dollars as far as possible while seeing the world. Luckily, there are ways to do just that!
From packing tips to ways to score discounts, I have you covered. So, whether you’re planning your first trip or your hundredth, read on for some helpful tips on ways to save money while traveling!
Best Ways to Save Money While Traveling
1) Pack light
This may seem like common sense, but packing light can save you both time and money. When you have to lug your luggage around airports and train stations, the less you have to carry, the better!
I quickly realized that if you can trim your luggage down to just a carry-on you can save a ton of money. For most budget airlines a checked bag isn’t included with the ticket price, and you’ll save a ton of money but not having to pay to check a bag between every single destination.
2) Stay in hostels
Hostels are a great way to save money while traveling, as they’re often much cheaper than hotels. Additionally, staying in a hostel often allows you to meet new people and explore new places.
I use Hostelworld to check out ratings, reviews, and book all my hostels.
3) Walk as much as possible
Walking is a great way to save money while traveling, as it allows you to explore your destination on foot. Additionally, walking is a great way to get exercise and see the sights without spending any money.
Walking will also help you get oriented in your new destination and have you trying food options (my favorite part of traveling) that you may have passed otherwise.
Be sure to download an offline map so that you can be sure to orient yourself even if you don’t have data. If I’m staying in a place long enough I’ll get a SIM card, but if it’s just a few days I’ll stick to using wifi and offline maps having definitely saved me a couple of times!
My favorite offline map is the app Mapsme but Google Maps also works!
4) Take public transportation
For the times when the distance is just too far to walk, take public transportation instead of taxis or private cars. Not only will this save you a ton of money, but it’ll also give you a brief insight into what’s it’s like to live like a local!
5) See if the country has Uber or a similar app
If where you want to go isn’t accessible by walking or public transport, Google if the country you’re in has uber or a comparable rideshare application that the locals use.
6) Bring snacks and a water bottle
One of the best ways to save money while traveling is to bring your own snacks and water bottle. Although trying new food is part of the experience of travel, you can significantly cut costs by bringing your own snacks (proteins bars, nuts, etc.) Not only will you save money on a daily basis but you’ll also avoid paying high prices for food at airports or train stations.
7) Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to save money while traveling, as it often includes free or discounted accommodation and food. Additionally, it has the potential for you to make a positive impact on the community in which you’re visiting. Before you select something be sure to look into some of the potential negative impacts of volunteer tourism and make an informed choice. I have definitely participated in a couple projects, that in retrospect I now realize were probably more harmful than helpful. Learn from my mistakes and do your research beforehand! Pick a project that will be sustained long after you leave to go home.
8) Skip the guided tour
If you’re not interested in doing a guided tour, skip it! Guided tours can be expensive and they often don’t offer much value for your money. Instead, explore your destination on your own and use guidebooks or the internet to find out more about the places you’re visiting.
The one exception is the free walking tours. Every single time I fly to a new destination I try to do a free walking tour if there’s one available. These tours operate on tips, so at the end of the tour, you give your tour guide a tip based on how much you enjoyed the experience (typically anywhere from 5-20USD). These tours offer a really cheap way to get oriented when you first get to a city!
8) Join a group tour
If you absolutely want a guide for something specific during your trip, try to join a group tour instead of hiring a private guide. Not only will you learn a ton but group tours allow you to meet new people and explore new places with like-minded travelers.
9) Check for flight deals
Checking for flight deals is a great way to save money on airfare. By checking multiple websites and signing up for email alerts, you’ll be sure to get the best deal on your flight.
Some other tools I like to use are Google Flights and Skyscanner. These search engines will scan multiple airlines and give you the cheapest flight options for your dates. Having said that, this leads well to saving money while traveling tip number 10!
10) Be flexible with your dates
I know life and probably (work) may make this part tricky, but you can save a ton of money by just being flexible by a day or two with your trip dates, and this could end up saving you hundreds of dollars.
11) Be flexible with your destination
Sometimes the best way to save money while traveling is to be open to unexpected destinations. By being willing to go somewhere new, you may find that you can get a great deal on your travel costs.
One of my favorite things to do is go on google flights, put in my departing city and dates then open up the world map and see what the cheapest flight available is. The world has so much to offer, so just being open to the idea of visiting new and unpredictable places is important.
Using this method, I’ve ended up getting flights <400$ to places like Prague, Lima, Dublin, and more!
12) Cook your food
This is the easiest way to save money! For me, I know that food can be a huge expense! I love to try new dishes when abroad and often don’t want to sacrifice that experience. I have found that a good compromise is going to local markets or grocery stores and cooking my own food. That way you can still try some of the local ingredients while saving a ton of money! Before booking your accommodations be sure to double-check that they have a kitchen available.
13) Use a travel credit card
A travel credit card can be a great way to save money while traveling, as it often offers rewards such as points or cashback on all of your purchases. Additionally, many travel credit cards come with no foreign transaction fees, which can save you a lot of money when using them abroad.
When I’m at home I also make sure to use my credit card for every single purchase I can. This way I build up those travel miles. I don’t think I have paid full price for a flight in years!
14) Take overnight transportation
If possible, try to take overnight transportation when traveling. This will be a full experience in itself and also allow you to save on accommodation costs because you’ll be able to sleep on the bus or train instead of paying for a hostel bed. Plus, when you wake up, you’ll be a brand-new destination!
15) Bring a travel towel
Okay so this one is very specific but be sure to bring a travel towel! Its is a great way to save money because some hostels will charge for you to rent a towel, and a travel towel will take up a lot less space in your luggage compared to a regular towel. Not to mention if you find that you buy a few too many souvenirs, leaving behind your towel is the perfect way to make some space in your bags before you go home!
16) Take your student ID card with you
If you’re a student, be sure to take your student ID card with you when traveling. Many museums and tourist attractions offer discounts to students, so it’s worth carrying your ID with you at all times. I can’t even count the number of times that I forgot to bring mine, and I have tried to get a family member to send me a photo of it under a time crunch (spoiler alert, it didn’t work!). So save yourself the hassle and remember to have it with you!
17) Stay with friends or family
If possible, try to stay with friends or family when visiting new places. Not only will this save you money on accommodation costs, but it will also allow you to spend more time with the people you care about. Now obviously this isn’t always an option if you don’t know anyone in your destination, but what about something like Couchsurfing? Not only is it cheap accommodation, but you’ll also get to meet some locals.
18) Airbnbs
Alternatively, if you’re traveling with a group look into Airbnb’s in the area! There’s a good chance that if there’s a large enough group of you, then it’ll be cheaper than everyone individually paying for a hostel room.
One of my favorite Airbnb’s was in Monteverde Costa Rica. A friend and I ended up splitting a hostel that was 70$ per night, and this was the view we woke up to everyone morning!
19) Stay in one location
If possible, try to stay in one location rather than moving around a lot. I totally get wanting to explore as much of the country as possible. However, if you’re looking for ways to save money, staying in one spot is definitely the way to go, due to discounts for longer stays. Airbnb specifically will have massive discounts for monthly stays. This will allow you to save money on transportation costs, as well as on food and accommodation.
20) Plan your trip in advance
Now I am all about the spontaneous. I love getting to a location and just figuring it out as I go, but I’m not going to lie I have definitely incurred unnecessary costs by doing it this way.
By neglecting to plan for certain things (like the fact that a ton of museums are Germany are closed on Mondays!) it meant that I had to double back on certain parts of my trip or stay in a location longer than expected. This definitely added costs to my overall budget. I would consider making a list of the things you definitely want to see in the country and checking out the hours etc. That way you can make a rough schedule in advance and improvise for the rest of your time.
21) Cut alcohol costs
Drinks can definitely add up quickly if you’re not keeping track! A great alternative to buying expensive drinks in bars is to go to a grocery store to grab your liquor then go to a common area where drinking is permitted. A lot of places in Europe even let you drink in parks. Alternatively, check to see if your hostel has any discounts for certain bars/restaurants. If you’re looking to splurge for a night look into pub crawls. Most often a city pub crawl will offer free or discounted prices (but just a heads up, these prices may already reflect tourist pricing!).
So, pack your bags and get going!
This post was all about ways to save money while traveling.
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