Travelling is like nothing else. It's the best education, the unforgettable experiences, the exciting discoveries; you name it. It is also a money pit, especially since you won't stop travelling once you get a taste for it. However, there are ways not to spend a fortune and still see the world and enjoy it. In this article, we've compiled a list of travelling-on-a-budget tips for those who are eager to hit the road but wouldn't mind saving some money along the way.
Planning
Your trip doesn't start on the actual day you're setting out. It should begin well in advance, with thorough research and meticulous planning. One of the best ways to travel cheaply is to find a balance between following an itinerary and staying flexible. Do your homework and learn about your destination and the ways to get there. Find a reliable travel guide to save you research time. Go online and read what those who have already visited the place have to say about it, and don't be shy to get in touch with those people for any specific budget travel tips. If done properly, you will end up with a tailor-made list of things to see and do with the least possible expense.
Tickets
Book your trips early, especially if you intend to fly! The airlines release tickets for sale as early as a year in advance, so you have plenty of time to work out your logistics. Check online flight aggregators to compare the options and routes for budget travel. Look into both low-cost carriers and regular ones, as the latter sometimes beat the former's offers. Also, remember that a direct flight is not always the cheapest alternative. It may well be that adding an extra destination to your journey proves to be a good tip for travelling as not only does it save you money but also allow you to see more on one trip.
Timing and destination
Choose the travelling time and the destination(s) wisely. One of the best ways to travel cheaply is to arrange your trip off-season. Literally, everything costs less then, from tickets to services, and there are fewer people around, so you can enjoy the attractions from your must-see list and not spend half of your holiday queueing. The same goes for visiting lesser-known places. Sometimes smaller towns and villages provide a more authentic experience than famous touristy places – and for much less money, which is essential for budget travel!
Accommodation
Many tips for cheap travel are about saving money on accommodation. Try hostels instead of hotels but also look at the options offered on Airbnb and online Couchsurfing communities. Besides being cheaper, these imply easier communication with people, be it other travellers like yourself in the hostel or your Airbnb or couchsurfing hosts. A high chance of unexpected discoveries and friendships makes this one of the best tips for travelling. Another alternative for those looking for how to travel cheaply is house-sitting in exchange for free accommodation. This is a great budget travel opportunity, especially for those who love animals, because, in many instances, you may be asked to look after a pet while the owners are away.
Transport
Work out your moving around the place once you arrive. Learning how public transportation operates is one of the best travelling cheap tips. In some destinations, such as Germany, there will most probably be an app for everything public transport. Check what the ticket options are. Many cities offer special tourist cards that can save you a ton of money on transportation and entry tickets to museums and so on. Others have prepaid ticket options, like the TFI Leap card in Dublin, offering rides cheaper than with a single-trip ticket. Do use the more 'modern' transportation formats such as carsharing, carpooling and bike/scooter rentals. A bonus travelling-on-a-budget tip: if you need to travel to a more distant destination, do it overnight to avoid paying for accommodation and to have more time during the day to explore.
Money
Any list of the best budget travel tips must include a point on money management. First of all, have a budget and stick to it! Once you're at your dream destination, there will be many unplanned-for temptations, from events to eating out, which would cost you a fortune. This is not to say you must miss out on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, like a prominent exhibition of your favourite artist that is only happening here and now. But many things can and should be replaced with cheaper alternatives.
If shopping is on the list of your must-do activities, then here is a tip for cheap travel for you: look for tax-free stores and refund the tax on your way back. And if you're in a local market, negotiate and get yourself a bargain!
Be aware of how much money you spend on necessities. For example, explore your mobile provider's roaming packages or see if you can get a local SIM card on the spot. Inquire with your bank about what the charges are for ATM cash withdrawals and figure out how much cash to have on you and in which currencies.
Be money-smart and use the latest fintech services to manage your funds while on the road. For example, if you need to send or receive money to/from a relative or a friend, Profee, an EU-licensed international money transfer service, is an excellent solution. You can sign up with only a phone number and immediately send up to €1,000. (If you like the service – and you will! – and want to send more, there are simple and fast verification procedures to increase the limit.) The Profee's conversion rate is very competitive, thanks to its special market monitoring system. Most importantly for budget travel, Profee applies a small flat fee to all its transfers and has no hidden charges. You can always see the final amount as well as the current conversion rate before sending a transfer, both on www.profee.com and in its iOS/Android app.
Activities
Among the popular cheap travelling tips is opting for free stuff. Visit the museums that don't charge entry fees, such as the prominent British Museum if you're in London. Go on a free walking tour, for example, to the famous Barcelona Latin Quarter. Join a free yoga session – anywhere, really. Look it up online or in your travel guide and take advantage of it, whatever it is!
Luggage
Packing occupies a special place among budget travel tips. There are tons of various, nearly scientific theories on what to include in and how to pack your luggage. But there are some basic, very simple rules as well:
1 Check the weather at your destination and pack accordingly. 2 Opt for several lighter items you can combine if it gets colder instead of one heavy sweater you might not even need. 3 Make sure you pack all the necessities, such as your toothbrush, so that you don't have to buy them upon arrival.
Company
Solo trips can be fascinating and fulfilling, but if you're on a budget, here is one of the best tips for travelling: have company! With a friend on your arm, you can split much of the expense, including accommodation, food, transport such as taxi, etc. (Profee can come in handy here, by the way, if you need to settle payments effectively: one pays, the other refunds their share via the app). Plus, sometimes it's just more fun when you have someone to share the excitement of a new place with!
Work
It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to travel for cheap is to work while on the road. If your profession allows it, arrange to work remotely while you're away. Unless you have already embraced the format – read our '10 Tips for Digital Nomads' and continue doing what you do for a living. This might not be easy at times, and you probably would miss out on some things, but as a budget travel tip, this one is priceless. Not only does it keep your finances healthy, but it also sustains your professional routines, which is especially important for freelancers.
As you can see, these budget travel tips are relatively straightforward. You need to research in advance and show some flexibility on how to have the best time of your life while travelling!
