Go in off-season
Visiting a country in the off-season can save heaps of cash from transport, to accommodation and living costs. It can also be a much more enjoyable time to go as you’ll beat the crowds and see a different perspective of the location.
Packed lunches
Embrace packed lunches and picnics! In most countries it will be cheaper than eating out and you get to find nice outdoor spots that you might miss otherwise.
Travel slow and be flexible
Another travel fact – travelling slowly saves money! Having rigid times can make transport a lot more costly so go with an open schedule and wait for the cheaper times.
Be vigilant
Obviously having your things stolen is a sure way to make your travels a lot more expensive. Keep an eye on your things and be wary of local scams which may end up costing you a lot of money.
Couch surfing is a great way to meet locals and get an insider’s view during your travels. Not only are most hosts more than happy to show you around town they also tend to know all the budget travel tips on offer.
Book early or late
Be it transport, accommodation or tours, try and book nice and early or last minute. In our experience, particularly with accommodation, some of the best deal can be found on the day!
Go in person
If you like to live life without a plan then don’t book anything ahead and try your luck on the day. This works best with accommodation when you’re travelling outside of high-season. Take a walk through town and look for accommodation in person, this way you can see what you’re getting and negotiate the price.
Understand the culture (tipping)
Get to know the local culture and an understanding of what is accepted and expected. This is important for things like tipping and also whether un-requested food is free or not if it’s been brought to your table.
Take snacks with you
If you’re like us and have a killer appetite then take snacks with you. Places like airports and train stations are notoriously expensive for food and drink so snacks in the bag can be a real saviour.
Delete your cookies!
Noticed ticket prices online going up and up every time you refresh the page? Delete your cookies and use a incognito browser to stop those crafty buggers from overcharging you.
Stock up at breakfast
Make the most of that free breakfast! Fill up so you stay full way into the day and don’t end up spending money necessarily.
Use a waterbottle
One of our favourite budget travel tips because it’s also great for the environment. The cost of all those bottles of water will start to stack up and that’s on top of the environmental costs. Take a refillable water bottle with you and fill up at the tap.
The best things in life are free
It’s so true. Get into those parks, make your own walking tour, embrace free museums – there are more free things to do than you’ll realise and they’re free!
Pack properly
Pack the things you need and none of the things you don’t. That means planning ahead and thinking about the climates you may come across later in your trip. This way you won’t have to buy anything extra when you’re on the road.
Take home currency
This is a sneaky little budget travel tip that can be very useful. If you’re from a country with a strong currency (£, $, €) and you’re travelling to a country with a weak currency then bring lots of cash from home and convert it when you arrive. In a lot of developing countries you can sell strong currencies for a much better rate than you’d get at home.
Camp
Heading into the great outdoors? Take a tent with you and save on accommodation costs! Some campsites can be pretty costly so check on the wildcamping situation and you can sleep for free.
