Top 10 Ways to Travel Cheaply and Stick to Your Budget

Everyone would love to have the money to travel in style, stay in 5-star hotels and fly first class, but this is just a fantasy for 90% of travelers. Most of us have to travel on a budget, stay in hostels, and pray for an aisle seat on the plane to stretch out on a long-haul flight. However, this is the best way to travel as, in the eyes of many people, you are backpacking properly and getting a much richer experience, but you still need to tighten the bag strings and spend wisely.

I have put together a list of the top ten ways to travel low cost for first-time backpackers. If you keep these points in mind on your travels, you might even come home with some loose change in your pocket.

Exchange with other travelers

Exchanging clothing and equipment is very cheap and practical when it comes to cheap travel through many different climates and countries. If you start in a cold climate but plan to move to tropical countries, then try swapping your coat for a good raincoat. You don’t want a winter coat taking up space in your pack anyway. Similarly, you can change the travel guides for the countries you’ve been to for the countries you’re going to. If you plan to discard something, always check to see if there is something you can trade for it, people will be happy to oblige.

travel overnight

This is a great idea because you can travel long distances without the wait being conscious and save money on overnight accommodation. You don’t have the luxury of a full night’s sleep or comfort, but the savings are huge if travel is necessary. Asia has many trains that take days to get from A to B, ie the Trans-Siberian Railway. Of course you wouldn’t travel all the way in one go, but many have bunk beds and are slightly better than a coach. You may need a face mask and earplugs.

Buy discount cards

There are several cards that give you discounts at many attractions around the world and for stays in cheap accommodation. Google the International Student Identity Card or, if you are not a student, the International Youth Identity Card. Getting a YHA card is also a great money saver if you’re traveling to New Zealand, Australia, or to some extent the US. I saved a ton of money in all of these destinations. Each of these mentioned cards costs about £10 or US$20, but you can easily get your money back. If you are having trouble finding the cards, please follow the link to my site below and click on discounts in the menu.

Local food

In Asia and South America, local people bring their cuisine to you. The streets of the city are normally full of locals selling good traditional food at lower prices than in restaurants and cafes. You can easily have a generous serving of noodles or grilled chicken for around a pound or two US dollars. Also, don’t be surprised if you find the tastiest food on the side of the road (and I’m not talking about road kills), as many local recipes have been passed down and refined from generation to generation.

Opt for shared hosting

Hostels offer single or double rooms with private bathrooms, but they can cost up to five times the price of other available rooms. To keep the price down, opt for a shared dormitory with a shared bathroom. Dorm sizes vary from 15 to 4 people, but usually the more you share, the cheaper it gets. For example, in New Zealand I opted for a private double room which cost NZD55 per night for the two of us, while other people shared a dormitory for only NZD15 per night each. The savings can be huge, especially if you book for an extended stay.

Stay on the beaten path

Inevitably, cities are more expensive than suburbs, but they also have a lot to see and do. Alternatively, you can avoid the cities and see all that nature has to offer. You could stay in the jungle of Thailand or Yellowstone National Park in the US and save big on the high accommodation and entrance fees usually associated with cities. Even if you eliminate a city stop or two and swap them for National Parks and hikes, you’ll find that the cost of travel is much less.

Avoid traveling long distances

This is not always a good idea because overland travel is much more rewarding than internal flights as you can split up the trip and stop to see many different things. However, long-distance travel can be expensive even by coach or train. Figure out what you definitely want to see and plan your route carefully, as you may have to make decisions if money is running low. Another good tip is to always book your trip in advance, firstly to avoid disappointment and secondly because discounts are sometimes offered.

walk instead of ride

If you are going sightseeing in cities, it can get tiring, especially if the city is big and there is a lot to see. If you have time, walk instead of taking the bus or subway because you will save a lot of money. Transportation in major cities is always expensive in the western world and in more developing countries you may be in danger of being ripped off. To reinforce my argument, walking is also the best way to see things. If you get on the subway and travel for 5 stops, you miss everything in between and have a hole in your pocket. You’ll pay enough in transportation costs, so save when you can.

Reduce alcohol consumption

This is probably the last area you’ll try to save in, but it can be a big expense for some travelers. Try to stop drinking in South America and Southeast Asia while the drink is cheap. Anywhere in Australasia or Western Europe will be quite expensive. Be prepared to also pay the odds for drinking in Muslim countries like Malaysia, as they don’t consume alcohol. Remember you can drink at home whenever you want, but you can only backpack once, so make sure you spend your money on the right things. Also, no one likes to travel with a hangover.

local services

Be sure to make use of public services in foreign countries. No, your taxes are not being paid, but it would be a shame to waste other people’s. I found that the local library was a great way to reduce the cost of Internet access, since in many countries access is free. Libraries are also a good source of travel information if you can’t access a computer or just to save money. The only challenge is finding a library, so do your research beforehand or ask for tourist information. Other services such as buses, museums, and exhibitions are often heavily subsidized or free, so you should always be open to take a look.