NorahAs a teacher, I am a queen at saving money while traveling. There are a wise variety of generic, vague tips out there for saving money while adventuring, but over the years I have found several tried and true ways to actually live cheaply while on the road.
Before getting into the smaller tips, my biggest hack is to choose your rich. This is the idea that when you are traveling on a budget, you cannot afford to have luxury everything. In comes the concept of choosing your rich-picking what elements of your trip you want to splurge on, and living cheaply in other categories while on the trip. For example, I will happily stay in 16 person hostels if it means I have enough money to go on a cool excursion or add a new destination to my trip. I like spending money on activities vs. comfort.
Determining what your “rich” is while traveling can help you determine where to spend money and where to live a bit more frugally.
Anyways, on to the tips!
Note: If you need travel inspiration, I have guides for Portugal, Greece, and Glacier National Park!
1: Do the free activities.
Many travel activities cost a lot of money, but many activities can be cheap, easy to find, and extremely fun. Hiking is oftentimes free and is an amazing activity to do in a new place. Similarly, cities are filled with free walking tours that are an awesome way to spend an afternoon. Sitting on a beach, admiring the architecture of a new city, or reading at a cafe are all excellent ways to experience a new culture and not break the bank.
2: Find a place with included breakfast.
This is such a staple in my own personal budget traveler toolbox. Having included breakfast helps save money throughout the day, and sometimes I would even take food from the free breakfast to have on hand as snacks later in the day. Breakfast is a meal that seems cheap but can actually get quite expensive throughout a trip, so going somewhere with it included can help avoid those sneaky costs.
3: Use electrolytes.
Ok, before you read any further, please follow the advice of health professionals. This is just what works best for me/what can help me save money on drinks during a trip.
On an average trip, I will frequently have to buy water or beverages while I am out exploring because I get dehydrated. Electrolyte packets are designed to eliminate this issue, and in my own head, they allow you to drink less water but still remain hydrated.
I have tested my electrolyte theory on several trips, and I have noticed that I am less prone to dehydration if I consume electrolytes throughout the day. There are plenty of fancy brands you can get, but there are also cheap gatorade type packets that do the job just as well.
4: Avoid the tourist strips.
Usually, in any destination, there is a street or section of town that is the designated “tourist” region of the area. I like to briefly walk around in this area, but I never, never eat in this area. The prices in this section are exponentially more expensive than in other areas of the city. I have found that even walking one or two blocks over has led me to more authentic food and significantly cheaper prices.
5: Travel during the shoulder season.
If you have the luxury of choosing when you would like to take your trip, I would recommend traveling during the shoulder season. This is the month or so between the busy and off season, and will typically have cheaper prices and less people, but mild weather. For most places, shoulder season is around April-May and September-October. You can get great deals on tours, lodging, and even some restaurants during this time.
6: Don’t buy souvenirs.
If you are traveling on a budget, souvenirs are a tough purchase to rationalize. In my opinion, a picture is just as amazing, and a picture is free. If you must have a souvenir, then I would recommend a postcard or a magnet.
7: Bring your own snacks.
This tip obviously depends on how long you are traveling for, but snacks definitely add up! Including a couple granola bars at the bottom of your backpack can be a great way to save money on those random drugstore snacks when you are out exploring.
8: Travel with someone.
This tip depends on personal preference, but I have found that costs can be cheaper if you are traveling with at least one other person. You can split gas, meals, and lodging with this person. Many tours also require a minimum number of people in order to run, and traveling with someone else in your party only helps your odds.
9: Stay in hostels.
Hostels are not for everyone, but they are my personal favorite. Like what I said earlier, I do not care about being comfortable when I travel, and the amount of money I have saved by staying in hostels vs. hotels has allowed me to do some pretty amazing things. Websites like HostelWorld make it so easy to filter by area, dates you are available, and reviews. In addition, the hostels often cater specifically to the budget traveler, and provide discounted activities, meals, and airport transfers.
10: Use public transportation.
Ubers are very expensive, and do add up. Public transportation is a great way to save some money, but please only use this if you are comfortable and safe. Using the metro to get from the airport to your lodging in the middle of the day? Great! Using it to get back to you Airbnb at 2 am? Maybe not so much. Also do research beforehand about the reliability of routes/how safe the transportation is, but I have found this to be a cool way to save money while also living like a local (if only for a minute!).
Keep traveling, and comment down below any additional tips you have for saving money while traveling!