My Ultimate Budget Travel Tips
Budget travelers where you at?
This one is for you! Well us, because I am a down-and-dirty budget traveler. Always have been and always will be.
I kicked my budget traveling into high gear when I studied abroad in London. I scrimped, saved, and explored my way through one of the world’s most expensive cities.
That experience taught me so many things about budget traveling. And yes, I’ve moved past some of the budgeting techniques I used while studying abroad, like only eating ramen, peanut butter sandwiches, and £1 ASDA pizza. But I did learn some budget travel tips and tricks along the way that I still use today (like how to score great flight deals).
So are you are ready for my ultimate budget travel tips? Let’s go!
My BEST Budget Travel Tips
Tip 1: You are Not a Princess
Ouch, I know. But hear me out, we are fabulous, we just can’t be too picky. We don’t get to travel like Kate Middleton. Of course, I would love to stay in 5-star hotels, with room service, and no-filter-needed views. But that just isn’t my reality.
I had to decide what was important to me. And you need to do the same. But for me, where I stay just isn’t that important. When I travel, I’m constantly on the go. I really only use my room to shower and sleep. So I’ve decided it isn’t worth staying in fancy places because I’m really not going to get my money’s worth (and let’s be real, I can’t afford those anyway) I would much rather spend my money on additional trips instead of a few nights in a luxury hotel.
But that being said, I want to be safe. So I always have to balance price with location. But just because you might not stay in the city center doesn’t mean you will automatically be in a sketchy area. Do your research before you book a place to make sure you will be comfortable with the neighborhood. I stayed in a less-than-ideal area of Rome and it was fine but I probably should have done more research before booking that place. Live and learn, right?
Ok so all that being said, here are my FAVORITE ways to book cheap accommodation:
- Airbnb
- Priceline Express Deals
- Hotels.com
- Hostel World
Airbnb
This is my go-to! Seriously I love Airbnb. I first used it on a European trip in 2014 and I haven’t looked back since. I remember being super nervous the first time. But my friend had experience with Airbnb and she assured me it would be fine. And it was. But I’m not gonna lie, the first time you book a room in a stranger’s house, it feels a little weird.
But Airbnb has come a long way since 2014. There are so many rentals now. And you don’t have to just book a spare guest room. Let me tell you, staying in the “off-the-kitchen” room of a tiny apartment in Amsterdam saved me money, but one bathroom for the whole place was not cool. So now I only book “Entire Place” when I use Airbnb.
If you’ve never used Airbnb before, it’s incredibly easy. Just go to the website, create an account, and put in your search filters. I did a quick search for “Entire places” in Vancouver for under $50/night. You may have to stay farther away from the city center, but this quick search brought up 213 results. And the top results even included a superhost.
My takeaway, don’t be afraid to use Airbnb. Yes, it might seem strange to use this instead of a hotel. But it’s a great budget-friendly option. And if you only stay in “entire place” listings, you won’t be sharing the space with anyone. It will just feel like you are staying in your friend’s apartment who left for the weekend.
Priceline Express Deals
This is the real MVP. I’ve scored some great deals with Priceline Express. But let me warn you upfront, there is a pretty major catch. You won’t know the name of the hotel until AFTER your payment has processed (and you can’t back out at that point).
So you start like you would on a normal search, by entering your destination and dates. And you will be directed to a list of available hotels. But the hotel names and exact locations are noticeably missing from the results page. You will see the star rating, general location, amenities, and similar hotels. If you click on the “map” link, you will see a general area where the hotel is located. Yes, it feels like a game but trust me, this is a great way to score some DEALS!
I’ve had great success with this site for Orlando hotels. These hotels can get expensive QUICK. But if you are willing to stay outside of Disney or Universal property, you can usually snag a deal. And I really don’t care what my hotel is like when I’m going to theme parks. I am going to be spending all my time at the parks, so I really just need a place to sleep and shower. I’ve scored some $30-$40/night hotels in the Orlando-area by using Priceline Express. You just have to be ok with 2-2.5 star places. But even if you want a 4+ star hotel, you can usually find a deal on this site. A quick search brought up a $72/night 4-star hotel in the “Disney area.”
Hotels.com
So this isn’t as cheap as the other options, but I’ve still scored some deals on hotels.com. And the thing I really love about this site is their rewards program. After staying 10-nights (at most of their hotels) you will earn a free night. What’s great about this is you don’t have to stay with the same hotel-chain to earn your free night. Just make an account, book on hotels.com, and start earning your free stay.
But keep in mind that your “free night” will be the average price of the 10 nights you collected. So you can’t stay in motels and expect to get a free night at the Ritz. But you can use that “free night” to cover the cost of a cheap hotel or put the value towards a more expensive hotel.
Hostel World
Ok, I haven’t used this in a while, but hostels are a great budget option. I’ve stayed in hostels in Ireland, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Chile, Costa Rica, and Washington D.C. Personally, this isn’t my top choice, but it really can save you money.
There are a wide variety of hostels. I’ve stayed in some that felt like a college dorm and others that were basically boutique hotels. You just have to decide what experience you want. Hostels can be a great option if you want a younger crowd and are looking to meet fellow travelers. You just have to accept the shared bathroom space.
If you want to book a hostel, I suggest using hostelworld.com. Just know that you really can’t be a princess if you are choosing this option. But after a quick search, I found a dorm room in a London hostel for $8.61/night. And remember, to get this price you will have to be willing to stay in a mixed dorm room, share a community bathroom, and be located outside the city center. But sometimes that stuff just doesn’t matter when you are getting a great deal!
Tip 2: Don’t be Boujee
Public transportation is your friend. Especially if you are traveling in a major world city. London, Washington DC, New York City, Chicago, and Paris all have fantastic metro systems. Use them! This is going to be way cheaper than taking a taxi or Uber everywhere. And most of the time you can get a multi-day pass so you can save even more!
For example, a single ride on the New York Subway costs $2.75. You can purchase a 7-day unlimited pass (good for the subway and local buses) for $32. That’s less than the cost of the taxi ride from the JFK airport to Manhattan. Look into these unlimited passes in any city with a metro system. They are a great way to save money on transportation.
Also, don’t be afraid to walk. We all have GoogleMaps, right? So just check your route and walk it out! This is a great way to see a city and saves a ton of money. Win, win!
Tip 3: Embrace Zone 4
Let’s face it, budget travelers can’t fly first class. We just have to embrace those cheaper seats at the back of the plane. When I fly I usually end up in Zones 3 or 4.
As much as I love to travel, I have to look at transportation as just that, transportation. I won’t be traveling in style. I’m not going to be sleeping in one of those bed-seat wonders. No, I will be in the rear of the plane trying to make an uncomfortable neck pillow work. But I just suck it up and remember that this is what I have to do to make my travel dreams a reality. Then the middle seat doesn’t seem so bad.
And I am not above buses. No, this isn’t the most glamorous way to travel. But it can be a cheap and effective option.
So when I book transportation, I always check:
- Google Flights
- Skyscanner
- Megabus
- Greyhound
- Scott’s Cheap Flights
Google Flights
This is always the first place I look for flights. Google Flights is a handy comparison tool that all you savvy-budget travelers should be using. You can search for your specific travel plans or get inspired by their “popular destinations” suggestions.
Once you enter the info, Google Flights will pull all the available flights that match your search. This is an easy way to compare airlines and itineraries. If you are flexible, use their calendar to find the cheapest travel dates. You can also set up a price tracker for specific flights and you will be notified if the price changes.
Be aware, Southwest Airlines does not show up on Google Flights. Southwest is generally an affordable airline that has an excellent bag policy (AKA 2 free checked bags). So if you want to consider Southwest, you will need to search for flights on their website.
Skyscanner
So this is another flight comparison tool I use. I’ve had the most luck with Skyscanner when I’m searching for flights in Europe. Honestly, this is probably because Europe has a ton of budget airlines. Which, by the way, you shouldn’t be afraid to use. Ryanair, EasyJet, and Vueling are some great options. Yes, you will get what you pay for, but they get the job done.
My favorite feature on Skyscanner is the “search everywhere” option. If you are flexible or want to be inspired, play around with this tool. You could find flight deals for a destination that wasn’t on your radar.
Megabus
I’m not gonna lie, bus trips can suck. But this is a cheap travel option that we have to consider. And Megabus is a decent option. I’ve used Megabus a few times and, although I can’t give them a stellar review, they work. Just be ready for possible delays, somewhat sketchy pickup locations, and odd travel times.
But, that being said, Megabus is known for its infamous $1 fares. I personally haven’t snagged one of these, but I have a friend who managed to get a $1 ticket for a trip from Knoxville to NYC. And you really can’t beat that. You will need to be a social media stalker to get these tickets. Megabus usually announces on Facebook and Twitter when they are releasing their next batch of tickets. If you get lucky and time it perfectly, you might get one of these seats.
Even if you miss the $1 fares, Megabus is pretty dang cheap. A quick search brought up $10 tickets from NYC to Philadelphia, and $14 tickets from NYC to DC.
Greyhound
Honestly, Greyhound buses are not that different from Megabus. For a long time, I thought Greyhound was pretty expensive. And although they don’t offer the $1 fares, they do have affordable economy tickets.
Again, you will get what you pay for. And Greyhounds are not glamorous. But they have a bigger network than Megabus and offer similar prices. From New York, I found $11 tickets to Philadelphia and $19 fares to DC.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
This is more of a bonus because Scott’s Cheap Flights is a service that alerts its subscribers to flight deals. You can’t use this website to search for flights. But this is one of my favorite budget travel tips because I’ve used it to score deals to Australia, Mexico, and Costa Rica!
But you should consider signing up if you are a flexible budget traveler. Scott and his team search for the best international flight deals and pass the info along to you.
So by signing up, you will receive emails about crazy good deals. You just have to be quick and flexible. Most of the deals exist because the airline made a mistake, so you have to snag the flight while that price is still available. But if you are flexible you could score some great deals with this service.
Tip 4: Be a Reasonable Packer
We have to be realistic, people. And if you read my My 22 Best Travel Tips, you will know that I’ve struggled with overpacking. But we all need to work on packing lighter. Especially if you are flying because bag fees are getting RIDICULOUS!
And be careful when you book budget airlines. I’ve booked with Spirit Airlines before and although I got a decent flight deal, they hit me with some nasty bag fees. They charge $55 for a carry on and $50 for your first checked bag. And that’s one way. So just by bringing a carry-on, you would add $110 to your final cost.
Make sure you research your airline’s policies before you book. Most airlines charge at least $25 (each way) for a checked bag. Some airlines offer a free personal item and carry-on, so I suggest only bringing these bags. Usually, a backpack counts as a personal item, so that plus a carry-on is enough space for a trip.
Pro Tip: Southwest Airlines has the BEST bag policy. They allow each passenger 1 personal item, 1 carry on, and 2 checked bags for free! Seriously, it’s absurd how many free bags you can take on a Southwest flight, but I love them for that.
Tip 5: Get Outdoors
You know what the outdoors are for? Fresh air, sweeping views, and savings. Outdoor-focused vacays are extremely budget-friendly. City escapes are fun but can be really costly. Why not explore one of the incredible National Parks instead? (National Forests and State Parks are great, too!)
So although a National Park’s vacation isn’t free, you only have a few fees to worry about. Most of the parks charge an entrance fee, but if you plan on visiting multiple parks, consider purchasing an America the Beautiful Pass. For $80 you and everyone in your car has access to every US National Park for the next 12 months (a friend shared this info with me a few years ago and its now one of my favorite budget travel tips!). And once you are in a park, you will be hiking, camping, or relaxing (mostly free activities!)
And speaking of camping, most campsites in the parks run for around $10-$20/ night. They do book quickly, so try to reserve these in advance. You can consider backcountry camping, but most of the modern campsites have amenities like restrooms, showers, and a camp store.
Tip 6: Look for Cheap Entertainment
But I don’t mean you need to compromise on quality. You just need to do some research and be willing to wait.
For example, NYC is an expensive place. But you don’t have to spend a fortune on Broadway tickets. You can get discounts from the TKTS booth, TodayTix, or rush tickets. Some of the theaters offer day-of discounted “rush tickets”. These tickets are usually available when the box office opens. You will have to wait outside the box office (probably around 2 hours early) to score these. And they will probably be obstructed view seats. But $30-$40 for a Broadway show is hard to pass up.
Free Tours by Foot is another budget-friendly entertainment option. This company operates in major cities around the world. They offer neighborhood, food, and ghost tours. The tours are free but you do need to tip your guide. Also, check out their website for free self-guided walking tours.
Tip 7: Stretch Your Planning Skills
Don’t let deals slip by because you didn’t do your homework. A little research can lead to big savings. (This might seem simple but it’s one of my favorite budget travel tips!)
Do you have any free nights from hotels.com? Don’t forget to use those!
And look into discounts or freebies for the entertainment parts of your trip, too. Many tourist attractions offer a discount if you purchase tickets online in advance. Some museums offer free days, so figure out if any of these align with your itinerary. I’ve even seen museums offer a discounted rate if you arrive before 10 am.
Use those research and planning skills I know you have to save some money! You might be surprised, but you can probably find some tourist-attraction discounts with a quick Google search. Just be willing to adjust your itinerary so you can make the most of the deals you find.
Alright budget-travelers, those are some of my best budget travel tips! But I would love to hear from you. Please share your best budget travel tips in the comments below!
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