💰 Budget travel: 15 life hacks for saving
Traveling frequently is a popular dream. Many people think that if they had a lot of money, all they would do is travel. Some people really live like this. For example, digital nomads, freelancers, someone winters in warm regions. There are dozens of options for how you can see the world and not spend your entire salary on it: hostels, hitchhiking, couchsurfing, barter, promotional tours, international exchanges, language courses, volunteering, etc. Today we will tell you about some ways and life hacks on how to save money.
The most important thing to start with is answering the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice your comfort while traveling? There are too strict methods of saving that are more suitable for extreme tourists. If this is absolutely not your story, then there is no point in trying to save an extra dollar to the point of fanaticism, otherwise it will not be a vacation, but an additional headache. Travel is still about new experiences, breathtaking views, meeting people, the world and yourself in new conditions.
The second thing to consider is your schedule and vacation. It’s easy to talk about the possibility of going somewhere on a last-minute tour if you’re a freelancer, but it’s a different matter when you work a 5-day work week with vacation twice a year. But there are options for absolutely everyone.
Buy tickets in advance
The earlier you book your tickets before departure, the cheaper they will be. Many bus carriers operate on the same principle. Subscribe to newsletters from airlines, bus companies, and sites that generate cheap tickets. Monitor Black Friday prices – yes, this is largely just clever marketing, but sometimes you come across really good deals. Also study the visa issue and the time that you can spend in the transit zone. For example, Singapore allows you to stay in their country for several days if it is a connection. But even in three days you can explore the area well without paying for a visa.
Package tours
Traveling alone or with loved ones is more common than traveling with a group of strangers. But sometimes, if you recalculate the cost of the same cruise, bus euro tour or last minute charter trip, it turns out that it is more profitable for you to go along the route already planned by the tour managers. If you are lucky enough to have a flexible work schedule and can go on a trip almost instantly, then sign up for last-minute tour newsletters. Companies often sell flights almost at cost, but sometimes you have to go literally tomorrow.
Barter
Here we smoothly move on to discussing your negotiator skills. If you run a blog, for example, you have some kind of audience, then you can write directly to hotels and offer them your advertising content in exchange for the opportunity to stay with them for free or with a big discount, bonuses. Bloggers are often called on promotional tours, but you can take the initiative yourself.
If you have cool skills that can be useful to travel agencies, for example, you are a photographer, videographer, shoot high-quality TikToks, Reels, or know how to set up advertising, then you can also agree and go on some kind of ready-made tour for free in exchange for your work. Just don't expect everyone to immediately agree to your proposal for cooperation, but you definitely have nothing to lose if you try.
Trips in the off season
It is most often expensive to travel in the summer, although depending on the climate zone, winter can also be a high season – do your research in advance. At this time, both tickets and accommodation are usually more expensive. Just like on holidays or carnivals. If you go in the off-season, you will save money.
Housing in the suburbs
Housing prices in cities, especially large ones, are more expensive than on the outskirts. Sometimes it is cheaper to live in the suburbs and pay for the train than to spend the night in the city. Many travel agencies do this when they take groups. You can also save money if you live in a hostel or rent an apartment, especially if you are traveling with a large group.
Public transport and tourist maps
Obviously, buses and subways are cheaper than taxi rides. If you are traveling somewhere for a long time, then take a closer look at travel cards and tourist cards, which will also give you free entry to museums. And try to buy everything in advance and online, you can often get a discount for this and avoid standing in lines later. If you are a student, don't forget to take your student card with you, many countries will give you discounts on transport and museums. Sometimes a discount can be obtained up to a certain age. It happens that there are discount coupons in the in-flight magazines of airplanes or at hotels.
Free excursions
Some museums or exhibitions a priori do not require payment, others work for donations, and still others have free admission on certain days or hours. Monitor this on the official websites of attractions. Sometimes you can get somewhere for a symbolic cost if you come back to back and stand in line. This is how, for example, the Vienna Opera and La Scala in Milan work, but you will have to watch Peru while standing on the balcony.
Nutrition
It’s better not to skimp on food, but there are still ways. If you choose tours, refuse the all-inclusive system, you will overpay. Take a packed lunch with you, especially tea. In some expensive countries you can pay 5-10 euros for a cup of tea. Choose places where locals eat. Cook yourself and buy food at markets or supermarkets. Often in the evenings, cooking or some products are sold at a discount. Research restaurants that offer a discount on their lunch menu during lunch.
Extreme ways
Hitchhiking and couchsurfing (free overnight stays with strangers around the world) are not for everyone, but they are worth mentioning. There is also house-sitting: a great option if you have friends abroad who are going on vacation themselves, then you can come to their home and live there, keep order, flowers or pets. Option for the brave: the same thing, but in the houses of strangers. And there are many online platforms for finding contacts.
There is also an exchange of houses, watch the movie “Exchange Vacation” – get inspired. You can spend the night at the airport, on overnight journeys, in tents, even in monasteries, you can volunteer in exchange for an overnight stay – it depends on how ready you are to live such an experience.
Important!
Never skimp on your health and safety. Always take out health insurance, extended version. Especially if you are going to conquer mountain peaks or engage in extreme sports while traveling. Do not go into dangerous areas, especially alone. Monitor the situation in a particular country. Get all necessary vaccinations in advance, especially when traveling in Africa.
Remember that purchased items will sooner or later deteriorate, but the travel experiences and memories of them will remain with you for the rest of your life. Explore the world – it's really cool! And complement our selection with your own tips and life hacks.