Katie and Pierce
Want to see the world without emptying your bank account? You’re not alone. Travel costs have gone up since the pandemic, but smart travelers know that amazing adventures don’t have to cost a fortune. Learning how to travel on a budget opens up endless possibilities for your next getaway.
Food usually takes up about 25% to 35% of most travel budgets, while hotels and flights grab the biggest chunks of your money. The good news? With the right tricks, you can cut your travel costs by up to 50% without giving up the experiences that make trips memorable.
Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a month-long adventure, these budget travel tips will help you stretch every dollar and make your travel dreams come true.
1. Create a Dedicated Travel Savings Account
Setting up a separate savings account just for travel makes a huge difference. Choose a high-interest account and set up automatic transfers from your checking account. Even $25 a week adds up to over $1,300 in a year.
This account serves two purposes. First, watching the balance grow keeps you motivated to save. Second, it makes tracking your spending super easy when you’re actually traveling on a budget. You’ll know exactly how much you have and where every dollar goes.
Keep this account separate from your everyday money. That way, you won’t accidentally dip into your travel fund for other expenses.
2. Book Flights on Sundays for Maximum Savings
Here’s a simple trick that can save you serious money. Book your flights on Sundays instead of other days of the week. Recent airline data shows that Sunday bookings can save you up to 17% on international flights and 6% on domestic flights compared to booking on busy days like Monday or Friday.
Airlines know that most people book flights during the work week, so they keep prices higher then. Sunday bookings face less competition, which means better deals for you.
This small change in timing can save you hundreds of dollars on expensive routes. Set a reminder to check flight prices on Sunday afternoons when you’re relaxing anyway.
3. Fly in August for the Cheapest Airfare
This might surprise you, but August is actually the cheapest month to fly, even though it’s peak summer travel time. Flights in August cost up to 12% less for domestic trips and 7% less for international travel compared to the most expensive months.
The most expensive times to fly are February for domestic trips and March for international ones. If you can be flexible with your travel dates, August flights will give you the best bang for your buck.
Many families travel in July before school starts, creating less demand in August. Take advantage of this timing if your schedule allows it.
4. Use Incognito Browsing When Searching for Flights
Airlines are sneaky. They track your searches using browser cookies and might bump up prices if you keep looking at the same flights. This practice makes comparison shopping more expensive than it should be.
Always open a private or incognito browser window when searching for flights. This prevents airlines from tracking your activity and potentially raising prices on you.
Clear your cookies between searches too. This simple step ensures you’re seeing the real prices, not inflated ones based on your search history.
5. Master the Art of Error Fares and Mistake Pricing
Sometimes airlines make mistakes with their pricing systems, creating incredible deals called error fares. These can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but you need to act fast.
Subscribe to services like Secret Flying, Jack’s Flight Club, and Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). These websites have teams that hunt for pricing errors all day long. When they find one, they email subscribers immediately.
Error fares don’t happen often, but when they do, they’re amazing. Just remember that airlines can cancel these tickets if they catch the mistake quickly, so don’t book hotels until your flight is confirmed.
6. Leverage Travel Credit Cards Strategically
The right travel credit card can be a game changer for traveling on a budget. Look for cards with no foreign transaction fees and points that you can transfer to different airlines and hotels.
Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture X give you flexibility without crazy high annual fees. You can earn points on everyday purchases and use them for free flights and hotel stays.
Don’t get caught up in complicated point systems. Stick to one or two cards and learn how to use their rewards well. The key is earning points on purchases you’d make anyway, not spending extra just to get rewards.
7. Travel During Off-Peak and Shoulder Seasons
Timing your trips right can save you 20% to 40% on everything from flights to hotels. Avoid the most expensive months (February and March) and instead travel during shoulder seasons when weather is still good but crowds are smaller.
Spring and fall often give you the perfect balance of decent weather and lower prices. You’ll also enjoy attractions without fighting massive crowds for photos.
Research your destination’s shoulder season before booking. What counts as off-peak varies by location, so do your homework to find the sweet spot.
8. Pack Only Carry-On Luggage
Budget airlines charge outrageous fees for checked bags, sometimes costing more than your actual ticket. Packing light saves money and makes getting around much easier.
Invest in a good carry-on suitcase and learn to pack efficiently. Wear your heaviest items on the plane, bring versatile clothes that mix and match, and limit yourself to two pairs of shoes maximum.
Packing light also means you can walk from airports and train stations instead of paying for taxis. When you can carry everything easily, public transportation becomes much more practical.
9. Choose Budget-Friendly Destinations
Some places naturally cost less than others. Countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central America can provide amazing experiences for $30 to $50 per day, including accommodation, food, and activities.
Research the cost of living in potential destinations before deciding where to go. Your money will stretch much further in places like Thailand, Poland, or Guatemala compared to Switzerland or Norway.
Don’t just look at flight costs. A cheap flight to an expensive destination might end up costing more overall than a pricier flight somewhere affordable.
10. Stay in Hostels and Alternative Accommodations
Hotels aren’t your only option. Hostels provide clean, safe accommodation for a fraction of hotel prices. Many have private rooms if you don’t want to share a dorm.
Look for hostels with kitchens so you can cook some of your own meals. This combination of cheap accommodation and cooking facilities can cut your daily costs dramatically.
Airbnb can also be budget-friendly, especially for longer stays when you can negotiate weekly or monthly discounts. Always read reviews carefully and choose places with kitchen access when possible.
11. Try House Sitting for Free Accommodation
House sitting gives you free places to stay in exchange for taking care of someone’s home and pets. Websites like TrustedHousesitters and Nomador connect homeowners with reliable travelers.
This works especially well for longer trips. You get a whole house to yourself, often in residential neighborhoods where you can live like a local. Plus, if you love animals, caring for pets makes the experience even better.
House sitting requires responsibility and good references, but it’s one of the best ways to eliminate accommodation costs completely.
12. Learn About Work Exchange Programs
Work exchange programs let you trade 20 to 25 hours of work per week for free accommodation and meals. Websites like Workaway, WWOOF, and HelpX connect travelers with hosts who need help.
You might work on a farm, help at a hostel, teach English, or assist with construction projects. The work varies, but you’ll get cultural immersion that regular tourists miss.
This approach works best for longer trips where you can stay in one place for several weeks. It’s perfect for learning new skills while traveling on a budget.
13. Master Public Transportation Systems
Public transportation costs a tiny fraction of what taxis and rideshares charge. Most cities have day passes or tourist cards that include multiple types of transport plus discounts at attractions.
Research transportation options before you arrive. Download local transit apps and figure out how the system works. Many cities have excellent bus and train networks that can get you anywhere you need to go.
Ask locals for advice about the best transportation deals. They often know about weekly passes or special discounts that aren’t obvious to visitors.
14. Walk Everywhere Possible
Walking is free, keeps you healthy, and helps you stumble upon amazing places you’d never find otherwise. Plan your accommodations near city centers or areas with lots to see within walking distance.
Good walking shoes are essential for budget travel. Comfortable feet mean you can walk for hours instead of paying for transportation.
Use walking as your main way to get around short distances. You’ll save money and see much more of your destination than you would from inside a taxi or bus.
15. Take Advantage of Free Attractions and Activities
Every destination has free things to do. Parks, beaches, hiking trails, free museum days, street art tours, and architectural walks cost nothing but provide incredible experiences.
Research free activities before you travel. Many cities have websites listing free events and attractions. Tourist information centers also have great suggestions for budget-friendly fun.
Some of the best travel memories come from free activities. Watching a sunset, hiking a mountain trail, or wandering through a local market can be more memorable than expensive tourist attractions.
16. Join Free Walking Tours
Most major cities have free walking tours that run on tips. These tours give you great orientation to a new place while teaching you about local history and culture.
Free walking tours usually last 2 to 3 hours and cover major attractions. The guides work for tips, so you pay what you think the tour was worth.
These tours also connect you with other travelers. You might find people to share meals or activities with, which can lead to more budget-friendly adventures.
17. Eat Street Food and Visit Local Markets
Street food gives you authentic local flavors at incredibly low prices. Food stalls have lower overhead than restaurants, so they can charge much less while still making good food.
Look for stalls with lots of local customers. High turnover means fresh food, and locals know where to find the best deals. Busy stalls also tend to be safer because food doesn’t sit around long.
Local markets are perfect for buying fresh ingredients if you have access to a kitchen. You’ll pay local prices instead of tourist prices, and shopping at markets is a fun cultural experience.
18. Cook Your Own Meals When Possible
Cooking even half your meals can cut your food budget in half. Choose accommodations with kitchen access and shop at local grocery stores instead of eating every meal at restaurants.
Focus on simple meals that don’t require lots of ingredients or cooking skills. Pasta, sandwiches, salads, and basic stir-fries are easy to make and much cheaper than restaurant meals.
Cooking also gives you a break from constantly eating out. After a few days of restaurant food, a simple home-cooked meal can be exactly what you need.
19. Avoid Drinks at Restaurants
Restaurants make huge profits on beverages. A soda or coffee that costs them 50 cents might sell for $3 or $4. These charges add up quickly and can double your meal costs.
Stick to water at restaurants and buy drinks at grocery stores if you want them. Many restaurants provide free water, and some places have excellent tap water that tastes great.
If you want alcohol with dinner, buy a bottle at a local store and drink it at your accommodation before or after your meal. You’ll get better quality for less money.
20. Use Food Apps for Deals and Discounts
Download local food apps that provide discounts and deals. Apps like TooGoodToGo let you buy surplus food from restaurants and bakeries at huge discounts.
Groupon and similar deal sites often have restaurant discounts of 50% or more. Check these before eating out to see if you can save money on meals you were planning anyway.
Some cities have specific apps for food deals. Ask locals or check app stores for region-specific options that might not be well-known to tourists.
21. Travel Overnight to Combine Transport and Accommodation
Overnight buses and trains serve double duty by getting you somewhere while providing a place to sleep. This saves you money on a hotel room while moving you toward your next destination.
Make sure you can actually sleep on overnight transport before counting on this strategy. If you arrive exhausted and need to nap all day, you haven’t really saved anything.
Overnight travel works best for longer distances where the time savings make sense. Short overnight trips often aren’t worth the discomfort.
22. Use Flight Comparison Tools and Hacker Fares
Never book the first flight you find. Use comparison sites like Google Flights, Momondo, and Skyscanner to check prices across multiple airlines and booking sites.
Consider “hacker fares” where you book two one-way tickets on different airlines instead of a round-trip ticket. This can save 11% to 18% on some routes, especially international ones.
Be flexible with your search terms. Try different nearby airports and adjust your dates by a few days to see if better deals appear.
23. Set Up Price Alerts and Use Flexible Date Searches
Let technology do the work for you. Set up price alerts on Google Flights, Hopper, and airline websites to track flights you’re interested in.
Use flexible date searches to see price differences across different days. Flying on Tuesday instead of Sunday might save you 15% or more.
Calendar view on flight search sites shows you the cheapest days to travel in a whole month. This makes it easy to spot patterns and choose the most affordable dates.
24. Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign transaction fees add 2% to 3% to every purchase you make abroad. Choose credit cards and bank accounts that don’t charge these fees.
Many travel-friendly credit cards waive foreign transaction fees. Some banks also have partnerships that let you use ATMs abroad without withdrawal fees.
Research ATM networks in your destination before you go. Some local banks don’t charge international withdrawal fees, while others charge $5 or more per transaction.
25. Learn to Negotiate and Haggle Respectfully
In many countries, negotiating prices is normal and expected. Learning to bargain politely can save significant money on accommodations, transportation, and purchases.
Research local customs before trying to negotiate. What’s normal in one culture might be insulting in another. When in doubt, ask other travelers or locals for advice.
Start by asking for discounts on longer stays or multiple purchases. Many vendors will offer deals if you’re buying several items or staying for a week or more.
26. Use Destination Dupes for Expensive Places
Instead of expensive dream destinations, look for similar places that cost much less. Quebec City gives you French culture without the cost of Paris. Thailand’s islands provide tropical paradise at a fraction of Maldives prices.
Research alternatives to bucket list destinations. Often you can find places with similar attractions, culture, and scenery for much less money.
Don’t feel like you’re settling for second best. Some destination dupes are actually better than the famous places they’re copying, with fewer crowds and more authentic experiences.
27. Pack a Reusable Water Bottle with Filter
Buying bottled water every day adds up fast and creates tons of plastic waste. A good filtered water bottle pays for itself within a few days and keeps you hydrated safely.
Brands like LifeStraw make bottles with built-in filters that can handle questionable tap water. This gives you peace of mind while saving money and helping the environment.
Many airports and public places now have water bottle filling stations. Having your own bottle means you can stay hydrated without constantly buying drinks.
