Traveling is supposed to be fun, right? But it can feel like a chore when you’re on the road and have a few unexpected expenses. That’s why we want to help you save money while traveling—because we know how important that is when you’re trying to celebrate all your adventures. Whether it’s as simple as taking public transportation instead of driving or getting an Airbnb rather than staying in a hotel, these tips will help ensure your trip remains affordable and enjoyable!
1. Plan ahead
When planning a trip, the first thing to do is research the area you will visit. You can use free websites such as TripAdvisor, Google Maps, Yelp, and Lonely Planet to learn more about local attractions and activities that may interest you. You should also check for deals on accommodations and transportation that will make it easier for you to explore new places in your budget.
2. Make a budget and stick to it.
It’s important that when traveling overseas, people know what they are spending their money on so they don’t overspend unnecessarily without realizing it until later on down the road when all of those extra expenses start adding up quickly!
3. Get city passes
Getting city passes is the best way to save money on a trip. City passes are packages of attractions you can visit for a set price, and they’re available in many cities worldwide. They’re also great because you don’t need to plan everything out in advance—you buy your city pass and go!
When I travel, I always try to find a good deal on my hotel room by booking through Hotels.com or booking engine sites like Expedia or BookingBuddy (for example). If there’s an offer like “save $20 off your stay” or something similar, then definitely check it out! Then once you’ve found somewhere lovely that fits what’s essential (like location), look into buying another coupon code from Groupon so as not only to save money but give some back as well!
4. Use public transportation
Public transportation is a great way to save money while traveling. You don’t have to pay for your car or taxi, but you can also reduce the time spent in traffic by using public transit. The average American spends about 23 hours per year behind the wheel, meaning that if you use public transportation instead of driving, you’ll save over $1,000 per year!
There are many different ways that people use public transportation: they might take buses or trains; they may even enjoy riding bikes on some routes to avoid long walks between stops. The best part about all this is that once you get into your new city with its new language and culture—especially if it has different modes of transport than what’s used back home—you’ll feel right at home!
5. BYO meals
- Prepare your meals
- Eat at local restaurants and cafes (or grab something from a food truck)
- Eat at a food court/food court-like setting where you can choose from several options
6. Airbnb or hostel it up
Airbnb is a great way to save money. Hostels are another great way to save money, especially traveling with friends or family.
If you are planning on staying in an Airbnb place and want to meet people, then hostels can also be a good choice for you! Hostels often provide free food and drinks that would otherwise cost extra at hotels or B&Bs.
Try these tips for a more affordable trip
- Use public transportation.
- Get city passes or tickets to attractions, museums, and other places you want to visit.
- Bring food with you that doesn’t need to be cooked at all times, such as granola bars or energy bars (if you plan on going out at night) or snacks like nuts or dried fruit (to keep your energy up).
- Airbnb it if possible! It can save money on accommodation costs and give back some of the money spent on travel by having someone else look after your apartment while you’re away sleeping in another room somewhere else around town…or even just giving yourself a break from cooking all meals every day.* Plan ahead when booking hotels/hostels/Airbnb etc., so that there aren’t any surprises later down the line when trying to figure out how much money was spent on accommodation during their stay abroad.*
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to save some money while traveling, you can do a few things. First, plan and try to get the most out of your trip by booking all your hotels before leaving home. If this is not possible, look into city passes or public transportation as these will allow you access to free attractions and other perks like discounts on food or shopping in different locations throughout town. Finally, we recommend using Airbnb or hostel accommodations instead of renting private rooms because, at least for us, there was always an extra room available when needed.