I pride myself on being a budget-friendly traveler, however, it’s hard to ignore that the price of just about everything has gone up. From the £9.99 Ryanair flights of days gone by to larger baggage allowances and the price of eating out going through the roof, it’s hard to travel on a shoestring budget. However, I still have plenty of traveling on a budget tips to share!
Travel in the Shoulder Season
This tip is an old one but still rings true today. Shoulder seasons are the best times to travel because you don’t get the crowds or the premium prices, but you still get great weather and experiences. This can be tricky to manage if you’re traveling for a specific event, but if you have the option, traveling outside of the peak is the easiest way to save a ton of money.
Public Transport is your Friend
If you’ve read anything else on this site, you’ll know I’m a huge advocate of using public transport when I’m traveling. Taxis may be convenient, but they soon add up, even if you’re using Uber or Lyft. Hiring a car, on the other hand, can be really expensive if you’re traveling on your own or have to deal with parking in a big city.
Especially if you’re traveling in Europe, I’d definitely recommend using public transport. The train and bus networks are relatively straightforward to use, and if you want to avoid language confusion you can use apps like Omio or Rail Europe to help you on your way.
Buses Over Trains
As a little add-on to the public transport tip, I’d also recommend taking buses and coaches over trains if you’re on a budget in certain countries. Yes, it’ll likely take you a bit longer, but you’ll save a lot of money. There are also situations where the travel time isn’t that different, or being on a bus is a more direct route.
For example, going from Liverpool to Manchester Airport by train means having to go into Manchester City Centre and back out again. This usually takes around an hour and a half and a single ticket can cost around £15-20. On the other hand, you can get the National Express coach direct to the airport for £8 and it only takes an hour. It’s worth doing your research.
If you’re in the US or Europe, I’d recommend using FlixBus’s route map to figure out where you can go by coach from your chosen destination. It’s super cheap and easy to use, and you get free WiFi and baggage allowance as standard. I also use this a lot if I want to take advantage of cheap flights but don’t particularly want to visit that specific city.
Compression Cubes and Versatile Wardrobes
Okay, over the last few years, the free baggage allowances on Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Easyjet have gotten tiny. Even some long-haul flights are only offering personal items instead of having one hold bag as standard. So, being able to pack well is a much-needed skill for any budget traveler.
Of course, many people use compression packing cubes to help squish more into their bags, and these are great. Just make sure you get a pack of them with different sizes and shapes to make the most of your space. It’s also important to have items that mix and match. Realistically, you don’t need three full outfits for a three-day trip. Wear your bulkiest stuff on the flight and have versatile items ready to switch out in your bag.
I’d also recommend a soft-sided backpack if you’re on a budget short-haul. These are easier to squeeze into the bag sizers if you get asked and you can make them look smaller on your bag by tightening the straps.
Use Cashback For Everything
Sometimes the actual price of travel can’t be helped. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a discount or kickback here and there. I’ve used Top Cashback for years now and it’s a really easy way to get an additional couple of percent back on your purchases.
While you’re not going to save hundreds of pounds instantly, it builds over time. Certain things like insurance and accommodation usually have between 5-20% cashback, depending on the vendor, and package holidays usually have even more.
It’s worth saying that it can take a few months for the cashback to hit your account, so it’s a long game, but you can also redeem your cashback as gift cards and get an extra couple of percent added to your balance. This is great for putting towards your next trip or saving on everyday purchases so you can save more of your money for your travels.
Don’t Splurge On Mobile Data
One of the things that used to be free was EU roaming fees and, by and large, that’s a thing of the past! However, that doesn’t mean that you should be splashing out on a hefty mobile data plan. Instead, opt for an e-SIM with someone like Airalo so you can get wallet-friendly plans without the hassle of buying a physical SIM when you land.
If you’re new to Airalo, I have a 15% discount code: NEWTOAIRALO15 which you can redeem in the app or online.
Be Flexible With Your Dates
Flexibility is the key to budget travel. Certain flights can be extremely expensive on a Monday and super cheap on a Wednesday for seemingly no reason at all. Using month view on Skyscanner or Google Flights is an essential part of booking any trip. This way, you can mess around with dates and find the cheapest combination without having to waste time on trial and error.
A lot of the time with short-haul, you’re booking two single tickets, rather than a return, so search for it like two singles. This can sometimes help prevent the “seven-day price hike” where traveling for a weekend or full week always seems to be a lot more expensive.
Check Out Nearby Airports
It’s also a good idea to look at airports that are nearby to your chosen destination. Milan Malpensa can be expensive to fly into, but Milan Bergamo, in the neighbouring Medieval city of Bergamo, is often a lot cheaper, with more favourable times, and there’s a regular direct train and bus service into Milan.
This also works if your return flight isn’t lining up. On my recent trip to Bologna, the return flight would’ve meant I’d have had to spend either 2 days or 7 days in and around the city. However, there are daily flights from Verona to the north. It’s a two-hour, £9 train away, and the flight was in the evening so I had the whole day to explore the city that inspired Romeo and Juliet.
For context, I flew from Manchester to Bologna and then Verona to Manchester and it cost me just under £48 return. If I’d got the return from Bologna, not only would I have spent way more on accommodation and food, but the flights would’ve been closer to £70. Even with the additional train fare, it was a no-brainer even if it demanded slightly more logistical thought.
Check Out Second or Third Cities
Of course, plenty of people want to visit the main city of a new country, whether that’s the capital like London, Rome, Paris, or Berlin, or just the big city, like Toronto, New York, or Auckland. However, as the “big city”, it’s usually the most expensive place to visit, and the most crowded.
While it’s nice to experience the tourist favourites and soak up the atmosphere, it’s hard to stick to a budget in these places. Instead, opt for second or third cities. Some of my favourite options include:
- Liverpool, UK
- Naples, Italy
- Nice, France
- Seattle, USA
- Montreal, Canada
- Queenstown, New Zealand
- Ella, Sri Lanka
- Oban, Scotland
- Salamanca, Spain
Eat Away From The Hotspots
I cannot emphasise this enough – stop eating in the main plaza or piazza if you’re trying to stick to a budget! Not only is it super expensive, it’s unlikely to actually be any good. In major cities, I have the two-side street rule: to find somewhere cheaper and decent, go down a sidestreet from the main drag, and then go down another. It goes without saying, picture menu places are also a no-go.
It’s also a good idea to have your largest meal of the day at lunchtime. Most places have a reduced version of their dinner menu at lunchtime for a fraction of the cost. It also tends to be less busy, so you can bag a decent table or eat somewhere that you might not be able to get into in the evening.
