16 Frugal Ways that Budget Travelers Save Money While Traveling
Can you travel the world while saving money? The short answer is yes. But the methods of frugal traveling differ between travelers and preferences. Some travelers don’t mind sharing a room with strangers each night, while other travelers save money by sticking to local eateries. Using these various tips to travel, you will discover extra money left to spend on creating memories that matter.
1. Sleeping Anywhere
You must learn to sleep anywhere when you’re on a tight budget. Always stay safe, but don’t cross out the option of falling asleep for a few hours on a train, plane, or automobile. If you’re traveling alone, you’ll need to sleep wherever you can grab it. Hostels and discount hotels with shared rooms or shared bathrooms populate budget travelers’ itineraries as well.
2. Budget Airlines
How can you beat a budget airline? The a la carte system charges an affordable fare that transports passengers between destinations without the added expenses of food, snacks, baggage, or extra comfort. Keeping it real here. On a recent Spirit flight, everything seemed flawless until our initial descent. Our pilot hopped on the loudspeaker and informed us that he couldn’t see the landing, so he told us his grand idea: to keep us in the air until the clouds cleared. As we landed, the woman behind us declared, “Thank you, Lord!” But hey, the international flight only cost $100!
3. Condensed Packing
Other than Southwest, most airlines don’t allow passengers to travel with free bags. They get a carry-on or a personal item at most. Due to this limiting factor, budget travelers cram their belongings, in an expert manner, into a personal item like a backpack or duffel bag, to avoid paying extra for luggage. A tip that gets me through is bringing older clothes on the trip, donating them at the end of the trip, and opening up space for souvenirs.
4. Eating Locally
Every budget traveler knows tourist trap restaurants overcharge their food because the visitors will pay the heightened fare. Locals, on the other hand, know better. For example, there’s a taco place in San Diego that charges $1.50 for one taco. Las Cuatros Milpas uses authentic ingredients that entice locals and tourists who stay away from those tourist trap restaurants. Pro tip: if a line of locals wraps around the building, you’ll pay the local price.
5. Breakfast at Hotel
One of the best ways to save money is by booking a hotel with included breakfast. You’ll save the cost of one meal a day, plus slick people stock up on fruit or cereal for a midday snack.
6. Big Lunch, Small Dinner
A great hack for eating around the world on a budget is to consume a large lunch and a small dinner. Lunch prices typically run cheaper than dinner prices, though the portions may be similar. Eat a fair, hearty portion during lunch for a fair price that powers you through the day. Once you arrive at the dinner table, your hunger won’t overtake you and force you to order more food than you can eat or spend more than you budgeted.
7. Cooking
Keen budget travelers pay attention to room inclusions before booking hotels. People interested in saving money on food will opt for rooms with included kitchenettes, cutting back on eating out expenses and supporting the local economy.
8. Snacks
Always, always, always carry a bag of snacks. Even if we aren’t traveling, we humans experience hunger. Hunger makes most of us hangry which is the worst feeling to display while traveling. Curb that hanger with a handful of pretzels or an apple. Save the rest of the travel party from your wrath.
9. Water Bottles
Why pay $5 for a plastic water bottle when you can put that money toward an attraction? Don’t fall into the scheme of purchasing single-use, single-serving water bottles when you can carry around a sustainable, sturdy, reusable bottle. As several countries and areas adapt to a greener lifestyle, refillable water stations pop up to accentuate this green mindset.
10. Public Transport
Renting a car or hiring a personal driver works for some travelers, but it does cost a pretty penny, especially in pricier places. The alternative sees jet setters utilizing trains, buses, cabs, cars, or any public transit offering to take customers between two places. Most European and Asian countries offer fantastic, efficient public transportation, as do major U.S. hubs.
11. Converting Money Outside Airport
My dad ignored my warnings about converting money in the airport on our Costa Rican adventure. The exchange agent snatched 20% out of the exchange, leaving him with a measly fraction of what he needed. He scoffed and grumbled to us following the exchange, though we told him he should’ve listened to the budget travel writer in the family.
12. Purchasing Gifts Outside Airport
Airports overcharge because they can. Airports act as the last-minute resort for gift grabbing, meaning there is a heavy price discrepancy between local gifts and airport souvenirs. For example, I purchased a water bottle for my friend at the Costa Rican airport, thinking it would cost $30 at the most. Now, this water bottle wasn’t a fancy Stanley cup laced with lead, nor was it a handpainted marvel. It was just a boilerplate water bottle with a Costa Rica stencil etched on its side. It cost $50. Right outside the airport, a water bottle like that might run $20.
13. Paying in Local Currency
Any non-math wizard gets confused by conversion rates. I’m talking about Costa Rica a lot in this piece because I returned from there recently, but every time you go to pay, they ask if you want to pay in local currency or U.S. currency. Always pay in local currency to save chunks of change. Different establishments determine the exchange rate, which might result in your doling out excess money.
14. Paying in Cash
In Costa Rica, we stopped at a gigantic souvenir shop no local would ever enter. Of course, we fell for the giant tourist trap and burned a ton of money on the cutesy gifts. When asked if we wanted to pay in dollars or local currency, my dad said dollars. Next followed a question that delights all budget travelers. “Cash or card? If you pay cash, I’ll give you a discount.” The worker nixed about 20% off our total because we decided to fork over dollars instead of the digital version.
15. Research
Imagine scraping together $30 for a museum visit the day before the attraction offers free admission. Engage in research, determine which events and hotspots offer free or discounted admission, and the best times to visit such places. Parks, churches, and select art galleries provide free enjoyment in place of museums.
16. Travel Credit Cards
Earn rewards for traveling. Use the rewards to fund future discounted or free travel. Travel credit cards exist to cater to individuals who indulge in multiple trips each year. With these credit cards, the holder turns these points in toward free flights, hotel rooms, lounge passes, and countless other travel advantages.
18 Countries That Americans Should Travel to More
Exploring the globe can open our minds to new experiences, but we often visit the same old spots. It’s time to mix things up and visit some amazing, lesser-known places. These countries offer adventure, peace, and unique experiences. Each place has something special, from rich history to stunning landscapes.
18 Countries That Americans Should Travel to More
Foodie Paradise Found: 15 European Destinations That Won’t Disappoint Your Tastebuds
Europe, a continent steeped in history, has always been a melting pot of culinary traditions. From the sophisticated flavors of French cuisine to the hearty staples of German fare, its diverse palate has been a gastronome’s paradise. But recently, a new wave of culinary destinations has emerged, catching the attention of food enthusiasts worldwide.
Foodie Paradise Found: 15 European Destinations That Won’t Disappoint Your Tastebuds
The $1000 Bucket List: 10 Breathtaking Places You Can Visit Without Breaking the Bank
Vacations don’t have to be costly. You may travel to incredible locations and have a fantastic holiday for about $1000. Many affordable places exist, from exciting cities to breathtaking beaches. Recently, travelers in an online forum answered, “Where can you travel with only $1000?” Here are their top responses.
The $1000 Bucket List: 10 Breathtaking Places You Can Visit Without Breaking the Bank
