How to Travel Cheap: Save Money on Flights, Hotels, and Meals

By Alice Ross | BUDGETING

Apr 03
how to travel cheap

You want to go on a trip so bad! But then again, you are hesitating to spend too much as you have other financial obligations you need to settle. So, what are you going to do? With today’s economy, spending money wisely and knowing your spending limit is extremely important. Fortunately, by knowing how to travel cheap, you don't need to sacrifice that most sought-after trip just because you’re on a budget. Here are some important tips you need to know when you’re traveling on a budget.

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How to save money on flight

One of the main expenses you will have when you’re traveling is the plane ticket! Luckily, there are some tricks you can follow to be able to save some money on your flight tickets. Here are some of those tricks:

1. Choose the most affordable time at the right time

If you’re really eager to save money on flights, then you may want to choose a destination that not many people choose to book. You can still pick a place that is popular among tourist, but you may want to choose a flight that is scheduled during odd hours. Airlines usually set these flights cheaper as more people would rather fly at daytime!

choose the best time

2. Wait for promos

It’s common for most airlines, especially the low-cost ones to offer promotions to their flyers. Follow different airlines that fly to and from the city you normally fly from. You can follow them on social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as these are the places they usually use to connect with their clients.

3. Plan early

Flights are usually cheap when you book them early. So, as much as possible, if you thought about taking a trip at some point, you can start searching for flights right away while you are still in the process of decision making as to whether you are going to push through with the trip or when or where you will go.

How to save money on hotel

Another thing that eats up our funds the most when traveling is the accommodation. It’s important to choose the one that you can afford without sacrificing comfort and convenience. You should look at your budget as well as your comfort the same way.

budget

1. Stick to Your budget

For many travelers, it seems too easy to overlook the budget and overspend on the hotel. So, make sure to always stick to the budget you initially set. In order to do this, you may want to decide first how much you are willing to spend per night. After that, decide what level of comfort you are willing to deal with. These considerations are going to help you plan your budget as well as stick to it.

2. Be flexible

If possible, try to travel during the off-season. During this time of the year, most hotels reduce theirs. This will not only help you save a lot of money, but it will help you avoid the competing crowds. in addition, you may also want to time your trip during the weekdays As it’s easier to shop around for hotels if you’re looking to stay on weekdays.

3. Use Deals and Coupons

happy friends

It’s so easy to find discount coupons online now, so take advantage of it. These coupons will give you a great number of deals and discounts. Subscribe to money-saving websites like Groupon and Living Social that give you a series of discounts including hotel deals. Search for cheap prices for hotels and resorts deals every day.

How to save money on food

One of the best things about traveling is sampling some authentic foreign food. It’s a big part of the overall experience. However, depending on where you are traveling, food can be pretty expensive. Here are some ways you can save money when eating when traveling.

1. Eat at the local establishments

When finding a place to eat, try to find a restaurant that is owned and managed by a local family. Known as "mom and pop" restaurants, these are the businesses that are owned by a family and passed down from generations to generations. The food here is usually very authentic and unique as they have their own recipes. Not only you will get delicious authentic food from eating at this type of establishment, but more importantly, they are usually very affordable.

pho

2. Drink the local beers and other drinks

Rather than paying extra for imported beers and other alcoholic drinks, choose to pay less for local brews! Because they are not imported, local beers and other drinks are cheaper when bought locally. This will help you save more money on foods, on top of that, you’re also trying out a drink you probably haven’t had before. But of course, before sampling any alcoholic drinks abroad, make sure that you are of legal age to drink in that country. For example, if you are planning to travel to Japan, then you have to make sure that you are 20 years old or above to drink. Knowing the laws and rules of the countries you are planning to go to will keep you away from trouble.

3. Shop for food at the local wet market

market

When traveling in a new country, especially if you choose Asia, it might be a good idea to explore outdoor wet markets that are selling all your local fruits, vegetables, as well as other produce. Another technique you may want to try in order to save money and to experience how the shop and eat! It’s also an exciting activity to experience overall, so as much as possible, make sure to do this.

Bonus tip: When looking for some activities to do, make sure to use the internet and search for free things to do in the destination you are planning to explore. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money when traveling, or sometimes, anything at all.

Final word

While it might be challenging, especially for first-time travelers, it’s always possible to not break your bank when traveling, no matter if it’s domestically or internationally. Figuring out the best time to travel, being aware of the fees, and adjusting your expectations based on reality will definitely you save money. Furthermore, you must also make the most of coupons as well as reward programs.

airport

Furthermore, it’s also important to make sure that you are fully aware of the fees, exchange rates, as well as other money-related problems. Otherwise, you might just be surprised as soon as you got your bank statement. Make sure to inform your bank if you are planning to go overseas and you can possibly use your credit card.

Saving money when traveling is achievable as long as you have all the knowledge and resources needed to do it, especially as travel picks up again in 2022 after a few years of fighting the global pandemic. Hopefully, this article has helped you plan your budget for your upcoming trip better. If you have other questions or even suggestions on how to travel cheap, let us know in the comments below! Also, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For more blogs like this, read more of our posts at ForTravelista.

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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