The best ways to travel cheaply

Travelling is something that I think everyone should try to do at least once in their lifetime. However, I understand that it can be quite expensive. I know it may not be possible for everyone, but as someone who does not consider themselves to have a lot of money, I have found ways to travel on a budget. The best ways to travel cheaply may not be everyone’s ideal experience, but if you do not mind then these tips may be useful for you.

Hosting

One way to travel for cheap is to find websites that allow you to stay with a host. There are opportunities for travellers to stay at someones house or guesthouse etc. in exchange for work. A lot of these places expect you to work a certain amount of hours a week in exchange for a free place to stay (sometimes with free food too). This is more suitable if you are looking to do long-term stays and want to get to know a culture more. Please make sure you read carefully on the conditions and the reviews on the hosts.

2 websites that allow this include of worldpackers and workaway.

Hostels

A more obvious choice would be to stay in a hostel. I think hostels have a bad reputation due to cleanliness, safety etc., but this is not always the case. Although this can be the case, there are a lot of clean, nice hostels out there. You just have to research. You could look on booking.com or hostelworld. Keep in mind that if you go to a less touristy area, there may only be one hostel available. However, if you go into a city, you usually have an option of hostels. Also be aware that some hostels are ‘party hostels’ and if this is not your vibe, I would not recommend booking one.

Make your own food

You may be thinking that making your own food kind of defeats the point of a holiday or travel as you would want to try local cuisine or relax. I get this. However, it can be costly eating out for all three main meals. Usually I try to limit how much I eat out and decide to choose which meals I’ll eat. If there is a famous dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner, then I will usually have that and then eat at the home for the other meals. I may also pick up small things from cafes, instead of eating at a restaurant as these tend to be cheaper. When looking for a place to stay, make sure it has a kitchen or kitchenette to do this. Even at the airport, you are usually allowed to bring your own food with you (sandwich etc) which may be cheaper than buying at the airport.

Transport

Sometimes using local transport can be daunting, especially if you are in a country that does not speak your language. However, from my experience, public transport is soooo much cheaper than ubers, taxi’s etc. It is also a great way to feel like a local. Of course, it may require more googling and researching, but once you figure it out it can be so satisfying. For example, I was in Lisbon a few years ago and it only cost me 6 euros for a train to a town around an hour away. In England this would have cost me around £20 and im sure a taxi would have been around the same, if not more.

Bookings

When booking your trip, whether this is accommodation, flights or both, make sure you book in advance. Last minute (and I mean at least a month) can be very costly. If you are planning to go away and don’t mind being patient, try to book a few months to a year in advance. Also avoid big holidays. I know this may be difficult due to when you can take time off, but if you try to go in the summer holidays or during a big festive period, the prices are likely to be a lot more than on a random weekday.

There are loads of ways to travel cheaply. You just need to keep an open mind. Be mindful that it may not be the most luxury trip. However, I’m sure it will still be enjoyable with lots of memories made.

Happy travelling 🙂