Low budget travel tips
 

A few tips I've learned from my trips:

1. Travel offseason.
2. Eat at street.
3. Avoid taxicabs and its high rates.
4. Buy your flight tickets with months in advance.
5. Pack light and avoid extra charges at airlines.
Does anyone have any more to add? Attachment 2932

1. Travel offseason.
I've traveled in May and September for years, but parents with kids in schools can't do that.

2. Eat at street.
No. Just no.

3. Avoid taxicabs and its high rates.
Love taxis. A good value if you realize you get to SEE the city if you are tired of walking and/ or don't want to use the metro/subway/tube.

4. Buy your flight tickets with months in advance.
I use FF points.

5. Pack light and avoid extra charges at airlines
I have free checked baggage on my airline but pack light if I'm taking trains. Otherwise, I have no problem checking a bag, especially for the return trip home.

With all due respect, not sure starrs understands the "low budget" part of this post.

1. Travel offseason.
Yes!

2. Eat at street.
Definitely!

3. Avoid taxicabs and its high rates.
Depends where you are. Some places taxis are very cheap.

4. Buy your flight tickets with months in advance.
That depends. Sometimes you can get the best price at the last minute. It's always a gamble. I don't have Frequent Flyer Miles.

5. Pack light and avoid extra charges at airlines.
I don't care about this part. A baggage fee isn't going to break me. That's not where the big money is saved. I don't have free checked baggage.

Does anyone have any more to add?

6. Sure... the biggest expense is where you stay. Get to know places so you have connections locally to rent an apartment. Spend time online finding cheap, local hotels. Pick central locations so you can walk places. Get a frig or cooler for the room to keep food.

7. Eat cheap. Not only street food but by shopping at a grocery store, deli, bakery, green grocer, farmers markets.

8. Learn the local public transportation system.

9. Study up and find out about local currency of your destination, where's the best place to get it, change money, using the ATM, banks, etc.

Off season is a good idea.
Street food isn't always the best choice hygienically. However some places have hawker centers which are clean and cheap.
As for taxis yes they are more expensive. Being on a budget to me means having limited finances so yes to save money use trains or buses.
Not everyone has free luggage with their airlines or points to use to fly free. Few do I think. If you do great but if not then booking ahead is often a good idea and packing light to save on airline luggage fees is self evident. We know people who travel extensively the world over. I mean they may be gone for say two months and manage without checked luggage. We met a family while waiting in line to check into a cruise for 7 days and all they had were carry on bags so it can be done.
The idea here is to chip away wherever you can.

I'll add to starrs' notes:

1. Travel offseason.
I've traveled in May and September for years, but parents with kids in schools can't do that.
Off season getting shorter all the time but you will pay less. What you will miss in tourists, you'll make up for in local, possibly loud, school groups in museums.


2. Eat at street.
No. Just no.
I say maybe but watch the venue. We found that most markets were fine.

3. Avoid taxicabs and its high rates.
Love taxis. A good value if you realize you get to SEE the city if you are tired of walking and/ or don't want to use the metro/subway/tube.
As an older person, taxis are easier for me. Busses are also better than metro as you can see what's going on as starrs writes above.

4. Buy your flight tickets with months in advance.
I use FF points.
That's what DH and I usually did--about 5 months in advance for us. We didn't sign up for FF miles as we didn't stick to one airline.

5. Pack light and avoid extra charges at airlines
I have free checked baggage on my airline but pack light if I'm taking trains. Otherwise, I have no problem checking a bag, especially for the return trip home.
We usually went for 2 weeks and were able to use only carry-ons. It required doing laundry 2 times as we only took 3 outfits.

We only purchased small items as souvenirs. Something that could lay flat or go into an empty shoe. In the U.S. I once sent home my dirty clothes to make room for more than usual purchases!

Hotels.com. 1 free night for every 10 stays. Usually their rates are the same as the others. Even though they're owned by Expedia.

Exactly.
I also add in the factor of time. Time IS money. If I have a limited amount of vacation days, I want to do the things I want to do in those days. Are the choices the absolutely cheapest in cost options? No. But if the combination of choices give you the TIME you want to see the things you WANT to see, then it's a good choice.

I loaded up an Oyster card for London, but had limited time there. I took the tube on the first two days, but from then on, I took a taxi when I was tired of walking OR needed to get some place quickly - or more quickly than walking. I gave away the Oyster card to friends who happened to be at the airport at the same time I was there. I texted them and told them if they wanted it, to come get it. Win for them. Glad it could go to good use for me.

I try to average 100 euros a night for hotels on trips to Europe. I almost always do a splurge item/ event but when airline tickets are pretty much free, some of my trips are definitely "budget" - by anyone's use of the word. And if someone isn't taking advantage of bonus miles or points when they have the option to accrue them, they are leaving money on the table.

Those are not "low budget travel tips" per the topic of this thread. Most people don't have pretty much free plane tickets.

My tip: Get a decent guidebook! It might cost a bit, but the cost of even a good guidebook will be nominal in comparison to the cost of the trip, and it will provide cost-saving tips (passes worth considering, options to do things for free (including free nights or whatever at major sites), low cost transportation options, etc.) along with a wealth of information about things one doesn't even know to ask.

Also and good advice for any budget try to get a CC with no foreign transaction fee.

We use buses and trains, Uber, lyft and in Ireland and some other places we use taxis. They are a good deal when there are two or more of you, cheaper than taking the bus often.


Scott's cheap flights Don't worry if it is not the exact destination. Cheap hops are great and the train also, We get cheap winter flights to Paris and there are so many other destinations within several hours from there.

I love apartments, grocery shopping in different groceries like Picards, take out, markets etc to save money.
Eat lunch at the 4 star restaurant or the fix priced menu.

1. Travel offseason. Maybe for flights from Western Europe and North America during school summer holidays July - September but this is when rooms in much of Asia are a lot cheaper, parts of south and Central America too
2. Eat at street. Markets too. Some of the best food is to be found in these places along with "hole in wall" type restaurants. Booking self catering accomodation or at least plac3s with access to a kitchen enables on to shop cheaply in markets and cook yourself. A welcome change from restaurant food on a long trip
3. Avoid taxicabs and its high rates. We always try to use public transport where possible . Walking is even better and cheaper and enables you to really see what cities have to offer. Had to smile when I saw the comment re transport in London. Even though I had access to corporate taxi accounts, it was invariably quicker to go by tube.
4. Buy your flight tickets with months in advance.Possibly but I usually find the best deals in the sales
5. Pack light and avoid extra charges at airlines.absolutely! We have been travelling with carry on only for many years, mainly because of the time saving and the massively reduced risk of loss. Budget airlines have always charged extra for checked bags, but increasing so do full service airlines like BA for regional flights throughout Europe etc.

Loyalty programmes can help and don’t just have to be just for flights. Car hire , Hotel groups and even booking.com offer "Genius"discounts of 10-15% for regular users.

I often get 4-15% discount on car rental, booking.com, Expedia by using Top Cashback.com

One oft neglected aspect of foreign travel is the cost of foreign exchange. The typical 2-3% fx charge and £1-5 ATM charge can quickly mount up. It can really pay to get a credit or debit card with low or zero charges. It is also safer not to use a card linked to your main bank account whilst travelling.

Don't know about the "qualifying" bit, but "finding" one is easy.

There are cards with no annual fee that allow you to collect points/miles, e.g. https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/ventureone/

There are cards that waive the annual fee for the first year, e.g. https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/venture/

After the first year you can call to cancel and they may waive the fee. I did that for years with Citicard and they used throw in a sweetener in the form of extra miles. Last time, no sweetener, and I canceled. I recently re-applied and got a good bonus as a "new" card holder. I have a friend who would regularly get a new card each year for the sign up bonus.

LOW Budget is for me:

True low budget travel planning includes three variables:
How expensive is it to get there? How expensive is it to stay there? How expensive is it to eat and drink?
A forth variable would be: How expensive is it to get around? (in case you plan a trip to more than one destination).

Watch out for cheap airfare to anywhere.
Why obsess about trying to go cheap and stay cheap in the most overrun and costly destinations?
Look for the cheaper alternatives, other countries which offer a similar countryside, the less costly secondary city.

If you find dirt cheap airfare, make sure that there is not a hidden downside. Hint: It's often the weather.
August in Madrid? October in Bangkok? September in Florida? February in Berlin? Check the weather...

Make sure that your offseason is also your destination's offseason.
Spring and fall in Kyoto? I don't think so.. (unless you travel outside the foliage and cherry blossom weeks)

Accomodation can be less costly if you stay in one place for longer (not that much true anymore as AirBnB and such usually don't offer weekly discounts)
The less "central" you reside, the cheaper it can be. A dorm in a centrally located hostel can cost more than a decent hotel room 20kms away from the touristy city center? Rather have a 30 minute commute with public transit if the ticket costs just €1.50 and you save €50 per night.

Here are somethings we do:
We always try to book an Airbnb with a kitchen/fridge. So you don't always have to eat out. (which will save you some money). Visit the supermarket. This way you can also make yourself some sandwiches for the day of touring and refill your water bottle. I love Italy or France. When the weather is good, get yourself one of those delicious sandwiches, sit on a bench and watch the world go by.
For flights, once we have decided where to go next, I will keep an eye on fares. Sometimes they have special deals, you just need to know the average price so you will recognize a deal.
And research is the key. Go online, find out about the things you want to see, how to get there... download maps if needed so you can use them offline in a foreign country.
But try not to overdo the cost-cutting, you still need to enjoy your time.

Plan ahead.

Research the area you are visiting and have an idea of what you want to see, places to eat, etc. You can always change your itinerary as you travel. We met fellow travelers at B&B breakfasts and talked about where we/they were going, and exchanged excellent recommendations for places to visit/eat.

Visit local grocery stores. You can always pick up something for a quick lunch/snack. Wine from a store is cheaper than wine by the glass in a bar.





Visit churches and museums that offer free admission. Visit the Tourist Information kiosk to get local guides for walking tours, newspapers, find out about local free events.

Plan a budget and keep to it. Include your transportation (airfare, car, local transportation), hotel (or other accommodations), budget for meals. Then add budget $$ for incidental expenses like drinks, tips, shopping, laundry, excursions. ( Don’t forget parking fees if you drove to the airport.)

Purchase your travel documents with a cash back card.

Do what you really want and not what is on everybody else's list.

I think planning ahead can make a big difference.

We use our credit card for as much as possible, hoarding miles. So far we have managed a trip from the US west coast to Europe using miles every year or two, for 2-4 people.

Another way to travel on a low budget is to camp or backpack. If you don't have the gear, you can rent it. We do a lot of backpacking and since we have all the gear, the trips basically just cost us gas money.

This. Saved me from spending on "must-see" places that I didn't really interest me at all.

Where possible we always try to get our transport. In Asia we either buy or rent a motorbike/scooter. If it's long term you can usually haggle well for a cheaper price. In Canada we bought a camper van, drove round for three months then sold it back at the end. Saved a fortune on transport costs...and the main thing is you get explore a lot more with the freedom having yoyr own transport provides!

Hi all,
I need some suggestions for my next trip.
I would like to go some place where it has a mix of nature, sea and city. Where I can go to the beach and visit some cultures as well.
The trip has to be cheap as possible. I will with my wife there.
What do you advise?
Thank you

pmbrs~ Where do you live? Since the biggest cost of travel is typically the plane tickets, to answer your question we need to know where you are starting from.

For me, living in Seattle my best nature/city/ocean vacations are either in Mexico or Hawaii, for example.

If you live back East USA then the Caribbean works. If you live in Europe, Australia, elsewhere, different answers :)

Hi Suze,

I live in Portugal. What do you recommend?
Thank you in advance for help

Hi Suze,

I live in Portugal. What do you recommend?
Thank you in advance for help

Morocco

I am sorry, I have no recommendations for your part of the world. Mexico is my best "cheap" vacation suggestion, but it doesn't make sense coming from Portugal.

I think that really depends! In many cases, one can see street food being cooked, which can results in a greater probability of safety than with food cooked is a restaurant's kitchen, beyond anyone's sight or attention.

True, I do think you can eat some street food. Just use your common sense. look at the surroundings, don't eat raw food and do not drink their tap water. You will miss out on some delicious dishes if you do not dare to eat street food. (sometimes it can be a hit and miss though)

I agree with all your points and one more and important is to choose the right tour operator for your travel destination.

Last 20 years I m visiting India regularly and eating street foods but still, I have not faced any problem regarding my health. Indians are very co-operative and take care of visitors. But some things you should keep in mind when you are going to eat food on the street.