Top 7 Budget Travel Tips I Wish I Knew Earlier

Sunrise at Mt. Batur, Bali Indonesia 

Nobody likes to travel on a budget. Just the word “budget” implies restriction and sacrifice.  However, budget travel has the potential to shape your trip for the better in more than just financial ways. When you embark on a trip, your mind shifts (and rightfully so) to a less financially cautious approach. Maybe the thought behind it is, I may never be here again, so I want to see everything that this place has to offer. And when you return, you see your bank account has hit a tragic low.

Yet this doesn’t have to be the case. Traveling can be done cheaply, even in traditionally expensive countries. The key is awareness. Keep the price of things in the back of your mind as you make decisions. Thus, here are 7 budget tips to keep your wallet happy while abroad.

1. Travel where it’s cheap

Cheap street food in Bali

The cost of living varies widely across different continents and even within the same country. Vietnam will be a fraction the cost of France. Bangkok will be more expensive than rural Thailand. Before you travel, it is vital to identify your intentions.

Why are you traveling? How long will you be away?  Clear intentions will help you decide where you want to go and know how much you want to spend. Research hotels or hostels to get an idea of the price of accommodation.

Look for a place you don’t plan on staying. Find an expensive high end place, and a dirt cheap one. Get a general sense of the price range the accommodation falls under. Look at museum admission tickets. Check out restaurant menus from Google Maps. Read about what other people have spent in the place you want to go. This will give you a ballpark to frame your finances.

2. Travel in the offseason

A busy Tokyo street in the on season

Japan in spring time will be more expensive than Japan in autumn. Do you want to see the blooming cherry trees and spend more on accommodation? Or are you ok with trading the cherry blossoms for the red and orange autumn season while saving a bit? There are trade offs when traveling in the offseason. Every destination has a sweet spot where experience and value align.

3. Travel with a friend

Nusa Penida, Indonesia, with a buddy

Traveling alone and traveling with a friend are two totally different experiences. One side being everything is up to you. The other is conversations of compromise. Both can be stressful at times. Both can be extraordinary. However traveling with a friend will allow you both to save a lot of expenses. Especially in accommodation. A $100 hotel room becomes $50. Taxis and transportation are cut in half.

Nearly every expense you’d have to shoulder solo is greatly reduced when traveling with a friend. From rooms to rides, everything's cheaper when split in two. 

4. Book flight tickets in advance 

This one is obvious, but it’s tried and true. If you buy your ticket three days before, you’ll be paying full price. If you buy your ticket 3 months in advance, it will be significantly cheaper.

One fun hack is to buy proof of onward travel. Most countries only grant your visa and allow entry if you have a return ticket proving you are leaving the country. For example, an American citizen can enter Indonesia for free without a visa, but only if you have an exit ticket within 30 days of entry. But what if you want to stay longer? Or, what if you aren’t sure which country you’ll want to visit next? 

The way it works is simple. There are websites such as onewayflight.com that sell valid onward travel flight tickets for less than $20. However these aren’t real flight tickets, instead they’re a valid booking reference. They act as a reservation for a real one. Think of it as a rented flight ticket. 

Your departure city would be the destination you are flying out of. So, you would put Denpasar (Bali) or Soekarno-Hatta (Jakarta). You set the date to any time within the 30 day period. Your destination city out of Indonesia can really be anywhere. So for example, we could put Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or Bangkok Thailand. When you’re boarding your flight that lands in Indonesia, the airline will ask for your proof of onward travel. You’d show them this reservation and they will let you through.

  It’s important to note that these reservations are only good for 48 hours, so grab one just before departure.   

5. Don’t pay for overpriced tours 

Mt Fuji (in the offseason)

The thing about tours is you hand over your travel freedom to the tour company who decides what, where and when things take place. The dates and destinations are locked in. This has both positive and negative outcomes. 

For example, if you decide to take a sightseeing tour of Mt. Fuji, you’ll be going to the places the tour guides decide, and can only stay for a certain amount of time. The advantage is everything is organized and taken care of. You really don’t have to think much about it; just sit back and enjoy the views. A disadvantage is certain natural factors could affect the experience. The weather may be overcast and you won’t be able to see the incredible volcano. You’d spend a lot of money for a tour to be spoiled by something you have no control over. 

Instead, if you are really interested in visiting these beautiful spots to see Mt. Fuji, just look at the itinerary of the tour and do it yourself. Research to see all of the spots the tour will stop and go there yourself. You have brought control back into your hands. If the day you want to go ends up being cloudy, reschedule it for another time. If there is one particular viewpoint you really enjoy, you are under no time constraint for how long you stay there. The power is back in your hands, and you save a significant amount of money.

6. Utilize public attractions

Central Park NYC USA

In almost every country you visit, the most spectacular sights to see are free. Think beaches, parks, hikes, viewpoints, and more. The locals don’t want to pay to frequent spots that are considered to be beautiful and sacred. Travelers can follow the same thing. You’ll meet interesting people and fellow travelers this way. You’ll have a boots on the ground perspective and really get a glimpse of this new culture.

7. Track your spending 

This hack goes beyond traveling and is essential to your daily life. Whenever you buy something, a meal, a taxi, a souvenir, write it down. Keep a small note pad or dedicate a note page in your phone.

This way your spending never has a chance to run away from you. If you’ve budgeted a certain amount you’re comfortable with spending, the notes you keep is a visual guide that shows you if you're on track. So if you spend a little too much today, you know to dial it down a bit tomorrow. The discipline of writing down what you spend gives your mind something tangible to focus on. 

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Like anything else in life, traveling is what you make it. If you have the money to spend and want an incredible trip to a lavish destination, then you can spend accordingly. If you have scraped enough money for just a couple weeks in a cheaper destination, it also will be an incredible trip. The main point is your money is in your hands. Your budget. Your trip. Your experience.