Traveling on a budget is best done with a plan.

I say this from experience. As someone who has traveled extensively on a backpacker budget, I’ve learned a thing or two about taking care of my finances while having a baller good time.

Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun, and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort.

These budget travel tips will help you be as prepared as possible for a wallet-friendly trip abroad.

My Best Budget Travel Tips

Travel Slowly

It took me a long time to practice what I preach, but the truth is that traveling slowly is way more cost-effective than moving fast.

Think about it – transportation adds up fast. Flying from place to place is undoubtedly more expensive than sticking in one spot for a while.

Not to mention, you’ll often find accommodation deals if you book more days in a row.

Travel in the Shoulder Season

Guys, no matter which way you shake it, traveling during the peak season is expensive.

Peak season means peak number of tourists and peak prices. So, to save your wallet from stress, travel in the shoulder or off seasons for your particular destination.

Traveling just a month after the hordes leave could save tons of money on transportation, accommodation, food, and activities.

Book in Advance (or Not…)

Knowing when to book is just as important as knowing what to book.

In general, you’ll want to book things like accommodation and flights in advance (unless you find a sweet last-minute deal, of course).

However, I find that activities are better booked on a case-by-case basis and you should do some research.

For example, the Alhambra in Granada, Spain often books out weeks in advance, so you’re going to want to book your tour online ahead of time.

Meanwhile, hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru is a LOT more expensive if you book in advance online, and you should probably just book your hike in person from one of the local providers.

Use Public Transportation

Want to shred your travel budget quickly? Opt for car rentals and private transportation.

It’s pretty simple – public transportation is pretty much always cheaper than other modes. Get used to the bus and trains!

Choose Your Destination Carefully

Another universal truth when it comes to budget travel is that some destinations are a lot less expensive than others.

Some of my favorite budget-friendly destinations are Thailand, Mexico, and Colombia.

In general, Western Europe is more expensive than Eastern Europe, Canada and the USA are expensive, and South America is relatively inexpensive.

Of course, how expensive a place is depends on a lot of factors. As I said, Thailand is cheap in places like Chiang Rai, but that can’t be said for a tourism hotspot like Phuket.

Explore Alternative Accommodation Options

When choosing accommodations, many people often default to booking hotels or resorts. Sure, these places are often luxurious, but what if I told you that you could still maintain your level of comfort at a lesser price point?

There are so many budget accommodation options out there for you to explore, including Airbnb’s, housesitting programs, hostels (they have private rooms too!), campervans, and glamping.

In fact, I wrote a whole article on cheap accommodation options.

Plan Your Itinerary in Advance

As much as I love being spontaneous in my travels, I have to admit that whimsy generally equates to a heftier price tag.

I recommend having a general outline planned for your trip before you take off. Know what your must-sees are and factor those directly into your budget.

Get Outdoors

In general, exploring the great outdoors can be a whole lot cheaper than paying for indoor experiences.

Trying activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, surfing, snorkeling, and swimming are great for your budget. I also recommend packing a lunch so you don’t have to hit up a restaurant on the way.

Pack Smartly

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve packed in a rush, only to get to my destination and realize that I forgot something important. Cue wandering around my destination, wasting money on something I already technically own.

These days, I use a packing checklist before I travel so I keep my incidental purchases in my destination to a minimum.

Travel Carry-on Only

To be honest, I don’t remember the last time I checked a bag.

Checked bags can often run you $30+ one way, and carrying around that much stuff simply isn’t fun. I recommend only bringing clothes you know you’re going to wear and washing them as you go.

Embrace Street Food

In my experience, street food is some of the best and most culturally-authentic grub you’ll find while traveling. Oh, and it can be pretty darn cheap too!

To find the best street food in your destination, I recommend going where the locals go. Wander around, see if there are any lines at the food stalls, and then eat at those places. This is your best bet for not getting sick and getting the tastiest food simultaneously.

Collect & Use Points

It took me way too long to realize that one of the best ways to save money traveling was to use loyalty points.

In the realm of credit cards, this is called ‘travel hacking’. This essentially involves signing p for different travel-friendly credit cards, meeting the minimum spends, and then using the points you acquire on things like flights and hotel stays.

This is a great way to build up credit and a ton of free trips all in one go. Only if you pay off your credit card at the end of every month of course.

But credit cards aren’t the only way to do this. Airline alliances and chain hotels also have points programs. Stick with the same airlines and hotel brands, and you’ll save up points in no time.

Understand Your Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is one of those things that you don’t need until you really do.

If you’re employed full-time or are with a major bank, then chances are you’re already covered for travel insurance. However, if you’re not then there are plenty of great options out there (in the past, I have used World Nomads and always found their policies fair).

That said, read the fine print of your policy. Understand what your insurance covers and what it does not.

Depending on what kind of trip you take and how adventurous you are, you may want to beef up your policy before you depart. Doing this could honestly save you tens of thousands of dollars in the case of an accident or hospital stay.

Research Hidden Fees

Ah, if I had a dollar for every hidden fee that bit me in the butt… well, I certainly wouldn’t break even because hidden fees can be quite the expense.

When booking travel, always read the fine print, and always remember that airlines, hotels, and vacation packages may be showing you a number before taxes and fees.

However, even more than that, costs when purchasing food, souvenirs, and hotel amenities may not be as upfront as you think. If you’re not sure what is included in the price, always ask. And keep a little fund set aside in the event you have to end up paying more than you bargained for.

Know the Water Situation

Truthbetold, I’m really not a fan of bottled water. It’s terrible for the environment, supports shady companies, and is a complete waste of money. That said, I’m also really not a fan of water-borne illnesses, either.

So, before you travel somewhere, research the water situation — know if the water in your destination is safe to drink or if tap water is best avoided.

Then, armed with that information, plan ahead. If the water is undrinkable, then I recommend bringing a life straw or water-purification tablets. I’ve used both of those options and can vouch for them keeping me healthy.

Use a VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that will allow you to trick the internet into thinking you’re surfing from a country you may not actually be in.

Not only is this a great way to keep your data secure online, but it could also get you travel deals.

The next time you’re searching for flights or accommodation, try booking from your destination country, or somewhere else entirely, and see if the prices change.

Ask the Locals

One of the most surefire ways to save money while traveling is by asking the locals where to go, what to do, and where to stay.

Whether it’s your Airbnb host, your taxi driver, or your hotel concierge, asking a local where to eat and what activities to try will give you a great experience and could end up saving you some moolah in the meantime.

In general, locals know the best spots in their city, and they love to spread the love!

Get an eSIM

As much as “going-off-the-grid” feels amazing, chances are you’re not going to be 100% offline on your trip. So, unless you have a great phone plan at home, getting an eSim will go a long way in saving you from data overages.

I’ve personally used Nomad eSim and it worked perfectly.

Don’t Use Money Exchanges at the Airport

If you travel regularly, then you know exchanging your money at those airport kiosks is a big no-go. You’ll literally get the worst exchange rate at them.

To handle money abroad, I recommend taking money out of a local bank ATM when you get to your destination. Ask your bank about foreign transaction fees on your debit card, or opt for a travel-friendly debit card like Wise.

Look for Free Admission Days

Did you know that you can often find free or low-admission days of entry at popular sites and museums?

It’s true! If you plan to visit some museums, I recommend doing a quick search to see which days are cheapest beforehand.

Consider Alternative Airports

Flying into popular airports is expensive. The big landing pads are hot ticket items, and a chuck of your airfare goes directly to paying for your flight to land.

So, if you want to save some money, look into flying into small, less-frequented airports.

I’ve done this numerous times and, while it may take some extra maneuvering trying to figure out where to go and how to get around, it’s always 100% worth it for the extra money in my wallet.

Plan for Luxury Experiences (If you want to have them)

Hey, I get it. When we’re traveling, we all love luxury. We love spending our hard-earned money on fancy meals, fancy hotels, and fancy souvenirs. But, if you’re traveling on a budget, then I have to remind you not to overdo it.

Plan out your days so you can take into account when you want to be bougie, and when you need to stick to your budget. There’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy some of the finer things in life while on a budget, but it’s best to not go overboard every single day.

Try the Local Alcohol

Speaking of going overboard on vacation — alcohol! If you’re the type that likes to indulge in beer and liquor while abroad, then an easy way to save money on this is to try the local alcohol.

Local alcohol isn’t subject to import fees and thus tends to be cheaper. Plus, locally-sourced alcohol is a whole cultural experience in and of itself, so there is really no downside.

That said, being on alert for seriously-bootlegged alcohol. A guy in Playa del Carmen once invited my friend and me to come and drink out of his bathtub filled with tequila. We declined.

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Thanks for reading my budget travel tips guide! Up next, check out my guide to solo female travel.

Let me know your budget travel thoughts in the comments!