How to Travel Cheaply?

What to Think About First to Travel the World on a Budget

After reading this text, you will learn about the expenses you can expect while traveling the world and how to travel cheaply by reducing costs.

If your travel budget is limited, choose countries that are inexpensive to travel to. Western and Northern Europe are unlikely to be budget-friendly. Although there are ways to save even in these regions, such a trip is more challenging to organize. However, countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as South and Central America, offer affordable travel opportunities.

Additionally, these countries have language schools for foreigners where you can significantly improve your language skills through regular practice. This is especially true for learning Spanish in Latin American countries. But keep in mind that even in such budget-friendly countries, the year is divided into high and low seasons. Also, be mindful of popular travel dates when it is harder to find accommodation at a reasonable price, such as New Year's and Christmas, or during the Chinese New Year in Asian resorts.

So, let's break down the cost of travel and how to save on it.

Traveling on a Budget: Transportation

Flights

The main rules for budget travel around the world are to compare prices and dates and be flexible with your schedule.

A few tips:

• Subscribe to newsletters from search engines and airlines;
• Receive alerts for selected cities and dates with prices;
• Clear your browser cache;
• Check prices by changing the location of your country.

Many travel websites allow you to select a country when searching, and sometimes there is a price difference. Also, don’t forget to join frequent flyer programs. This will allow you to accumulate miles with each flight and, after a few years, save significantly by purchasing a bonus ticket.

Cruises

This mode of transportation is not usually associated with saving money, but it should be. If you choose a cruise during the low season between Europe and South America, the price will be attractive and comparable to or even lower than the cost of a flight. You will have an unforgettable sea travel experience with meals included.

Trains and Buses

There are many bus companies, and it is important to compare prices between them. For example, in Brazil, the service https://www.buscaonibus.com.br/ compares prices between different companies and allows you to choose an economical option. In some countries, you will need to buy a bus ticket at the station, as online purchase might be challenging for foreigners.

Car Rental

This is not a cheap way to travel, but options are possible. For example, in the USA, renting a car with a manual transmission often costs no more than $30.

Ride Sharing

Many countries have services that allow you to travel with companions. For example, in Europe, the service Blablacar is popular. The cost of such trips is cheaper than by bus or train.

Hitchhiking

A traditional method that remains relevant today. Books have been written based on hitchhiking journeys, and many travelers still choose this way to travel.

Traveling on a Budget: Accommodation

Booking accommodation depends on the country, and each has its own rules.

Hostels

Generally, the most economical way of living, as it usually involves a bed in a shared room. Prices in Latin America and Asia range from $2 to $35. Factors such as location, demand, and others influence pricing.

Travelers note that in Latin America, it is beneficial to contact the hostel directly. Write down the address and arrive at the hostel. If you saw an online price of $12 per night, you might negotiate $10 on the spot.

This strategy does not always work in Asia. Sometimes, if the online price is $10, they may quote you $11 in person. Don’t forget about taxes. Online booking systems often do not include taxes in the price, but they will need to be paid regardless. In Argentina, the tax is 25%, but more often 15-20%.

The general rule: ask other travelers you meet along the way about accommodation. How they booked it. What works and what doesn’t when searching for a place to stay.

Airbnb

This is the most economical resource if you are traveling in a group. 2-3 people staying together spend the same amount as staying in a 6-bed hostel room.

Car

Yes, sleep in the car if you have a sleeping bag and the weather is warm.

Couchsurfing

This well-known resource operates on a simple principle: when you have the opportunity, you host guests at your home. When you travel, you can stay at someone else's home. A couch for the night is guaranteed! You don’t have to pay, but it is polite to do something for the hosts, such as cook a meal or give a souvenir. Note that this is a safe way to travel, even for women. The only thing is to find out more about the host. For example, if you are a woman, it is more logical to choose options where a woman owns the home.

House-Sitting or Pet-Sitting

Some platforms connect homeowners who offer temporary accommodation in exchange for taking care of the house. This can be a couple of weekends, a few weeks, or even months. Most of the time, it involves pet care. On websites like https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/us/ or https://www.housecarers.com/ you can find available options. Facebook offers many groups, such as House Sitting Café or House Sitting World. In the area where you travel, people may use other websites or social media groups dedicated to this topic.

Work for Accommodation and Food

On websites like https://www.workaway.info/, https://www.helpx.net/, or http://wwoof.net/, you can find options that involve exchanging your labor for food and accommodation in different countries around the world. Sometimes you will need to pay $20-30 for registration. Typically, it’s housework, like cooking, cleaning, child care, garden maintenance, or taking care of house plants. The WWOOFING site stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It involves farm work, such as harvesting. In all cases, it’s about working 3-4 hours a day and receiving accommodation and meals up to 3 times a day.

Pay close attention to filling out your profile, as this is essentially the main way for the host to learn something about you.

Traveling on a Budget: Food

Cooking your own food or finding street food are budget-friendly options. Be ready and know how to prepare basic meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Supermarket or Market

Try to find a supermarket or market for shopping. Avoid shopping in small stores, as this is usually not the most economical option, and you pay more for the same purchases. You can find a supermarket by opening Google Maps, selecting the area where you are, and typing "supermarket" in the search, preferably in the language of the country you are in. Markets are cheaper than supermarkets, but not always, and usually, you need to know the local language at least at a basic level.

Street Food

Hostels and guesthouses in many countries do not have kitchens. Countries like Bolivia, Peru, Thailand, Cambodia, and others fall into this category. However, street food in such countries does not cost more than $2.

Local Food

As a rule, in any country, local food is cheaper than exotic food. For example, in Asia, Italian pasta will be exotic and several times more expensive than local food. Is it worth spending money on this? It’s up to you, but this is one way to save.

Sightseeing

It’s useful to prepare for the trip in advance. The Internet has ready-made walking routes for any city, and sometimes even free guides. Many hostels also offer maps with walking routes. In other words, you can avoid paid guides if you do the work of finding information yourself.

Bike or Scooter Rentals

A bike or scooter is a great way to explore large cities and move around areas where public transport is not well developed. In many countries, rentals are not expensive and do not exceed $3 a day. If you are staying for a long time, it might make sense to buy a bike or scooter.

Walking Tours

Find information about such tours either in your hostel or among Couchsurfing events. This is a way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city and learn a lot of interesting things. Usually, the guide will give tips on how to save money in this city and what to spend time on.

At the end of the tour, you can tip the guide a small amount (usually around $5), but no one will judge you if you cannot or do not wish to do so.

We have listed the main expenses for any traveler. Traveling on a budget is possible, but it requires time for research and planning. Try to plan your actions in advance and don’t be afraid of the lack of physical comfort you’re used to at home.