Introduction
I love to travel. But I don’t always have the funds to do it. Thankfully, there are ways for even the most frugal of travelers to enjoy life on the road without breaking the bank. In this guide to extreme budget traveling, I’ll show you how I save money while still experiencing some of the world’s best places.
Choosing the right destination
Choosing the right destination is a key factor in determining how much you can save. Some countries have stronger currencies than others, which means you can buy more with your money. Likewise, some countries have a lower cost of living and lower crime rates. Additionally, some nations offer better exchange rates for travelers from other countries (especially those with strong currencies).
There are many factors that go into choosing an ideal destination; here are some recommendations:
Planning your budget
- Plan in advance. The best way to make sure you don’t overspend is to plan out your trip in advance, so that you know exactly what costs are coming up and how much they’ll likely be. Research transportation costs (flight tickets, train tickets), food prices (restaurants), lodging prices (hotels/hostels) and other expenses like activities or tours before booking anything.
- Budget for emergencies and unexpected expenses along the way–and maybe even some splurges too! You won’t want to blow all of your money on day one when there are still 20 days left on the road; instead, set aside some cash for emergencies like lost passports or stolen luggage that could cost hundreds of dollars each time they happen–and then use extra money as needed throughout the rest of your trip.*
Planning your route and accommodation
Planning your route in advance is key to finding cheap accommodation options. If you know where you’re going, it will be easier for you to find cheap hotels and hostels along the way.
For example, if your destination is London, then check out Hostelworld or other booking sites to see what kind of deals they have available for hostels in London. You may also want to consider staying at an Airbnb if one of their hosts offers you a discount because they are hosting multiple guests at once (this often happens when people rent out their entire homes).
If possible, book your accommodation as early as possible so that no one else has time fill up those rooms before yours does!
Do your research
- Research the best time to visit.
- Research the places you want to visit.
- Research how you’re going to get around, and how much it will cost (if anything).
- Find out as much as possible about local customs and culture, including food and drink preferences, festivals/events and anything else that might be important.
Take advantage of free things to do
There are so many things to do for free in a city that you can easily fill your days with them. In fact, if your budget is really tight, this is one of the best ways to make sure you get to see as much as possible without spending money on admission fees or transportation costs. Here are some ideas:
- Free walking tours: These tours often take place by bus or boat and include stops at major attractions along with historical information about each stop (and sometimes even food tastings). You’ll learn about places like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York City this way!
- Free museum days: Many museums offer free admission on certain days throughout the year–but be sure not all museums offer free entry all year round!
- Free concerts: Check out local concert calendars online before heading out on your trip so you know what events are happening while visiting specific destinations around Europe or America–you never know when they might overlap with something else important happening during those dates too! If nothing else works out then check out YouTube because there’s always somebody playing somewhere online these days so why not check them out?
Get a local SIM card for cheap internet access.
You can get a SIM card for a local network in most countries. This is one of the best ways to save money on your travels, because it allows you to access the internet without paying through the nose for international data plans.
SIM cards are cheap and easy to buy, so it’s easy to set up an account before leaving home–or even while abroad! You just need to find an electronics store or kiosk (in airports and train stations), where they’ll sell you one with enough memory space for all your needs: making calls and sending texts as well as accessing the internet. If there isn’t one nearby, try searching online–there are plenty of websites that offer this service at good prices. Once purchased, simply insert your new SIM card into an unlocked phone (if necessary) and turn it on; voilà !
It is possible to travel on a budget, but you have to plan for it.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to travel. It’s possible, but you have to plan for it.
- Stay at hostels instead of hotels. Hostels are cheaper and usually offer better value than hotels. They also provide a great opportunity for meeting other travelers, which can be fun and inspiring!
- Cook your own food instead of eating out all the time (this is especially easy if you’re staying in hostels). You can save so much money by buying groceries at markets and cooking your own meals–and who doesn’t love making their own pasta sauce?
- Use public transportation when possible; this will help keep costs down since taxis are expensive no matter where you go!
Conclusion
I hope this guide has helped you to understand how to travel on a budget. It’s not as hard as it sounds, but it does require some planning and research before you go. You can save yourself a lot of money by finding free things to do and staying in hostels or AirBNB apartments instead of hotels.
