I am a big fan of travelling. I’m not talking about a vacation to some exotic paradise, but the adventure of exploring new places and meeting new people. Perhaps you see yourself as an adventure junkie, too? The question is; how to travel for cheap because let’s face it, we’re not made of money.
In this blog post, I’m going to show you how to travel on the cheap by using a few tricks that are not always obvious but can make all the difference on your next trip.
Research is critical if you want to travel for cheap
If you are willing to do some research and be flexible, travelling on a budget is possible. You don’t have to give up your dreams of seeing the world or living like a local in order to save money on your travels.
The key is planning ahead by researching how much it will cost for food, accommodation and activities during each trip before booking anything. Then when it comes time for travel (and no one likes waiting), look into ways of saving money throughout the itinerary by carpooling with friends or taking public transport where possible – this will also help reduce stress levels because everyone gets there at the same time!
READ MORE: Here are the pros and cons of travelling with a budget airline
How to travel for cheap 1: Camping
Camping is an excellent way to save money on your next vacation. It’s also a great option if you have young children, or if you just want to get out of the city and spend some time in nature.
Camping can be done at national parks, state parks, or even in your own backyard! If you’re looking for somewhere that’s free (and not overcrowded in the US), you might want to consider Yellowstone National Park – located in Wyoming, this park offers plenty of camping options from RV sites with full hookups to tent spots on private property. You’ll also find cabins available as well as hotels nearby so there’s no need for an expensive hotel room every night.
How to travel for cheap 2: Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a great way to meet people and save money. It’s also an excellent way to travel on a budget since you’ll be able to stay with locals instead of paying for hotels.
If you don’t know how to find hosts or are worried that your profile might not be as professional-looking as it should be, don’t sweat it—just ask around! There are plenty of people who would love nothing more than to help someone else out by hosting them in their homes (or even temporary housing).
Once you’ve found a host in your area via couchsurfing.org or another similar site, there are several things that need to happen before your trip can begin:
How to travel for cheap 3: Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a great way to meet people, and it’s free. It can also be dangerous if you’re not careful about who you get into a car with. But if you keep in mind these tips, it’s worth trying:
- Be friendly and confident. Don’t let your fear of strangers prevent you from talking to someone or asking for help when needed!
- Don’t hitchhike alone unless absolutely necessary (if there are no rides nearby). Instead, try asking friends or family members if they’d be willing to tag along so that at least one person knows where their loved ones may have gone off too—and don’t forget about your emergency contact number!
How to travel for cheap 4: Working while you travel
Working while you travel is a great way to earn money, meet people and learn about the local culture. If you’re looking for an alternative to couchsurfing or staying with family members, I recommend working as an au pair or intern in exchange for room and board.
As an au pair, you can work with families that live close to your destination. You will be able to see more of the places you visit because they will offer transportation back and forth if needed. This also gives them one less thing on their plate when it comes time for guests!
Look for countries that offer work visas for travellers, as they need skilled and unskilled labour regularly.
READ MORE: Here is our list of the best budget-friendly family vacation ideas
How to travel for cheap 5: Volunteering in exchange for room and board
Volunteering is a great option if you want to travel while helping others. The best part of volunteering? You don’t have to pay for your room and board!
Usually, this means working on local projects or charities that need help from the public, but it could also mean helping out at a university or hospital.
When you’re looking into volunteering abroad there are several things worth considering before making any commitments:
- Who will be paying me?
- What are my responsibilities going forward after returning home (i.e., do I need permission)?
- How much time should I dedicate towards this particular organization versus others I have already committed myself to (I’m sure they’ll appreciate having another set of hands around too)?
How to travel for cheap 6: Sign up for flight alerts
If you’re a frequent flyer or have a lot of flights booked in the future, signing up for flight alerts can help save money on your travels. You’ll get an email or text message when an airline goes on sale, and it’s easy to use: just click through from their site or social media page.
This can be especially helpful if there are multiple airlines offering lower prices for the same flight; sometimes I’ve seen as much as USD 100 off some flights! And keep an eye out—some sites even let you compare multiple dates and times!
How to travel for cheap 7: Consider travelling in the low season
It’s true — travelling during the low season is cheaper. But there are both positives and problems that come with that.
For one, you’re not going to have to deal with crowds and long lines which is great. Plus, you’re probably going to be able to get seats on most flights or even good deals on hotels.
However, you will most likely not have the best weather – think rain, cold or even scorching heat depending on where you travel. Let’s not forget, that you will definitely miss out on any festivals and major cultural events in your holiday destination.
How to travel for cheap 8: Research flexible dates
If you’re planning a long-haul trip, flexible dates may be a good option for you. Flexible dates can help you save money on flights and hotels while still giving yourself enough time to explore the new city or country that your plans have brought you to. If there are any specific sights or activities that are on your itinerary, these can also be booked with flexible dates so that they don’t cost extra money when compared with non-flexible bookings.
If this sounds like something that might work for your travel plan, then continue reading!
How to travel for cheap 9: Look for deals on alternate airports
You can also look for deals on alternate airports. These are usually a little further away from the main hub, but they’re usually cheaper and easier to get into than their main competitor.
For example, if you want to fly from New York City to Chicago and back again, consider flying out of LaGuardia Airport instead of JFK or Newark International Airport. This will save you some money since LaGuardia is one of only two airports that serve both New York City and its suburbs—and it’s also very close by (just 25 minutes away).
How to travel for cheap 10: Search for deals on accommodation sites
This one is straightforward as you just need to be organised and search for deals on accommodation sites. Make sure you look out for deals on alternate airports, such as those in bigger countries in Europe or South America.
Most accommodation sites, such as Airbnb and HomeAway have deals for cancellations, low-traffic neighbourhoods and so much more.
How to travel for cheap 11: Travel with a group
There are many ways to travel cheaply and still have a good time. One of the best is to travel with a group of friends, family members or strangers. The reason for this is that you can split the cost with your companions and save money on accommodation and food (eat at restaurants instead of cooking yourself).
The downside of travelling with others is that it’s harder to get away from them if something doesn’t go well during your trip; however, this can also be an advantage as you’ll learn from each other’s mistakes!
READ MORE: Where you should go if you want incredibly cheap places to travel to
How to travel for cheap 12: Book a package tour
If you don’t want to spend the time researching and booking everything yourself, consider booking a package tour. These are usually cheaper than booking everything individually, and they include all of the airfare, hotel, ground transportation and even some meals. In addition to saving money overall on your trip by using this method of travel planning—which can be especially helpful if you’re planning for more than one person—you also get all that convenience in one convenient package!
How to travel for cheap 13: Join a loyalty program
Joining a loyalty program is one of the most effective ways to save money on travel. When you sign up for a certain airline or hotel chain, you’ll get discounts on flights, hotels and other travel services—and that can be worth quite a bit.
There are several loyalty programs out there, so make sure you get one that suits your needs. Some examples include:
- American Express Membership Rewards (AMEX MR)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (CUR)
- Air Miles
- Citi ThankYou Points
Each has its own benefits and pitfalls, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting what you need from each program before joining it!
How to travel for cheap 14: Search on sites that compare prices and find the best deals.
If you want to find the best deals, there are several sites that will help. Sites like Kayak and Momondo compare prices on airlines and hotels so you can see what other people have paid for their flights or hotels. You can also use these sites as a starting point when searching for other expenses such as car rentals or tours.
If one website has offered me a better deal than another, I’ll usually choose them over the others because it’s not worth my time researching all over again just because they had a higher price at first glance (and then discovering later that it wasn’t really that much better).
There are lots of ways to travel on a budget
As a traveller, you have to be willing to do things differently. You have to be open-minded and ready for new experiences. You need to be flexible enough so that your plans don’t get derailed by unexpected circumstances or budget cuts.
If you’re looking for ways to travel on a budget, there are many options available. The trick is knowing how much money each option will cost and then finding the best fit for your needs!
Travelling has never been cheaper and more accessible. You can have a good time on the cheap if you know what to do, though sometimes it will take some work. The best way to travel is by planning ahead and doing research so that everything goes smoothly, but don’t let this stop you from getting out there!
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