Last Updated on September 3, 2026
Remember all tho Sandals commercials you watched on the TV as a kid?
I always thought that was the only way anyone ever traveled, by paying for an overpriced resort on powdery white sand and calling it a vacation.
Then I started traveling solo.
And I realized that travel was a lot more accessible than it was made out to me growing up, and now with social media and the whole influencer thing, you more than likely know that too.
So how do you do it?
You’ve probably already saved a lot of money for travel. Now you need to know how to stretch those dollars as far as possible when you’re on the road. I got you. Let’s dive in.
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Things to know before traveling on budget
To be as frank as possible, for most of us, travel is not a Sandals commercial. Here’s what you need to know about traveling on a budget:
It takes practice: The more you budget travel, the easier it gets. It’s less of a personality trait and more of a skill you need time to master.
Not every destination gets the same approach: A lot of these tips can be applied all around the world, but you don’t need all of them in order to travel cheaply.
Comfort levels vary by destination: $50 in Thailand is not the same as $50 in France. Budget travel looks different in every country, so make sure you’re arriving with the right expectations and budget.
Be willing to be flexible: The more flexible you can be, the more money you’ll be able to save.
You’ll often trade convenience for savings: Like taking the bus from the airport instead of a taxi, cooking yourself a meal instead of going out to eat, and booking a shared room in a hostel instead of a private room in a hotel.
Travel where your money goes far
The easiest way to travel on a budget without having to change much is by going to countries where your money goes much further.
Travelers from Canada, Australia, the U.S., Japan, and others have the benefit of strong currencies, which convert to more money when used in the right and regions, like Mexico.
Here are a few ideas to get you dreaming:
Southeast Asia: Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka
Eastern Europe: Georgia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Albania, and Poland
Central and South America: Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Any of these are great options for budget travelers. If you can get around for $40-60 per day, that’s considered an excellent budget travel destination. Then all you need to do is find a cheap flight.
If you’re not sure what things cost in the country you want to visit, use Budget Your Trip. You’ve probably heard me talking about it a ton by now, but it remains my favorite website for getting rough travel budget estimates for any country in the world.
Take advantage of travel credit cards
Travel credit cards are an effective way to reduce travel costs if you can use them responsibly, by paying them off every month and not accruing debt or monthly interest.
Using my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and my American Express Gold Card, I’ve gotten free flights and other free travel all over the world.
When you use travel credit cards for your everyday purchases, they give you points per dollar that are redeemable for flights, car rentals, accommodation, and other perks. Most travelers like to use them for their welcome bonuses.
When you sign up for a credit card, they will give you a welcome bonus offer, which is anything from 50,000 to 100,000 points for signing up for the card and spending a preset amount in 4-6 months.
When I got my Chase card, I was given 60,000 bonus points (it’s now 75,000), which I could redeem for up to $800 (good for a round-trip international flight), but I only got the points if I spent $5,000 in the first three months of the card opening.
There’s always a catch, but if you’re spending the money anyway and can use these cards responsibly, it’s a great way to get your money to work for you.
Avoid ATM fees with no-foreign-transaction fee cards
Foreign transaction fees can be a budget breaker while you’re on the road, but there are two ways you can avoid having them stack up.
I avoid them by using my travel credit cards, but if you don’t want to do that or don’t have access to cards with that perk, I recommend opening a zero-fee checking account.
Wise is unanimously the best option. It’s free to open an account (with no minimum balance required) and it makes managing your money abroad fast and simple.
I like that I can hold multiple different currencies in one account and seamlessly convert between them.
Wise also gives you the live exchange rates, so you know you’re always getting the best conversion for your money. ATM’s and banks notoriously charge you poor rates.
And even though it’s a fully online bank, you can get both digital or physical cards. Highly recommend.
Find a cheap flight
I know plenty of ways to find cheap flights, but these are the three things that have saved me the most money:
Flight alerts from Going: I’ve been getting price alerts from Going ever since I started traveling. You choose your home airport in the U.S. and the team at Going watches routes from over 900 destinations around the world.
When there’s a deal, it’s sent to your inbox. It’s gotten me domestic flights across the U.S. for $170, round-trip flights to Europe for $450 (on Delta!), and other crazy deals. I pay for the premium membership, which is $49 per year, but it pays for itself five times over with just one flight. Check out Going here.
Redeeming points with travel credit cards: If I’m not getting a good deal on a flight, I’m getting it for free using travel credit card points.
My Chase Sapphire Preferred and American Express Gold have gotten me tens of thousands of points on my everyday expenses like groceries, gas, dining out, and subscriptions, which have been redeemed for almost a dozen free flights.
Being flexible: I’m grateful to have this luxury. My travel plans usually follow the cheapest flights. The more flexible you can be, the better deals you can get on flights. I have found the best deals searching with Skyscanner.
Travel in the off season
Every country in the world has a high, shoulder, and a low season, and each of them correlate with demand from travelers.
High season: highest number of tourist and highest prices (ex. June through August in Europe).
Shoulder season: the months at the fringes of high season (ex. May and September in Europe).
Low season: when the fewest number of tourists visit (ex. October through April in Europe, outside of holidays).
Countries closer to the equator go by the wet and dry seasons.
Wet season: fewer tourists due to unpredictable weather.
Dry season: considered most favorable weather, more tourists.
The more demand there is for a country, the more expensive it will be. By planning your trip when the country is in less demand, you can get better deals across the board on flights, accommodation, tours, and more.
You can figure out a country’s wet or dry, or high, shoulder, and low seasons by reading guides like these, or searching “best time to visit x”.
Get travel insurance
Not traveling with insurance is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.
A lot of people leave it off their travel budgets because they believe it’s an unnecessary expense, but if your luggage is lost, flight is delayed or cancelled, or you experience travel interruptions, your insurance will reimburse you for it.
I used to travel without insurance, but after getting in a scooter accident in Bali, my luggage getting lost and flights were delayed, I’ll never go without it.
You really never know when something will happen abroad, and you’ll be glad that you’re covered.
I’m currently trying out Safety Wing. Thankfully, I haven’t had to make a claim yet, but I’ve heard a lot of great things around the travel community about it.
No matter where you are, insurance companies are slimy, and so it’s important you choose a reputable company and not the cheapest option. I will report back if I have any issues with Safety Wing, but so far so good.
Make a budget and track it
You will succeed with traveling on a budget if you track all your expenses on the road.
I do this with my own budgeting template on Notion; but because I am halfway between a nomad and an immigrant, and make money on the road, it’s not as crucial for me to stick with a daily number like most travelers do.
If you’re traveling long term or using savings, I recommend the app called Travel Spend.
You can add expenses offline and organize them by country, category, and month. The app will keep track of your overall budget and your daily budget in tandem, and display them with a pie graph and a map.
Also, all currencies are converted to your home currency so you know exactly what you’re spending. It’s a great companion to have on the road that makes budgeting easier, and more fun.
Use a local sim or eSIM
On my first trip to Scotland, my phone provider wanted $10 per day just to have data, but luckily I knew that getting a local sim card was far cheaper and more reliable.
Ever since I left the United States, I’ve been using Pangia Pass, and I’ve been loving it. If you’re planning a round-the-world trip or traveling long term, this is one of the best data solutions.
Rather than purchasing or setting up a new eSIM in every country you go to, Pangia keeps you connected in over 127 countries all on the same sim card, with unlimited data.
Now, every time I arrive in a new country and take my phone off airplane mode, this is the first message I receive: “Welcome to (country). Keep using your PangiaSIM effortlessly!”
You set it up once, and you’re covered no matter where you are in the world. It’s made staying connected so stress free while abroad.
Check out Pangia here or use code SEA10 for 10% off your first month.
If you don’t need an all-in-one solution, Yesim offers eSIMs in over 170 countries. Get connected anywhere for as little as $1 per day. I’ve also used Airalo before, which is another popular choice for travelers.
Stay in affordable accommodation
Hostels are the universal choice for travelers on a budget, unless you’re traveling with a group and can split the cost of an Airbnb or hotel room.
Anytime I look for accommodation, I’m using Hostelworld. It’s the #1 trusted app for travelers booking hostels, and most, if not all, of my trips have been planned using this website/app.
I always search on the app first, because sometimes they offer better deals there rather than on a computer. All the reviews come from real travelers, and I know I can trust all the ratings.
If I don’t book there, then I found something using Booking.com. This is more of an all-in-one booking platform, but they make it easy to find hostels with all their search tools.
By using Booking I’ve earned Genius status, which is their reservation-based loyalty program that gets you 10-20% off bookings, free breakfast, and room upgrades on properties around the world. Once you make an account with Booking, you’re automatically in the program.
Serious budget travelers use Couchsurfing. As a solo female traveler, I don’t have the cajones for that, but I know a lot of people who have success using it. Locals around the world open up their homes to you for free. It’s a fantastic trade if you’re comfortable doing so.
Book direct
Now that booking platforms are starting to charge hostels, B&Bs and other stays a bunch of excess fees just to list their place on the platform, many have resorted to direct booking.
Usually they will offer you a slightly cheaper rate because they’re passing the savings onto you. It’s a win-win and gets more money in the pockets of the hosts.
For example, you can find a lot of great deals by using the Hostelworld app instead of the website. If you’re using other sites like Booking, just double-check if the host has their own website and if it’s cheaper to book there.
Cook your own meals
Going out to eat for every single meal on a trip is unrealistic if you’re trying to travel on a budget.
You can get away with dining out more if you’re in a budget-friendly travel destination, but regions like Europe, the U.S. and Canada can easily cost you over $100 each day in food.
I saved thousands of dollars in Iceland and Scotland by one or two of my own meals each day. It wasn’t glamorous, but it made me more intentional about what restaurants I chose to eat at, and I didn’t have to compromise on getting coffee every day.
Just know that the majority of travelers are cooking their own meals in order to make their trips affordable. What you see online of people going out to eat is not realistic for most of us.
Eat your biggest meal for lunch
Restaurants will offer two separate lunch and dinner menus, and the lunch menu will have cheaper prices for slightly smaller portions.
This is one of the ways I saved money traveling in Scotland, and I even found the lunch portions to be more than enough food for the price.
This is the most common in Western regions like the U.S., Europe, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It’s a great way to save money when traveling in more expensive countries.
In other regions like South America and Asia, it’s less common, but luckily those regions tend to have affordable meals anyway.
Eat where the locals eat
This mainly applies to countries in South America, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, or anywhere with a strong street food culture.
Street food and mom-and-pop shops will always be the cheapest (and most of the time, best!) dining options around the world.
You can get meals at much more affordable prices than in places catered to Western tourists.
Find free things to do
If you don’t have a lot of money to put towards excursions, then do some light research and you’ll find that there are so many free things to do no matter where you are in the world.
City passes: A lot of major cities sell passes that include tickets to all the major tourism sites at a discounted price.
Free museum days: Most museums around the world have days where entry is free, just be aware these days tend to be very busy.
Walking tours: Free walking tours are a universal offering around the world.
Get out in nature: An easy way to save money and to see the most beautiful parts of a country.
I’d also recommend you to avoid big cities as they’re notoriously expensive. Sincerely, someone who just got back from a weekend in Zurich and spent too much money.
Avoid touristy areas
This is a universal tip that will save you money on food, accommodation, and tours all over the world.
Touristy areas are usually the most popular places people visit on trips. Think Rome in Italy, Grindelwald in Switzerland, Canggu in Bali, Indonesia, and other places like that.
It’s where the highest numbers of tourists visit, and therefore a lot of the prices are inflated due to the demand.
You can avoid paying higher prices by staying outside of major areas, but make sure you’re not then spending more money on transport getting to and from the things you want to see. There’s always a trade-off, just make sure it’s worth it.
Don’t book a tour for everything
I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: you can do a lot of things offered on tours on your own and for less money. Not things like island hopping and swimming with whale sharks, but any popular day or multi-day tours all over the world.
Back in my day, these tours included meals and some extra fluff on the back end, but nowadays, you’re paying for an expensive bus ride to drop you off at the same time as all the other tourists in the area.
Always compare the cost to take public transit or to rent a car and go sightseeing yourself. Oftentimes it’s cheaper or a similar cost to these tours, and the latter gives you a whole lot more flexibility and freedom without the crowds.
Book tours when you arrive
This is another tip that is mainly for South America and Southeast Asia. In Western countries this is not the case and it’s often more expensive to book last minute.
Usually tours will be cheaper to book in person with the operator than what is offered online. It also puts more money into the pockets of the guides, rather than online booking platforms.
If there’s something you really want to see or do, make sure you know the tour won’t sell out before you get there.
Use local transport
Local transport is the cheapest way to get around any country.
Taxis, Uber’s, and private transfers are costly. Stick to buses, trains, trams, and other local methods of getting around.
Fly carry-on only
Checking a bag has so many downsides these days: getting lost (and never being found), getting robbed, and also costing you a minimum of $40 one way.
It’s egregious.
Flying with a carry-on will save you the cost of a checked bag and also give you a stress-free travel experience because you know exactly where all your things are.
Also, flights these days are priced in tiers: basic economy, economy, premium economy, and business. The basic economy flights are the cheapest, and don’t include a checked bag. By flying in this class, you’ll always get the cheapest flights.
Bring your own water bottle
As an American, paying for water while traveling is sacrilege.
I stay hydrated and avoid buying a bunch of water bottles by traveling with a filtered water bottle.
It can be filled for free anywhere in the world, and if I am traveling in places where the tap water isn’t potable, this bottle filters it and makes it safe to drink.
It’s eco-friendly and is an easy way to avoid spending money on water. It may not be much at the end of the day, but small costs like these add up.
Pay with cash
Paying by card is getting more and more expensive these days.
The platforms that let business offer card transactions are starting to increase their fees, and most of the time they’re passed onto the consumer.
Restaurants back home in Dallas have started to offer a lower bill if you use cash to pay, and this is starting to be true pretty much globally.
I never travel without cash now. Cash is king! It’s important we keep it circulating in all economies around the world.
Research scams and know what things cost
I still haven’t recovered from the time I took a pedicab ride in the Philippines and paid 400 pesos ($6.40) when it should have been less than 50 ($0.80).
It’s not that $5 completely wiped my budget, but it’s the principle of locals taking advantage of travelers, and it happens all over the world. They’re the unofficial welcoming committee no matter the place.
Researching common scams is important so that you know what things cost and what things to avoid. I’m about to go to Turkey, and I was advised to not let anyone help me buy a transport card because they’re all scammers, and that advice came from locals.
Taxis are the usual offenders, but make sure you know about destination specific scams. You can find them by searching “common scams in x”.
Travel slower and longer
Usually hostels and other accommodation options will offer you a discount if you stay for a week or sometimes even a month.
You can find some pretty good deals this way, although it’s a bit counterintuitive since you’ll also increase other travel expenditures by doing this.
It really depends on your budget and what your travels look like, but it’s worth playing around with dates to see if this is a good fit for your specific trip.
Work in exchange for free travel
If you’re looking to travel long-term, the best way to travel for cheaper and longer is by working while you travel.
WOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms): Work on farms all over the world in exchange for free housing and food. This is a great way to involve yourself in the local culture and learn something new like growing coffee, regenerative farming, winemaking, and other skills. Read more about how the program works here.
Trusted Housesitters: People all over the world are traveling and need someone to watch their homes and pets. That’s where you come in. In exchange for that, you get a free place to stay. See how Trusted Housesitters works here.
Workaway: This is a lot like WOOFing, but with more variety. You can find jobs here teaching English, harvesting, hostel work, housekeeping, and building. It’s the same deal where you get free accommodation and food in exchange for an agreed amount of work each week.
Au Pair: If you love kids and have nannying experience, sign up for AuPairWorld, FindAuPair, or Aupair to find host families looking for additional help.
Teach English abroad: This is one of the most popular ways travelers find work abroad. Depending on the country and program, a bachelors degree or certification may be required. TEFL is a good place to start.
Working holiday visa: U.S. citizens are able to work in six different countries around the world: Australia, Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea. This is an opportunity to live and work abroad like you would back home. It’s worth looking into if you can meet the requirements.
Seasonal jobs: Jobs at ski resorts, resorts, festivals, summer camps, or tour/travel guide jobs are very common choices for seasonal work. Working in U.S National Parks is a big one if you love the outdoors.
More guides for your next adventure
Safety Tips For Solo Female Travelers
A Quick Guide To Travel Insurance
Hi, great tips! If I may add a few more especially related to money — one can avoid ATM Fees – I use this app – it gives you a list of ATMs with the ATM Fees in 30-40 foreign countries along with withdrawal limits for foreign card holders so you can choose the ones which do not charge any fee to foreign card holders. Also, I always decline conversion at foreign ATMs or select “Without Conversion” and not exchange cash at airports, worst currency exchange rates ever. One can even Find hotels/hostels on booking websites, but call/msg them and book direct, save on commissions
I am so glad to have found your travel blog and advice! What an inspiration. An old friend and I have made a pact to set some travel dates this year and go, go, go. Thanks!
So stoked for you! Almost all places are open so the world is your oyster! Have so much fun (:
Happy you found this useful (:
It truly is a place like no other (:
This article is extremely helpful, and despite it being very long, it really kept my attention. You’re a very talented writer! I’m planning for a three month trip to South America this summer and I’m most definitely going to take some of your tips and put them to the test!
Xoxoxo
This is so great to hear! It’s always my aim to make my articles interesting and engaging (: I hope you have a blast in South America and save some money! Are you visiting Peru?!