With the cost-of-living rising, travel may feel out of reach for some. Or for those that are travelling they are looking at ways to travel cheaper.
People think they must have money to travel, but the truth is travel can become a reality for anyone. You just need to be flexible and open to alternatives for your pound to stretch further.
Giving up 5-star resorts and fancy dinners, in exchange for cheaper accommodation and local street food will save you a ton of money. Along with providing you with a more authentic experience, turning you from a tourist to a traveller. Plus you will have the opportunity to discover much more about the country and the culture.
Whether it’s a weekend city break or backpacking the world, set a budget and get in the right mindset. Follow these 5 ways to travel cheaper to make your travel dreams come true.
1. Follow The Deal, Rather Than The Destination
When it comes to travelling on a budget, sometimes you must follow the deal rather than the destination. This is also a great way to visit countries that might have yet to reach the top of your travel list but are great travel destinations to consider.
A hack to do this and get the cheapest flight deals is to search your travel dates or travel month on Skyscanner or google flights selecting the everywhere option in the destination box. It will then show you a list of travel destinations. Browse until you find your desired travel destination and travel dates.
If you have a set destination in mind, select the destination but not the date, or you can search by month. This will then display the cheapest dates to travel to your desired destination.
Select travel dates and select everywhere in the drop-down tab to search for the best flight deals.
Hack 1: Watch & Save Video Demo to Flight Hack
Travelling off-peak and shoulder months are also a great way to save money on flights and accommodation. Be sure to check the peak times of the countries you want to visit, as it varies from place to place, and work your travel plans before or after their peak period to get the best deals.
Airlines like Ryanair also have great hot seat 24-hour sales where you can get flights for as little as £8-£10 each way around Europe. I have taken advantage of this offer a few times and avoided luggage fees altogether just travelling with a backpack included in the fare price.
2. Avoid Luggage Fees, Pack Light
Now you have your flights sorted, it’s time to talk about luggage. After finding that great flight deal, you don’t want your flight costs to increase due to luggage fees. Yes, I know you want to pack all those outfits and extra pairs of shoes you will never wear, but if you want to cut costs and travel cheaper, it’s time to pack light.
Hold luggage fees can be as pricey as £70. I don’t know about you, but I would rather spend that money on an activity or experience. Most airlines offer a priority cabin option of 2 cabin bags which is much cheaper than hold luggage, or if you are an experienced packer, just go for the backpack option at no extra cost.
I have mastered taking only a backpack for a 3-day trip or a 10kg cabin bag and backpack for 4–5-night trips. Of course, if you are travelling for a more extended period, you can add luggage, but only hand luggage is needed for anything up to 5 nights to travel cheaper.
Additional perks are that you can go through airports much quicker and don’t have the dreaded worry of losing your luggage. Your holiday can be stress-free and start even faster as you can head straight out of the airport from the plane without hanging around the conveyor belt trying to spot your luggage.
Travel Hack 2
The booking system is set up to make consumers think they must add on-hold luggage to pack more when that is not the case. Just continue to check out without hold luggage. The airline will offer you an option to add an additional cabin bag at the end. Ryanair offered an add-on at the start, but with Easy Jet and Vueling, they gave the option right at the end of the transaction after continuing to refuse the hold luggage throughout the booking process.
Make sure to check with the airline you are using there is a 2 cabin bag option.
Tip: Airlines never check what you buy at the airport, meaning you can buy what you like after security. So if you are tight on space in your bag, buy your toiletries at the airport.
3. Spend Less On Accommodation & More On Experiences
Ok, flight sorted, hand luggage only. Now it’s time to look at accommodation options. Over the years, I have spent less on accommodation and more experiences, with the only exception being pricey experience stays. However, the experience stays are only one night within my trip when I stay in one. Otherwise, I will stay in budget accommodation. My travel style is an explorer, so I spend the whole day out of my accommodation exploring the country.
If you do not plan on staying in your accommodation day in and day out, there is no need to book and stay in 5-star hotels and resorts. You can spend less and have more in the budget to spend on activities and experiences.
Choose accommodation options such as 3-star boutique hotels or Airbnb. Or if you are on a real budget, accommodation options such as hostels, homestays, and couch surfing are a great way to travel cheaper and meet people in the process.
Hack: Apps like Hopper will show you the cheapest accommodation by dates. Sites such as booking.com have a loyalty program where you can get to different levels receiving lifelong discounts, free breakfasts, and free room upgrades on participating hotels. They also offer no prepayment options, which allow you to secure your accommodation but pay for it later, which can help if you cannot afford to pay for your flights and hotel in one go.
4. Take Advantage of all the FREE Things The Country Has To Offer
To get the most out of your trip, take advantage of all free activities the country has to offer, Activities such as site seeing, free walking tours, and any entertainment your accommodation offers.
Free walking tours are one of my favourites as you get a local guide taking you to all the best parts of the city. It is also great for meeting others if you are travelling solo or just want to get to grips with the city or town you are in.
Although they are “FREE,” the guides work on tips, so be sure to tip them, but it’s a much more local experience and a much cheaper option than booking a paid tour.
5. Eat Like A Local
Eating out in fancy restaurants and coffee shops is lovely, but not every day of your trip. Eating like a local will not only save you money but give you a real insight into the food culture and traditions. Enjoy a local experience and support local people, as well as being some of the best traditional food you will taste while in the country. During my travels, I love enjoying street snacks and eating at local food markets and local restaurants.
Tip: If you are eating street food in countries with sanitary issues, such as Asia, Middle Eastern, and African countries, be sure to eat at the stalls where many people are lining up to eat. This means the food turns over quickly there. Stalls with slow business are likely to have food sitting out for long periods, which can cause food poisoning if the food is not well kept.
If you have a sensitive stomach, make sure to pack some Imodium. However, I have been to many countries, eaten street food, and been fine.
Conclusion
Following the deal and not the destination. Saving money on accommodation options and luggage fees. Finding FREE things to do in the country, and eating like a local will save you loads of money and help you travel cheaper in 2023.
I would love to know what amazing deals you find in the comments, and I hope all your travel dreams come true this year.
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