How to travel on a budget: 5 simple tips to save money while travelling

Last updated: July 2026

Most people associate travelling with staying in luxury resorts and big bills. But over my 14+ years of travel experience I learnt that there are many ways to travel, including budget friendly or more affordable options. It's all about being intentional with your travel money and making choices based on priorities and non-negotiables. If your true desire is to see the globe and you're happy to compromise a little, you could see more of it than you could imagine! Let me show you how...

Budget travel definitely has a negative connotation, people often assume it just means spending less money or staying in cheap hostels, but the reality it’s much more than that. It’s all about making intentional choices that allow you to travel for longer, experience more, and still enjoy the journey without constantly feeling restricted. From my experience, budget travel isn’t about limiting yourself, it’s about prioritising what actually matters to you and letting go of the things that don’t add real value to your trip. It is also about saying no to social travel pressures. This is the sassy traveller talking, but I really do believe that people end up spending so much on trips and vacations because of what they feel like they must do, instead of doing travelling their own way. Friendly reminder, you don't need to eat in Michelin-star restaurants everyday, visit every expensive museum or have the best hotel views just because you are on holiday. But more about that later...

Is budget travel worth it?

The answer to this question really comes down to your priorities and how much you want to experience different countries and cultures. A lot of the time, I find that people assume budget travel means you’re constantly uncomfortable or missing out on things, but that’s not really the case. It just looks different. Yes, sometimes it means choosing a night bus instead of a quick flight, or grabbing a supermarket meal deal instead of sitting down in a restaurant. But those are the kinds of compromises that allow you to actually travel longer and see more. And when you look back, you’re not going to remember every meal you had, you’ll remember the places you saw and how they made you feel. Budget travel isn’t about doing less, it’s about being a bit more intentional with what actually matters to you. I’ve had moments where I questioned if it was worth it, like sitting on an overnight bus instead of taking a quick flight, but looking back, I only remember the highlights of the trip. I love the recent IG trend where people share images of the same views wherever they travel, stating that it is the same whether you stayed in a hostel or a 5 star hotel. It pretty much sums up to me why budget travel is worth it.

How much does budget travel actually cost?

This is probably one of the first questions that comes up, rightfully everyone wants to hear a number. The truth is (and you may not like it), there’s no exact number because it really depends on how you choose to travel, your destination etc. Budget travel to Singapore from New York will look different that budget travel from London to Paris. But my number one tip would be to look at the destination and break the costs down to see where you can save and how much you will have to spend on must haves. Most of your money will go on accommodation, transport, and food, so those are the areas where small changes make a big difference. For example, choosing a hostel over a hotel (and many offer private rooms don't worry but are more budget friendly), or being flexible with your flight times. I’ve had trips where I spent very little just because I was flexible with travel dates for example. It’s less about having a strict budget and more about understanding where your money is going. I'd say the best way to start budgeting is picking one priority, to some people this is the accommodation, to other it is the experiences. You have to choose something you want most of your money to go towards, and then save on the other areas of the trip.

Who is budget travel for?

Simply put, everyone who wants to see the world and is ready to compromise a little in return. In some way or another everyone has a sort of budget for their trip and will plan intentionally on what and how they want to spend their hard earned money. So, saying that budget travel is only for students or backpackers in their early twenties is a misconception. I personally don't think budget travel has an age limit. Whether you're saving for a longer trip, trying to travel more often throughout the year or simply don't want to overspend on accommodation, budget travel can work for almost anyone. It's less about how much money you have and more about honouring your priorities.

I will also have to be honest, budget travel really isn't for everyone who always priorities luxury and highest levels of comfort over experiences, and that is okay to, we all travel in our own ways. If that is the case, probably spending on or saving up for one more luxury and high-end trip every once in a while is probably the more suitable option.

The biggest budget travel mistakes I made

Looking back, I think I was so focused on seeing the world but saving money that perhaps at times I compromised on safety or value a little. The former is especially something to avoid as a solo female traveller, I guess it doesn't even need much explanation. It is never worth saving money on accommodation, especially if you feel like you can't safely walk around in your neighbourhood in day light. That is a part of budget travel that you need to be mindful of: never compromise safety to save money. Compromising on value is a little bit more tricky because when trying to save money it is easy to jump on the cheapest option. BUT. This is where you have to realise you may end up spending more on the long run. That super cheap, early flight from the far, far away airport may end up costing you more once you realise how much the journey getting there costs. The same applies when you book accommodation far from where the attractions are. Sometimes you end up spending more money on taxis and commute than if you were to book something more expensive, but central.

FAQs

A lot of these questions come up before people even book their first trip, so let's see them one by one:

Is it possible to travel with little money?

Yes, but it does require some flexibility, and at times requires you to compromise. You might not always take the most comfortable or straight forward option, but that doesn’t take away from the experience.

What is the cheapest way to travel?

Usually it comes down to being flexible, with dates, destinations, and even how you get from place to place. My favourite is to travel off-season, it normally ends up costing less, I have less negative impact on a location as tourist, and get a much better experience and value for my money.

Does budget travel mean low-quality experiences?

Not at all. Some of the best moments I’ve had while travelling didn’t cost anything, they just happened naturally. A lot of attractions and beautiful places come for free in many countries, so it is just the matter of how you travel to them. In the long run it will not matter whether you took the early and cheap morning flight and slept in a hostel.

Is budget travel safe?

As mentioned above, yes, but only as long as you don't compromise on your safety to save money. I'd always rather pay a little extra for accommodation in a good location than book the cheapest option available. Budget travel is about spending wisely, not taking unnecessary risks. Always, always do your research, read reviews and priorities your safety above all.

Can you travel on a budget without staying in hostels?

Absolutely. Hostels are a great option, but they're not the only one. If staying in a nicer hotel is the part where you want to make the least compromises, you can look at flights and the food as other main parts of your travel costs to be more careful about. If you are travelling with friends or family, saving on accommodation will be easier than solo, as you can always divide the costs.

How much money do you need per day when travelling on a budget?

It depends entirely on the destination. Instead of setting a strict daily budget, I prefer to plan for the bigger expenses before I travel and stay flexible daily once I'm there. Some days you'll spend very little, while others might be worth splurging on. I always find it easy to calculate with food + transport (if needed) on a daily basis, as my budget per day. If I don't go over budget a certain day I have a bit more to spend the next. It's like a little win. I actually wrote a whole post on how I budget when I travel solo, you can read it here.

5 simple tips to save money while travelling

Save money on accommodation and spend more on experiences

I know that this may not sound ideal at first, but in my opinion, if you want a holiday filled with memories and amazing experiences, the easiest way to keep costs down is by staying in more budget-friendly accommodations like hostels. The plus side to this is that you get to meet other travellers, so both the cost and the 'how to find friends when travelling solo' factors are covered. One thing I didn’t expect when I started travelling on a budget was how much your experience of meeting people can change depending on the way you travel, which is something I explore more in my post about how to make friends while travelling solo.

Another way I like to keep costs down is (but this kind of defeats the purpose of solo travelling) sharing the cost with friends. When travelling together with 2-3 friends, it's easy to stay on budget by renting an Airbnb together and doing a little food shop, so that you don't have to spend more on eating out. I normally find that it's easiest to have breakfast at the place you stay at, because if there are 3-4 people travelling together, you can get a nice breakfast at home by sharing the food shopping costs, and it comes to a few £/$/€ per person. After a food fuelled morning you will be ready to take on the day and explore a new place, without having to overpay for an avocado on toast.

Think beyond hotels, restaurants and direct flights

A lot of the time, I find that people think that travelling must mean a 5-star hotel and all-inclusive. But that could not be further from the truth. That's more like a vacation. Vacations are a different niche. They have their time and place, but travelling does get uncomfortable sometimes and definitely comes with compromises, like eating meal deal-type lunches from the local supermarket or a bakery visit for breakfast instead of a fancy brunch. I know this may not seem as that appealing at first, but if you look back, you will be more likely to remember things like watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle or visiting the beautiful beaches of Mexico, not what meal you had every day. This may be unpopular opinion, but you don't have to sit in a restaurant every day just because you are travelling. There are some budget actions you can take if you want to see the world.

Same goes for flights, if you are happy to compromise and do a short layover, sometimes your flight costs can be more than halved. I did this a few times recently. I was returning from Italy to the UK, but from my location (Venice) the prices kept staying above £200. A price I would not really pay to travel within Europe to be honest with you. So, I looked around and I found a very cheap (£15) flight ticket to Dublin, and from there another (£22) ticket to the UK. I only had to do a 3ish hour layover in Dublin to save over a £100. Even with spending money at the airport on food and drinks made more financial sense, than the direct flight. If you have the flexibility, always check non-direct flight options to save some $$.

I’ve also found that where you choose to go makes a huge difference when you’re trying to travel on a budget, especially if it’s your first time travelling alone, which is why I put together a guide to the best destinations for first-time solo travellers.

Use working holiday opportunities to travel for longer

One of the best ways to travel on a budget, and also learn more about the local life and culture is by finding opportunities to work abroad for food, flights or accommodation in return. When I was in my early twenties and had no money to my name, just lots of courage and enthusiasm, and I found a way to spend the summer months in Italy. I was working around 6 hours, 4-5 days a week, for food and accommodation in return. I know that working while travelling the world may not seem like the most glamorous idea at first, but let me tell you, I do not remember anything about work and how long the hours were. All I remember is going to the beach in my spare time and exploring the area on my days off. You can, of course, combine it with pure travelling, adding a week to your work holiday either before or after the experience to feel truly free. But if you want to spend at least a month being abroad, working a little will not feel like a huge sacrifice for the lifetime experience. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Travel in the off-season to save money and avoid crowds

I think 70-80% of the time I visited my dream destinations off-season, and I could go on and on about the benefits of doing this. If you can avoid peak season or are travelling solo (so you're not tied to taking time off only when it's school holidays or works for your partner), this is for sure one of the best ways to keep costs down. Other than being able to avoid the crowds and feel like you have the whole place to yourself, off-season accommodation and flight prices always seem to be a fraction of the price you would pay if you were to travel when everybody else does.

By the way, I write A LOT about solo travel, if you are new to the topic you may want to explore in my honest posts about how to get started and what solo travel really feels like.

Visiting Peru in off-season was one of the best decisions I made

Track flight prices and use self-transfer flights when it makes sense

Some days I wish flight prices were fixed, so you would always know how much a ticket would costs. But then I change my mind every time I find a crazy good deal! And I do this by being patient and keeping an eye on flight tickets. I normally use something as simple as Google Flights, so that I can see all my options, and it always shows me the cheapest website to book my flight on. Another thing you may notice is that you often find the cheapest flights when you have to do something called self-transfer. For example, when I was flying to Sri Lanka from Athens, I paid a fraction of the price of an average ticket because I chose a self-transfer ticket in Abu Dhabi. This simply means that instead of checking in for my whole flight in Athens, I could only check in for Athens-Abu Dhabi, and then I would have to go out of the airport and check in for my flight from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka. Since the layover was about 5 hours, this was an easy step to take, but it saved me a lot of money! The only thing you have to keep in mind with self-transfers is that sometimes you will have to calculate with a transit visa. But I would say most of the time, even with that cost included, a self-transfer flight could save you some money!

One thing I’ve realised over time is that budget travel isn’t about one master hack, but rather a series of small decisions that add up daily, especially of you travel for weeks or even months. Things like tracking flight prices, staying flexible with your travel dates, visiting dream destinations off-peak and being open to slower travel all make a massive difference. The more I travel, the more I realise that flexibility is actually one of the biggest advantages you can have when trying to travel cheaply. I think what surprised me most about travelling on a budget is that it didn’t actually make my experiences less special, it just made me more intentional with them. Not giving into social pressure when it comes to planning your trip is one of the things that can save you the most money.

Some of my favourite budget-friendly destinations

There are many, but I chose some of my favourite ones that I have already wrote more detailed articles about, so you can use these for planning:

• Tirana, Albania: this is one of my favourite countries currently in Europe for money-value ratio. You can read my solo travel guide here.

• The Baltics: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have to be some of the most underrated countries in Europe, which is lucky because it means prices haven't skyrocketed (yet). Visit my blog post on why the Baltics are worth visiting here. If you are already planning your visit there, learn more about Vilnius here, and the best food spots of Riga here.

• Athens, Greece: not dirt cheap, but compared to Western European prices I think this can be a good option. Definitely cheaper than some islands like Mykonos or Santorini. Top tip, visit in September/October or April/May for pleasant weather, no crowds and better deals on accommodation and flights. You can read my top tips here, and collection of best food spots here.

• Medellín, Colombia: another place where I found it easy to budget, and the value you get for your money is still amazing. For my detailed guide, things to do and tips read my guide here.

• Sri Lanka: one of my favourite places on earth, and a place where you don't have to compromise much to get amazing value for your money. For my detailed guide, click here.

Hope you found these little tips useful for keeping travel costs lower while still making your dreams come true! I think the main thing to keep in mind is compromise; travelling doesn't have to be as fancy as in movies to make memories that will last a lifetime! Travelling on a budget is not about limiting yourself or missing out on experiences, it’s about finding a way to travel that feels sustainable for you. There will always be compromises, but I think the goal is to create a balance where you can still enjoy your trips without constantly worrying about money. Over time, I’ve realised that the best kind of travel isn’t necessarily the most expensive one, but the one that allows you to keep going back out into the world again and again.

And if you’re looking for a way to feel more grounded while travelling, don’t forget to grab my free Travel Wellness Routine Builder. It’s packed with simple tools like a printable checklist, self-care prompts, and mini rituals to help you feel more at home, wherever the journey takes you.

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