How do I afford to travel full time? This is a question I get asked almost everyday. Traveling the world is not cheap, BUT, it’s not near as expensive as you’d probably think it is. Being a backpacker means that I usually don’t have a lot of money, and I’m always looking for anyway possible to save a few extra dollars. Those extra dollars can go a long way when you’re short on cash and waiting for that next paycheck to be deposited in your bank account. Before I started traveling full time, I researched for months on how I could save money abroad. I knew the less money I spent, the longer I could travel. I’m still not a professional, saving money is hard, and I’ve messed up a lot, and I’ve had to ask for help. For example, one summer I got myself stranded in Serbia with no flight out, and with $200 to my name; $200 that I had to make last for another month before I got paid again. I had to trek through 3 different countries before I could find a flight to where I needed to go, and finding one that I could afford on such short notice was a HUGE struggle. That experience was painful, stressful. However, I ended up getting to see so many other places I hadn’t intended on going to and everything still worked out. Now that I’ve learned better, and have been able to budget a lot more with a lot more money, I’d like to share some tips and tricks on how I save money overseas.
Finding cheap flights
Flying is always the most expensive part of traveling, obviously. But, there are various ways that this can be changed. When I start looking for flights, my go to website is Skyscanner. They have the cheapest flights possible and compare all other websites for you on their site. When flying from home in the USA, I never fly out of Ohio. There are no direct international flights that fly into any airport in the state. I am more than happy to travel a few extra hours in the car and save a couple hundred dollars, than to fly out of Ohio which is more expensive and is always including a layover. It’s the same for the airport I fly into, usually, there are various airports around the destination you’re going to and the main airport is not always the cheapest. Another way to save on flying is to book 2 one way tickets, instead of a roundtrip ticket, this saves me at least $100 every time.
Be Flexible
If you are able to be flexible on the dates you’re traveling, this will help you out a lot if you are trying to save money. Try to never travel on the weekends, I’ve found this is always more expensive, as everyone wants a weekend get away and there are going to be more people on the move, especially on Sundays. Whether this comes to flights, trains, buses, whatever, try and make your travel dates happen through the week. Staying another day in a city or leaving a day early may not be what you had initially planned, but this has saved me hundreds of dollars over the past 3 years and I’ve had wonderful experiences due to being able to be flexible when I’m moving around.
Another way that being flexible helps you is opting for longer travel times, as long as you aren’t in a big hurry to get somewhere, this is by far the cheapest route. Instead of taking a train, take a bus. Yes, this may add a couple hours on your travel time, but it will also save you some money. Also, book over night trips. Not only will taking a night bus be cheaper than a train, but that will also save you a nights worth of money on accommodation.
Accommodation
Hostels are a backpackers best friend when it comes to accommodation. Never ever ever opt for a hotel if you’re traveling alone. You will lose money, you wont make any friends, and you won’t get any free perks that a hostel can offer you. With hostels, you can get free breakfast, free walking tours, discounted pub crawls, laundry annemidies, local workers that are actually willing to help you, discounts on partnering hostels in other cities or countries, and you can make some of the best friends and memories you ever thought possible. If staying in a room with a lot of strangers isn’t for you, you can still get a private room in a hostel. It is going to be a little more expensive, but you still get all the perks that a hotel can never give you if you’re on a budget. The other option, make friends and couch surf. There are thousands of people all over the world willing to offer up a couch for a night or 2 to help out a fellow traveler or to be able to learn about another culture different from their own.
Food
Food is a priority no matter where you are in the world, but if you aren’t carful, you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on food without even realizing it. Trust me, I’ve done this. Instead, opt for cooking your own food. Hostels and Airbnbs always have a kitchen that you can cook just about anything you want, or somewhere there can anyway. If you aren’t into cooking for yourself, do what I do. Street food. Kebabs are my go to lunch and dinner options, especially when I’m traveling by myself. Ask the locals as well, there are always people willing to recommend you their favorite snack bar in town, then make friends with the workers at the restaurant. You never know when you have the chance to get a discount or a free meal if you aren’t willing to ask.
Take Advantage
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYTHING THAT IS FREE OR ON SALE. When booking a hostel for example, book the one that has free breakfast and free walking tours. You’ll be fulled up for the first start of the day and can skip lunch, and then walk around and learn all about the city, all for free. NEVER take a taxi to and from the airport. Nine times out of ten there is some kind of public transportation for this that can take you to the general location of where you need to be.
Another thing that is common amongst most European cities at least, that will be a huge shock for Americans, having to pay to use the bathroom. Yes, this is a thing, and yes I have tricks. First thing, always find the McDonalds in whatever city you are in. They always have a public restroom that you can use if need be. Don’t ever go at a train or bus station either if you can help. Go before or when you get on. If for some reason there is an emergency, American nickels are around the same size as a Euro coin, use a nickel when having to pay, it will trigger the machine since it’s the same size. It may only be 1 Euro, but that adds up after while.
So there you have it, my top ways of saving money while traveling! Of course there is more, there is always more. I’ve started rolling my own cigarettes, I’ve lived in a van, camped in tents in peoples back yards and on hostel patios, I’ve slept in the car, lived off of bread and apples for days, and so many other things when I’m in desperate need to save money. Be willing to be adventurous and experimental and the world will be yours!