How to Travel On A Budget In 2025
Travel has become very expensive. After COVID, it seems that the world is traveling again. Prices are also rising. I’m amazed at how high the prices have risen. It’s the result of skyrocketing costs and an out-of control demand. We all want to escape. We’re all looking for an escape.
Fortunately, it’s not all bad. There are many ways to travel on a tight budget in the post-COVID era. Change Your Mindset
Changing your mindset might not be a traditional budget tip, but it’s important nonetheless. Remind yourself constantly that traveling is possible, while taking steps to make this a reality. Start with the mindset of “yes, I’m capable”. Don’t think “I can’t travel” — think “What’s one thing I can do today to make my trip closer to reality?”
Life is a mental game. You’ll build unstoppable momentum if you do one thing a day to get you closer your vacation. Create a Savings Plan
Unless Bill Gates is your friend, you need to start saving more money. How do you go about it? Although life can be expensive, there are ways to save more. You can always cut back on something. Over time, a little savings can add up. Write down all the money you spend in a given month. You should write down everything you spend money on, including groceries, rent, dining out, and Netflix. If you don’t track your spending, it’s impossible to know how much money you can save. You’ll be able to watch your fund grow and have it dedicated. This progress will keep your motivation up. Every penny counts, even if you only save a few dollars per week. The more you save, the more you want to save.
Finally, start cutting. You can cut back on going to Starbucks or on eating out. Find yours. Here are some articles on saving money:
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3. Find a flight deal
One thing that people tell me keeps them from traveling more often is the cost. All the airlines are trying fill their planes, and they are offering many deals for summer and autumn travel. They are trying to fill planes to make up for the lost year. You will be forced to pay the full cost of your flight if you are set on Paris in June. But, if you open that up to “France in the summer” — or even “Europe in the summer” you’ll be able to find much cheaper flights since you’ll have a lot more wiggle room to test dates and destinations.
I like to use Google Flights and Skyscanner to browse my options. I enter my hometown and select “everywhere”. Both websites allow you to sign up for price notifications so that you will receive an email when the price of your desired trip drops. The best site for finding US flight deals, it has saved me thousands of dollars over the years. It’s not free, but new users can get 20% off a Premium membership with the code NOMADICMATT20.
Other helpful flight deal sites are:
The Flight Deal – Incredible deals for flights all around the world.
Secret Flying – Another site with amazing flight deals from around the globe (they find a lot of Asia/Africa/South America deals not found elsewhere).
4. Get Points!
Collecting points and miles is a great way to travel on a budget. You can earn hundreds of thousands miles by using credit cards that offer points and a few simple tricks. (You can even get points for paying rent!) I’ve saved thousands of dollars by optimizing my spending and paying attention to which cards earn the most points where. You can do it too! You can still use points and miles if you’re not American. You can maximize your points to earn free hotel stays and flights by using these platforms. Use the Sharing Economy
The share economy has created a number of new platforms for saving money and building community. This has made travel more affordable, accessible, and personal. There’s no better way to experience local life, get off the tourist track, and connect with locals. You should too.
Here are some of the best sharing economy sites to help you get started:
Trusted Housesitters – The most comprehensive website for finding house-sitting gigs. You should too.
Here are some of the best sharing economy sites to help you get started:
Trusted Housesitters – The most comprehensive website to find house-sitting gigs. You watch a place on vacation while the homeowner is on vacation.
EatWith – Allows you to eat home-cooked meals with locals (it’s the Airbnb of food). It’s always a good way to meet interesting people. Find the Free!
There are many free resources available to help you plan your trip. There’s a blog for every destination that will tell you what to see and do there cheaply or free. Use them all to help you plan your trip. Make the best use of all of them to help you plan your trip.
My favorite search term is “free things to do in X.” You’ll always get a result!
Additionally, don’t be afraid to walk into a hostel — even if you aren’t staying there — and ask them what to do for cheap. They are used to dealing with budget-conscious travelers, and they know where to find cheap activities. Stick to Public Transportation
- If you’re on a budget, skip the taxis and rideshares like Lyft or Uber. Public transportation will be your most cost-effective option unless you can reduce the cost of the ride by sharing it with others. You’ll not only save money, but also get to know how locals commute. The staff at your hostel/hotel (aswell as local tourism offices) can provide you with information on day passes or multi-day tickets. Rome2Rio is a great resource for cheap intercity travel. Use Local Tourism Offices
- Local tourism offices can be a great source of information. These offices exist to give you information about what to do and see. You can find discounts and information on free tours and local events. They also provide updates about the latest news and offers. Don’t miss the local tourist office. They may be able to help you with public transportation discounts or multi-day passes. The local tourist office is a resource that’s underutilized. Get Cheap Accommodation
Accommodation is one of the biggest fixed costs travelers have, so reducing that cost can lead to big savings on the road. Many backpackers will sleep in a shed if that’s the cheapest option! You can even sleep in a hammock in a national park to save money! You can stay in hostels, Couchsurfing or in university dormitories, try Airbnb, or use Couchsurfing. Food is cheap
Food, other than accommodation, is the largest travel cost. Everyone needs to eat. There are many ways to save money on food:
Also use the 5-block rule. It seems that there is a magical wall surrounding tourist areas. Most people don’t go past it. It’s been my experience that if you walk five blocks in any direction from a major tourist area, you end up losing the crowds and finding the local restaurants.
In my experience, tourist restaurants don’t care about quality since those tourists aren’t coming back. Locals care about the quality of food, so restaurants that cater to them must be more affordable and better. Otherwise they will go out business. You want to go there. Use the resources above to avoid eating bad food and find out where locals go!
Travel like you live
The people who live in your destination don’t spend as much money each day as tourists. You also do not spend a lot of money in your daily life. Take that mentality everywhere you go. Take public transport, walk, shop at the grocery store, spend time in a park and search for bargains. Spend less money by doing the same things you do every day at home. This is not true. It’s not true. You should be smart about your budget, just as you would at home. This will save you money and keep you from returning home (and broke) too early.
12. Work & Volunteer to Lower Your Expenses
If you’re a long-term traveler, consider volunteering or doing a work exchange to lower your costs. You can do a variety of things, including farm stays, work in hostels, or teaching in schools. Here are some websites to help you find suitable opportunities:
Worldpackers – Worldpackers offers travelers a chance to find volunteer experiences overseas. In addition to hostels, they can help you find experiences with NGOs, homestays, and eco-projects all over the world!
WWOOF – WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a program that connects you with farms all around the world where you can work in exchange for room and board.
- Helpx – Like Worldpackers, Helpx offers exchanges such as farmstays, homestays, B&Bs, hostels, and sailboats.
- Workaway – Workaway is a lot like HelpX, except it has more paid job opportunities (though it has volunteer opportunities too).
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While prices are higher than before the pandemic, you can still plan a budget-friendly trip. You can get on the road in no time by being flexible, creative and adopting the right mindset. It won’t cost a fortune.
All you need to do is make the first move. Action breeds more action. Everything becomes easier once you get moving. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.” - Click here to learn more and start reading it today!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
Click here to learn more and start reading it today!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. Skyscanner is my favorite search engine, because it searches all websites and airlines in the world.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. Booking.com is the best option if you don’t want to stay in a hostel. It consistently offers the lowest rates for hotels and guesthouses.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. This is comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Want to Travel for Free
Travel Credit Cards allow you to earn rewards that can be used to redeem for free flights or accommodation. Discover Cars offers affordable international car rentals. They’ll find you the best — and most affordable — rental car for your trip, no matter where you are going!
Need help finding activities for your vacation?
GetYourGuide is a large online marketplace where it’s possible to find cool walking tours and fun excursions as well as skip-the line tickets, private guides and more. Ready to book your trip?
Check out my resource page to find the best travel companies. Here are all the companies I use to travel. You can’t go far wrong with them. They are top-of-the-line and the best you can get.
