25+ Tips To Save You Money On Your Next Trip

Travel doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! And as someone who successfully travelled full-time for 9 months only spending £5k, I’m here to show you that budget travel is possible and you don’t have to give everything up! You just might have to get a little creative to be able to explore the world without breaking the bank.

Here are 25+ budget travel tips that anyone can put into practice and save some serious coin whilst still getting to explore and see the world…

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1. Housesit

Housesitting is my ultimate budget travel hack and is the only reason I was able to travel to 11 countries in 9 months with only £5k. If you love animals and want a more local travel experience you must check out housesitting. I use the exchange platform Trusted Housesitters to find all my housesits!

Read more: Complete Guide to Housesitting

2. Travel hand luggage only

Baggage fees really do add up and before you know it you’ve not only doubled the original airfare quote but you’ve spent a good chunk of your budget. Embrace packing light and travel hand luggage only to easily save hundreds, especially on a multi-stop trip. Bonus that you will never have to worry about your luggage going missing because you’ll always have it on you!

Read more: 7 Packing Light Tips

3. Take overnight buses

Overnight buses are a massive marmite topic in the travel world but a debate I am 100% in the love camp on. Overnight buses take care of two needs; accommodation & transportation in one. It’s a win win. Yes, you probably won’t get as much sleep as you would if you were in a hotel. But the savings are 100% worth it in my opinion!

Top Tip: Use BusBud to compare the prices across multiple bus & train providers. Trust me this saves tonnes of time and effort!

Read more: How to Survive an Overnight Bus Journey

4. Pick your destination based on the cheapest flight

Skyscanner have this great feature where you can search for flights based on the cheapest place to visit. This way to you can inspiration for your next trip based on what’s the most cost effective place to see. I let Skyscanner pick my last city break and ended up in Dublin a place I’ve always wanted to visit but never had. It was a fab weekend and my return flights were around £25.

Read more: 2 Nights in Dublin – Spending Diary

5. Use credit card points to get cheaper flights

Travel hacking is it’s own world but one I got super invested in a couple of years ago. Essentially you take advantage of credit card welcome offers to earn a tonne of airline points which you can redeem against flights. I’ve collected over 100k Avios (British Airways currency) since I started travel hacking 4 years ago and have redeemed three reward flights which were all steals.

Read more: How I Got A Flight To NYC for Just £145

6. Travel off-peak

If you are able to travel off-peak, or even in the shoulder season, you can save some serious cash on your transport and accommodation costs. Have you ever looking at the price difference between the first day of the school holidays and the day before? It’s insane how much these companies put there prices up because they know they can make more money.

7. Volunteer

Volunteering abroad can often come with some great perks like free accommodation and provided meals which can save you some serious cash. Plus you’ll have a great experience.

8. Bring reusable items

A water bottle, pop out bag and utensils are great reusable items to chuck in your bag to save you on unnecessary purchases. They may only be a couple quid here and there but when you’re on a budget every penny counts. And those disposable drinks could be the difference between a 30-night and a 31-night trip. They’re an easy money win!

Check out: Packing Essentials For Full Time Travellers

9. Take free walking tours

I love a walking tour and try to find one in every city I visit. It’s a great way to get your bearings (as my Dad would say) and learn about the city from someone who lives there. Some of my favourite experiences were suggestions from a tour guide. Plus most of them are “free” which is great for the budget. I’ve popped free in quotation marks because you are typically expected to tip at the end of the tour so they’re not 100% free. The easiest way to find a walking is to simply google “free walking tour in x”, see what pops up and book the one that suits you the best.

10. Look for free activities

Cities are great for free activities, from museums to pop up events, there always seems to be free things to do. Like with the walking tour advice, simply google “free things to do in x” and see what pops up. You might be surprised just how much you can get up to without spending a penny.

11. Use the free-wifi

Roaming charges can suck up a massive chunk of your budget if you’re not careful so take advantage of free wifi when you come across it. Most hostels and hotels have free wifi as a given nowadays but make sure you double check just in case. Especially if you’re staying in a budget friendly hotel chain as sometimes its the add ons that make these guys the money.

12. Be flexible

Being flexible with where you’re going, how long for and when you’re going can save you a small fortune. Even looking outside of your local airport and comparing fares from other airports could save you a fair few quid. Looking at the dates you’re travelling on to see if it would be cheaper to fly on another day is an easy way to save. Just take the time to research your options to make the most of your budget.

13. Avoid transaction fees

Some cards come with sneaky transaction fees if you use your card abroad. Avoid these fees completely by using a card that you know charges 0% on foreign transactions. Like Monzo for instance. Knowing that every time you swipe your card you’re not paying a fee for the privilege is a great way to make sure you don’t haemorrhage your travel budget on the seemingly little things.

14. Crash in the airport the night before

It’s probably clear by now that I am a frugal traveller. I will happily cut out the things that are not important to me to save money so I can spend guilt free on the things that matter. Paying for airport hotels is one of those things that I just refuse to pay for. Often the cheapest flights are super early in the morning and public transport doesn’t often run at those times. So it might seem like your only option is to fork out for a hotel at the airport so you can arrive the night before. Well, for the budget conscious of us out there, most airports are open 24/7 and have seating where you can nap.

Read more: My Night In Heathrow Terminal 5

15. Explore on foot

Exploring a city on foot is not only a great thing for your budget but it’s also a great way to see a city and explore at a more micro level. I often stumble across streets, little shops & cute cafes that I probably would have never found if I was just hopping from attraction to attraction.

16. Embrace local transportation

Frequent taxis will suck up your budget and your money will be disappearing at an alarming rate. Skip this unnecessary spenny cost by embracing local transportation. Using the buses, metro or even rental bikes is a great way to see a more local side of a place. Plus your budget will thank you.

17. Find accommodation with a kitchen

Finding accommodation with a kitchen and cooking some of your meals is a great way to save money without really thinking about it. It always blows my mind how much cheaper it is to cook than eat out all the time. You don’t necessarily have to do this all the time to see the difference in your spending. Find the balance that works for you!

18. Stay in hostels

Switching a hotel for a hostel will save you some serious cash. This could mean being able to travel for longer or free up some cash in your budget for that certain experience you want to have. I’ve stayed in some really fancy hostels that don’t feel like a sacrifice but cost pennies. Like this cute little hostel in Budapest that was only £7 per night – I could’ve stayed there for a month!

19. Ask for student discount

If you’re a student or even a new graduate with an undated ID (ahem me) make sure you take advantage of the student price that most attractions offer. I’ve saved hundreds with this little budget hack. Also make sure you check for a student discount code if you are booking something online.

20. Extend your layover

Did you know airline companies will provide hotel vouchers if you take an extended layover? What a fab way to see another destination without it costing a fortune. Qatar airlines are currently offering some heavily discounted hotel prices if you opt for a layover. Think 4-nights in a 4-star hotel from just $74.

21. Join reward programs

Hotel chains or booking sites often have reward programs that will save you more money the more you use them. I am a level 3 Genius on Booking.com which means I can often save up to 20% on hotel bookings. 20% off really makes a difference to the budget when you are booking multiple hotel stays. And yes by hotel I mean hostel because I’m a budget traveller ya’ll.

22. Do your research

Go down a blog rabbit hole, join tourist groups, check out the travel guide, ask family & friends – do your research before you get there (or in a frantic hurry when you arrive like I sometimes do) to have an idea about what typical prices look like, how much you expect to pay for everyday things and some activities you want to do when you get there.

23. Travel slowly

Staying in one place for longer is great for both your wallet and the environment. You will be able to access higher accommodation discounts or fully immerse yourself in the culture by taking on a volunteer gig – which will probably include accommodation and maybe some meals. You will also save money on transportation as you won’t be moving around as much. Plus by staying in one place for longer you will begin to discover the cheap places to eat and avoid being stuck in tourist traps.

24. Book excursions yourself

Add on excursions from pre-made holiday packages are often not the best option. Research your options before committing to anything in advance. You also might be able to bag some deals if you book excursions in person when you arrive at a destination. My favourite places to search for excursions to get an idea of whats out there and how much it’ll be are Get Your Guide and Airbnb Experiences.

25. Look for a discount code & cashback

Before booking anything online take a moment to double check that you’re not missing out on any cashback or discount. A quick google search will show whether there are any discount codes or sales out there. Plus a quick search on a cashback site like TopCashback might put a decent amount of money back in your pocket with minimal effort. Just think even 1% cashback on a £1000 holiday booking is an extra £10 back in your pocket – that’s happy hour cocktails right there!

26. Travel locally

Travel doesn’t have to only be long overseas trips to exotic locations. Sometimes the most hidden of gems are right on our doorsteps. So don’t underestimate travelling locally or even just staying in your own country. Now the UK is in this weird alt-universe where domestic travel is super expensive compared to travelling abroad so you might have to get creative with budget travel options.

27. Take advantage of the included breakfast

There is nothing my frugal heart loves more than an included breakfast. If I play my cards right I can fill my boots at that one meal and reduce my food costs across the board. Plus I am that person who will sneak a little snack out for later. But if you don’t have brekkie included and don’t think the pay as you go price is reasonable by favourite hack is finding a local Lidl and raiding there bakery for options. I’ve never been disappointed and my budget is happy too.

So there you go 25+2 budget travel tips that anyone can take inspiration from to make your next trip even more affordable or stretch the budget a little longer!

Do you do any of these things when you travel? What’s your favourite budget travel tip?