How to Travel Cheap - 10 Tips That Actually Work

Travelling cheap is not about compromising on the experience. It is about knowing when and how to book, which destinations give you the most for your money and which traps to avoid. We have put together the tips that actually make a difference, based on what genuinely works.

1. Be flexible with your dates

This is the single thing that creates the biggest savings on flights. Prices can vary by 50 to 70 percent depending on the day and time, and simply shifting your departure date by one day can save you a significant amount of money. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the cheapest days to fly, and early morning departures are often cheaper than afternoons. If you can travel a week before or after your originally planned dates there are typically large savings to be found. The Google Flights price calendar is an excellent free tool for spotting these windows quickly.

2. Travel in the shoulder season

May, September and October are often the very best months to travel. The weather is good at most popular destinations, tourists have left and prices are significantly lower than in peak season. Santorini in April costs half what it does in August. Bali in May is calmer and cheaper than in July. Thailand in September is peaceful and prices can be down to a third of what they are in December. The shoulder season is budget travel's best kept secret and most people still have not figured it out.

3. Choose destinations with a low price level

Certain countries simply give you a lot more for your money. Southeast Asia is the classic example, as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia all have low prices across accommodation, food and transport. In Europe, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia and Romania are significantly cheaper than Western Europe and are vastly underrated as travel destinations. Portugal is Western Europe's most affordable country to travel in and offers excellent weather, food and coastlines.

Accommodation in Southeast Asia: From approx. 💚 11 to 34 EUR/night (guesthouse or hostel) · 🟡 47 to 94 EUR/night (boutique hotel) · 🔴 107 EUR/night and above (resort or villa)

4. Book flights at the right time

The ideal time to book domestic flights is 1 to 3 months before departure. For international flights 2 to 4 months is optimal. Booking too far in advance rarely gives the best prices, and last-minute is only cheap for specific destinations. Google Flights is one of the best free tools available and Skyscanner is excellent for finding cheap stopover combinations that do not always appear on other platforms.

5. Eat like a local

The biggest mistake tourists make is eating at restaurants that cater specifically to tourists. Find the local eateries a few streets away from the main attractions and prices are typically 50 to 70 percent lower for better food. In Asia, street food is not just cheap, it is often the best meal you will have on the entire trip. A plate of nasi goreng at a local warung in Bali costs around 4 EUR. The same dish at a tourist-facing restaurant costs three times as much and is rarely as good.

6. Avoid currency exchange at the airport

Airport exchange counters almost always offer the worst rates of anywhere you can change money. Withdraw cash from a local ATM at your destination instead as it typically gives you an exchange rate that is 5 to 15 percent better. And check whether your bank card charges fees on international transactions before you travel. Many banks offer cards without foreign transaction fees and this can save you a meaningful amount of money over the course of a longer trip.

7. Use public transport

Trains and buses are significantly cheaper than taxis and domestic flights. In Europe an Interrail pass is a great investment for longer trips and gives you the flexibility to change plans as you go. In Asia buses and overnight trains are both cheap and an experience in themselves. The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a classic that saves you both an accommodation night and a flight ticket, and the journey itself is genuinely enjoyable.

8. Think beyond hotels for accommodation

Guesthouses and locally owned bed and breakfasts are often far cheaper than chain hotels and give you a more authentic experience at the same time. Booking.com and Hostelworld have a wide range across all price points. For families or groups an apartment or house can be cheaper than separate hotel rooms and give you more flexibility including a kitchen. Staying slightly outside the city centre is typically 20 to 40 percent cheaper and public transport covers the distance easily.

9. Plan, but leave room for the unexpected

The best and often cheapest experiences on a trip are the ones that were not planned. The local festival you stumbled upon, the restaurant without a sign, the random conversation that leads somewhere unexpected. Over-planning costs both time and money, and the most satisfied travellers tend to be those who have a framework but let go of the control within it. Some of the most memorable days on a trip cost almost nothing.

10. Keep an eye out for good deals

The best hotel deals disappear quickly. It pays to have a place you can check for current deals on the destinations you are dreaming about. At yourtravelideas.com we go through hundreds of hotel offers and find the biggest discounts so you can always travel more and pay less. 🌴