Let’s face it, even if you have a few spare quid in the bank, you don’t want to be spending it on unnecessary expenditures like accommodation and food, do you?
No.
Instead, you could those hard earned pennies towards the real important stuff like travelling, surf lessons, sky-diving or scuba-diving.
But is it possible to travel the world without much money? Yes, it is.
Here’s how you can travel on a really low budget.
1. Plan
Do your research before you go in order to help you budget effectively for your trip. Find out the everyday costs of living in each of the countries you want to visit, including food, transport and accommodation, and don’t forget to budget for tourist attractions and the little things, like lots of bottled water too.
2. Book Ahead
With everything, from travel to accommodation to tours, if you book ahead there are often plenty of early bird deals to be had.
Being spontaneous is part of the adventure for sure and I’d never recommend having everything pre-booked (unless you were on a tight schedule), but same-day train tickets and last minute hostel reservations can often cost you more so book as soon as you know your plans.
3. Look for Flight Deals or Round the World Tickets
Before you go, make sure you shop around for flights to get the best deals. Speak to your local travel agent or look on line to find out the cheapest months to fly.
Also, consider booking an around the world ticket, which will enable you to stop off in many countries, (providing you travel in the same direction) for just one ticket price. You be charged a fee if you change your dates though, so remember to factor this in.
4. Prepare to Slum It
Don’t be put off by large dorm rooms! Ear plugs and an eye mask will do the trick.
I love cheap hostels. There, I said it. The cheaper the better. They not only save you a bundle but they are often full of more interesting guests and friendlier staff.
OK, so there’s a rather thick layer of dirt on the floor and the beds are made up with questionable bed spreads, but the person before you lived and so will you!
Also don’t be scared to opt for large dorm rooms which are usually at a cheaper rate. Smaller dorm rooms don’t guarantee less noise or even privacy. Spend the $3 or so you save on a beer.
5. Research, Research, Research
I can’t stress enough how important research is to budget travelling. So once again, do your research!
Knowing what you want to see and when you want to see it means no last minute surprises and it also means you’re likely to know when you are getting ripped off and when you’re getting a bargain.
It also means you can check things like peak and off-peak travel times (school holidays, national events etc), city discount cards for travel and attractions, free open evenings for galleries and museums (New York is known for free entry on certain days and evenings, for example) and generally what you should be paying for local taxis, hostels, meals etc
6. Work Abroad
Why not mix your trip up with backpacking and also working? There are lots of short term positions available to travellers all around the world, from fun gap year jobs, teaching English, working holidays and much more. Earn money to use towards more travels, bonus!
7. Volunteer
There are so many volunteering programs available and although usually unpaid, a lot include food and accommodation which can help you to save a lot of money and eliminate most daily outgoings. A lot of farms, hotels and hostels around the world also offer voluntary work in exchange for accommodation.
8. Stick to a Daily Budget
When you’ve done your research you should be able to come up with a daily budget; these are often given in guide books as well. If you’re serious about saving money then it’s imperative to stick to your budget. Writing down everything you buy and how much it cost as you go along is a good way to do this.
9. Check Dates
Find out when the low seasons are and try to make your trips coincide. During these times you can often get better deals on accommodation and transport too.
10. Find Hostels with Kitchens
When finding accommodation try to find a hostel or guesthouse which has a shared kitchen that you can use. You will end up saving a lot of money by cooking in instead of going out to eat for every meal.
11. Eat Locally
In some countries, however, the cost of street food is much cheaper than going to the supermarket to buy ingredients. Stay away from the touristy areas during meal times and find out where the locals go to eat in order to get the best deals.
12. Travel in a Group
Usually you will get discounts and also be able to cut costs by travelling with a friend or as part of a group. Sometimes depending on the destination tours can also be better value for money than traveling solo.
12. Remember, Dorm Rooms are Not Always the Most Cost Effective
If you’re travelling with a partner it’s good to keep in mind that dorm rooms in hostels are not always the cheaper option. Even if you’re travelling around Europe, it is usually a lot cheaper to pay for a double room in a guesthouse or cheap motel than for two beds in a dorm.
13. Use Local Transport
It may be hot and uncomfortable, but if you really want to save money and stick to your budget, then you should use local transport whenever possible.
14. Travel Overnight
This is my favourite tip; get overnight trains/buses/flights as often as possible. Not only does this save you a night’s accommodation elsewhere, but they tend to be full of fellow backpackers and so are great for making friends on the way.
As locals rarely use overnight transport (especially 10+ hour journeys), they are often cheaper, too.
15. Get Good Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may cost you a lot, but it’s a necessary and important part of going on a gap year and in the end could actually end up saving you a lot of money. Medical care and legal fees can be very costly abroad, so it’s comforting to know that those fees will be covered by your insurance, should you ever need it.
Travel the World on a Budget
Gap years and backpacking trips can be very expensive and because you have saved so hard, you want to make sure your money lasts as long as possible.
According to the NUS and Prospects websites, the average gap year costs between £3,000-£4,000, however this greatly depends on where you go and may not even cover you for the whole year, or factor in any volunteering or adventure activities you may want to do.
But hopefully our top tips on saving money on your next adventure will help you to save money.