You want to travel for as long as possible right? Struggling with a lack of funds though? No problem! You can definitely travel on a budget and keep your small pennies going and going. Grab your notebook and get ready. Here are 10 ways to Travel On A Budget Forever and Ever! Onwards budding adventurer!
One way to see the world is to get a job working abroad! There are many ways that you can support yourself by travelling. Think about every skill you possess and offer it up wherever you can. My friend offers to cut peoples’ hair in hostels, another friend offers to sew peoples’ clothes. My favourite job however, which pays very well, is teaching English.
I travelled for 5 years teaching English before getting into travel blogging as a source of income. Aside from the money, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the countries you teach in and really get to know the locals on a longer-term basis. If you want to pursue this career path, Teacake readers get 35% off MyTEFL’s online course which will give you everything you need to be free and go see the world!
Many airlines and travel agencies offer special discounted rates or packages to specific destinations. I’ve found some great bargains and saved a lot of money by keeping my eye on these. I recently flew back from China to the UK last minute after my Jiu Jitsu course for £180 = $240.. Not bad! I recommend downloading the Skyscanner app right now to get access to some of the cheapest flights and hotel deals in various countries. Go check them out!
A great way to travel on a budget is to cook your own meals. If your accommodation has a kitchen, take advantage of it! If you’re camping, don’t forget to pack a light-weighted stove for yourself and you’re set. I always go to the grocery store at the end of the day to cook too because that is when food is discounted. In Japan I used to get the best sushi at the end of the day. The supermarket wanted rid of it, my belly was happy to take it.
If you don’t fancy cooking, head right for the street. Street food is cheap, truly local and a great way to hang out in the community and get a feel for the country. To get the best dish, head for the stall with the long line! This shows the locals like it and the food isn’t just sitting there. I have some great ideas for you in you’re eating in Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok!
Another way to eat out is to go to community places that offer food to you and you pay as much as you can for it. I’ve found these all across the world. I ate amazing curry for free when I had no money in Austria and filled my belly with fresh vegetables at a hippy hang out in Taiwan.
Peak tourist season means higher rates but getting to where you want to be in the low or off-season can be much cheaper. Do your research and find out what the best low season months are to visit your dream destination. Weather conditions may admittedly be a little colder but you won’t be fighting hordes of tourists at famous sights, you’ll always get a seat on transport and accommodation will definitely be cheaper and available. I visited Japan in Winter back in 2013 and had a blast catching the sumo wrestling at this time! There’s nothing wrong with checking out what the cheap places to travel are too. They’re just as good as the expensive ones!
Invest in credit cards that offer travel and hotel rewards or free miles, especially if you’re American. Americans have the best deals! Many travelers take advantage of the travel perks that they earn when using these type of cards and end up flying for free and staying in hotels for a couple of pennies. Nomadic Matt knows how to work the system. Check out his credit card hacking tips.
Hotel accommodation can be pretty expensive. Hostels are cheaper and I do use them a lot. However, if you really want to save your pennies and meet locals, use Couchsurfing. Locals offer free accommodation in their own home and in return it is polite to spend time with them, teach them something about your country or cook them a little dinner. My advice to you is to check the host’s profile thoroughly and make sure you fill in your profile too. Stay with someone who has good reviews and some experience.
If you’re willing to put some work in, look towards Workaway or WWOOF. In exchange for you working for them for a couple of hours, they’ll give you food and board. It’s a great way to learn a new skill, hang out with the community and keep travelling on a budget.
Another novel way to travel abroad is to offer house sitting services where you can watch a family’s house while they go on holiday. You will most likely have to do a few chores such as watering the plants or looking after the owner’s pet. It’s a great way to get free accommodation and stay in a lovely place! Check out Trusted Housesitters and Mind My House to get started.
Have your own house? How about taking part in a home exchange programme? You stay in their house. They stay in yours. It’s best to do your research beforehand by checking character references to make sure they’re not renowned for smashing up places but aside from that, all is good!
Getting to explore a new city and visiting various tourist spots can also drain your budget. There are ways to get around it though. If you can, walk everywhere. Visit the free parks and museums. Check if the country’s tourism board offers special tourist cards! These cards can offer free access to some of the tourist sites and give substantial discounted rates inside and on the outskirts of the city.
Talking about walking around a city, lots of companies offer free walking tours. I did quite a few in Edinburgh Scotland and had a really fun and informative time. My favourite walking company is Sandemans. They have numerous walking tours around the world and every one that I have gone to has not failed to disappoint. Why? The guides work for tips so they put 100% into every walk they conduct.
I understand it isn’t for everyone and you may have your reservations but hitchhiking is a great way to travel on a budget. You’ll get from A to B and meet some interesting people for sure. To give you some motivation and courage to do it, especially if you’re a female traveller, check out Mind Of A Hitchhiker. I love her. If you want a more ‘guaranteed’ ride, ride-sharing is also a great way to get around. I personally love Bla Bla Car but these type of sites are better for Europe. You’re not going to get much of this at all in Asia!
These guys are pros at how to travel on a budget forever and ever. The free nomad group is really active and you’ll pick up lots of ideas and opportunities from them each day. They cover all areas of the globe and will give you more inspiration beyond these 10 tips. Happy cheap travelling!
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Hey,
There are some great ideas here. I have hitchhiked around towns but nervous about longer journeys. Maybe the next trip!
Love the tips! I don’t have a stove right now but I already save some money by making my own breakfast of just yoghurt and fresh fruit I find on local markets!
Xx
Fantastic tip! I eat fruit and yoghurt regularly for breakfast on the road – keeps you in top shape whilst you’re having awesome times :)