“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”

Anonymous

Travel is an amazing way to see the world, learn, and grow. It’s even better when you can do it at a lower cost. A lot of people think that traveling is expensive.

It doesn’t have to be when you have a frugal friend!

There are plenty of things you can do to save money while traveling and still have a great time.

I’ve visited 29 countries (and counting). Here are some of my favorite travel hacks:

1. Find cheap flights using Skyscanner or Google Flights to find out when prices are high, low, and the average for your destination over the course of the year. Then plan your trip around those dates!

2. Travel in the off-season. Traveling in the summer can be two to three times more expensive than traveling in the winter. I paid $150 roundtrip to go to Cancun in January. That same flight is $600 in August. See the difference? Try taking trips September-March (minus the holiday season). In most cases, you’ll get more bang for your buck. 

3. Take public transportation instead of Taxis or Ubers. Why pay more for transportation than you have to? Public transit is usually much cheaper and easier than renting cars or taking taxis. Make sure it’s safe if you’re traveling at night by asking fellow passengers or reading reviews online.

4. Stay at Hostels. While staying in hostels is not always an option, they can be affordable and convenient. Hostels are generally located in the center of town or near public transportation stops, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or trying to find your way back at night when all the shops close down. Most hostels offer free breakfast and Wi-Fi as well as other amenities such as laundry services and shared bathrooms. You’ll also get to meet people from around the world! I stayed at Lub’d Hostel in Phuket, Thailand and had a BLAST. I met some amazing people and we became lifelong friends. Bonus: My room only cost $17/night!!!

5. Eat at local restaurants. Most cities have plenty of affordable restaurants, especially if you stick with local cuisine instead of tourist traps or chains like McDonald’s or Burger King. If possible, try looking up menus online before going out so you know what kind of prices to expect at various places and whether something will be too expensive for your budget before walking into the restaurant itself! All of these meals costs less than $3 USD, was delicious, and supported the locals.

*Bonus Tip: Buying meals while traveling can be very expensive, especially if you’re visiting cities that don’t have lots of great local cuisine options. Purchase snacks from the grocery store or local market so you don’t get tempted by fast-food chains offering cheap meals that aren’t worth the money spent on them. Doing this for just one meal a day can make a huge difference!

What’s your favorite travel tip on the list? Any that you’d like to add? Join the conversation in the comments below!

Stay frugal, be brilliant!