It may be odd to bring up tips for travelling on a budget while any form of travelling is not quite possible. But I feel any time is good to talk about this. I actually remembered that last year I mused over what travelling would look like after the pandemic. And I must say, I wasn’t too wrong.
I’ve done a good share of travelling in my life. None of the trips – be it to Samoa or Seville – cost me a fortune. So let me share what I do when I travel that doesn’t make me break the bank AND enjoy myself.
Top Tip: Plan your trip in advance
I can hear you say that planning kills the spontaneity. In fact, I feel it’s the opposite. Why? Because once you’ve planned all your expenses in advance, you now how much you can spend on unplanned trips, visits, meals etc. Here is what I plan and often pay for in advance.
Check, and buy, tickets to sites before you travel
This tip will be even more relevant in the post-pandemic world. I feel it may be quite difficult to access some of the sites without having a pre-booked entry. Additionally, some of the sites have timed entries. This means you are guaranteed a visit at a specific timeslot, and you can use the rest of your time for anything else. This also means that you’ve already paid for one or two tickets, so you spread the cost of your trip, and you don’t need to worry about this expense later.
I’ve done this with my entry to e.g. the Flamenco Museum in Seville, tickets to see New York City Ballet performance, and the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
Check the cost of the transport
I am a huge fan of using the public transport whenever possible. And walking everywhere 🙂 Taxis are, unsurprisingly, the most expensive way of moving around. Some cities allow you to buy a travel card in advance. I’m careful doing this in case I get scammed. But I do check how much e.g. a weekly travel card is, and this gives me an idea how much money I need to have ready for the transport.
Not to mention that cities like Stockholm have an unusual and entertaining underground. You definitely do not want to miss it when you’re in Sweden.
Have some money exchanged before you travel
I usually travel with some currency already exchanged. This means I don’t use my credit / debit cards too much while I’m abroad. In turn, I don’t need to worry about paying the credit card back when I return.
However, in the post-pandemic world, you may be expected to use your bank cards more than physical money because of safety reasons. In this case, check how much using the cards abroad will cost you.
Dine and drink off the main streets
This tip for travelling on a budget is probably quite obvious but many people don’t do that. Usually because it’s convenient to simply hit the main street to look for a restaurant or coffee shop.
However, if you explore the place on foot, you are more likely to come across a dining place that is away from the high street and from the high prices. Additionally, such hidden places are often small businesses so you’re helping someone local pay their bills 🙂 Not to mention that you are likely to experience a better service.
One of my most favourite places that I stumbled upon was in Thera in Santorini. The restaurant is called Mama Thira Tavern, and I had the best pancakes there ever 🙂 The restaurant is hidden and off the main street. And bonus, you can admire the most amazing view while enjoying a delicious view.
Check if the sites you want to visit have Free days or Hours
I don’t know many people who do that. And this small preparatory task can save you money on entry tickets.
Museums all over the world are either free or have free slots. Bonus: some travel/ transport cards give you free access to some city sites, so it’s definitely worth checking this in advance. Admittedly, after the pandemic, not many museums may be offering FREE entries. After all, the stupid virus has affected the Arts industry massively. Nevertheless, I feel it’s always good to check – you never know.
Second Top Tip: shop locally for snacks and use your water bottle
One of the things I’ve learned through the years of travelling is that nothing beats buying in a local shop. I source out one for things like bananas, milk, muesli bars…
Another favourite thing of mine is stumbling on a fruit and veg market 🙂 The quality of the produce you can get is incomparably better and cheaper to the stock in a super-market. Think juicy peaches, tomatoes tasting like tomatoes, and fresh bread for pennies.
The use of a water bottle is now quite common. This is great to see. Not only are you not buying another plastic bottle, but you’re also not spending a crazy amount of money on water.
Travelling on a budget takes time…
… but if you love travelling like I do, and you aren’t a millionaire then being prepared is one of the best tips for travelling on a budget. It may sound like a lot of effort. Checking this and that, comparing best offers… However, I feel that all these activities are not only helping with your financial side of the trip, but also get you nicely excited about your travel 🙂 And once the money part is off your mind, you can enjoy your trip even more.
What are your top tips for travelling on a budget? Let me know in the comments!
