Cheap Travel: Traveling on a Budget

Cheap travel is something that we all dream of. And when I say cheap, I don’t mean bad quality. We all want the best bang for our buck on our adventures. We want the most epic experiences while dishing out the least amount of cash possible. Most of us have a hard time saving up for trips, so traveling on a budget is a must! But how can this be achieved? Well, first off, I suggest you read Russell Hannon’s book “Stop Dreaming Start Traveling: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling More and Spending Less”. While I have done my fair share of cheap travel, Russell is absolutely a pro! So, read his book and hear him speak whenever you are able! 

Next, there are ways to save yourself a lot that are simple and easy to do in your preparation process.

Bundling Sites

First of all, using bundling sites is a really good idea. In all of my experiences, Expedia and Kayak have been the two best sites to go to for a deal. I visit Expedia when I want to get the best deal on flights and hotels. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve found that getting a bundle deal of flight and hotel is CHEAPER than getting just the flight by itself. So, if you’re needing a hotel in a specific location and you’re staying at one place throughout your trip, this is the way to go. Do the “Flight + Hotel” search on Expedia. For flights only, Kayak has consistently given me the best deal time and time again.

Please remember, when dealing with bundle sites or any trip booking sites for that matter, clear your browser cache before searching and purchasing.Here’s how to do this on Chrome: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

And on Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-clear-firefox-cache

Travel Agents

Believe it or not, sometimes travel agents do actually save you money. Sometimes they don’t charge you, as they have deals with hotels and certain services. And the money they can save you may surprise you since they have access to special deals and prices that you don’t. However, be sure to do your research on this before proceeding with an agent. Ask for their fees upfront, and see if they will tell you approximately how much they can get the total of your trip for.

Eating on a Budget

Food covers a large part of our travel budget that we don’t really think about. But there are ways to limit your food intake. Think about packing packets of protein powder of Instant Breakfasts to cut out a meal throughout your day. Paying for only two meals a day while you are gone saves you way more than you’re considering. Then, be sure to go grocery shopping while you’re traveling. If you buy groceries or things you can pack and eat easily for lunch, then you’re only really paying a lot for your dinners out. By managing the way you eat like you do at home in your daily life, you can cut the cost of your trip tremendously, especially for larger groups and families.

Go During Off Season

Perhaps the best way to save during your trip is to schedule it during off season. This could potentially cut the cost of your hotel stay in half, especially in places that make most of their money in certain seasons. Cancun is still lovely during the winter, so if you don’t mind heading out that way in the cooler months, why wouldn’t you take your trip in the winter and cut the price in half? Do research on the place you will be traveling to and see how much or how little seasons effect a location. If the weather doesn’t change from season to season, it’s silly not to travel to that location when most people avoid it.

Free Campsites

If you’re looking for an adventure and you have camping gear and/or an RV, why not go on a camping road trip? Especially during COVID times, this is a great idea. You can travel at your own pace and practically for free! You can visit https://freecampsites.net/ to find a list of places you can camp at across the US for free! I think this is the cheapest way to go! There’s no flight, no need to book hotels, and no extra expenses (aside from gas). You can bring groceries, cook for yourself, and experience all the natural world has to offer.