Travel Tips on a Budget: A Guide For the Thrifty Solo Traveler
If there's one thing we've learned from traveling all these years, it's that our budget directly impacts how far and how often we can explore.
There's no shortage of travel tips for those on a budget, but they all say the same thing:
Fly the red eye.
Travel during the off-season.
Book your trip 6-12 months in advance.
While it's all excellent advice, you probably won't use every thrifty tip out there. That's why today, we're giving you a short and sweet guide on how to travel for cheap that makes the most difference.
Travel Tips on a Budget: A Guide For the Thrifty Solo Traveler
Whether you're traveling throughout the U.S. or you want to go abroad, you need to ask yourself these five questions:
What's my budget? This will determine when you can leave, how long you'll be gone, and where you can afford to stay. Figure this out first. Have a specific number in mind. We'll talk about how to increase your budget in just a second.
How long do I want to be traveling? Did you know that you can save money by booking out hotels and AirBnBs for the month instead of by the week/day? We offer up to 35% on ours!
How am I getting there? Use your budget to search for the best flights, rental cars, gas stations, and public transportation options in your desired destination.
When can I leave? Now that you know your budget, calculate how long it will take you to save up for your trip.
Remember that this can change once we go through these budget-friendly travel tips below. But it's good to start with a base plan!
Tip #1: Work Remotely
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reshape the workforce in the U.S., allowing more people to work from home.
Some jobs offer temporary remote work under certain conditions (even if you're not currently a remote worker). So our first travel tip for workers on a budget is to ask your employer if working remotely is an option.
If it's not, still put in that vacation request! You deserve to see the world even if your boss doesn't think so.
However, we get that you might not have the luxury of Paid Time Off (PTO), so you're worried about money.
The solution to that is to find freelance work in your industry. If it's a short trip, do this a few months ahead of time and save up. This is essentially a way to give yourself PTO. If you plan to travel for a month or longer, work while you travel!
Our Tip: Give yourself strict guidelines and working times while traveling. Working remotely is the only reason we've been able to travel as long and as much as we have.
If your dream is to see the world more than your annual vacation, you need to get used to freelance work.
Tip #2: Think about Suitcases
These days, airlines are constantly adding more fees when booking your flight. What type of bag you bring can increase your ticket by $50 each way!
The first thing you will want to do is check your baggage allowance. You might have a free carry-on suitcase included in your ticket, or you might find that a checked bag is cheaper than a carry-on.
You also want to think about your next move: are you making a connection or getting a train after your flight? You might not want to wait around for checked baggage at the carousel.
If traveling with a partner, think about using one checked suitcase together rather than bringing two carry-ons. This could end up saving you some money to use elsewhere on your trip :)
If you are traveling solo and don’t want to mess around with any additional costs, we recommend an under-the-seat duffle! It’s:
FREE, plus
It ensures that you pack lightly.
I pack basic staples like a white tee, jeans, and a gray sweater that are inexpensive and easily replaceable.
Tip #3: Travel To "Walk-able" Cities
Some places in the world, like Florida, have almost too many options for travel destinations.
While Orlando's theme parks are a dream destination for some people, it's not something we recommend for frequent travelers.
One of our best travel tips for those on a budget is to stay away from tourist cities. Instead of Orlando, go someplace like St. Pete, Florida.
And to take it a step further— stay away from cities that aren't walkable.
You'll save a ton of money on rental cars by opting to stay in cities where you can get anywhere on foot (or where public transportation is half the cost).
Tip #4: Get Those Miles!
As a remote freelance artist, I've learned that expenses are necessary to run a business.
One thing you can do to catapult your freelance endeavors and allows you to travel more is to put your business expenses on a travel credit card.
We know this is taboo, but if you're smart with money and pay it off every month, this strategy can also help you get travel points.
For example, you can probably get a free round-trip flight after a year (usually less) of expenses with the points you earn on a Southwest Rewards card!
We also use the Wise Debit Card. This is a multi-currency debit card that I always travel with. You get great exchange rates and save tens of dollars when converting to the currency of your choice.
Tip #5: Book Long-Term Stays
And finally, booking long-term stays with hotels or AirBnbs can get you ridiculously good deals for your travel ventures.
We have an Air BnB in St. Petersburg, Florida, where you can get a 35% discount on month-long rentals!
Ask us about it! We'll even give you a few one-on-one travel tips based on our experiences. :)