Seeing the world for yourself is one of the most fulfilling things you can do. Visiting world-famous sites that you’d only ever seen in books or on Google images, forging friendships with people who grew up on the other side of the world, and indulging in delicious local delicacies can feel life-changing. But all this chicken soup for the soul often comes with a hefty price tag.
Planes, trains, taxis, hotels, and food – not to mention the various activities you’ll have on your bucket list – will add up faster than you think. But allow me to let you in on something: you don’t actually need a big budget to travel the world. If you can strike the balance right between planning strategically and having enough flexibility while you’re on the road, as well as making the most of longer stays in affordable accommodation, you can actually travel more with less money.
Planning with Flexibility
Fail to prepare? Prepare to fail. In this particular case, if you embark on an ambitious adventure across the world without doing the necessary planning, your budget is probably going to spiral out of control. At the same time, if you plot every single aspect of the trip down to the last second, you might end up spending more time worrying about following the plan, rather than giving yourself time to enjoy the quiet moments of the trip or enjoy spontaneous activities.
The key here is finding the middle ground. Set clear timeframes for how much time you want to spend in specific cities or countries overall. Book your transport around those timeframes, allowing you to budget for expensive flights, ferries, trains, etc. But while you’re in each location, give yourself more time than you’ll need to do the activities you want and enjoy the culture of each setting.
That way, you’ll have more time for unexpected excursions that you learn about during your time out there, and to otherwise enjoy the locations beyond the bucket list, in quieter, perhaps more authentic ways.
Read: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Leeds
Save Big on Accommodation
Hotels are great – they’re comfortable, convenient, and often safe, but they aren’t the only accommodation option that can offer you these things.
Hostels get a bad wrap, in my opinion. They’re often oversimplified as havens for unhygienic backpackers in their early 20’s, but this simply isn’t the case. In reality, many of them are comfortable, offer both private spaces and common spaces that balance modernity and authenticity, and have great kitchen facilities if you don’t want to eat out every single night.
Another alternative that’s admittedly a little harder to come by is a house-sitting setup, where you can have free lodgings in exchange for looking after the place. When you’re reading about it in an article like this, you might think it sounds intimidating, but when you’re out there, you’ll be meeting so many people – travellers and locals alike – who might present this sort of opportunity to you. It isn’t the kind of thing you can plan for, but it can save you a lot of money.
Stay For Longer
When you’re travelling, it’s always tempting to cram in as many locations as possible. But the problem is that moving around costs money, and you can expect to take up a significant amount of your total budget regardless. Every time you change cities, you’ll have to pay for transport, accommodation, not to mention the higher prices for meals on the go.
There are also subtler ways that you’ll end up saving money during longer stays. Chances are, you’ll find the best value shops to pick up groceries, the most affordable cafes, and become more confident with cheap public transport systems. Furthermore, I’d personally prefer to have deeper experiences in fewer destinations, rather than shallow ones across more places.
Eat Smart
Food is no doubt one of the most exciting parts of travelling. Each destination will have its own trademark offerings, so it’s easy to overspend if you aren’t paying attention.
It’s only natural to have a list full of renowned restaurants or famous street food vendors, and you should definitely try these – I couldn’t imagine not experiencing them. But be strategic. For every meal out, have at least one meal in, ideally two. You can often find local markets where locals source affordable ingredients that, oftentimes, are better than the ones you’ll find in restaurants aimed at tourists.
But still, if you want to splurge on a big meal out, you absolutely can. Just make it intentional and make sure it’s going to be one to remember.
Closing Thoughts
Travelling on a budget is all about prioritising what matters to you and committing fully to the trip that you want. Plan your trip carefully, while allowing some wiggle room in the right places for spontaneous adventures. Don’t feel pressured to move on quickly, eat smart, and get some easy wins by staying in a comfortable accommodation that won’t break the bank.
So pack your bag with the essentials: travel adapters, your favourite swimwear, and some Killa Nicopods, then step out, ready to pursue that flighty temptress: adventure.
