The Adventurer's Guide to Budget-Friendly Traveling

If the purpose of your vacation is to sip piña coladas by the beach at an all-inclusive resort for a week, these tips ain't for you! Although I have nothing against those - in fact, ideally I'd do those at least once a year.

I've always been a natural saver - blame my dad (love you, dad!) Cheap, frugal, I just believe in maximizing the value of my money. It takes 5 mins to Google a promo code that could save you 50% on Reebok Nanos (true story), and really, getting home 15 mins earlier after a night out isn't worth the extra $20 to me (now 30 mins, definitely, especially when it's cold). In the end, it's really all about your personal values.

I certainly don't believe cheap is always the best way to go especially if it adds too much inconvenience or severely reduces your quality of life. When I moved out to the Boondocks with no nearby grocery stores, meal kit deliveries became my new normal even though in the past, I'd never justify spending so much when I could buy the ingredients myself at the store. I won't lie, it took me a while to realize money isn't everything. But finding a balance allows me to splurge guilt-free when the time comes!

Back to the topic at hand.

At my age, I've been fortunate to have seen a lot of the world already, and hope that with these tips, others who desire to travel more but feel limited can see it as attainable in the near-future!

You can have a fulfilling experience without breaking the bank or sacrificing comfort the entire time!

I've spent no more than $2000 for any one trip, and usually it's closer to $1000-1500. This includes flights, accommodations, food, commuting, and attractions, but does not include shopping or souvenirs. It includes domestic and international trips. For reference, my longest and most expensive trip was 10 days/9 nights from NYC to Japan. Note: these are tips for short-term vacationing, not lengthy, immersive stays.

Onward to the Tips!

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Getting There

• Use a flight analytics site/app like Hopper, Skyscanner, or Google Flights to notify you of price drops. This is how I got a roundtrip flight from NYC to Tokyo for $667 during Labor Day week!

• Look at off-peak days. Instead of Friday night, can you arrive Saturday morning? Instead of returning Sunday, can you return Monday?

• In major cities, look at departure and arrival at different airports within proximity (NYC, London, and Tokyo are a few that come to mind with several airport options). But factor in the cost/convenience of getting to and from the airport as well!

• Don’t sleep on budget airlines.* But also be aware of fees for seat selection, carry-ons, etc. If it'll save you enough and is not hella inconvenient, go for it!

• And of course, credit card points! Usually the conversion rate of points to dollars gives you greater value than shopping directly in dollars. I have racked up tons these days and know plenty of folks who swear by them.

• For domestic trips, a car rental, Amtrak, or bus are also options for added savings, but weigh in the added travel time. Is saving $100 worth an extra 10 hrs sitting next to a stranger? Maybe, maybe not!

*"Don’t sleep on” = don’t rule it out as an option! By all means, sleep if it’ll help acclimate you to the new time zone!

Accommodations

• For the majority of my trips, my accommodation is simply a place to store my stuff and sleep. For a mixture of affordability and comfort, I choose the cheapest room in a decently-rated hotel (4.0+ out of 5 or 7.5+ out of 10 from customer reviews). Sure, you may not be in a 4-star resort, but did you fly several hours to a foreign country to stare at the beautiful walls of your hotel room? If you’re daring, opt for a hostel for ~$30/night*. I've yet to use a hostel, myself.

• Travel with buddies – split the hotel expenses, and you’re basically paying hostel prices, AND you don’t have to share a room with creepy people you don't know or like (unless your friends are creeps or you don't like them, then you need new friends).

• I don't rough it the whole time though! Consider an extravagant hotel for just a portion of your trip (25-50% of your time). This will add extra anticipation and appreciation, especially if you save it towards the end!

• Credit card points also work here!

*Avg price in London in 2019

Food

• Order a variety of plates to share so that you get the most out of the experience, as well as save on money and leftover food.

• Limit the more expensive sit-down meals to once/day and consider cooking at the Airbnb, free hotel breakfast or carrying small snacks/trying local street food throughout the rest of the day while exploring.

• Lunch specials & happy hours! (I can't recall coming across these abroad, but if traveling in the U.S., certainly).

Commuting

• Be open to public transportation! As a New Yorker, I've found transit in most cities I've visited to be doable -*name drops* London, Tokyo, Edinburgh, Naples (Italy), Washington, DC, and Portland, OR all come to mind. If you are comfortable with Google Maps, it’s usually straight-forward. Not only will you save, but you will further immerse yourself in the local experience! $5 for a day pass vs. ~$15 Ubers back and forth from your hotel twice a day (that’s $60/day)? It’s a no brainer to me….

• Of course, some late nights out in an unfamiliar place might require a ride share/taxi. And if traveling with buddies, splitting the taxis may be worth the extra comfort. You decide what's higher priority. I'm just presenting the options!

• With a group, renting a car might also be a good option if public transit isn't your thing or ride shares aren't available. You also get much more flexibility. I generally don't because of extra costs like gas and tolls, and in big cities, parking and traffic may be irritating. Besides, it's always people from every city but your own who "CAN'T DRIVE FOR S***!"

  
  

Attractions

• Take advantage of student discounts (my alumni card has yet to fail me, but I'm also discrete about it) and military discounts at museums, zoos, theaters...wherever you can!

• Call ahead or book online using discount codes or to find specials for booking in advance, early-bird specials, or for booking as a group.

• Some attractions have free or discounted days - plan accordingly.

• Nightlife - ladies are often free or discounted before a certain time (men too, although not as often). Look up the establishment's website or social media account to find out!

I know this may seem overwhelming if you aren't a natural saver or planner. To start, consider just a few of these tips that will have the biggest financial impact or that you can easily implement, and enjoy the extra savings! If you found this helpful, have questions, or have tips to share, let me know in the comments below!