Traveling has a price. It may or may not be cheap, but in most cases isn’t as cheap as many would wish for. Unfortunately currently, in the middle of 2022, it’s even more expensive as prices soared thanks to the current geopolitical situation. Also, after 2 years of the pandemic and closed borders, the world is finally re-opening so as a result, many people decided to go out into the world and due to high demand, prices also rose. It’s actually quite horrifying how fast prices are going up. Fortunately, there are a few ways to save a few bucks here and there! So if you’re looking for savings during your travels here are some of our favorite tips on how to save money while traveling.
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20+ Tips On How To Save Money While Traveling
Travel during the low season
It’s an amazing way to find much cheaper accommodations, even 2x cheaper than in high season. You know, there are fewer tourists and people/businesses are just dying for some money. That’s also a great way to avoid crowds, and sometimes pay less for attractions.
Stay off the beaten path
Choose smaller towns over big cities, hidden gems over hot tourist-heavy destinations which are very often overpriced.
Travel slow and stay longer in one place
The longer the stay, the lower the price per night. For example, on Airbnb you can save a significant amount of money if you book for at least four weeks, as many hosts offer monthly discounts. Also by traveling slow and “living” longer in one place, you’ll be able to better understand the local culture and daily lifestyle. You’ll be able to immerse yourself fully in the experience.
Negotiate the prices
You can also try to negotiate the price of accommodation. Write to the host and ask. It works especially well with new places with only few reviews.
Travel to countries where your home currency is stronger
Traveling to low-cost countries is a great way of saving money, as you’ll spend much less, and more money will stay in your pocket.
Don’t book at the last moment
Because the prices of flights and hotels are often much higher.
Cook more and eat out less
This is a HUGE money saver, as sometimes one meal outside for 2 people can cost the same as weekly shopping.
Don’t buy coffee in cafes every day
Another huge money saver. Yes, we know that coffee at a cafe may taste better, but it for sure costs much more than coffee made at home. And there are a lot of ways to make coffee at home that tastes even better!
Look for great deals in stores & use stores’ club cards
Different stores offer different promotions, but there are some that have amazing app coupons like -10% for all your shopping (Carrefour, Lidl). You can also save some bucks on single product discounts, and special offers.
Drink the tap water (if it’s safe) or use a water filter
We know it’s not safe in Asia, but in Europe, in most places, you can safely drink tap water. This will also help you save on buying water from the shop and reduce buying plastic.
Use services like Revolut or Wise to easily and cheaply exchange currency and pay abroad
Just keep in mind that sometimes there may be a problem with smaller stores not accepting foreign cards (it happened a few times i.e. in Portugal) so it’s good to always have some cash with you.
Use cashback offers
Look into getting rewards for using credit cards for certain shopping. For example, you can pay less for reservations on booking, or buying at certain gas stations.
Avoid paying fees when taking money out of ATMs
Be careful with ATM withdrawals because fees can be very high. Always search for ATMs with minimal fees and avoid famous Euronets as their fees are one of the highest. Especially watch out for something called a surcharge. And if you really must withdraw money it’s better to take out more in one transaction rather than make a few smaller withdrawals.
Travel in a car with an economical engine and exercise eco-driving
Pretty simple but on the course of thousands of miles/kilometers of your journey you can save a ton on fuel this way.
Find the cheapest gas station in the area
Don’t refuel at the first gas station you’ll see (unless you have to). Do the research, and find local or supermarket stations, as they are often much cheaper. Those on the highways tend to be the most expensive.
Look for free parking lots
On this, you can save quite a lot. And believe us, it’s possible to find free parking spaces in almost every city in near proximity to the center. So far, during 10 months we paid maybe 5 times? Do your research earlier and it’s highly possible that you’ll find one for free.
Walk as much as possible and avoid taxis
But if the distance is too long, instead of a taxi use public transportation, like a bus or train. Mass transit saves money and is more environmentally friendly.
Pay only for attractions that really interest you
You don’t need to enter every attraction, why pay for something that doesn’t interest you? Also, look for tourist attractions that don’t cost you any money – probably you’ll be surprised how many of them are out there.
Use coupon codes aimed at tourists
Multiple times we’ve seen flyers full of coupon codes for local attractions. Look for tourist information or centers where you’ll probably find a bunch of them
Buy tickets online
Always check if the tickets for the attraction you would like to go to are available online. Chances are high that you’ll save at least a few %.
Do the research in order to avoid fines
Each country has its own regulations and it’s always good to know what is in force in the country you are in at the moment. You don’t want to pay a high fine for things like driving too fast or parking in the wrong places?
Don’t travel solo
That will allow you to split many costs of transportation, food, accommodation, etc.
Track your expenses
If you want to take control over your money it’s great to know how much you’re spending and on what. So keep track of your expenses and maybe you’ll find something that you can easily stop spending money on. It can be an eye-opener to see where money is leaking sometimes.
Tips on how to save money while traveling – Summing up
Hopefully, you’ve found a few tips on how to save money while traveling that are known to you and will use them soon. If you know other ways to save a buck, please share them in the comments below!
