How to save money whilst travelling

 Well hello to you my reader chums! It's no secret that I'm a bit of a travel addict and prior to the pandemic, all I would be doing in my spare time is either planning my next adventure or jetting off on my next one. Travel thrills my soul, it makes me happy and opens my mind to the wonders of the world.

money saving tips for travelling

A misconception about travel is that it's expensive or not everyone can afford it. And, although parts of travelling can be expensive and you do need some money to do it, a lot of travelling can be done on a budget. The majority of my trips are done on a budget as that way, I have more money to stretch across to more trips and I can travel more often.

Whether you're money conscious or looking to travel more with a budget when things are back to normal, here are my tips on how to save money whilst travelling.

Set a daily budget

I've never gone travelling or on a holiday without having a daily budget. It has always helped me travel within my means and have the assurance of knowing what I have to spend each day - and over the course of the week. It also helps prevent me from overspending or dipping into the next day budget as I know, I'll be limiting myself for the rest of the trip.

A daily budget is there to help you figure out how much money you can then put towards food, transportation and activities for instance - and is a method I've found to be the most effective. When setting a daily budget, you'll want to take into consideration your budget for the entire trip, how costly the place you're travelling through is and how you're looking to spend your trip. All of these factors would weigh into how much the daily budget should be. For instance, on city breaks in Europe, my daily budget is generally around the £50 mark, whereas in Asia, that budget will probably be less (not including accommodation as I usually book that in advance.)

Opt for street food options 

I love street food; it's one of the best ways to get a true taste of a country without spending a shed load of money. Street food is available wherever you travel, however, is more prominently cheap in places such as South East Asia where you can get a meal for about £1. Saying that I've been to cities in Italy and all over where the street food was a hell of a lot cheaper than any restaurant I've been to.

It won't only save you money, but it can also help you immerse in the culture, talk to local vendors and have a different eating experience.

Walk as much as you can

I can understand that not all destinations are accessible by foot and some people may struggle with a lot of exercise due to health conditions, however, when you're able to, walk as much as you can. Many locations are pedestrian-friendly and a lot of tourist sights can sometimes only be in walking distance to each other that you don't need to splash out on transport to get from one place to the other.

Also, walking around can give you the opportunity to explore different parts of the area, you probably wouldn't have seen if you hopped in a taxi from off-the-beaten-track streets to restaurants.

Or, utilise public transport rather than private

If you're not a fan of walking or aren't able to, public transport is your best friend. Although it can be hard to navigate in a new place initially, once you get the hang of it, it can be a blessing - and another way to see the destination in a different light.

Public transport varies in prices depending on where you're travelling to, however, in general, it's significantly cheaper than taxi hopping - and a budget-friendly option.

Rent your own vehicle

Another transport option is renting your own vehicle. This all depends on where you're going and who you're travelling with. For example, if you're travelling with a family, it may be more cost-effective to rent a car, rather than paying for public transport for you all. Or, if you're solo tripping in Asia and you're looking to explore further afield, then hiring a motorbike maybe your cheapest bet (as they're very cheap to hire.)

Shop around for tours/excursions

Similar to how you try and save money prior to booking the trip by searching for flights and accommodation, you want to do the same with tours or excursions. You can book tours prior to your trip, however, if you're travelling and looking to book whilst there then this point is for you.

A lot of tourist centres will be available around your destination (depending on where you are of course) and the beauty of booking things when away is you have the advantage of people. Whether you meet them in hostels or on the go, they can recommend the cheaper tours they went through and who to book with. Recommendations and research are key when shopping around.

Haggle at markets

You can't beat a haggle when shopping in a market, whether it's for clothes or trinkets. I'm pretty sure haggling happens in a lot of locations, but it is something you should ask about before attempting to haggle.

Trying to lower the price of the asking price may not save you hundreds, but it's a couple of pounds you can put towards something else and still buy what you're after.

Self-catered accommodation

There are many benefits to self-catered accommodation. Firstly, it's usually the cheapest accommodation type as you aren't paying for additional food charges. But, in the spirit of saving money whilst travelling, self-catered options, give you the opportunity to buy in foods and store them, which can save you money in the long run. For example, you can purchase a box of cereal for breakfast that'll last a few days instead of having to buy breakfast every day and that'll only be a few pounds.

It also gives you the chance to make lunch or dinner or buy lots of snacks which you can store and then pack with you as you roam around.

Take advantage of free things to do

Wherever you go in the world, there will always be free sights and things to do available. Before you head off on your trip, do a bit of research and make a list of the free activities that you're able to do - and put them in place on the days money is running low or your budget is smaller.

Also, one of the best free things to do is simply explore: walk around your area and off the main tourist path to see what you can find and discover - you'll make many different stories that way. The best things in life are free as they say.

Eat away from the tourist traps

This is probably quite an obvious point, however, where the main sights are, restaurants and shops around that are usually the most expensive. When on a budget, sway away from the tourist trap path to the quieter and family-run restaurants - not only will they be cheaper, usually, the food is a lot more authentic.

Be money savvy in every sense

All of the above tips are great methods to save money but the main thing is to have a money-savvy mindset. Think about the areas you don't need to spend, where you can spend less and if you really need it and I can assure you, it'll do wonders.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other money-saving tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

81 comments

  1. These are all really good tips! I always try to walk as much as I can when I travel.. it's great to both exercise and save money at the same time. Thank you for sharing this x

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  2. Your expenditure planning is so very accurate.
    I am a travel blogger too and I can understand how important it is to plan your daily budget.
    Thanks for sharing ��

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  3. Street food is the best! I've been to Paris loads and hardly sat down to eat! I love getting a few bits from a supermarket and sitting outside the Eiffel tower!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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  4. I love the idea of a daily budget, kicking myself that I haven't done that before! I can so easily spend, spend, spend just "because you're on holiday" hehe. Fab tips!

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  5. Good tips! These are the things I do too to save money while traveling. Walking is the best. Plus, you get to see a lot of things by walking.

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  6. Some amazing tips for saving money while travelling, it's always good to set yourself a budget! x

    Lucy | www.lucymary.co.uk

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  7. Amazing post! This is so helpful for travelling! I will definitely be using these tips the next time I'm travelling! Thank you for sharing this!

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  8. Great tips! I always love to walk everywhere when I'm travelling, you get to see so much more, and as you say, it also saves a lot of money.

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  9. Brilliant tips as usual! I can't wait to get travelling again and really want to visit Asia! I know they have amazing street food so will be taking advantage of that when I'm over there!

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope you can go soon xx

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  10. When we went to New York the first time, I believe we walked something like 30+km in a day because we were saving the dollars for coffee & food :) So many great tips here as usual, Della x

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  11. It is great when you can save money while traveling! I am big at eating homemade food if you're at an airbnb as well. Oooh, yeah those tourist traps can really get you and your money. Thanks for sharing these tips!

    Nancy ✨ mdrnminimalists.com

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  12. These are such great tips. I always struggle to work out how much spending money I will need to take when I am travelling but these are all great tips to save money and will definitely help me in the future.

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    1. Thank you so much! It's always important to research how expensive the place is before you go to set the right budget xx

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  13. Great post, Della! I love eating my way through my travels! Street food is the best!! I can't wait to travel soon and it's looking to be closer in the near future now! xx

    Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

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  14. This is a really helpful post. I try to stick to a daily budget too which really helps. I'm so bad at haggling, I could definitely do with some tips there.

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  15. I tend to travel to Europe a lot for my degree and I always opt for walking where I can! Street food or sharing a hotel with friends is always a good shout x

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  16. Great tips! As long as you're looking out for what you're eating, street food is a great, cheap option- and you can find some really great cuisines! Thank you for sharing x

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  17. You've compiled so many great tips, Della! I would personally apply these when I'm finally allowed to travel again. Thank you for sharing! xx

    lenne | lennezulkiflly.com

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  18. Great tips! I've travelled so many on a small budget, you just have to be savvy in every sense like you say. Always forget about my budget on the go, sometimes I have coin only so I make sure I stick to it. Great points!

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  19. This is so helpful! Setting up a budget is really important :) I'll keep in mind your tips here. Thank you x

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  20. These are brilliant tips. When I am away, if I have any money from my daily budget left at the end of the day, I put it in a pot and save it for the last day. Over the week, more than you would think goes in the pot and you can treat yourself on your last day.

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  21. These are great tips and definitely some that I use as well! So looking forward to travelling again! Thanks for sharing.

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  22. Haha! Haggling at markets, souvenir stalls! Surely A must do on holiday and a definite way to save a few £££s

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  23. These are great tips, having a daily budget is so important. It's really easy to fall into that 'I'm on holiday, treat yo self' attitude. Street food can be soooo cheap. My last trip before the pandemic was Istanbul and between a great exchange rate and cheap street food, lunch was around 30p a day x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. Thank you so much! Wow 30p a day is amazing, it's crazy how cheap some street food can be xx

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  24. Super helpful post and very interesting points. I can't wait to travel again but I always spend so much money, so on my next trip I will definitely be more careful when it comes to money lol! Thanks for sharing xx

    xoxo Olivia | http://www.oliviaandbeauty.com

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  25. Very good points! I am not good at daily budgeting while travelling for some reason so I will try that next time (hopefully soon). For some reason, I think more in the big picture of how much I have to spend for the whole trip (aside from accommodations and airfare). Maybe I will spend less if I do what you do. Thanks for the tips!

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  26. These are all such great tips and definitely things that I try to do when I travel! I love city breaks because the cities are usually so accessible and you see so much more of them if you're just wandering around than if you get transport everywhere!

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  27. Great tips! There really are sooo many great free things to do in most cities now isn't there? It's incredible for those on a budget!

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  28. Oh my goodness, do I miss travelling and going on holiday!?
    I've always saved a daily allowance for my holidays, I'm quite a big saver in life and this really helps me on holiday. The good thing that's come out of lockdown in 2020 is that I've got extra pennies for fun days out when I eventually get to my holiday destination!

    Rosie

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  29. Sorting out day or weekly travel cards can save you a bit of money. Also, paying in the local currency rather than using your credit card to pay in your own currency, although easy, can save you paying a higher exchange fee

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  30. Thanks for sharing, I always forget to set a budget for each day when I travel and run out of cash then have to use my cards which is not great, I think these tips are usefull for the furture :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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  31. These are great tips, Della! My partner and I have a few trips planned so I shall be using these budgeting strategies. (Although unfortunately Aus isn't designed for walking!) xx

    mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com/

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    1. Thank you so much, I hope they come in handy xx

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  32. Such a great post! It's so easy to spend lots of money on holiday because everything looks so great. Looking for cheaper trips is my fave tip, along with setting a daily budget. x

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  33. Loved this and all these tips! I am honestly the worse when spending on holiday as I think about it as a treat, but should really look into budgeting everyday before travelling again! Also walking can be such a place to discover hidden gems, thanks for sharing x

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  34. Yes to walking, haggling at markets, and street food, as well as eateries off the beaten track. There's usually a reason the locals eat at places and it makes sense to follow their example. Great tips, Della! x

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  35. I love eating from street vendors! I found buying meats and cheeses at butcher shops is also less costly. And of course, walking it off saves money and burns cals! Thanks.

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  36. this is so useful, holidays can get so expensive! I hate using public transport, especially as you can miss out on so much! great post lovely x

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  37. These are really good tips! I am excited to start travelling but don't have the funds to go very far. I am saving up but will be using your tips to make the most of my holiday! Thank you for sharing. Em x

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  38. When travelling I always like to haggle at markets, it's such a fun way of getting the price down. I've never thought about setting a daily budget before, but it's something I'd love to consider for future trips x

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  39. Love these tips - I love walking as much as possible around when I'm travelling, as well as I'm a sucker for free tourist attractions. I'm so excited to get travelling again (once it's safe) your posts always have me so excited and eager to travel! Thanks for sharing.

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  40. Brilliant tips! Having a daily budget is a cool idea. I'm sure keeping all these points in mind for my next travel!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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  41. These are great tips! I can't wait to travel again!
    The last time I went to Sweden, I went to the grocery store & shopped for most of meals since there was a shared kitchen so I definitely was able to save money that way!
    I also walked everywhere & took the bus for places further away.

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  42. Good travel tips.I love travel by walk to see more local people and house and more stories happened there. hd lace wigs

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  43. I've never travelled, but covid has shown me that I want to. Thanks for writing this!

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  44. Interesting post! Although traveling for me is a time to more freely spend money, I could use some tips not too over spend. Also, I totally agree that there's a lot of free and cheap tourist places to go to if you look hard enough. Thanks for sharing,

    Alexis| http://cafe-beauty.com/

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