1. Can you travel?

What does your budget say? When planning your next adventure, the first question you need to ask is can you do it? You have to take a holistic look at your situation, is this the right time to travel, and does your budget say you can travel? In this first step, you need to recognize how far out are you planning and how much you need to budget and set aside for this next adventure. Traveling on a budget requires being wise and strategic in planning your experience. This isn’t a time to be hopeful in your budget. Take serious time to plan out what you have in the time leading to your next trip and figure out how much money you can save to make your next trip enjoyable.

• Choose destination carefully

When attempting to travel on a budget, you need to choose your travel destination carefully. Dont just throw a dart at a map to determine where you’re going. Below are some things to think about when choosing your destination.

• What is my budget? (of course!)
• What specific things do I want to do/see/experience?
• What is the length of the trip?
• How long does it take to arrive at my destination and back? Travel time is a huge factor in choosing the destination
• Are there specific travel requirements like visas or special documentation or immunizations required (Covid-19 Vaccination)?

When choosing your destination, don’t choose randomly. One of the best questions to ask is, why? The question of “Why” is a question that digs deep into thoughts and emotions. It gets to the root of the heart versus a superficial reason. Choosing a destination because it seems “cool” is good, but WHY is that destination cool is what is going to determine if the location is the place you want to go. There are so many cool places around the world and were traveling on a budget, we need to dig a little deeper. What is it for you? Is it the scenery? Is it the food? Is it the culture? The more you choose your destination by asking the question why, the more enjoyable the experience will be.

• Know your budget, and stick to it

Different locations and different types of trips call for different budgets. Do some research beforehand on different locations and what costs are associated with those locations. Expenses to consider when setting your budget:

• Travel to the destination as well as local travel
• Accommodations (where are you going to stay?) 
• Food
• Sightseeing you want to do (any admission fees or other associated fees?)

When creating your budget, get estimated costs for these items and any other things you want to do while traveling and I would suggest adding 10% to each of those things to account for any little unexpected expenses you may encounter.

Finally, for this point, you have to stick to the budget. Whether it’s your monthly budget or your travel budget, when you spend more than you expect in one area, you will be pulling from something else. It’s always a trade and is that trade worth making at that moment. For example, it may be easier to grab some fast food on your way to go do something, but choosing the ease of that quick meal will mean that much less to spend on the next activity. To put it in perspective, that quick meal you want to buy can be upwards of $15 while the cost of admission to Le Louvre Museum is the same price. Is that easy meal worth missing out on at one of the most famous museums in the world? I would hope you would say no, so plan accordingly.

• Plan in advance

Make sure that you plan in advance for your next trip. The best way to overspend is to be forced to purchase things at a premium because you waited too long. Here are a few things to be aware of to help you plan in advance.

Avoid tourist traps. Depending on where you are planning to go, there are likely businesses in the area that target tourists that are likely to overpay for food and services. Be prepared, do your homework in advance, and know what you should be spending on certain things, and don’t be afraid to ask a local.

Know what you want to do before you go. Since time will be limited on your trip, knowing the top things you would like to see and do will be a huge help in getting the most out of your trip and staying on budget.

Don’t stay in over-touristy areas. Again, do some research in advance. Look at other blogs to see what people recommend for that destination. Many destinations have areas that are designed for tourists and you will pay a premium for the ease. If you’re trying to get the most for your money, be willing to stay a little outside and the destination area and commute to where you would like to go.

• Flight choice is key

Flights are usually going to be the biggest portion of your international trip, depending on where you do. Since this will be a large portion of your budget, this can be a way to take back some of that money for your budget. You may have to sacrifice some convenient travel hours or even the best time of year to go to a particular destination, but you can still enjoy your trip while saving some money doing it. Some things to consider when booking a flight:

• Off-season- Particular destinations have peak tourist seasons. Choosing to go in the off-season can lead to some money savings. Another bonus is not having to deal with other tourists and the busyness.
• Red-eye- This is the term for a late-night or early-morning flight. Many travelers choose to fly during convenient hours during the day and pay a premium for it but choosing a flight that flies late at night or early can help you save some money.
• Mid-week- Many travelers choose to fly from weekend to weekend which is convenient but it is usually more expensive. Airlines like to fill up other flights during the week and are willing to lower the prices to fill the seats while saving you money.

One last thing to remember when choosing a flight, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. A flight may be cheaper but it may be at the expense of time for your trip. A cheaper flight may have longer layovers and that is cutting into your total trip time.

• Pack smart

Huge money waste is having to spend money on things that you forgot to pack. I can’t count how many times I have forgotten to pack simple things and end up paying way more for them at the destination. For example. My wife and I went to Mexico and we forgot the sunscreen. A five-dollar expense at Walmart before the trip turned into a 15-dollar expense while in the country. Double and triple-check everything you need for your trip to avoid those purchases you shouldn’t have to make. Know where you are going and think through what you will need and what you won’t need.

• Accommodations
• There are so many hints and tips when it comes to accommodations. Accommodations will be a significant portion of your budget, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are just a few things to think about and consider:
• Consider a hostel. Yes, you may be sleeping in a large dorm-style room, but the money saved there means more for other experiences.
• Many hostels will actually allow you to work for your stay. They will waive your night’s expenses if you volunteer to do housekeeping-type duties.
• Considering staying outside the immediate areas of where you want to visit. Going back to point 4, avoid the over-touristy areas where you will most likely pay higher prices.
• I have made friends from my college experience that live all over the world or know somebody who does. Don’t be afraid to ask around to see if you can stay with someone. The worst they can say is no.

• Avoid chain restaurants because you know them

Outside of flights and accommodations, food will be another big part of your budget. If you’re trying to get the most out of your money, avoid the ease of large chains where you will usually pay more because it’s familiar. Try choosing a local restaurant and experience the local culture. While you’re traveling, enjoy the culture and the food of the country and usually save money doing it. 

• Take advantage of rewards credit cards or providers

So many companies now have rewards programs, from hotels to flights, to credit cards. It doesn’t take long to create accounts or sign up for emails, trust me, it’s worth it. The other side of rewards is credit cards. Credit cards aren’t for everyone, but many credit cards now have great features if you travel often. My wife and I use our credit card like a debit card and don’t spend money we don’t have, the credit card company rewards us for doing it. We get up to 10X the number of points just for booking through their site. Yes, you might get a few more emails in your inbox, but these rewards programs can lead to great deals on future flights and hotel stays. check out my post about FREE FLIGHTS

1. Give your budget flexibility

Finally, give yourself some flexibility in your budget. Don’t create a budget so tight that you spend more time thinking about not overspending that you neglect to enjoy yourself on your trip. When you get opportunities to travel, sometimes it is worth the trade to spend a little more, for the sake of enjoying something on your trip. Build flexibility. I’ve learned the hard way. I’ve had to miss out on things that I really wanted to do, but because I made my budget so tight, it didn’t allow me wiggle room for things that pop up on my trip that I didn’t plan for.  

There are so many other tips for traveling on a budget these are a few that I have learned and would encourage anyone wanting to travel to think about. I’m always learning how to travel more efficiently and cost-effective. Feel free to email your tips and trick on how to travel green.on how to travel green.