People are often surprised to hear that when I first started travelling I had a tonne of credit card debt, a flat I was paying rent for in London, and zero secure income. I just knew I wanted to do something different with my life and was willing to take some pretty big risks to get there.
This experience taught me how to travel on a tight, pretty much non-existent, budget. I managed to travel for nearly 2 years straight without having to come home, and even then I only returned for my Brother’s wedding. It took several years for me to build up an income and even today I’m not earning big bucks. So all of these budget travel tips are ones I still follow myself. For example, I slum it on people’s sofas, travel by bus, and cook my own food.
There are some non-negotiables when it comes to travelling, particularly travel insurance (which can actually save you money). Still, there are plenty of ways in which you can save a sizeable amount whilst on the move.
I will break down how I manage to travel on a budget into three handy sections: accommodation, transport, and food. Within each of these sections, you will discover multiple ways to travel cheaper, or in some cases, for free. I will also discuss the non-negotiables at the end – don’t scrimp on these!
Cheap and budget-friendly travel has led to some of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. I hope you love it just as much as me. Safe travels!
Budget accommodation
One of the biggest monthly expenditures when travelling will be your accommodation, particularly if you like having your own space. The cost of Airbnb has gone up significantly since I first started travelling and it is unaffordable for many of us solo budget travellers.
However, there are a few alternatives out there that have ensured I keep my monthly budget low. Some provide me with my own space whilst others require me to be a little more sociable.
Housesitting
If you like having your own space, love animals, and want to keep your accommodation costs to a bare minimum, then you will love housesitting. I first started house and pet sitting in 2022 through the TrustedHousesitters platform when travelling through Mexico.
I pay a yearly membership fee of around £90 and get access to their large database of homeowners. You don’t pay any money to the homeowner, nor do they pay you any. This means you can stay in their accommodation for free – in return for looking after their home and/or animals. You can find sits all across the world and I have looked after some amazing animals in places like San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), London (UK), and Berlin (Germany). Read my honest TrustedHousesitters review to find out more.
I always watch the TrustedHousesitters platform for any long-term sits in countries I would like to visit. You can find some real gems! I personally like to intersperse it with stays in co-living spaces (see below), so my overall accommodation costs throughout the year stay relatively low, and I get to mix up how I spend my time.
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Use code VEGAN25 at checkout to get 25% off your first year of membership of TrustedHousesitters. Applies to both sitters and home owners.
Couchsurfing
Another way of securing ‘free’ accommodation is by couch surfing. When I first started travelling I did a lot of couch surfing, mostly through the Couchsurfing platform. They charge a small membership fee and you get access to their database of people who are willing to host you in their home. It doesn’t always mean sleeping on the couch, I have landed a fair few beds during my time couch surfing.
This option may not appeal to everyone since it requires you to be quite sociable, plus each opportunity differs greatly. I’ve gone from a small bungalow in a local community in The Bahamas to a fancy apartment with a swimming pool next to Venice Beach in LA. I enjoyed the variety but I know some people will be looking for consistency. Moreover, if you are a solo female traveller, you will want to err on the side of caution. Only apply to stay with people who have genuine and helpful reviews, if you ever feel uncomfortable, leave (and always have a plan b)!
Hostels
This wouldn’t be a budget travel blog without a mention of hostels! I have stayed in hostels all across the world and have had some incredible experiences in them. They are typically very cheap, especially if you don’t mind staying in a room with a fair few people in it. Most hostels will offer different room sizes as well as mixed or single dorm options.
You usually get two kinds of hostels: chilled-out ones and party hostels. Thankfully, they are normally pretty open about the style of hostel they run so you will know whether or not to book it. If you like the hostel community vibe but love having your privacy, many hostels also offer private rooms, but they will cost you quite a bit more!
For booking hostels anywhere in the world, I recommend using Hostelworld.
Coliving
Co-living is similar to hostels but there is a larger emphasis on creating spaces for digital nomads to live and work in. This means that most co-living spaces will be set up with shared kitchens, workspaces, and spaces to hang out. Many places also set up regular events so you can meet others staying there.
Not all co-living spaces are that affordable, but I have found plenty that are budget-friendly. Considering that you also get a space to cook and work from, it can also help save you money. Many offer a private room for much less than a hostel and you will also have the added benefit of shared spaces to use. I personally like using www.coliving.com as they have a good variety of co-living spaces to fit different budgets all across the world. Here is a full list of my favourite co-living sites:
Volunteering
If you have some spare time on your travels then you can look for volunteering opportunities on Workaway, many of which will cover your accommodation (and sometimes food) in return for your help. This can involve helping communities with teaching and building work, working on farms, assisting businesses with digital skills, and much much more.
Every opportunity is unique so the work it requires will differ greatly, but there is a huge variety on offer on the Workaway platform. So you will likely find something suitable for you! There is a small yearly membership fee but you won’t have to pay to get involved in any individual projects.
Budget transport
You can’t travel without some means of transport, be it your feet, a ferry, or a plane. Some don’t cost anything but will require a lot more work than others, whilst some can cost you a small fortune. So here are some of my tips on travelling effectively and cheaply.
Flight deals
Flying is quite easily the easiest way of travelling around the globe but it can get expensive, particularly when you fly direct. However, it is possible to find cheap flight deals if you can be flexible on your dates and destination. I set up a bunch of flight alerts on Skyscanner and have a (cheap) yearly membership with Jack’s Flight Club, which notifies me of cheap flight deals saving me 100s of pounds.
A recent example includes a one-way direct flight from London Heathrow to Mexico City on Aeromexico that I found for just £360 through a Skyscanner flight alert. These flights typically cost £800+ so I was quick to jump on it. I have also benefited from cheap return flights between London and Berlin through Jack’s Flight Club, saving me at least £100.
Here are links to flight deal trackers that I use:
Take the bus
Okay, no one wants to sit on a bus for any longer than 30 minutes, but buses are a cheap way of getting around. I usually rely on buses whenever I am travelling between places in a country. For example, I like using the sleeper buses to get around Vietnam. They typically have a lay-down seat which you can get comfy in and they stop at service stations along the way.
The best way to discover bus routes, and more, is through the Rome2Rio website.
Rail passes
One of my first adventures as a young adult was interrailing through Italy with my sister. We bought an interrail pass and travelled up from Naples to Milan. It was a really affordable way of making our way around the country. A lot of countries across Europe have great rail networks and you can save quite a bit of money by buying an interrail pass.
Car sharing
I’m not going to mention hitchhiking here mostly because I am a female and it simply isn’t something I’d do on my own. Therefore, I have no experience of doing it, and thus, no tips to share. Thankfully, car sharing platforms rely on reviews and this is a lot safer than standing on the side of the road wishing for the best.
There is no global car sharing platform to use but it is worth typing into Google ‘Lift/car share + the country you are in’. Here are some lift sharing sites I know in the UK:
Budget food
One of my favourite things about travel is trying out new cuisines but depending on the country you are in, it can get expensive. In countries like Vietnam, you can get away with eating out cheaply for every meal of the day, but this won’t always be the case. So, if you are looking to reduce that food bill, use these handy tips.
Food sharing
One way to save on food shop costs is by using a food sharing app, like Olio, which has been used in over 50 countries. You create an account and search for any waste products that are being offered in your local area. It is a global app, but you may find more people are active on the app in certain locations, like London.
Cook for yourself
Depending on the country you visit you can save yourself a few pennies by making your own meals. Obviously this requires a kitchen set up, but you can still get access to kitchens on a budget particularly if you are housesitting (via Trustedhousesitters) or staying in a hostel or a coliving space.
I actually quite enjoy visiting local markets and discovering ingredients I haven’t cooked with before. For me, it is just as exciting as eating out at new restaurants. Just avoid any high-end supermarkets if you are trying to save yourself money.
Non-negotiables
These are things you SHOULDN’T budget on because they are essential travel costs. However, by paying for these you could save yourself money if something were to go wrong.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance should be a must-buy for all your adventures. A good travel insurance policy will cover any last-minute trip cancellations, lost luggage, stolen items, and unforeseen health costs. This could save you a LOT of money and hassle. And in the unlikely event that you end up injured, it could also save your life.
I personally like using SafetyWing (read my SafetyWing review here) because they offer a rolling policy that can be used worldwide (but it will cost more for use in the US).
Technology
People may have been travelling for years without modern tech but it has become an essential in today’s world. We are so reliant on phone technology that we would struggle without it, for example, imagine navigating a new city without Google Maps. Yes, it is possible, but it does leave you vulnerable to scams and well, getting lost, of course. I do enjoy getting lost from time to time, but if there is somewhere I need to be, then I will use Google Maps.
Moreover, as a digital nomad, I work in cafes, hotels, and coworking spaces across the globe. Logging on to random WiFi networks leaves my computer vulnerable to cyber attacks. So, I either use my phone hotspot, a portable WiFi unit, or a VPN.
Here is a list of my most used technology:
- Airalo – A handy ESIM service for accessing internet on your phone
- Solis WiFi – A portable WiFi unit (Get 15% off when you use code MYVEGANTRAVELS)
- ExpressVPN – my favourite VPN
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