If you’re preparing for your first backpacking trip and wondering how to save money while traveling, you’re in the right place. I’ll share my top tips to help you maximize your travel budget. While budgeting may not be for everyone, for travelers like me who want to explore more destinations and extend our trips by any means possible, it’s essential. Carefully managing my expenses has allowed me to fulfill my dream of traveling while still investing in what matters most to me, such as activities and local food.
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Tips You Can Use Everywhere
1. Public Transport
It might seem daunting to use public buses or the metro in a new country, but it’s worth it. You’ll get the hang of it quickly, and it’s a great way to save money. For example, a public bus in Costa Rica from San José to La Fortuna (a 5-hour ride) costs just $8 CAD. A private shuttle for the same route is around $90 CAD.
2. Walk When You Can
One of the joys of traveling is exploring on foot. If your destination is within a 30-minute walk, skip the bus or metro. While public transit may only cost $3-$5 CAD per ride, these small amounts add up quickly if you’re using them multiple times a day.
3. Hostels
Staying in hostels is one of the best ways to save money. A night in a hostel often costs a fraction of what you’d pay for a hotel room. For more information, check out: Everything You Need to Know About Staying in Hostels: 15 Essential Questions Answered & 10 Essential Tips for Choosing the Perfect Hostel.
4. Use Hostelworld
This app is a go-to for finding hostels. It features a comprehensive rating system to help you choose the best option. The app also includes group chats with fellow travelers staying at the same hostel, making it easier to connect.
5. Use Google Flights
Google Flights is my favorite tool for booking flights. It compares prices across various airlines and helps you find the best option based on your needs. Always book flights in private browsing mode to avoid price hikes caused by repeated searches.
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Tips You Can Use in Europe
6. Use the Kitchen in Your Hostel
Restaurant food can be expensive in Europe. That’s why I often use the hostel kitchen to cook my meals. By saving money on food, I can invest more in activities and experiences.
For example, pasta at restaurants in Italy typically costs around 12-20€ (18-30$ CAD). However, if you go grocery shopping, you can make a similar meal with spaghetti and meat sauce for just 2-5€ (3-8$ CAD). Of course, I’m not suggesting you should only eat meals you cook. Enjoying food from local restaurants is an essential part of traveling. But cutting back to eating out 1-2 times a week instead of every day can make a significant difference in your budget.
7. Use Omio (Transportation App)
Omio compares different modes of transportation—bus, car (shared rides), train, and plane—to find the best and cheapest way to travel across Europe. You can book everything directly through the app, and I’ve found that prices are often the same or even cheaper than booking directly with the companies.
8. Use Too Good To Go (Food App)
This app allows you to buy food from restaurants and stores at discounted prices at the end of the day. It’s a great way to save money if you want to eat specific food (like sushi, which is so expensive) while also reducing food waste.
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Tips You Can Use in Asia
9. Markets and Restaurants Over Cooking
In Asia, eating at markets and local restaurants is often much cheaper than buying groceries and cooking your own meals. For example, you can get a huge Pad Thai for $5 CAD in a local market, while a fruit basket at a grocery store might cost you $20 CAD.
10. Use Grab and Gojek (Ride Apps)
In Asia, Grab and Gojek are popular ride-hailing apps. I recommend choosing the scooter option since it’s much cheaper than a car. Plus, scooters will get you to your destination much faster as they can navigate through traffic more easily. Sometimes one is cheaper or faster than the other, so it’s worth having both. Like Uber, you can see the price upfront, know when your driver will arrive, and choose to pay in cash or via the app. I prefer paying cash, as it allows me to round up and leave a tip. These apps also let you order food, similar to Uber Eats.
What’s Next?
Now that you know how to save money while traveling, it’s time to plan your trip! Here are some articles that could be helpful :
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