4 Ways to Travel the World on a Budget

Whether you’re tasting the cuisine in Southeast Asia, trekking through nature in South America, or searching for hidden gems in historic cities in Europe, exciting budget travel doesn’t require tons of disposable income. You can see the world on a budget when you know how to strategize your funds.

Find Cheap Flights

Budget travel starts with landing that great flight deal. Even if you don’t have hours to devote to learning the ins and outs of flight hacking, you can sign up for flight alerts that help you find the cheapest flights. You can also use airline or credit card miles to fund the price of a flight.

Staying flexible will make it even easier for you to jump on a cheap flight when you see it. Instead of waiting for an unbeatable deal to that one place that tops your bucket list, open yourself up to different possibilities. You can use one super cheap international flight as the basis for shorter trips nearby. Or simply snap up the next great flight you find and let that serve as the inspiration for the country you’ll explore.

Save for a Trip — Then Keep Saving

It goes without saying that you’ll want to save up before you board the plane. Some simple hacks will let you keep saving along the way. Sign up for a travel credit card that doesn’t charge international transaction fees, as those fees will start adding up quickly. Even better if you can get a credit card that gives you rewards like cash back or points you can use to cover travel costs like flights and accommodations.

Plan Ahead

Once you know where you’re headed first, take some time to plan out your subsequent steps. Set an approximate budget for each place you want to check off your list along the way. Consider the cities and towns as well as the attractions you want to visit, then look into the cost of travel in those spots. Having a plan in mind before you get started will keep you from scrambling at the last second — and getting forced into settling for something more expensive than what you had budgeted.

If you’re planning to move between different cities, take some time to map out how you’ll get there. You’ll find inexpensive travel options on buses or trains in some locations, and easy budget flights in others. Just check into fees for things like checked bags so you can plan accordingly ahead of time.

Planning ahead will also give you a chance to find inexpensive places to stay. You can arrange budget-friendly lodging options like housesitting or pet sitting in exchange for accommodations if you seek these out before you set foot in a country. We also need to consider flight delays as one of the reasons why there is a need to plan ahead. As many travelers don’t realize that they can be compensated for delayed or cancelled flights, it is very important that they are aware of their rights and eligibility for compensation.

Make Your Resources Last

Make the limited resources you have last longer by consciously slowing down. Jetting from city to city every other day will blow your budget, and you won’t get the chance to really immerse yourself and enjoy a place. Give yourself the freedom to settle into each location you visit, learning to live like the locals do by getting groceries at the market and finding cheap meals and drinks far away from tourist traps. You’ll get a more authentic experience, all while sticking to your budget.

You can travel the world if you keep these tips in mind when planning your trips. No matter what region you want to explore next, smart travel planning will let you save.