Two visitors at the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Baltimore is a major destination for people traveling on a tight budget who need a tight budget travel tips. Photo: Kazad/Artcentron

Traveling on a Tight Budget can be challenging. Here at 17 Tight Budget Travel Tips that will help you travel cheaply.

BY KAZAD

As summer begins, many people are getting ready to go on their summer vacation. If you are traveling on a tight budget, several measures can help make your trip less expensive.  The first thing to do is to come up with a plan. Research the best time to visit your intended destination. Have an idea of where you are going and what it will take to make your trip successful. It is also important to know about the weather.

Tight Budget Travel Tips for Cash-Strapped Travellers

Here are some traveling tips that will help you save money if traveling on a tight budget.

Rent a Car

If you are traveling a long distance, an important travel tip is to rent a vehicle. Even if you have your own vehicle, renting a car can save you a lot of money when traveling on a tight budget. This is one of the important examples of tight budget travel tips.

By renting a car, you are able to avoid the wear and tear and cost of maintenance that will accrue from putting excessive mileage on your car.  Renting a car is a great opportunity to save money because it is typically less expensive. You can rent a car with great mileage and gas efficiency. Additionally, you can get a discount from car rental companies that can help reduce your cost. Before renting a car, however, do your research.  Try as much as possible to avoid the add-ons, hidden charges, and using services that cost a lot. Once you get a rental car, make sure you return it as soon as you get back from your trip. Make sure it is clean and the gas is at the level at which you received it.

Drive Your Own Car

One way to travel if you are on a tight budget is to drive your own car.  Many people drive their own cars when going on short trips. Driving your own vehicle when going on long trips is not advisable because of the wear and tear it puts on your car and the expenses that will accrue from excessive use.  Driving your own car is a viable way of saving cost if you are going on short trips. Before you set out, however, you need to make sure that your car is in a good driving condition. If you find problems, make sure you fix them before setting out. You don’t what your car breaking down while you are on a trip because that could be an expensive adventure. Once you are sure that everything is in order, all you have to worry about is gas.  Gas is very cheap now.

Take a Bus

A major budget tip is to take a bus. If you do not have a car or are traveling on a tight budget, one of your best options for saving money is to travel by bus. Many bus services that will serve you well.  You can take Greyhound or the Mega Bus. The fares are affordable and will let you travel on a budget. If you do your research well, you will definitely find good deals. Many of the bus companies also offer discounts. If you go to their websites, you will find codes for discounts that can be used when buying your tickets. If you decide that you are traveling by bus, it is important to book your trip ahead of time. That way you can be in front of the line during rush seasons.

Night Travelling

For many people, traveling at night is a no, no.  Nevertheless, for those who love to travel at night, it is an opportunity to save money and travel on a tight budget.  One place to start if you are interested in traveling at night is Expedia.  On the Expedia website, there are great offers that can let you travel under a budget.

Stay With Friends & Family

Instead of staying in a hotel or spending money on condominiums, one way of saving money during your travels is to stay with friends and family.  Make sure to call ahead of time before traveling. It is not a good idea to just appear at someone’s house unannounced. If you have a good connection of friends, you can also explore that if you want to spend time with them.

Travel forums are important places to make connections because they have members across the globe. The way to do this is to put a message on the forum’s group board about your travels and when you will be at your intended destination. Ask if someone can accommodate you for a few days.  You will be surprised how many people will reach out to you. Even if you do not get direct responses to your message, you will get feedbacks on cheap places you can stay at your intended destination.

Use Discount Airlines

For those who have never used discount airlines before, here is a note of caution: Do your research before booking a flight with any discount airline.   This is very important because not all the airlines offering discounts are the same.  While some are upfront with their charges, others have hidden charges. So, in order not to be cheated or made to pay unexpected charges, it is necessary to do your homework. Check if they have charges for carry-on- bags, food, or a particular seating area.

Couch Surfing

This is another tricky one, and it is not for everybody.   Couch Surfing is when people allow you to sleep on their couches or mattresses for free or a small fee.  As noted, this is not for everyone. However, if you are the adventurous type who does not care where they sleep, then, you can take advantage of this opportunity.  If you chose to do this, make sure it is with somebody you know or are familiar with already. Also, make sure the airbed or couch is clean.

Stay in a Hostel or Dorm

There are so many hostels and dorms travelers can stay in while on their trip as they try to save money.  Many of these hostels, especially in Europe, are safe, cozy, cheap, and clean.  Very often, they have food for their guests: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Hostels or dorms cost less than hotels, and it is one of the tight budget travel tips for those traveling on a budget. However, before traveling, it is necessary to research the hostels in your intended destination.  You do not what to end up in hostels or dorms that do not have basic amenities, including flushing toilets.  More importantly, you do not want to end up with all your things stolen. You can also read reviews on Yelp and other review websites.

Hotels and Tight Budget Travel Tips

In spite of the options available in terms of accommodation, there are still people who must stay in a hotel. If that is your choice, you should ask for a discount from the hotel. While some hotels offer discounts, others will simply say no. However, you will be surprised by the amount of discount you can get from a hotel if you do your research well. Many hotels are eager to offer discounts during off-seasons.

Airbnb or Home Away

Airb&b or Home Away provides the opportunity for travelers to stay in someone’s home. This has been a trend of late. Many people allow others to say in their homes while they are away or occupy a part of their home for a number of days. Homes could include apartments, studios, and beach homes.  This is a budget-saving move because in most cases, the prices are low compared to staying in hotels.

 Avoid the Rush

Many people are used to procrastinating and often wait until the last minute to book their flights, trains, or buses. If you are on a tight budget, avoid traveling on holiday weekends.  In addition to the high cost of hotels, the prices of flights and buses are also very high during this period.  However, if you insist on traveling during holiday weekends, make sure that you book far ahead of time. This way, you will not be in line with all those who are just buying tickets and passes.

Eat Cheap on Tight Budget Travel Tips

Feeding is a major part of the money spent during travels. If you are on a tight budget, it is important to look for ways to get the cheapest meals.  One of the ways to save money on meals is to take your meals with you when you go out. You can also buy cheap food from the local market in your location.

If you are leaving in someone’s home, take the opportunity to cook your own meals. Eating cheaply is one of the tight budget travel tips. These measures will save you money. It is important to do research intended destination before traveling so you know what to expect. You can also talk with other travelers and locals to find the best place to get good food for cheap.

Stay Away From the City

Many travelers prefer to stay in the city.  The main reason is the immediate access to everything they want or need.  Depending on where you are going, you can save a lot of money by staying on the outskirt of the city. Accommodations are often very cheap because many people prefer to stay in the city.  Perhaps the only issue is transportation. If where you are staying in the outskirt of the city does not have its own transportation system, you have to look for alternate ways of getting where you are going. Taxis are very expensive, therefore, may not be a good option. A better option is Uber. Uber is cheap and you are able to save money.  If Uber is still beyond your range, you can also take cheaper public transportation: Buses, trains, and light rails.

Free Entertainment 

If you are traveling on a tight budget, one way of saving cost is to look for free entertainment wherever you go. The first thing to do is to research free local entertainment in your intended destination. If you love art, many of the art galleries and museums are free. In places like London and Berlin, you can find street performances and galleries that are free.

Travel with a Group

Traveling with a group is an opportunity to save a lot of money. If you are traveling on a tight budget, traveling as a group can save you money on hotels and meals.  However, a major disadvantage of traveling as a group is that people are unpredictable and have different attitudes. Moreover, they have different reasons for going on a trip. To understand the challenges of traveling as a group, you should watch My Life in Ruins.  The romantic comedy shows that when people from different works of life get together on a trip, the consequences can be catastrophic. So, if you are traveling with a group, make sure you know the people you are traveling with on your trip.

Work on Your Trip

One way to save some money if you are traveling on a tight budget is to work. Working is not just an opportunity to save money but also to make money. If you are a freelance writer or know how to write, you can make money from traveling by writing for a newspaper, blogs, and websites. You can also take photographs that you can sell to media companies.  Teaching is another way to save and make money during your trip. You can teach English as a second language if you are traveling to places where it is needed.  Additionally, if you are staying at a hostel or dorm, you can work there in exchange for food or a discount on your stay. The possibilities are limitless.

Forget About Souvenirs

You can save money by not buying souvenirs. No doubt, our friends will be upset with you when you return home, but it is important to save money. In addition to saving money from not buying souvenirs, you save money from excess luggage.  So, if you want to bring home memories of your trip, you can take as many pictures as you want. If you must buy souvenirs, buy the ones that are less expensive and will not add weight to luggage.

Resources: Tight Budget Travel Tips

Priceline

If you are planning to travel and do not know where to start, you can start on Priceline.  One of the effective tools on the company’s website is the Name Your Price.  This can be used for hotels and car rentals.

Ebates

This is another place to get help about you traveling especially when you are on a tight budget and intends to save money. You can get information about bookings and others.

Other Resources include

Airbnb (accommodation)
Vayable (tours)
BlaBlaCar (ridesharing)
EatWith (meals)

Theses tight budget travel tips are necessary for traveling on a budget. Do you know other ways to travel on a tight budget? Share your thoughts and leave a comment.