How to travel on little money

Reviewed regularly · 9 min read

Almost everyone tries to save on what matters least. Here are the decisions ranked by how much they actually save, from most to least.

1. Change the dates

By far the biggest saver. The same week in June or August can cost half, with the same climate and the same destination. If you have flexibility and don't use it, you're giving up the largest discount available.

2. Change the country, not the standard of the trip

Two comfortable weeks in Albania or Romania cost what one tight week in Norway does. Dropping to a cheaper country is far more effective than dropping category within an expensive one, and you enjoy it more.

3. Lengthen the trip rather than shorten it

It sounds contradictory and it's pure arithmetic: the flight spreads across more days. A 700-euro flight to Asia works out at 100 euros a day over a week and 33 over three. For distant destinations, going less often and staying longer works out far better.

4. Cook something

An apartment with a kitchen for breakfasts and the odd dinner cuts 20 to 30 euros a day per person in expensive countries. In cheap destinations it barely matters, since eating out already costs little.

5. Eat where locals eat

Three streets outside the monument zone, and the set lunch menu where it exists. A difference of 150 to 200 euros over a week, without eating worse.

6. Choose accommodation by area, not category

A simple place well located almost always beats a good one far out, and saves you transport on top. And a hostel dorm or private room is an enormous difference from a hotel.

False economies

Searching in private mode: it does nothing. Chasing a 20-euro flight to an airport two hours and 30 euros of bus away. And cutting travel insurance, the one place where saving can cost you dearly.

What not to cut

Insurance outside the EU, and the refundable rate if your dates aren't certain. Both cost little and cover the scenario that genuinely wrecks a budget.

A realistic budget

With these decisions, a week in eastern Europe runs 400 to 600 euros including flights. In Spain, outside high season, 350 to 550. You don't need much more to travel well.

Keep reading

Browse every budget destination, or go back to the board and filter by month.