How to Travel Cheap – 17 Evergreen Strategies

1. Get a Job While Overseas

 

When traveling, money is the main issue; many go about it this way.

 

“I must work and save in my home country, then take all my savings and travel.”

 

The sad truth for most of us -Travel Lovers- is that going about it this way makes it challenging to fund long trips (3+ months).

 

But what about saving enough money for one month of traveling, working abroad, earning money, and continuing to fund your trip?

 

To travel the world, you’ll have to be good at saving money, finding budget airlines to find cheap flights, find the best travel insurance deal and hotel room that best fits your tight budget.

 

If you become good at this, you’ll find that traveling on a tight budget is doable and become part of the frequent travelers.

It is more common and simpler to pull off than you might think.

 

Once in Australia, I met people from the US and Brazil working as bartenders and house cleaners.

 

 Some budget travel tips they gave me

 

• Work abroad to earn money
• Do group travel
• Stay away from major tourist attractions
• Always use budget airlines
• Try to find free accommodation by working on farms
• Join free walking tours in Europe
• Never use a travel agent
• Don’t obsess about free travel, free accommodation, or a free place; it might happen.
• Take your student ID with you, and you might get student discounts
• Focus on saving money; as much money as you can and travel to cheaper destinations in Central America and South America
• Never travel without travel insurance

 

Here in Taiwan, where I live, I’ve met people from Europe who come on a working holiday; they work for a couple of months, save money and then move on to another country to continue their travels.

 

 I’ve asked a couple of them how they do it and manage to travel frequently.

 

Here are some of their budget travel tips

 

• Don’t use travel agents or travel companies
• Have a budget traveler mindset.
• Cook your own meals and bring your own food; don’t go to restaurants or fancy stores.
• Make sure you have a credit card with low foreign transaction fees
• Don’t always go after the major attractions
• You might get a free room in a hostel if you work for them in the high season.
• Do plenty of research on cheap destinations, but make sure you’re going somewhere safe.

 

The first thing you should figure out is whether you can apply for working holiday visas and in which countries; this entirely depends on your own passport.

 

For example, people with a Taiwanese passport can go to Australia on a working holiday Visa; I have a Nicaraguan passport, but that’s not an option for me.

 

But you know where the real money is, teaching English.

9 Jobs You Can Do While You Travel

Teach English

 

Many foreigners in Taiwan do it; as long as you have a passport from an English-speaking country, you can opt for a job as an English teacher, most likely in cram schools helping kids with their homework.

 

Teaching English part-time can get you around US$1,600/month; the minimum salary in Taiwan is US$852, so you’ll most likely have enough money to live and save.

 

Many foreigners from English-speaking countries teach English in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan; they do it for 3-6 months and then go down to southeast Asia, where the cost of living is way cheaper.

 

Here are some links that might help you

 

English Teaching Jobs in China

 

English Teaching Jobs in Taiwan Facebook Group

 

With the current pandemic issue and the world moving to more remote work opportunities, you can try becoming an online English teacher; all you need is a great wifi connection and a decent laptop.

 

Here are a few websites to help you find an online English teaching job.

 

Italki

Vip Kid

Cambly 

Become an Au Pair

 

 

Become an Au Pair; what is this exactly? 

 

An au pair is a young person between the ages of 18 and 30, single and without children, who travels to a foreign country for a defined period to live with a host family.

 

As an au pair, you take on a role as a member of the family and help your host family with childcare and light housework. In return, you receive free room and board plus pocket money.

Bartender/Waitress

 

 

You’ll most likely have to do this under the table whenever you join Facebook groups regarding part-time jobs for foreigners.

 

Here in Taiwan, there’s a bar I go to, and I constantly see new foreign faces, most likely foreigners that are just working to fund their trip.

Hostel Worker

 

 

This is another opportunity; hostel workers rarely stick around, so there’s always some hotel looking for someone to help; sometimes, you won’t get money in return, though you’ll get a place to sleep.

 

Most hotels are in tourist areas, and you’ll get to meet other travelers, so it is not a bad idea.

 

Here are a couple of websites that will help you find accommodations in exchange for your skills.

 

World Packers 

Workaday

HelpX

Diving Instructor

 

 

This one is a bit more difficult to get as you need a scuba diving teacher license, but if you do, you can try your luck and go to the Philippines and try to become a scuba diver instructor in one of the many beautiful paradise islands they have.

 

I used to have a coworker who left the company to be a dive instructor in Okinawa, Japan; he’s living his dream.

Ski Resort Staff

 

 

Snow is seasonal, and so are the jobs around it.

 

Thousands of hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars and other businesses are looking for people to help keep things moving.

 

So, right before the snow season begins, travel to your preferred destination and go knock on doors and ask about any available position you can take.

Yoga Instructor

 

 

Here’s another job for which you’ll most likely need a certification, but if you send emails to all Yoga studios in wherever city you’re in, asking about any available position is worth it.

Work on a Farm

 

 

If you’re a nature lover, you’ll be happy to know that there’s something called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

 

Once you get to the farm, everything from food to accommodation will be free.

 

I have a co-worker from South Africa who worked on a farm in oxford to save money traveling across the UK.

 

Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, France, Italy, and Hawaii are some of the most popular destinations for this kind of job.

Become a Freelancer.

 

 

There are popular websites like Upwork and fiver, if you have any skills in demand on any of these platforms, then submit your CV, and perhaps they’ll accept you as a freelancer.

 

Once you’re in, you can start working on small tasks until you build a profile that makes people say, yes, I want to work with her/him.

 

Once you’ve proven yourself as a trustworthy freelancer, you’ll have people sending you job offers; you do the job anywhere in the world you are and get money to fund your travels.

2. Get in Touch With Locals 

Whether it is for accommodations, transportation, or food, many apps will get you in touch with locals that will offer you services at a cheaper cost or help you find better deals by keeping you away from tourist rates.

 

For example, if you were to come to Taiwan and you get in touch with me, I would take you to this particular fruit store where, after 11 pm, all fruit is half the regular price.

 

Here are some websites and apps that will help you get transportation, accommodation, and food at a cheaper price and get you in touch with locals.

Airbnb

 

It usually shows more budget accommodations than hotel booking platforms.

Bla Bla Car

 

 

It’s sort of asking for a ride; if somebody is traveling medium to long distances and has space in her/his car, you can tag along for a small fee.

 

This is something you need to consider because rental cars are not cheap.

 

Most car rentals will ask for a credit card; if there are some damages to the car, this can seriously affect your traveler’s budget.

 

Only use rental cars if absolutely necessary.

Eatwith

 

 

Meet local cooks serving private meals. It’s a good way to try the local cuisine without paying hefty prices.

RV Share

 

If you want to go on a road trip across the USA, rent a camper van, then do it from a local, it’s cheaper.

Turo

 

 

Because renting a car can be very expensive, try renting one from a local; it’s the biggest car-sharing marketplace.

Camp space

 

 

More for nature lovers, if you’re into camping, this one’s for you; you can camp in somebody’s backyard in the countryside for a small fee.

 

Using these websites and apps will help you save money on your trip.

 

Using these websites and apps will help you save money on your trip.

3. Do Your Cooking

It doesn’t matter where you are; cooking at home will always be cheaper than eating out.

 

Especially when it comes to breakfast, cook your own. As long as you’re in a place with a kitchen, most Airbnb will have one; you can quickly make yourself an excellent breakfast.

 

Eating out, especially in places like northern Europe, can be very expensive, so it makes sense to cook most of your meals and only budget some of your money for a specific dish you want to try in some restaurant if ever that’s something you want to do.

 

Here you can see a breakdown of my expenses in Rovaniemi.

 

The Cost of Backpacking Europe 

 

You spend a lot of money on food if you constantly eat out. 

 

This does not mean you should not eat out at all. Before you go somewhere, research traditional and street food. You must try and budget for that.

 

As with everything else with traveling, you’ll get a good deal if you do your research, especially when traveling to big cities.

4. Grocery Shopping

If you’re gonna do your cooking, try going to a local market instead of supermarket chains; getting food there will be cheaper.

 A quick google search will show you the nearest local markets.

 

If you feel going to a supermarket is your only choice, find out if perishables are cheaper after a particular hour.

 

Here in Taiwan, Carrefour, after 8 pm, lowers the price of most perishables; that’s usually the time I shop there, and I would never go into Jason’s marketplace; everything in there is imported.

 

You’re not being cheap; you’re just spending money wisely.

5. Convenience Stores

Buying food at convenience stores is also a good idea; in east Asia, convenience stores such as 7-11 and Family mart sell lunch boxes that pretty much all locals eat because they’re fresh and full of nutrients.

 

You can also go for more fast food like hot dogs and pizza, while they’re not healthy and I try to stay away from them as much as possible, they’re an excellent way to save money on a meal.

6. Get Rail Passes

Two are particularly helpful: the EuroRail Pass and the JR pass (In Japan). If you’re planning on traveling to these destinations for more than two weeks, it makes sense to get them.

 

With the JR pass, you can even use the Ferry that takes you to Miyajima.

Most developed countries with an extensive system of trains will offer some sort of railway pass for tourists, so always inquire at railway stations or on Facebook travel groups.

 

Getting railway passes online before your trip will save you money.

 

This is all part of researching your destination carefully because if you’re not making money, at least save some.

7. Stay in Shared Rooms

We already talked a bit about Airbnb; it’s an excellent way to save money on accommodations, but if you want to save money on this, especially if you’re on a backpacker budget, staying in a shared hostel room is the way to go.

Private rooms will always be more expensive.

 

Many hostels are listed on sites like Booking.com, I always use Booking.com to book hotels in Asia, and I’ve never had a problem.

 

Booking.com has tens of thousands of reviews, making choosing the right hotel or hostel easy.

 

Before you book a bed in a shared room, read as many reviews as possible, and figure out if the hostel is quiet or noisy; who knows, it might be a party hostel, but if that’s what you’re after, then OK.

 

However, some people in the same room as you might be loud snorers, so it’s best to be prepared with earplugs and a sleep mask to get better sleep.

8. Do House Sitting

Some websites connect people that need someone to take care of their homes and do pet sitting while they’re away.

 

In return, you’ll get free or cheap accommodation. This is the only way I know to get free housing or accommodation while traveling for cheap.

 

You will most likely also have to do some home chores, but you’ll also have access to a kitchen, and a washing machine, which comes in handy when you travel on a budget.

 

Here’s a list of websites that will help you find a house to sit in.

 

Mind My House

House Carers

Trusted House Sitters

Luxury House Sitting

9. Take Your Student ID

That’s right, if you’re a student, don’t forget your student card, it can get you discounts at museums and places like the forbidden city in Beijing.

 

It costs you nothing to take it with you, and it might help you save some dollars.

 

If you want to plan trips around your possible student ID benefits, a simple google search will help you find any student discounts available.

 

We’re talking about things like a group tour or entry to a museum or exhibition.

10. Go Backpacking 

I get the feeling that when someone says backpacker, we all get in our head the image of someone hitchhiking her/his way through a country without taking showers and eating once or twice a day, but it is not like that at all.

Sometimes it means staying away from hotel stays that will ruin your budget, and a hotel room is just a place to sleep. Don’t forget that.

 

Sometimes going backpacking means you’re traveling light, with only one backpack, and that’s it.

 

It’s the cheapest way to travel because you can choose budget airlines and opt for cheaper flights where check-in luggage is extra, but guess what you won’t need it because you can take your backpack as a carry-on, make sure it is not too big.

Choosing the right backpack is ideal before going for a low-cost trip.

 

Plus, it makes it so easy to move around.

 

Once I went backpacking through Southeast Asia and moved around using trains, tuk-tuks, and buses. It was easy because I didn’t have to worry about large suitcases.

 

Once I went to Australia with two huge suitcases, it was for a wedding, so I had to pack a lot, and to move to a different neighborhood I had to call a Taxi company to send a van to pick me up, it wasn’t cheap.

So remember, traveling cheap equals traveling with one backpack only.

 

You only need a handful of t-shirts and shorts/pants, especially when traveling in a tropical area; there will always be somewhere to wash your clothes for cheap.

 

You need to pack more when traveling in cold areas, but you can still pull it off with one backpack.

11. Do a Lot of Research Before Buying a Flight

Budget travelers are great at one thing, finding cheap airline tickets.

 

Especially when you’re looking for your flight, do as much research as possible.

 

Finding free flights is unrealistic, but finding cheap flights, whether international flights or domestic flights, is possible.

 

 There are a few ways to do it.

 

Two flight search engines are always helpful, Skyscanner and Momondo. I always use them to check flight prices and find the best deals. This is my way to find a cheap flight.

 

Once I see which airlines operate the route, I go to the airline’s website and check and see if the price is cheaper; most of the time is the same, but sometimes it is cheaper.

 

It’s a good idea to set up price alerts.

 

I say go for the cheapest.

 

It’s also worth considering only booking directly with the airlines; this way, you can earn miles with a specific airline alliance; if you travel often, these miles will save you money.

 

See if departing or returning to an airport different from your closest airport is cheaper.

 

I have a friend in Taipei, who wanted to go to Korea, and researching Skyscanner, he found out that departing from Hualian was way cheaper.

 

Hualian is like 3 hours away from Taipei, so he had to take a train to get there first, but still, overall, it was cheaper than departing from Taipei.

12. Always Sign Up for Reward Programs

When I traveled for the first time in Asia, I used Booking.com, didn’t create an account, and didn’t join their reward programs. At that moment, I thought, I’m only doing this one trip; I don’t need to sign up for a reward program.

 

But after I realized that traveling is not that expensive, especially in Southeast Asia, I continued traveling, and man I wish I had signed up for that reward program sooner; I missed so many points.

 

Now, as part of the Genius program of Booking.com, I get discounts and special offers, which makes it cheaper to travel.

 

Check with your bank and see if they have any rewards credit card.

 

While we’re talking about bank stuff, join Facebook groups with foreigners in the place you’re traveling to and ask them what’s the best way t avoid

 

• ATM fees
• High exchange rate fees

13. List Your Property

Here’s another thing you can do to make money to fund your trips, list your property on Airbnb or Booking.com while you’re away.

 

There are several reasons why renting out your apartment or home while you are away on vacation can be a good idea.

 

First, it can help you earn extra income.

 

This can be especially useful if you are planning a long vacation or trying to save up for something, such as a down payment on a new home.

 

Second, renting out your home can also help you raise money to offset your vacation costs, such as your rental car expenses or fancy dinner reservation.

 

Finally, renting out your home can also help protect it from damage or vandalism while you are away since there will be someone staying in your home and taking care of it.

 

It is a win-win situation for you.

 

You can also sublease, but only if it is legal.

14. Flexibility and Length are Key to Travel Cheap.

To travel the world cheaply, you take a long and slow road.

 

When I was backpacking through Southeast Asia, I took a 20-hour-long bus ride from Hanoi to Vientiane in Laos; it was like 40 USD; I could have flown there and been there in one hour, that’s correct ONE hour, but it would have cost me US$450.

 

I had plenty of time to take that bus ride and saved a lot of money. It was an exciting road trip.

 

Also, I wasn’t traveling in a rush; this meant that if there was a cheaper flight or train on a Tuesday morning instead of a Saturday afternoon, I could wait for it.

 

When you’re in a rush and set specific dates for flights, trains, and accommodations, it gets harder to get the best deals.

 

You’re gonna be running from place to place and if you’re about to miss a flight you’ll decide to take a taxi and you could still miss that flight, all of this costs money.

 

Remember, to travel cheaply; it’s better to have plenty of time and be flexible.

 

Whenever you can take a road trip, do it.

 

Cruise Ships

 

I want to make a note here because a cruise ship may not seem like a good deal, but it is.

 

The cost of going on a cruise ship can vary depending on several factors, such as the duration of the cruise, the destination, the time of year, and the type of cabin you choose.

 

In general, cruises can be a more affordable vacation option than other types of travel since they often include meals and entertainment in the trip cost.

 

However, there can be additional costs, such as shore excursions, alcoholic beverages, and gratuities, which can add to the overall cost of the cruise.

 

It is best to research and compare the costs of different cruise options to find the one that best fits your budget.

 

Free flights might be hard to come by, but it’s easier to find good cruise ship deals.

15. Travel with One or Two Friends

This will allow you to split the bill for things such as a tuk-tuk ride in Thailand or mobile wifi.

 

Once in Thailand, I did a tour of Ayutthaya, the price was US$26, and it was for two, but I was alone, so I had to pay it all myself; at least I had plenty of room in the tuk-tuk.

 

Don’t travel in big groups; if you do, you’ll realize it is challenging to keep everyone happy, which might ruin your trip.

 

Traveling as a group can be cheaper for several reasons.

 

First, when you travel as a group, you can often take advantage of group discounts on accommodations, travel insurance, transportation, and activities.

This can help you save money on your trip.

 

Second, traveling as a group allows you to split the cost of accommodations, such as renting a vacation home or an apartment, which can be more cost-effective than booking individual hotel rooms.

 

Finally, traveling as a group can also help you save money on transportation, such as renting a car or hiring a driver, since the cost can be divided among all group members.

16. Don’t Use Roaming

Paying for roaming when traveling abroad can be bad for several reasons.

 

First, roaming charges can be very expensive, mainly if you use your phone frequently while traveling.

 

This can quickly add up, leading to a large and unexpected phone bill when you return from your trip.

 

Second, roaming charges can vary depending on the country you are visiting, the carrier you are using, and your plan type.

 

This can make it difficult to predict how much you will be charged for roaming, making it difficult to budget for your trip.

 

Finally, many carriers offer unique international plans that can be more cost-effective than roaming.

 

These plans often include unlimited calls and texts and a certain amount of data, which can be a better option than paying for roaming.

 

It’s too expensive, period. Either get a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot when traveling with 2 or 3 people or a local sim card with a data plan.

 

Check out this fantastic backpack for backpacking 

17. Choose the Cheapest Destinations.

This will vary depending on your location; the closer you are to your destination, the cheaper it is to fly there or take a bus/train.

 

It will also vary depending on your passport, which will dictate whether you need a visa.

 

But leaving those two things out, let’s focus on living expenses, accommodations, and local transportation.

 

According to Budget your trip, a site where thousands of travelers submit their expenses, these are the cheapest countries to travel to.

 

We’re looking at cheap budget travel, one week for one person.

Cheap Vacation Spots 2023

Turkey

Travel expenses in Turkey for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$55

Nepal

 

 

Travel expenses in Nepal for 1 person in a two-week vacation amount to US$132

Colombia

 

 

Travel expenses in Colombia for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$65

Kyrgyzstan

 

Travel expenses in Kyrgyzstan for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$65

India

Travel expenses in India for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$71

Laos

 

Travel expenses in Laos for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$75

Bolivia

 

Travel expenses in Bolivia for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$77

Nicaragua

Travel expenses in Nicaragua for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$83

Sri-Lanka

 

 

Travel expenses in Sri Lanka for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$84

Cambodia

 

 

Travel expenses in Cambodia for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$94

Peru

Travel expenses in Peru for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$102

Ecuador

Travel expenses in Ecuador for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$114

Morocco

 

Travel expenses in Morocco for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$124

Indonesia

 

Travel expenses in Indonesia for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$126

Mexico

 

Travel expenses in Mexico for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$136

Philippines

Travel expenses in the Philippines for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$148

Albania

Travel expenses in Albania for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$148

Uruguay

 

Travel expenses in Uruguay for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$170

Panama

Travel expenses in Panama for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$174

Latvia

Travel expenses in Latvia for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$174

Belize

Travel expenses in Belize for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$176

Thailand

 

 

Travel expenses in Thailand for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$179

Malaysia

Travel expenses in Malaysia for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$181

Poland

 

 

Travel expenses in Poland for 1 person in a 1-week amount to US$183

Strategies to Travel Cheaply in 2023 Conclusions

 

In conclusion, there are several strategies you can use to save money while traveling internationally during 2023. These include:

 

1. Renting out your home while you are away to earn extra income
2. Looking for deals and discounts on accommodations, transportation, and activities
3. Using local currency instead of paying with a credit card to avoid exchange fees
4. Traveling during the off-season to avoid peak prices
5. Traveling as a group to take advantage of group discounts and to split costs
6. Using local transportation and accommodations, such as hostels and local buses, to save money on your trip.

 

Using these strategies, you can save money on your international trip and have more funds available to enjoy your travels.