Summary
- Traveling by train is a smarter choice than flying due to its affordability, comfort, and smaller carbon footprint. Score cheaper tickets by booking in advance or looking for last-minute fare deals.
- Opt for bus rides for shorter distances to save travel funds. There are various affordable bus companies available, and websites like Busbud.com make finding cheap tickets easier.
- Save money on flights by booking in advance, preferably three weeks to two months prior to departure. Flying during the shoulder season and on off-peak days can also lead to cheaper fares. Avoid renting cars at the airport to escape high prices.
Exploring the many corners of the world has many perks. Travelers get to experience different cultures, try new cuisines, see fantastic sights, and create unforgettable memories, among many others. However, from accommodations and transportation to food and entertainment, travel expenses can make embarking on such an adventure come at a rather hefty price tag — but it doesn't have to.
For those wondering how to travel for cheap, keep reading for some of the best affordable travel tips that are perfect for any type of budget — because who doesn't like to save a little cash?
10 Opt For A Train Over A Flight
Although there are many interesting things to know about Amtrak, a few that stand out are the fact that travelers can order cooked-to-order meals and even reserve a sleeping car for overnight trips. If that's not enough to ditch uncomfortable airplane seats and unappealing airline food, consider this: opting for a train ride over catching a flight is a much smarter choice when it comes to saving money.
Even though a plane ride may be more convenient and faster, traveling by train is usually cheaper — not to mention it has a smaller carbon footprint and is far more comfortable.
Try to score an even cheaper train ticket by booking in advance, and don't be afraid to ask about the possibility of any current specials or, if booking late, last-minute fare deals.
9 Travel Via Bus
Similar to a train ride, another great option to reduce travel expenses when traveling shorter distances is to opt for a bus ride, although it typically takes longer (but it's worth it to save some of the travel funds).
From Greyhound to Peter Pan Bus Lines, there are a number of affordable bus companies around the country that can get a tourist from point A to point B at a much cheaper price compared to booking a flight.
Websites like Busbud.com can make finding cheap bus tickets even easier.
8 Take Advantage Of Low-Cost Airlines
Luxury airlines like Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates are well known for their high ticket prices.
For those who do opt to travel by plane, there's absolutely no shame in taking a low-cost carrier like Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Volaris to save money.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, some of the most affordable budget airlines in Europe include Ryanair and EasyJet, among others.
From getting that plane seat upgrade to even making it to first-class plane seating (for free), it's important to note that just because a tourist opts to fly for cheap doesn't mean they have to fly cheap.
7 Book Flights In Advance (3 Weeks To 2 Months Prior, Ideally)
When looking for cheap ways to travel on a budget, one of the most important factors boils down to timing regarding getting affordable plane tickets.
Prices tend to be at their lowest about three weeks to two months prior to the departure date, so try to avoid booking flights at the last minute.
Scoring a cheap last-minute deal isn't entirely impossible, especially when booking one-way or taking a red eye. Calling the airline directly is another great way to inquire about the possibility of nabbing a last-minute flight.
6 Fly During The Shoulder Season
On the topic of timing, getting a great deal on a flight can also come down to the time of year.
Opt to fly during the spring and fall shoulder seasons, which are the travel periods in between peak seasons, as these times of year tend to be cheaper.
May to June and August to September are usually good choices for trying to snag a cheaper flight; however, this does depend on the travel destination.
5 Fly During The Midweek
Similar to opting for the shoulder season, another great tip for getting an affordable plane ticket is to fly during off-peak days, such as Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, which tend to be about 12 percent cheaper than weekend flights, per Google.
Since weekends are the busiest travel days, flights tend to be more expensive during this time as well as far more crowded, making for an unpleasant plane ride all the way around.
Flights around the holidays are also generally more expensive; however, Thanksgiving tends to be a great day to travel for cheaper fare, per NerdWallet. This tends to ring especially true if traveling internationally.
4 Don't Always Fly Direct
Another great way to nab a cheaper flight is by being flexible with the route taken because it can sometimes be more expensive to fly directly to a tourist's chosen destination from the departure city.
To figure out which is cheaper, look up the direct flight cost and then compare it to how much it would cost to fly to a nearby city and then board another flight or train to the final destination.
3 Use Public Transportation
Some things travelers should go cheap on, while others should be splurged on. No matter what their budget is, transportation costs while on the vacation itself; there's no way around it.
A traveler can forgo an expensive rental car receipt by getting around via the city's public transportation system. From local subways to buses and light rails to trams, there is a wide variety of low-cost transportation options available in cities around the world.
Be sure to look up what kind of public transportation is available via a quick Google search, and try to plan out transportation routes in advance for a stress-free travel experience.
2 Rent A Bicycle Or A Scooter
Another terrific low-cost and sustainable transportation option for getting around a city, especially one that is compact, is to rent a bicycle, an electric bike, or a scooter.
These options are also incredibly convenient and may help a tourist navigate bumper-to-bumper traffic in record time.
Do a quick Google search to see if the travel destination is bicycle-friendly; for example, check to see if the city has plenty of bike lanes, if the drivers are notoriously aggressive, if the city is incredibly hilly, or if there are extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves or heavy rainfall.
1 Don't Rent A Car At The Airport
During instances where a rental car is needed, avoid renting a vehicle at the airport - this is one of the best cheap travel hacks by far.
Even though it's incredibly convenient, airport surcharges and other price increases can result in a far more expensive bill, so opt to rent a vehicle outside the airport instead.
A 2022 NerdWallet study found that car rentals secured in downtown locations were about $126 cheaper compared to renting at the airport, making airport rentals about 26 percent more expensive.