Travel on a Budget: When to Skimp and When to Splurge

travel on a budget

Think of the word “travel.” What comes to mind?

Exotic beaches, delicious and atypical foods, beautifully designed hotels, airport adventures? There’s a good chance that all these small descriptions run through your mind.

If you’re what would be considered the “average American,” you’ve probably done some traveling here and there, but not as extensively as you’d like. This is probably because travel is expensive, right?

It doesn’t have to be – in fact, if you plan properly, are somewhat flexible, and know what to skimp and splurge on – you can take an enviable trip every year if you want!

We’re going to discuss with you how to travel on a budget while still being comfortable. (Hint: you don’t have to stay exclusively in hostels to make your trip affordable!)

Keep reading for the best tips on where to skimp and splurge for your next vacation!

Priorities, Priorities

Before we move any further, this needs to be said: there will be certain things that you won’t want to negotiate and that is perfectly fine! However, you will need to take a close look at what components of your trip you can modify.

This can include choosing whether to couch surf, stay in hostels, or opt for a 5-star hotel. It may also include what type of luggage you bring, the dates of travel, restaurants, attractions, and if you opt for wild nights at bars.

Some people mix-and-match their priorities while others stick to a certain plan. It’s all about what you choose to afford and what your comfort level demands.

Skimp: Airfare

Unless you have a free upgrade or miles to cover a business or first-class flight, choose economy. It might be uncomfortable on domestic flights, but you can save a boatload by dealing with minor discomfort.

Don’t bother with the extra legroom options either. Those are somewhat silly and are a complete waste if you’re in the air for only an hour or two.

If the flight is longer than three hours and you think that the extra legroom is necessary, go ahead and upgrade to business, you’ll probably get a bit more bang for your buck.

You should know that almost all international flights have relatively comfortable economy class seats. Typically, there’s a personal screen for you to select movies or music and the food isn’t bad.

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Research the airlines that are available before you book. If you drink alcohol, some charge through the nose for drinks while others (even in economy) will include this.

Skimp: Luggage

This isn’t to say that you should skimp on the quality of luggage, but to consider how much you pack! If you are traveling for more than two weeks, you may need to consider bringing more than a carry-on, but always keep the final weight in mind.

Also, be sure to check with your airline as to whether or not one piece of checked luggage is included. Budget airlines are known for their cheap flights but they charge you for EVERYTHING else.

One of the easiest ways to pack is by including clothes that can be mixed and matched and hide stains well. This means that you can re-wear a pair of jeans or a shirt before it needs to be washed. Look into travel clothes too, they’re comfortable, versatile, and light-weight.

One of the biggest benefits of not checking a bag is the fact you won’t have the displeasure of lost luggage. However, it can be difficult to pack all of your toiletries into a single quart-sized bag. The easiest way to avoid this is to skip it.

Throw some dry shampoo and deodorant into your carry-on, but choose to purchase items like shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, and body wash at your destination. This also can eliminate the need to pull that quart-sized bag out of your bag when you’re late for your next flight.

Skimp: Hotels

This is one of the debatable subjects among many travelers. Depending on the area of the world that you are traveling in, hotels might actually be relatively cheap.

Actually, if you plan your trip decently well (or, gasp–work with a travel agent) you can score decent hotels in Europe for less than $100 per night. If $100 per night is out of your budget, forgo the hotels and opt for a hostel.

Choosing to stay in hotels isn’t a bad thing, but you should definitely register for a particular brand’s loyalty program and book with them when possible. If your chosen brand does not have an affordable option in the area, consider booking through a human travel agent or negotiating with the hotel directly.

Splurge: Hostels

Okay, so you’ve decided to take our advice and skimp on hotels or skip them entirely. Good for you! Hostels are a great alternative to standard hotels.

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As an American, you should know what you’re getting into beforehand. Depending on what you book, you may be in a shared room with anywhere from three to nine other people. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means that the space is shared.

It also means that you’ll need to be careful with your belongings. Invest in a lock before you arrive and consider bringing valuables like your passport or laptop with you on any outings.

Also, if you’re traveling to a major tourist destination, understand that a hostel might not offer extreme savings. Cities like Amsterdam and Paris have hostels that cost almost as much as hotel rooms but can come with other benefits like walking tours.

Splurge: Tour Guides

If you’re a traveler that enjoys getting acquainted with a city on their own, splurging on a tour guide might not make the top of your list. But, skipping long lines and finding the best local food should be!

The Paris Guy is one of these types of guides. They’ll get you to the front of winding lines that await you in several of Paris’ top attractions. The guide can also point out some of the better, less touristy restaurant options in the area.

Paris isn’t the only city to have these types of tours. For example, in Rio de Janeiro, there are tours that will allow you to see both Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer on the same day!

Having a tour guide will allow you to skip lines that can last four to eight hours, allowing you to see more in a single day. It also allows you to get the touristy boxes checked off your list and onto true exploration!

Splurge: Cultural Activities

Finding yourself in a city during a major cultural event is cause for splurging. Especially if you didn’t realize the event would be going on when you planned the trip!

You can create a ton of cool memories and take plenty of Insta-worthy photos by attending festivities. Spend some money on local art if you find any that suits your tastes and pay your way into the event if there’s a cover.

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Skimp: Private Taxis

Taxis are expensive no matter where you are. When you don’t speak the language, they seem to become that much more expensive.

If you must take a taxi or private car, negotiate the rate beforehand. Other than this, take public transportation if the city has it. Most subways and trains are easy to navigate, relying on colors or numbers to explain the destinations.

Even if you misread a map, you might find something new and exciting that you would have missed!

Splurge: Local Food

You don’t have to spend a ton of money at every meal. But, when you’re in a new place that has different foods, treat yourself to a nice dinner that includes all the bells and whistles.

This doesn’t have to be done at a 5-star restaurant but instead can be accomplished at any bistro or cafe of your liking. Also remember that tipping isn’t the norm in many destinations outside of the United States, so that may save you a few dollars (or Euros, denars, pounds…)

Splurge: Vacation Preparations

Depending on where you travel to, you may not need any immunizations. It’s smart to double check the CDC’s website to ensure your destination doesn’t have any health alerts, though.

When you’re visiting with your doctor for any immunizations, consider asking him if there are any medications he recommends for jet lag, diarrhea, sleeplessness, etcetera. There’s a chance they’ll write you prescriptions for a few ailments you may experience while overseas.

Finally, we have travel insurance. Unless you’re booking a trip and leaving tomorrow, buy the travel insurance!

This is a small cost that will cover you in the event of major illness or injury, missed flights, or any number of other problems.

It’s Not Hard to Travel on a Budget

While there are infinite other ways to save and splurge while you travel on a budget, we feel that these are the top considerations. Each of these tips has been used in real life and has worked for a number of people.

You should keep in mind that if these tips don’t work for you, your trip, or your travel companions, there are other ways to save money on (or before) vacation!

And if you’re looking for more of a domestic vacation, check out the most luxurious getaways in the U.S.!