1. WALK
You see a lot more of a place by walking rather than in a taxi or cramped public transport. It may be more effort, but you save money, burn calories and might wander somewhere you didn’t expect! If you need to take public transport and will use it a lot, consider a week pass – it might be cheaper.
2. COOK YOUR OWN FOOD
Obviously still try the local cuisine, but cooking your own food for some meals is a great way to save money! Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, it’s pretty much always cheaper, and the more you save on food, the more you can spend exploring a new place.
3. STAY OUTSIDE OF MAIN AREAS
Stay within walking distance of the main attractions, but being outside of the touristy areas reduces accommodation costs drastically and you will get to discover more local areas.
4. SPEND MORE TIME IN PLACES
Travelling from destination to destination is often the most expensive part of travel, so spending more time in each location will help reduce these travel costs.
5. ALWAYS CHECK FOR FREE TIMES AND EVENTS
A lot of attractions, museums, and galleries will have days where they are cheaper or free. Do your research and maybe plan to stay in a destination when many of these places have deals on. Also check out to see if there are any free concerts or events happening around the time you are visiting.
6. PRE-DRINK BEFORE GOING OUT
Drinks are substantially cheaper in supermarkets, so if you’re planning a big night out, maybe capitalise on the cheaper stuff before enjoying the pricier drinks later.
7. GO TO MORE LOCAL BAKERIES, CAFÉS AND BARS
Heading off the main tourist strips to eat and drink will save you a lot of cash, and give you a much more authentic experience. Just wander around and see what you run into!
8. RESEARCH AND COMPARE
Comparing prices for accommodation and transport on a few different websites will ensure that you are getting the best deal. Also do a bit of research on the things that you want to visit, this will mean that no money is wasted on tourist-traps or a place that you might not really be interested in.
9. HAVE A VALID STUDENT CARD
If you’re a student, make sure that you carry a valid student card and don’t be afraid to ask for student prices. More often than not, there will be a discount that you might not receive if you don’t ask.
10. LEARN TO ENJOY BUS RIDES
Buses are quite a good way to travel between cities and countries, and your backpack won’t cost much to check on (far less than an aeroplane!). They might take longer than planes and trains, but they are undeniably cheaper and these days a lot have the added bonus of WiFi.
11. STICK TO A BUDGET
It’s hard to know how much you are actually spending until you write it down. Keeping a budget, no matter how simple, will help to keep track of money and let you know where you could cut down.
