Do you want to travel, but your wallet is holding you back? Learning how to travel on a budget is one of the best ways to see the world without paying full price. But most people don’t know what budget travel really means.
Budget travel doesn’t automatically mean cheap travel. You don’t have to sacrifice your travel style, comfort or convenience.
To travel on a budget means to focus on value rather than strictly cost. It’s about making smart choices and getting the most bang for your buck.
I love to travel and sometimes I like to the more luxurious travel experiences, but I don’t want to pay full price. When I worked in the hospitality industry, I could get team member discounts for as little as $29/night!
So when I made a career change, that meant that I had to find ways to travel, but for less. That’s how I found techniques like earning points and miles with travel rewards credit cards and using Google Flights to find the best price. You can do this too!
Are you ready to learn what it means to travel on a budget? Let’s do this! If you’re planning a trip right now, you’ll also want to check out how-to plan a weekend trip on a budget.
Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links, meaning that at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is Budget Travel?
In the world of travel, the terms “budget” and “cheap” are often used interchangeably, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! They both mean to save money, but cheap implies low quality and if you learn one thing from this post is that budget travel never has to mean low quality.
It’s not about the cheapest price, but the best price.
Budget travel is about making every dollar count, about optimizing your resources to get the best bang for your buck. It’s a strategic and intentional approach to creating a memorable experience without compromising on comfort, quality, or convenience.
Don’t sacrifice quality
Budget travel is not about compromising quality; it’s about making smart choices. With careful planning, you can find affordable accommodations, transportation, and experiences without sacrificing the things you value the most.
The truth is that you can have the most luxurious experiences on a budget. Need some examples? Check out this post I wrote for my friend’s blog about how to book luxury travel on a budget.
Is Budget Travel Only for Backpackers?
This is a big one! Just because you travel on a budget doesn’t mean that you need to only go on backpacking trips. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with backpacking, but if it’s not your style you’re not out of luck. Regardless of whether you want to stay in hostels or 5-star hotels, you can travel on a budget!
Is Budget Travel Time-Consuming to Plan?
Can we all agree that anything worthwhile takes some amount of time to learn? With that being said, budget travel is what you put into it. You don’t have to overly complicate things, but you also can’t just do nothing and expect to save money.
However, there are plenty of strategies out there that can help you jumpstart your planning by being more intentional about budget travel. We review these and more in my free budget travel course. We also go a lot more in-depth in my Lazy Budget Travel Academy membership!
Practical Tips for Budget Travel
My first tip for becoming a budget traveler is to take my FREE Budget Travel 101 mini-course! This course will help you understand the difference between budget travel and cheap travel. I’ll also give you a little intro to points and miles. Plus you’ll get 3 top strategies for finding the best price on the flights!
But there are other more practical tips for booking travel on a budget. If you can plan ahead, be flexible, and learn how to earn points and miles by maximizing your everyday purchases then you are on the right track!
Plan and Research Ahead
Planning far enough in advance, although not a requirement is a big help when it comes to traveling on a budget. It gives you time to research your destination and monitor pricing. The more information you have the the better chance you can make an informed decision. Here are 11 simple ways to save money for your next vacation.
Be Flexible on Travel Dates and Destination
The number one thing you’re going to hear from all the travel “experts” out there is flexibility. If you’re flexible with both your travel dates and your destination then you open up a whole new world of traveling opportunities at the best price.
- Flying mid-week or during off-peak seasons
- Set Google Flights Alerts and use the Google Explore feature
- Explore less touristy, but just as amazing destinations.
Also, check out these creative ways to save money for travel.
Use Points and Miles
Loyalty programs, points/miles, and travel rewards credit cards are my favorite ways to save money on travel! It’s the main way that I’m able to avoid paying full price without sacrificing the things I love the most about travel.
You can earn points and miles through everyday purchases by using things like shopping portals and dining programs. But if you also pay for those purchases with a travel rewards credit card, you’re earning even more points with very little effort.
You don’t need to apply for a bunch of credit credit cards to benefit from earning points and miles. Anyone can get into points/miles regardless of how much you want to put into it.
Need some inspiration? I’ve got a list of 7 incredible resorts that you can book with points and miles. Not sure if the points and miles thing is for you? Check out this to see if travel rewards and points are right for you!
Want to Travel More for Less?
Become a Budget Traveler! Head over to my start here page and grab my free budget travel cheat sheet – it’s packed with valuable tips to help you create your own winning budget travel strategy.