7 Money-Saving Travel Hacks!

Who doesn’t love saving money?

After slow travelling full-time for 7 months, I have compiled my list of money-saving hacks to help you travel on a budget!

1. Use Public transport

Public transport is usually the cheapest option to get around when you’re travelling. Take coaches instead of private transfers and buses rather than taxis. This will save you loads of money in the long run.

Using public transport is always cost-effective, but not necessarily efficient. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, taxis are your best bet. Also in some places, public transport can be unreliable and you can be delayed for some hours.

Sometimes it can be a bit nerve-wracking going on public transport in a country that you’ve never been to before where you don’t know the language. Try to be prepared by searching up the local bus timetable before you go, or ask the staff at your accommodation.

2. Picnics

You don’t need to go out and buy lunch and dinner at a restaurant every day. Buying food at the supermarket while you are out and about exploring is much cheaper and you can go and sit somewhere nice to enjoy it. In doing this, I’ve found perfect lunch spots with fabulous views away from the clattering of cutlery and plates.

Some of the nicest lunches I’ve had while travelling have been picnics in stunning locations. Sat on the banks of the Guadalquivir river in Seville, or at the marina on Hvar Island, Croatia, eating bread and cheese with friends.

It doesn’t matter that it’s just bread and cheese, it’s about where you are and who you’re sharing it with. Enjoy the moment.

3. Eat at home

If you have the option to go self-catering, I highly recommend doing so! This saves me so much money by cooking and eating at home. At the moment we (my boyfriend Brett, and I) are travelling in Europe and it’s not the cheapest place to be eating out every day. A weekly shop for two people usually comes to between £50-£60, depending on the shop and the destination. When we go out to eat at a restaurant we usually end up spending around £30 on a meal for the two of us.

Food shopping in different countries is always an experience too. Sometimes you have no idea what you’re buying! When I was in Croatia, I tried to shop at a local supermarket. This was a massive fail because I couldn’t understand any of the labels, I couldn’t even find the butter! Luckily, I had Lidl (a different supermarket) close by which labels nearly everything in English so I shopped there instead!

4. Bring Your Own Food on Tours

Tours can be pricey! Especially full-day tours. But you don’t want to miss out on them because they show you so much of a destination in a short space of time. If you’re on a tighter budget, I recommend choosing the ‘picnic’ option — see point number 2.

Bringing your own snacks on tours is such a great money-saving hack! Many tours don’t include meals in the initial price and you have to pay extra when you get there to eat. When you bring a picnic, you’ll still be able to sit with the others on the tour while they have their paid meal.

5. Ask for discounts!

When you are booking tours, always make sure to ask if you can get a discount. Tour companies often partner with nearby hotels and hostels to give guests good deals. Some companies also offer deals when you book through their website, like a 10% discount online! There’s no harm in asking, the worst that can happen is they say no!

I recently asked for a discount on two tours that I was booking with a company and received €10 off!

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

6. Book Long Stays

When you book longer stays with hotels/Airbnb/hostels, you’ll often find they offer discounts. I’ve been staying in Airbnb’s for over 7 months straight now. If I book 28 or more days in one apartment, I automatically get a long stay discount.

Also, it’s always good to contact the host of the apartment that you want to stay in to see if they can offer you a better deal than what is shown on Airbnb.

7. Work While You Travel

Now I know this isn’t applicable to everyone. But this is what I do. I work online while I’m slow travelling. Read more about my Slow Travel Adventures!

Believe it or not, I’m actually saving money while travelling! I’d never thought it possible, but staying in places for longer amounts of time means that I can work in the mornings and have the afternoons and weekends free to explore my surroundings. It’s made for a great work-life balance and allows me to travel without worrying about money. Although I do sometimes worry about having good WiFi!

These are some of the ways that I keep my costs low when I’m travelling!

What are your money-saving hacks when you’re jetting off to a new destination? Let me know in the comments!

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Thanks for reading,

T