8 Ways to Travel More and Spend Less

Do you love traveling? In this article, we reveal some hidden tips and tricks that can show you how to travel on a budget, and save a lot more money. Read on!

Chances are you have either totally canceled or cut short a trip, due to expenses, at least once in your lifetime.

Take control of your money, optimize your spending and grow your savings automatically

People love to travel. According to Statista, leisure travel is one of the largest sectors of the tourism industry. What if we told you that there are ways to have more trips and visit more cities while spending less money? Do we have your attention? Good. Let’s get into it. (For the full picture, it also helps to prepare a travel budget before you go.)

1. Take Advantage of Your Destination’s Off-Peak Season

Yes, you probably want to visit Malta at Christmas, to see the sights and immerse yourself in the Maltese culture. But do you really have to, especially when you are trying to travel on a low budget?

Speaking of budget travel tips, here’s one: trips are more expensive during peak seasons. Prices can climb significantly (often by 30% or more on hotel fees and airfares) during tourist peaks. So travel during off-seasons to make use of reductions in hotel prices, discounted flights, and more.

Other things like flying mid-week and taking less popular routes can also help you. Researching public information published by travel agencies will give you better insights, and tell you when it’s best to travel. It’s also worth knowing the cheapest time to buy flights.

2. Try Different Payment Methods

It’s time to rethink how you pay for travel abroad, because the wrong method quietly adds fees to every transaction.

Use a card with no foreign transaction fees – many travel cards waive the 1–3% surcharge that regular cards add on overseas purchases. A multi-currency card (like Wise or Revolut) can also give you near-market exchange rates instead of the marked-up rates many banks and airports charge.

One more habit that saves money: when a card machine abroad offers to charge you in your home currency instead of the local one, always choose the local currency. That “dynamic currency conversion” convenience usually comes with a hidden markup. Understanding the difference between debit and credit cards abroad can save you even more.

3. Sign up for Discounts and Deals

There are always travel deals that can be taken advantage of. Some of the deals come with mind-blowing discounts that come in handy when you are trying to travel cheaply. By signing up for these, you can save some extra money.

However, you must be careful to use only reliable agencies to avoid being scammed and losing money instead. Also, ensure that you properly check the deal you are being offered, to see that it is actually more cost-effective than your original plan.

4. Save at the Airport

Most times, you spend almost a quarter of your entire trip expenses at the airport. There are little habits you can pick up, which can reduce your expenditure. For instance:

• Buy less, travel more: Reduce your buying of snacks and all the other stuff you could have packed from the house.
• Have a friend or family drop you off and pick you up, that way you don’t have to worry about extra money for airport taxi trips.
• Reduce the amount of baggage you carry. Most flights now charge extra fees for heavy baggage. If you can, pack lightly.

By the time you remove the costs of all these, there will be a difference.

5. Stay Loyal to a Company

Usually, companies reward loyalty among customers. If you consistently use a particular company for your flights, in no time, your customer loyalty points start compiling, and will eventually pay off.

Also, part of staying loyal to your flight agency is following them socially. By engaging and being active on your airline’s social media pages, you can catch their attention and increase your chances of being rewarded. Most of these pages also put up discounts and carry out giveaways often, and by following along, you get to see and participate in them.

6. Save on Accommodation

Now, a huge consideration when traveling is accommodation. Do you plan to stay with a relative, in hostels, or in hotels? Well, a lot of hotels are cheaper when paid for ahead of time, although most times, deals like that are non-refundable.

If you are certain of a trip, a good step will be to book your hotel stay in advance. Also, booking directly from the hotel’s website can save you money.

Again, you can try house rentals, as this might be cheaper, especially if it is a lengthy stay you plan to have. You can also try Airbnb, house sitting, and if you are feeling a bit adventurous and daring, you can try couch surfing.

7. Save Money on Food

Food is one of the biggest expenditures people make while traveling. Americans spend more than ever on food – total U.S. food spending topped $2.5 trillion in 2025, with dining out now making up more than half of it. When you travel, those restaurant costs add up fast.

Indeed, you can’t blame anyone for wanting to eat well, since it is a necessity. However, while you are encouraged to try out multiple delicacies while on a trip, to further strengthen your cultural knowledge of the location, if you are trying to travel on a budget, you should watch it. Some tips help, such as:

• Book a rental apartment that comes with a kitchen. This way you can do your own cooking, and minimize expenses greatly.
• Try out hostels.
• Choose local grocery shops over hotel in-built stores when trying to stock up on supplies.
• Choose a hotel that includes free breakfast in the package. That way, you have less to spend on.
• Simply opt for lower-cost meals.

For more, see our guide to saving money on food while travelling.

8. Choose Your Activities Carefully

It is not difficult to forget all about your plans to travel on a low budget when you get drowned in activities. This is why it is always a great idea to plan your activities. Without a plan, anything is acceptable, and you can lose money easily this way. Here are some ways you can reduce your spending on activities:

• Avoid expensive tours: You can get creative with apps and online guides to help you find your way around.
• Check for discounts before you go: Most activities offer slashed prices for groups, and you just might be included in one and get a discount.
• Look for free activities: There are tons of things you do not have to pay for. You can do your research, or ask the locals, and choose those options instead.

Getting around also matters. Using public transportation is usually the cheapest way to explore, and it lets you watch the city go by, meet more people, and sometimes even travel faster thanks to bus-only lanes.

You do not have to be economical to a fault on a trip. We are just saying that you do not have to spend so much money to have so much fun. These budget travel tips can help you save money while you travel, giving you a “travel more and spend less” experience.

Remember to always get your information regarding hostels, hotels, discounts, travel agencies, and flights from reliable sources, and always double-check.

Okay, let’s go tick more countries off our checklist!

FAQ

What is the cheapest time to travel?

The off-peak or “shoulder” season – just before or after the busy period. You’ll find lower prices, fewer crowds, and mid-week flights are usually cheaper than weekends.

How can I save money on food while traveling?

Book a place with a kitchen, shop at local grocery stores, pick hotels with free breakfast, and eat where the locals eat instead of in tourist spots.

What’s the best way to avoid fees when paying abroad?

Use a card with no foreign transaction fees, always pay in the local currency (not your home one), and take out larger amounts less often to cut ATM fees.