TL;DRSeasoned travel bloggers share seven tried-and-tested ways to cut costs on the road: flying with hand luggage only, swapping hotels for camping or couchsurfing, tracking every penny with an app like Spendee, trying WWOOFing (trading a few hours’ work for food and a bed), taking night buses instead of flights across South America, hunting error fares and pairing them with slow travel, and saving on water, food and transport simply by walking more and cooking with discounted groceries. The tips come from bloggers including Markéta of Travel with Blondie, Tereza Menclová, Kryštof Paleta, Janča Ščamburová, Aneta of ejnets.com, Hanka from Na nomádské stezce, and the duo behind EAGLES. Kryštof Paleta once travelled around the world on a budget of 50,000 Czech crowns, while Aneta spent four months travelling round South America, including a month volunteering.
Want to travel the world like the bloggers you follow but think you can’t afford it? These 7 travel savings tips come straight from experienced travel bloggers and influencers who’ve mastered the art of exploring on a budget. Read on and start planning your next adventure without breaking the bank.
1) Travel with carry-on luggage only and don’t pay more than you have to
“I love travelling as a volunteer, which keeps costs to an absolute minimum. Otherwise, I always travel with just a carry-on bag, saving on checked luggage fees. I research local transport in advance, look up tips on where to find cheap deals, where to shop, and where to eat on a budget. That way I usually arrive fully prepared, and it saves me a ton of time and money.”
Markéta (Travel with Blondie) is a Czechblogger, YouTuberand entrepreneur who has travelled a huge chunk of the world. “Travelling turned my life upside down — now it’s both my hobby and my job.” If you’re heading to New Zealand or the tropics, check out her blog, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.[/lgc_column]
2) Don’t be afraid to camp
“I’ve got a few tried-and-tested tricks for maximising my travel savings. First up is obviously accommodation — if you’re travelling in summer, camping is a brilliant way to cut your lodging costs. Don’t be afraid to reach out to locals through Couchsurfing and arrange a few nights’ stay either. Another way to save is, of course, food. When I’m somewhere for a longer stretch, I avoid restaurants and buy my meals from the supermarket instead.“
Teru Menclová is a photographer and travel blogger with a deep passion for outdoor destinations. She’s known for her epic travel photographs, which she complements on her blog with travel tips and advice for photographers. Get inspired on her Instagram and browse her blog, and you’ll see why Teru is one of the Czech Republic’s travel stars.
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3) Keep tabs on your wallet
“One thing that’s really worked for me is keeping close tabs on my spending — I write everything down so I always know exactly where my money’s going. And then there’s accommodation, of course. Staying in hostels or using Couchsurfing isn’t just cheaper — it’s a far more interesting way to travel, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Otherwise, I don’t really feel like I scrimp on much 🙂 I enjoy the local food and I don’t waste money on stuff I don’t need.”
Kryštof Paleta is a well-known Czech blogger and YouTuber currently on a round-the-world trip. But not just any trip. He decided to circle the globe with just €2,000 in his account. If you want to follow his journey, check out his YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or blog.[/lgc_column]
Kryštof uses the Spendee app to track his expenses. Want to give it a try? We’ve got 3 months of Spendee Plus for free — just sign up and use the promo code “SpendeeOdLoudacku”. (We don’t earn anything from this :))
4) Eat and sleep for free
“Try WWOOFing! While you shouldn’t volunteer solely to save money, this type of work abroad really does give your wallet a well-deserved break. In exchange for a few hours of helping out, you get food for the whole day, a nice room, unlimited Wi-Fi, a hot shower, and laundry facilities. Who wouldn’t take that deal while travelling?”
“I’m a wannabe traveller and Instagrammer” If you’re on Instagram and looking for travel inspiration, give Janča Ščamburová (@withthebagonmyback) a follow. She’ll win you over not just with her gorgeous photos but also with her unique sense of humour.
South America can get pricey if you’re flying between countries. However, the overnight buses there are excellent and will take you to every corner of the continent. The best part? You get a great night’s sleep and even a meal, since the buses are designed for comfort — some have seats that fold out into proper beds. And if you travel during the day as well, you’ll see an incredible amount of scenery. My final tip: take everything at a steady pace and go slowly rather than overdoing it.
Aneta (ejnets.com) is a Czech blogger who has travelled across Europe on a shoestring. “I mainly write about life in Lisbon and budget travel. I’ve just returned from a four-month trip through South America, where I also spent a month volunteering. I don’t like being put in boxes, but I always wanted to be a bohemian — and I think I’ve managed it.” If you’re planning a trip to South America, Aneta’s blog and Instagram will be your best friend.
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6) Travel slowly and snap up error fares
“I use a whole range of travel hacks. I mostly fly using error fares — since I work as a freelance copywriter, I’m flexible on departure dates. But the biggest hack in my book is slow travel, which makes it much easier to negotiate prices for accommodation and car hire on the ground. So my hack is this: become a digital nomad and travel slowly.”
Hanka is a digital nomad who earns her living as a copywriter. On her blog Na nomádské stezce (On the Nomad Trail), she writes about travel and making money online. “Hanka is a traveller with a pen in hand, because writing funds her journeys.” Check out her blog and YouTube.
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7) Think first, then act
“We never pay for water — we fill up from natural springs and pumps. We often buy food on special offer and cook it ourselves. We’ve learnt to embrace what nature provides and what others share with us. We avoid paid car parks and toll roads. We walk everywhere. And above all, we never waste anything. Our travel savings hack is simple: THINK first, then act.“
They call themselves EAGLES and they love travelling in their home on wheels, which they’ve named Vítek.“While you’re reading these lines, we’re out discovering the beauty of Europe.” Have a look at their blog to see how they keep costs down on the road, and don’t forget to check out their Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.[/lgc_column]
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✅ By the team behind the Loudavým krokem travel blog · Our own project — lk-sim.com
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
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