Getting The Most Out Of Traveling On A Budget

If you are setting off on a trip and you don’t have the luxury to just spend whatever you want, you know you have to be smart about where your money is going. You want to make sure you have enough to do the things you want to do. You may have to do a bit more planning and researching to get the most bang for your buck. Here are just a few tips to get you started:

Don’t Do Stuff You Really Don’t Want to Do

This might sound like a silly tip…who does stuff they don’t want to do? But, it is important to keep in mind because it is easy to fall into the trap of making yourself do things to ‘get the most’ out of your trip or to feel like you should be doing certain things because that is what you are supposed to do when visiting this particular location.

Sure, you didn’t come there to just wander the streets or lay around in your hotel room all day. But, don’t feel pressure to do all this stuff that you may not really want to do. If you have already seen a dozen temples, and you could do without seeing another, don’t shell out the money for the tour that requires you to spend 6 hours getting there and back.

Save your money for the things you actually enjoy. Use it to maybe get a bit nicer hotel room—you can find a great boutique hotel in Sri Lanka that may not cost a whole lot more than a room in a bare bones hotel or hostel, for example.

Spend Money Where It’s Warranted

Sure, your budget doesn’t allow you to stay in a room that costs 250 a night, no matter how much you may want to splurge. But, be careful about cheaping out excessively, and getting obsessive about spending as little money as possible.

At first it can seem like a fun little game, or you feel victorious in your efforts to spend less. But, it can easily put an unnecessary damper on your travels.

If you are pressed for time, it might be worth it to drop that 50 bucks on a regional budget airline carrier to get you to your next location than spend the next 24 hours on a bus. If you are exhausted and cranky, get the 10 dollar taxi rather than subject yourself to a two hour bus ride to your hotel because it only costs a dollar.

Don’t pass the delicious four dollar meal because it seems exorbitant compared to the dollar meal you can get on the street.

Consider Renting Self-Catering Accommodations

These days it is as easy to rent someone’s house or apartment as it is to book a hotel room, courtesy of sites like Flipkey and AirBNB. In many cases, you can get them for the same price or even less than a hotel. While you can still indulge in meals out, cooking your own here and there can make a huge difference as food accounts for a huge part of your budget.