Skip to content

| Budget tips.

Budget tips to spend less and get more …

Public restroom in Chiang Rai

This site is dedicated to budget travel. We’re not saying that we never stay in 5 Star hotels, nor are we asking everyone to sleep in youth hostels with their belongings stuffed into a burlap bag. It’s just that it is possible to travel the world and not incur credit card debt in the process. You can go just about anywhere and stay in good accommodations, eat delicious food, see marvelous sites, and be comfortable without paying a fortune.

Start saving from home

These tips may seem weird for first time traveler, but they make monetary and ecological sense

  • Take your old clothing – Do you have a clothes that still fit, but just sit in the back of your closet? Maybe salmon colored slacks from two birthdays ago? What about mismatched socks that have lost their partner long ago? Take those along instead of purchasing new travel clothes. You can leave them behind throughout the trip and lighten your load or create space for souvenirs. Some places we have traveled were very grateful for the items we donated. So, save your faded khakis and funky colored shirts for travel.
  • Save your old toiletries – We save our almost empty tubes of toothpaste and old toothbrushes for trips. Same goes for deodorant and shaving cream. It is also a great idea to carry your unused complimentary hotel soap and lotion to your next destination and leave the sealed soaps behind.

Be flexible when booking

Here are a few tips that really save money, and you thought this page was just about old socks.

  • Book off-season – the airlines, hotels and merchants all know they can significantly raise rates during the travel season. In the U.S. and Europe, this season generally runs from June to August. But what if you traveled the shoulder months, in this case May and September? We sometimes save over fifty percent by booking a few weeks earlier or later of the season. The weather is just slightly different and we can avoid the throngs of tourists as well as the spontaneous rate increases.
  • Be comfortable, but thrifty – Expensive hotel rooms with gilded plumbing and marble floors are great, but they cost several times more than a smaller, functional room. We travel to experience the sights and culture of our destination, not to admire monogrammed bathrobes and towels in our room. Our room is only a place to leave our luggage and to rest our weary feet. Do we sometimes stay in lush places? You bet !! Staying in lower rate rooms at the beginning of our trip allows us to splurge at the end.
    Our honeymoon suite in Milan

    The same applies to airlines and cruise ships. First and Business class are great, but cost significantly more than coach. Increased passenger load and reduced flights make it harder to get upgraded for the last few years. If you don’t need a first class seat for your short trip, then book coach. This great web site called Seat Guru that will show you where the great seats are located on major airlines (though more and more airlines are now charging extra to reserve “premium” seats, even if you are an “elite” frequent flyer program member).

  • City Center vs. Outskirts – Hotel prices often increase the closer you are to the center or to the attraction. Great deals can often be found away from the center of the action.  Utilizing public transportation or taxis can sometimes allow you to conveniently reach the heart of the action in many cases, and then you’ll also avoid the hassle and cost of city parking.  If you’re traveling by car,  staying a little further afield may allow you free parking since urban hotels usually charge high fees for overnight parking.  However, if you’re traveling throughout Europe by train or bus or staying in major European or Asian cities, then you probably will want to just pay extra to stay in a central location, where you can walk from the station to your hotel and to the sites.   Many hotel websites only give driving directions, but if you call the concierge or front desk, they should be able to tell you if there is reliable public transportation.