How to Easily Travel On a Budget

One of the hardest things to afford while traveling is a place to stay. It can be so expensive in fact, that it often keeps people from traveling altogether. As an individual who enjoys active travel, you want to be able to spend more time on adventures and experiences than accommodation. But this is often because people don't know of the other options available to them. You don't have to settle for the first and most expensive hotel you find at a destination. There are plenty of other choices, ones that are much more affordable. Here are some options you can explore:

Find Cheaper Hotels

If during your search you're only looking at 4 and 5 star hotels, chances are you won't find anything too affordable. But if you expand your search to 2 and 3 star hotels, you may come much closer to something that's within your budget. Sure, you're not going to get the great view or the luxury bathtub in your room, but you'll still get a nice place to stay. So, if you really want to stay in a hotel, at least consider lowering your standards just a bit, and you should find that you can save a decent amount of money on your travels.

Look at Apartment and Home Rentals

Of course, you don't have to stay at a hotel. No matter where you're going, there are likely other places you can stay besides a hotel. One of the more popular options these days are apartment and home rentals. Through sites like AirBnB and Vrbo, people from all over the world can rent out their empty apartments, homes, guest houses, or spare bedrooms. You can search your intended destination, see what options are available, and find one that fits your budget. Depending on where and when you go, you can often save a lot of money compared against getting a hotel.

Camping or Sleeping in Your Car

Why not save plenty of money and bring your lodgings with you as you travel? You don't usually have to pay anything to camp somewhere, other than the cost of the tent. As long as you can find a suitable spot for your tent, you can stay there at no charge.

Or, you can simply sleep in your vehicle. If you have an RV this is an obvious choice, but you can also do it in many other vehicles. Just find a safe spot to pull over, then make yourself comfortable in the backseat. To take it to another level (no pun intended), get something like a roof top tent. These are a great way to have a comfortable place to sleep no matter where you are on the road.

If you plan to use your vehicle as a primary lodging and travel staple, it's important to have all your ducks in a row and prepare your vehicle for a road trip. Your warranty and insurance should be up to date to ensure maximum coverage; the last thing you want to do is find yourself in a compromising situation where you're forced to spend hundreds or thousands on an unexpected repair. Consider working with a premium agency that specializes in working with your vehicle type. For instance, if you're camping out and traveling with your Toyota, research the best extended warranty for your Toyota.

Try Out a Hostel

Next, consider staying at a hostel. If you really want to save money on your lodgings, this is the way to go. Hostels are communal living spaces that travelers can stay at for an affordable price, and they exist in most major cities around the world. At a hostel you might get a bunk bed in a room with several other travelers, or you can rent out a private room to yourself. You share a bathroom with the other guests, and there is often a communal spot for guests to hang out and interact with one another. If you're looking for luxury and privacy, a hostel isn't the way to go - but if you want affordable, it's definitely a good option.

House and Pet Sitting

Do you mind doing a little work in exchange for a free stay somewhere? If not, then you should look into house and pet sitting opportunities. There are people all over the world who will let you stay in their home or apartment for free, provided you take care of things while they're gone. This could range from simply bringing in the mail and watering the plants, to taking care of their cat, dog, or farm animals. House and petting sitting opportunities are usually limited, but if you can find one, it's a great way to cut costs on traveling.

Couch Surfing

If you don't mind simply crashing on someone's couch, look into couch surfing websites. Some people are more than happy to let you crash on their couch for free, so it's just a matter of getting connected with them. There are sites that can help you do this, so if you just want a free place to crash for a night or two, check some of them out.

Explore All Your Options

As you can see, finding some place to stay doesn't have to be a big expense. There are plenty of ways to find affordable lodgings, as long as you don't mind cutting back on some of the luxury aspects of a hotel. So the next time you want to take a trip, but think you can't afford it, explore some of the options above and see if that changes your calculations.