9 Top Tips for Travelling on a Budget in 2026

Last updated on 9 December 2025

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Let’s be honest with ourselves: if we had unlimited funds, all of us would have a travel fund. Right? I know I would. Some of us would use it for travelling around the world, others would use it to live in different places, and some of us just want to be able to actually go on a vacation. But here’s the thing: you don’t need unlimited funds—you can go on vacation without breaking the bank. In this post, we’re going to take a look at some top tips for travelling on a budget.

Before we start on the list though …

Make a travel budget plan

This may seem like a silly step when you’re planning to travel overseas. But having a travel budget plan is going to help you stick to a budget and know where you can splurge and where you need to be a little tighter with your money.

9 tips for travelling on a budget in 2024

Find holiday deals
Book well in advance
Travel off-season
Travel with friends
Pack light
Book a hostel over a hotel
Take part in walking tours
Eat locally
Avoid tourist traps

Find holiday deals

Often finding holiday deals for when you’re travelling on a budget is a great way to save a lot of money. These are packages such as ‘all-inclusive 5-night stay in Athens‘ or ‘7-night all-inclusive cruise in up the Rhine River’ … while they may seem more expensive, you have to remember that in these packages you’re often paying up-front for accommodation, food, and activities, as well as things like having wi-fi and bar access.

Every holiday package is different, and it might not end up the cheapest for you; always do your research.

Book well in advance

Planning and booking your holiday in advance can save you hundreds of dollars. If you’re a last-minute-Larry then travelling on a budget might not be a goer for you. To save money on things like flights and accommodation, then you need to book ahead of time, especially if you’re planning on travelling during peak seasons.

This brings us to …

Travel off-season

Avoid summer in countries renowned for being popular in the hotter months. The island nations are going to heave with people over the summer months, so if you don’t mind waiting for Spring or you’re happy to don a cardigan in Autumn, then everything is going to be much cheaper to book.

Friends and I went to Japan in October, and that was really great. It was off-season and it wasn’t cherry-blossom season (which was sad, but also meant that we didn’t have swarms of other tourists to deal with while we were there), and we managed to score some great deals through my travel agent.

Be aware of the country’s school and university holidays, too. Here in New Zealand, the prices for flying shoot up over the school and Uni breaks because the airlines know that students and families are travelling around the country.

Travel off-season if you can.

Travel with friends

While you can still find ways to save money while travelling alone, costs do come down considerably when you’re travelling with friends or family. You’ll be able to save on accommodation and transport, and might even be able to find group deals to sweeten the deal.

Always make sure, if you are travelling with friends, that you’re travelling with people you can actually spend a lot of time with. You’re essentially living with these people for a good chunk of time, so if you’re with a heavy spender, you’re going to find it hard to save money, simply by the situations you get yourself into. Just be aware of the group dynamics, and you’ll be able to hold your own. 😉

💡 Or think about doing a Contiki!

Pack light

One of the most sneaky ways that you can blow your budget on travel is by getting hit with overweight luggage fines. Especially on your way back home. Pack light to begin with – you don’t need to take everything with you. Think about the weather, the time of year, the things you’re going to be doing, and avoid taking things that you’ll only wear once.

If you’re buying things at your destination, try not to fall into tourist traps and spend too much on things that you don’t really need. Grab yourself a souvenir or two, but always remember to keep your luggage below the weight for the trip home.

Book a hostel over a hotel

Booking a hostel rather than a hotel is one of the best ways to keep your costs down when you’re travelling on a budget. Hostels are fantastic places for many reasons!

They’ll often provide tea and coffee, just one less thing you have to think about!
They’re great for meeting other travellers from a range of countries
Hostels are often located right in the centre of the city, which also means your transport costs are cut
You’ll likely score yourself free wifi
And most hostels will let you store your luggage if you need to check out but you still have a little while before you fly out.

Take part in walking tours

When I was visiting Amsterdam, one of the best things that I did was jump in on a walking tour. This was a free event run by the hostel I was staying in. It was brilliant for only meeting and chatting with the other people on the tour, but it was really amazing way to see the city and some of the sites, without forking out money.

The other great thing about walking tours is that you get to hear the local knowledge about a city, and I found myself wandering down streets that I might not have otherwise checked out if I were sticking to the touristy spots.

Even if you do a paid walking tour, this is going to be a lot cheaper than booking a bus tour or even jumping on a Hop On Hop Off bus. You’ll get to ask questions to your guide, too, which is a bonus!

Eat locally

By eating in cafes, and restaurants and enjoying street food like the locals, you’re not only avoiding the hike-up of prices at popular tourist spots, but the money that you do spend is supporting local businesses.

The other way you can eat cheaply while travelling is by doing all your own food, or at least 2 meals a day. Head to the grocery store or the market and pick up fresh food, or build a meal in your hostel or hotel room. This will allow you to buy in bulk a little bit more for the duration of your trip and will mean you’re saving money.

Avoid tourist traps

Before you set off on your trip, look up the most popular tourist spots. And avoid them.

I kid, mostly.

But it is important to recognise that in some countries you’ll stand out as a tourist. This means people can try and make the most of it and hike up the prices of things. You don’t need to buy things just because other tourists are buying things. You don’t need to stop at every market stall. You don’t need to visit yet another museum just because a Lonely Planet guide told you it was a must-see.

So now you have some tips for travelling on a budget!

No matter where you’re going in the world, or what type of holiday you’re going to be booking, you can find a way to make it work financially for you. Travel doesn’t have to break the bank. With these tips up your sleeve for planning a holiday on a budget, you’ll be all set and ready to go in no time! Ready to start travelling around the world on a budget? Heck yes, you are! Get to it!

Have any other tips for travelling on a budget? Drop them in the comments!