How to Save Money When Travelling - 5 Top Tips

I've travelled to some amazing locations over the last 5 years and I've lost some money where I could have saved it but it's all good as its a learning experience that I can now pass on to you.

In this post, I am going to share my top 5 tips on how to save money while travelling so keep on reading.

1) Talk to the locals

Tourist locations are money traps, by talking to the locals you can find better hotels, hostels, and restaurants that offer a better service for a fraction of the price.  With restaurants, the locals tend to know the best places to eat in terms of an authentic experience and they tend to be much cheaper than the tourist hotspots.

In Venice all the main tourist places were full and the food quality was poor, by talking to the locals I found that by walking 15 minutes from San Marco square I was able to eat better food at a fraction of the price.

If you want to break the ice with the locals stop and ask them for directions first, you can usually gauge their local knowledge and their friendliness in a few sentences.

2) Store your valuables

If you're travelling long term you will need to find somewhere to store your valuables before leaving home.  You can either see if a family member or friend will take the items that you won't be taking with you. You can sell the unneeded items or you can put your items into self storage.

Most of the travellers I have met over the years are minimalist people in general so you probably don't have too many items that you will need to store so chances are it won't cost you the world to put your items into storage.

Self storage containers cost much less than they used to and as a frequent traveller, they offer you so much convenience as I've found friends and family members are only happy to hold onto your items for so long before they start making excuses and want to throw them out.

3) Do more in fewer locations

When I first started travelling I was thundering through Europe like it was going to disappear. I did 4 Italian cities in 4 weeks but then I realised I would have to slow down to not eat into my budget as quickly as I was doing.  Train, bus and aeroplane journeys are not cheap so my tip would be to stay in one place for longer. This year, for example, I stayed in Florence for 6 months. I got to know the area really well, and my budget lasted for the entire time.

When I first visited Florence (1-week stay) I thought I had seen it all by the time I had left, yes I was naive.  Florence is huge and has so many places to visit and so many activities to take part in, after 6 months I still haven't seen it all.  I can tell you the restaurants you need to eat at and must-see places though.

4) Book accommodation for longer

Booking your accommodation for longer can open you up to money-saving discounts.  If you use Airbnb for example and stay for over 30 days in some locations you can get up to 50% off your fees.

Staying for longer in this instance can allow you to stay in nicer places while lasting your budget out.  When I stayed in Seville with Airbnb I was able to get a beautiful apartment with a swimming pool for £2000 a month where it should have cost me over £3500.  Amazing savings over the course of 6 months.

5) Walk when possible.

Bus journeys are often cramped and expensive.  If you can walk to your next destination and its safe to do so then do it.  Walking is free and you get to see things at a slower pace. Walking allows you to take everything in and explore the local environment in a way that a bus never could.

Bonus tip - Street food

I love food and I will try anything, the best food I have had over the years has been from street food vendors, not only can you save money by eating from these places but they taste amazing and you can see them being prepared in front of your eyes.

In Thailand, you can get an entire meal for less than £1/$2 from the street food vendors and they taste amazing. I'd highly recommend checking them out, not only to save money but to try the foods the locals enjoy cooking.

Do you have any money-saving tips? If so feel free to add them in the comment section below.