You probably think that travelling with little or no money is impossible? However, I have been travelling several times a year for the past three years. And today, I realised that travelling is not that expensive when you are used to it! Here are 12 tips to help you live your dream with little or no money!
Are you ready to understand how to travel cheap too? Then let’s get started! I give you the best tips to save money when travelling.
My tips for travelling without money:
1 – Choose the right destinations:
The biggest mistake that first time travellers make, and one that greatly increases their travel budget, is to go based on one destination.
The world is vast, Europe is full of wonders… Why limit yourself to going on holiday to one place? You want to travel with little money? My first advice is to be flexible about your destination!
If you know your travel dates and are sure you want to go to Marrakech for example, the ticket will probably cost you 150$ return or more. If your aim is simply to go somewhere sunny, why not try Palma de Mallorca in the Balearics instead?
Nowadays, I ALWAYS choose my travel destinations based on price and not necessarily on my desires. So of course I go to places that appeal to me, but my destination is never fixed in advance.
Recently, I went to the Cyclades overnight because I found a ticket for 30$ return! So if you want to travel without spending too much money, don’t hesitate to jump on opportunities like these.
Obviously, it’s easier when you want to discover a big part of the world in your life, but it’s a rule to remember: flexibility will allow you to travel without money or almost!
But if you’re travelling for a special event or your destination is non-negotiable, don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to travel for less.
2- Be flexible on your dates:
If you’re taking one or more weeks of holiday, it’s best to leave yourself some wiggle room when you travel. This will save you a lot of money when you know that a plane ticket can have a difference of 50$ from one day to another. It is better to be within 2 or 3 days when choosing your departure dates.
3 – When should you leave to travel on a budget?
I’m not telling you anything new: everyone leaves from Friday to Sunday evening or during the school holidays. So obviously, this is not an example to follow for travelling without money! Indeed, plane tickets are skyrocketing during this period and accommodation is often more expensive.
The best way to travel cheap is often to go out of season. For a summer trip, why not go in May/June or during September for example? These periods promise good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices!
If you have children at school or only go on holiday during the school holidays, you can still go cheaper if you plan well in advance or are flexible!
To sum up, these 3 points cover the most important elements for cheaper travel:
- be flexible on the dates
- be flexible on the destination
- don’t leave at the same time as everyone else!
Of course, you will also have to choose a cheap plane ticket. When you’re not used to it, it’s often the price of the ticket that makes your travel budget soar. I therefore invite you to consult all our good travel plans from your airport directly on our homepage.
4- Reduce your budget with practical accommodation:
Another important aspect when you travel without much money is to choose a practical accommodation! With my travel experience, I now consider that the ideal is to have a flat or a room with a kitchen.
You will find something for every budget: a whole flat from 20$ per night depending on the country (on hotel booking sites for example) or a private room in a private home from 15$ per night.
In countries such as Greece or Croatia, it is very common to rent a flat for your stay. But of course, there are many of these all over the world!
In the end, you’ll be able to do your shopping and eating at home, which is a great way to travel on a budget!
In terms of practical accommodation, remember to book accommodation not too far from the centre of town on a city trip, as the cost of transport each day can greatly increase your budget.
5- Make couchsurfing a great way to travel without money:
A good way to travel without money is also to turn to couchsurfing. Thanks to this principle, you can sleep for free in a host’s home on their couch or in a guest room. It’s also a great way to meet people on the spot and why not get a guide to visit the city.
6 – Talk! Ask! Dare!
In France, we find it hard to approach others and even harder to ask them for something. However, if you try it, you will realise that people are always ready to help you. So if you want to travel without money: dare!
Dare to ask for a small discount on a website, dare to ask for an extra night cheaper at your hotel, a free dessert at a restaurant if you mention the address on your blog. Dare to simply meet people and why not ask: “where can I find cheap accommodation near you? Would you go into town tomorrow by any chance? Do you have a sofa available at home?
I’m sure it will be difficult to say no to you after a few minutes of talking to you. And then, at worst, you have nothing to lose, do you?
7- Do some voluntary work:
Obviously, to travel without money you can also try volunteering. In France or on the other side of the world, alone or with friends/couple, I invite you to turn to sites like Workaway and HelpX. They put you in contact with people all over the world who are willing to host you in their homes according to your dates for free for a week, a month, or more, in exchange for some work, childcare, animal care (in a farm) etc. Often all meals are included. Often, all meals are included.
8 – Travelling while working:
If you dream of travelling often, you know that having a job in your country limits your travel opportunities.
So of course, we don’t ask you to resign immediately, but if you are young (or not so young) and you dream of travelling in the long term, I advise you to take a single ticket and try your luck to work in France.
If you speak English, you will easily be hired in the tourist industry (bars, restaurants, youth hostels) even without experience in big cities like London for example. You need to find out where you can work, depending on your plans!
Not your thing? Then why not become a Digital Nomad so that the whole world is your office and you only need a wifi connection? Travelling while working is possible!
9-The PVT visa, your best ally to travel with little money:
For young people, the best way to travel with little money today is still the PVT. A one-year visa generally reserved for people between 18 and 25/30 years old, which allows you to stay in the country and work there at the same time. As you may know, many young people do it in Australia, but you can also do it in South Korea, Japan, Argentina or Canada! All you have to do is know where you want to go and apply!
10- Bring some savings with you:
For a short-term trip this time, you can opt for a few tricks to reduce your budget even more. If you have a hold suitcase, why not take some tins of food inside? This is a great way to avoid paying for food on the spot, especially if you are travelling to countries with a relatively high cost of living such as Iceland.
Another good technique for any trip is to bring Tupperware and a small cooler so you can pack a picnic lunch and limit the number of restaurants. This, while being free to move throughout your day. Yes, travelling without money requires a lot of inspiration!
11- Have a project to get a partnership.
Brands love projects! This becomes a huge opportunity when you decide to travel without money, especially for a world tour! If you have the idea of going on a trip by bike, hitchhiking, on your hands or for a particular action (ecological, humanitarian etc), why not try a partnership with companies? It costs nothing to ask! You can sometimes receive material and equipment for your trip or even a free hotel or flight, who knows? Contact them by email or directly on site. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you!
12 -Travelling far!
Do you want to travel without money? One of the best pieces of advice we can give you is to travel far from Europe, to countries where the cost of living is lower. In Thailand, for example, you can find accommodation, food and activities for much less than in Europe. This is a good way to pay off the cost of the plane ticket! This is true when you stay in the same destination for a long time.
