How to plan a budget trip that doesn’t feel like a budget trip
Spend where you will remember it, save where you will not. A few planning choices matter more than any single discount.
The cheapest trip is not always the best one. A good budget trip feels generous because the money goes into the things that matter to you and not into the things that do not.
Start by choosing what matters
Before you look at prices, decide your top two priorities. For some people it is food, for others it is a great location, or a special activity. Everything else can be cheaper.
If you will barely be in the room, a simple, clean, well-located place is plenty. If you love food, spend there and stay somewhere basic.
Pick dates and places with care
Where and when you go often matters more than how you book.
- Travel outside peak season. Flights and accommodation can be noticeably cheaper in the shoulder months, and popular places are less crowded.
- Be flexible by a day or two. Midweek flights are often cheaper than weekend ones.
- Consider the whole cost. A cheap flight to an expensive city can cost more than a pricier flight to somewhere where daily costs are low.
Where the savings are
- Accommodation location. A place slightly outside the centre, near good public transport, often costs much less than one in the middle of the tourist area.
- Food. Eat your main meal at lunch, when many restaurants have cheaper set menus, and buy breakfast and snacks at a local market.
- Getting around. Use public transport or walk. Check whether a multi-day pass covers the attractions you plan to visit.
Avoid the common leaks
- Airport currency exchange and foreign card fees.
- Restaurants next to major landmarks.
- Booking everything in advance and leaving no slack for something unexpected.
Set a daily number
Divide your total budget by the number of days, and keep a simple running total in your phone. Knowing your number makes it easier to say yes to the thing you will remember and no to the thing you will not.
