Budget

London On A Budget Tips – 10 Money Saving Tips For Visiting London

July 29, 2017 by admin 26 Comments

Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London - London On A Budget Tips

Finding travel hacks of tips to save you money in a new city can be tricky, hence my post with tips for saving money in London. London is said to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. Yes, London can be expensive for local residents too but it needn’t be so for visitors, providing you come well versed with money-saving tips for visiting London. This post will allow you to find out where to stay in London, places to see in the city, cheap and free things to see and do in London and their for allowing you to make the most of your visit to London a pleasurable one without breaking the bank.

Also, booking where to stay in London, England should be an expensive task, you just have to know what options are available and what you get for your budget range. You can also get a detailed list of hostels on some of my favorite hotel and hostel booking sites like Booking.com, Agoda, and Trivago. I also shared a post on London’s best-located hostel with tips on tourist attractions close to them as well. The same goes for things to do in London. There are plenty of free things to do in London at night, from museums, free viewing points, beautiful parks in London.

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How To Save Money In London As A Tourist

Below are tips for saving money in London as a tourist but many of these also apply to those that are looking money saving tips for living in London. By far the best way to get around in London is by bus, underground as well as walking. You can see the majority of the tourist sights by walking along the River Thames. For this post, I thought I would give you some tips for visiting London from a Londoner’s perspective on how to save money in London as a tourist and still have a great time!

1. Save money on food and buy local and from the supermarkets

Eating in London can be expensive but if you are on a budget then get to Tesco buy you some lunch and chill in London’s city parks. You can shave of a lot of money from a typical average cost of a trip to London for a week. You can grab yourself a meal deal for 2.99. That includes a sandwich, salad or wrap, then a snack and drink too. Meals on offer are a selection of healthy and naughty. Boots, Sainsbury’s does the same, they also do gourmet lunch selection by chefs like Jamie Oliver.

They now have Tesco and Sainburys Express stores all over London which makes saving money on food while visiting London even easier. The point is you can find plenty of ways to eat around London without blowing the budget and eat as healthily or as unhealthy as you want. You also have plenty of local cafes(I am not talking chain cafes) that will rustle up a mean breakfast for a fiver! Also, check out markets which offer delicious meals on a budget. Many have a wide range too, from India, Malaysia, Lebanese, African, and so many more regions. Check out my post on Borough Market Breakfast for inspiration.

2. Take a walk – Walk As Much As Possible In London

Walk! Yes, you might want to have an insta-staged shoot for the gram but pack some comfortable flats in your bag too and walk yourself to a firm rear end. You will save on our expensive transport system. Leave the Tube/Underground for when you are exploring tourist sights further away from you as those will take longer to get to on foot. This is by far one of the cheapest way to sightsee in London. My One Day London Itinerary post takes you on a walk around the Southbank, passing many tourist attractions on the way. Many of which you wouldn’t see by being on the underground or bus.

3. Stay within central London

Stay with Zones 1-3. This way I can guarantee you most of the majority of the places you will want to see will be within walking distance or a short bus ride away thus no need to buy an expensive travel card until it’s time to head back to the airport. Say, you stay in Greenwich, which is in falls in Zone 2 and 3 you still have places like Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, and Observatory, Maritime Museum, Greenwich Market all near you together with the riverside views. For more travel tips for London on where to stay, check out my guide on the best areas to stay in London as well as cool places to stay in Shoreditch or if you want to stay in London’s self-catering hotels.

Cool pubs and local restaurants and cafes near you in addition to being a short bus ride into London Bridge for further exploring of London. So don’t overlook certain areas because you think you have to stay in Zone 1 of London. For more on things to do in Greenwich, I have a post on top 10 things to do in Greenwich. I will be publishing a post on where to stay in London England for variable budgets. I will start London’s best-located hostels including what tourist sites are near them.

Cheap London vacation - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London - London On A Budget Tips

4. Use London buses to get around | The Cheapest Way To Sightsee In London

4. Public transport, use the bus and less of the underground. For one, you will see more of London without blowing your wallet. You will spend less money on the hop on/off buses and underground and still see more of London. Londist did a cool post on the best bus routes in London for sightseeing. Why do I say use the bus instead of the tourist buses? A hop on/off bus will cost you roughly £25-30 for a 24-hour ticket, while a 7-day bus pass covering buses and trams in London will costs you £21.20 for a 7-day pass.

You can hop on and off London buses until your heart is content! If you are in London for more than 2 days I would recommend getting a weekly travel card as this covers buses, underground, overground and trams. A Zone 1-2 will cost you £33 and 1-3 costs £38 so that works on cheaper for exploring the city. A one-day travel card is £12.30 so if staying a couple of day buying a weekly travel card is more cost-effective.

5. Buy a Visitor Oyster card Or London Pass Card

Buy a Visitor Oyster card. Unless you have a contactless credit/debit card you will have to buy an Oyster card to get around London. A visitor Oyster card costs £3. It makes buying a pay as you go fares easier and cheaper than buying paper tickets. Your daily fares are capped at £6.60 compared to buying a one-day travel card at £12.30. Any balance you have can also be refunded to you when you leave London.

You can also buy it online before you travel to London, in addition to special offers and discounts around London when you buy a Visitor Oyster card. You can also opt to purchase the London Pass Card, which gives you free entry to 60 attractions. Some of which I have covered on the blog. From free museums, the best river cruises in London, free entry to Hampton Court Palace, Westminister Abbey, The View from the Shard, Kensington Palace, The London Bridge Experience, Hop On Hop Off bus, Tower of London, and so many more places. Individual tips would cost you hundreds of pounds whereas the London Pass Card only costs £69.

6. Shop around for accommodation

Shop around for Hostels, Hotels and Airbnb apartments. Yes, London is expensive and more so if you are trying to keep up with the Jones for the gram. There are plenty of smaller bed and breakfast, hotels, and hostels in fantastic locations in the heart of the city. As I said above I will be sharing a post on London’s best-located hostels soon, but just bear in mind that you will spend the majority of your time exploring so why blow your budget on a super expensive hotel room that you only spent a night in, especially if you don’t have to or can’t afford it.

Don’t get me wrong I love a splurge and a treat when I travel enter private hideaway in Thailand, Twin Tower views in Malaysian or an African hideaway on the Zambezi. It’s up to you where you stay, my point is that there are plenty of places available that you won’t have sell your kidney to afford to tay in so don’t overlook small locally owned hotels that offer great value. Also if you are visiting during the summer, student halls offer great value on where to stay and most over great accommodation options all within the heart of the city(you can also search other cities in the UK). There are plenty within central London all offering a variety of options from self-contained rooms with breakfast included to those that provide a room with shared bathrooms.

Some of these, like Kings College student hall apartments, are within 5 minutes walk from Borough Market and the Shard for a further 5 minutes from beautiful tower bridge and a whole host of tourist places within walking distance such as Big Ben, London Eye, Tate Modern. For more on how to see London on foot, I have a Local’s Guide to exploring London. You also have YHA hostels that have hostels in fantastic locations in London. One is next to St Pauls Cathedral, Kings Cross, Thames side, and Central which is close to London’s shopping Mecca that is Oxford Street. Blackfriars and Waterloo have had few hotels pop up in recent years that provide easy access to tourist places within walking distance.

Waterloo has Hamptons, Park Plaza,H10 and Blackfriars hasIbis, also just around Tate Modern you have Citzen M, Hilton and Holiday Inn all within earshot of the Southbank, Borough Market and Tower Bridge all within 10 minutes walking. There is plenty of offer from apartments, hostels to hotel covering budget to luxury whatever your budget travel means to you in London so it’s only as expensive as you want it to be.

You can also get a detailed list of hotels, apartments and hostels on some of my favourite booking sites like Booking.com, Agoda,and Trivago. I also did a post on London’s best-located hostel with tips on tourist attractions covering the best tourist attractions within walking distance to your accommodation which also saves money as you also keep healthy while walking.

Cheap London Breaks - Top 10 Money Saving Tips For You Visit London

7. Use 2 for 1 Offers

Use 2 for 1 offers when you visit London. Check out sights like Attraction Tix for a discount from restaurants to attractions as well as Time Out. This is one major tip I use for other cities I visit and a must as far as tips for visiting London go. You can also pick up the free magazine which has plenty of vouchers that you can tear out as and when you come up with places to see while visiting London. New magazines are available on Tuesdays. Also check out sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Wowcher for discounts to attractions, restaurants and more.

8. Check out free sights

Visit free sights and museums. Take advantage of Londons amazing museums and galleries majority of which are free. You may have to pay for special/temporary exhibitions. The BristishMusuem, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern are all great places to visit and all free.

9. Get the best views | Views From The Shard & More

Get the Views for Free – We have plenty of places offering great views in London some of which are expensive just for a view. To save money you can opt for viewing decks with great views of London without paying ridiculous prices for the same view. I shared a point on where to get the best views in London here but can I also add to that, Greenwich Park (next to the observatory), Primrose Hill, and Switch House! Superb views of the city and all FREE!!!

10. Book a free tour In London

Join Free Walking Tour – London has some cool and free walking tours on offer. From architecture walks to street art. Although these are free and you are under no obligation to pay I would recommend you tip the guides considering the work that goes into researching some cool spots to visit in the city. One free walking tour I have done and would highly recommend is the Alternative Steet Tour in London cool and hip district of Shoreditch.

You can read move in my post linked. There are also a million and one paid tours in London to choose from. There are other paid walking tours in London, whether your interest is in Shakespear, Charles Dicken, Harry Porter Series tours, architecture, ghost tours and more. You name it, they have it! To go beyond the tours I would also highly recommend checking out London’s theatre shows. You can bag a discount on theatre tickets by check out sites like Love Theatre.

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How to save money in London

Venice On A Budget | 5 Travel Tips For A Weekend Venice on a Budget

April 16, 2017 by admin 5 Comments

Just like London, many don’t believe you can do Venice on a budget so I thought I would provide Venice travel tips to help you live largely and spend less in Venice. We are going to be talking Venice budget accommodation, Venice budget restaurants, and everything in between to helo you get around and where to stay while doing Venice on a budget!

This is a city that has inspired many other cities around the world to create floating cities. From London’s Little Venice to Venice of the North, a term that is now used to reference many cities around the globe including Russia’s St Petersburg which I will be sharing soon.

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5 Travel Tips For A Weekend Venice on a Budget

As I have visited Venice a couple of times now I thought I would share tips on how to visit Venice on a budget. With all the luxury on offer in this floating city, one would think visiting Venice on a budget would be impossible. It isn’t! You can enjoy your Venice itinerary without expending an absolute fortune. There are so many ways to cut costs on your visit to Venice so that you can spend your money on things that matter most to you, what that is a splurge on a luxury hotel in Venice or opting for a fine dining experience in Venice.

Whatever it is, there is a way to save money on your trip. These include cruising the Grand Canal on budget-friendly Vaporetto(waterbus), walking the alleys on foot instead of using Venice taxis, although I do have a tip onhow you can save money on Venice taxis here. Below are 5 insider tips on visiting Venice, an Italian gem on a budget.

1. Use Waterbuses in Venice

Venice offers the option of taxis and Vaporetto – waterbuses. Taxis can be can be quite expensive and more so if you intend on using them as your main transportation. Waterbuses offer an inexpensive way to get around the city. Tip: Before you arrive in Venice download AVM Venezia official app(Android & iTunes). You can buy your tickets and have them to hand on your phone. You can buy 1, 2, 3 and 7-day tickets as well as buying tickets for 75 minutes for the waterbuses at 7.50 Euros.

These work in a similar way as London’s Oyster or Hong Kong’s Octopus but use a barcode that you scan just before boarding the waterbus on the machines at the entrances of the stops. You can also buy multiple tickets on the apps you don’t have to download several apps on other phones if traveling with others. We used my boyfriend’s app to buy both our tickets, which meant we already had tickets from the moment we arrived as well as the occasional taxi. I will share tips on how to save money on the taxis in the next Venice post.

Exploring Venice needn’t blow the bank balance, hopefully, the tips below offer an insight on how to explore Venice without spending a lot of many. A weekend in Venice in photos below.

My jacket is by Very | Belt isVersace | Bag is Celine

2. Explore Venice on Foot

After your initial arrival into Venice, you have the option of getting around by the waterbuses or seeing Venice on foot. I have found opting for exploring on footway better. You will see more of Venice than you will on the waterbuses. Venice is inter-connected by hundreds of bridges so this means you can see all those beautiful little gems hidden within the floating city that only your feet can get as some of the waterways are too narrow for the waterbuses.

The only other mode of transportation that gets around these narrow waterways are Gondolas and smaller boats. That in itself would be a costly way to explore this small city via Gondola. So put on a comfortable pair of shoes, put the map away and let Venice reveal itself to you. Having explored the main interconnected islands on foot you can also check outboat tours of Murano, Burano, and Torcello which start from about £18. There are also tours that combine a walking tour and a gondola ride.

3. Avoid expensive private Gondola rides and take a group ride

If you want to see the city by Gondola, if you are a group then it works out a lot cheap as you can split costs. If you are a couple and don’t mind sharing you can opt to buy advance tickets for a Gondola ride with others. Most Gondola platforms around Venice offer group rides but may have to wait until they have enough people to get on the Gondolas. Also, note that the prices for Gondolas changes in the evening but the benefit is that there are less people on Grand Canal so a little peaceful riding.

4. Buy Local Food In Venice – Food Budget

Eating in Venice can be ridiculously expensive. Venice on a budget food options are plenty, you just have to think outside of the box so to speak. This also doesn’t guarantee you will have quality for the money you are spending. Cafes and restaurants near tourist hotspots like Rialto Bridge or San Marco Square are super expensive for what is on offer. Unless you are visiting a place that comes highly recommended, I would highly recommend finding places hidden within inner Venice. The quality is usually better because they try harder to produce good food as it means they get more footfall with reviews and good reputation. It’s also a lot cheaper.

If exploring on foot also opt for taking away. There are supermarkets around the city offering an inexpensive option for those wanting to do Venice on a budget, especially if you are staying in an apartment in Venice. You can have a quick shop and make your own lunches or breakfast instead of eating out. We booked Airbnb when we visited Venice so we opted to use the supermarket to buy food, which meant we made our own food and enough to keep us going for lunches.

I also had access to Italian cafes serving great coffee right outside our apartment. To get the most of food in Venice you can also check out Food Tours in Venice that will take you around and sample food in Venice. Deciding where to eat in Venice is super is as there are plenty of places but just make sure it’s not in an overly touristy area as they charge more than they ought to.

5. Stay Local and Rent An Apartment In Venice

Don’t feel you have to stay in the center of Venice and there are certainly hotels and apartments in all budgets from luxury to Venice budget hotels. We looked around for hotels but as this year has been filled with so much travel for work, I have found Airbnb a lot more appealing for my style of travel at the moment. I do switch between hotels and Airbnb though. Don’t feel you have to stay near San Marco or Rialto Bridge to feel the essence of Venice.

Venice is not so big that you have to stay so close to the hot spots. Our booking was for a place hidden deep in the alleys of Venice, it seemed that way when we walked to try and find it but after we found it and saw the view from one of our windows(image below with rooftops and the Campanile in the background) we realised just how close we still were to the sights. We were also a short walk to Libra Alta – the famous bookshop. Rialto Bridge was also only about 30 minutes walk.

The point is, don’t feel you have to blow hundreds of Euros on an expensive hotel bill just so you can stay on the edge of the Grand Canal. Especially if you are going to spend most of your stay exploring. For Venice Italy accommodation budget options and to compare hotel prices in Venice click here. You can also use Airbnb, whether rental the whole apartment or renting a room. You can save £30 via this Airbnb link when you sign up. If you are still hungry for more tips on this beautiful city then check out Nicola’s comprehensive guide to Venice.

Tours In Venice

There are plenty of cool tours in Venice to choose from. Below you can check out Get Your Guide for tours. From walking tours to hop on hop off tours. Check out this review of the Venice boat tour.

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Venice on a Budget | 5 Travel Tips For A Weekend Venice on a Budget

Best Place To Stay In Phuket + Gold Diggers Resort Review

August 23, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

Having spent some time in Bangkok, I was looking forward to leaving the city life and exploring Thailand’s beautiful islands. I had already search high and low for the best places to stay in Phuket when I stumbled on a curiously named hotel. A name so cool that I of course booked! My mind had conjured up so many things when I first spotted the name of the hotel and at $40 a night I thought to myself it can’t really be that bad, can it? To my relief, it was bad at all. In addition to the name, I chose it because it was a short distance from the airport as we were flying from Bangkok in the late afternoon. Arriving in Phuket in the evening and straight on to an early start for a day tour to Phang Nga Bay. I shared a post on 9 experiences you need to have in Phang Nga Bay. We were going to be doing the Phang Nga Bay or James Bond Island tour which takes of from the piers near in the Northern part of Phuket. Hence why were wanted to base ourselves this side of the island. When looking at places to stay in Phuket, while the tour pick up will pick you up from anywhere you are staying on the island, just bear in mind that the where you stay might also mean you are adding at least an hour and a half to your journey before you get to the pier where the tour starts and possible being collected 2 hours before everyone at 6 or 7am. Fortunately, Gold Digger’s Resort was only a short ride to where the pier was so we were one of the last people to be picked up which meant more time in bed.

Golddiggers Resort was surprisingly welcoming, the place is set in a quiet location, rooms are clean and spacious for what you pay for. All come with ceiling fan, fridge and safe. There is also a communal pool right outside the rooms, surrounded by beautiful palm trees creating a relaxed environment to chill out. The beach and shops are only a short walk away from the resort, together with a few restaurants. The reception and resort staff were really friends and helpful with tours and details of surrounding amenities. Our stay in Phuket also included a stay at Ikon Hotel and The Renaissance Beach Resort, which you can read about here on the blog. During our stay in Phuket, we sampled a variety of hotels both luxury and budget and both inland and right on the beach. To find the best place to stay in Phuket and sample the stunning beaches Phuket has to off here is a likes a list of hotels in Phuket.

Booking.com

The Welcome Drink – Clitoria Ternatea – Don’t laugh! Clitoria Ternatea plant is said to be an aphrodisiac among other things!

The Rooms – Slightly dated but spacious, clean and comfortable.

Booking.com

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Budget Travel Tips | 10 Tips and Tricks To Save You Money When You Travel

July 29, 2015 by admin 28 Comments

I always seem to get asked how I afford to travel so much. This post should answer some of these questions. There are plenty of people who have this notion that you need to be rich or have lots of money to be able to travel. You don’t! I am living prove of this, trust me. Contrary to what people may believe, I am sorry to disappoint you, I do not have a couple of Irish leprechauns churning up gold coins in my imaginary spare room – well not anymore anyway.

I love it when people say to me “Bee, I can’t afford to travel as much as you do”. ‘First things first, if you go to Starbucks, Cafe Nero, Costa, Boots(meal deals) or any other cafes that you grab food at, a couple of times a week, then you can definitely afford to travel! Why my tips below might help you get started, also look at budget travel guidebook that will help you budget for specific travel regions like traveling around Europe on a budget or taking on South America or even Asia on a budget.

I am sure you are asking yourself, Bee, how the hell do those things relate? Hold on, I will explain. Okay, so let’s take Starbucks for example, a latte costs £2.95 a cup, and if you were to add a panini and/or one of their sweet cakes or snacks, you are well into about £7-8. If you go to Starbucks at least 2-3 times a week, that’s about £96 a month! Guess how much a weekend in Copenhagen cost me?! I paid £20 a RETURN, for a return ticket! Which obviously meant Bee was supper excited that she thought of buying another £20 return ticket for the boyfriend to come along for the experience. So out of that £96, we have spent £40 on plane tickets with £56 left in change.

I also booked a lovely little studio in for the weekend which only came down to £45, which still leaves you another £11. You can put that towards your food or any other tourist stuff you want to do – most of which are FREE! You can check out some of my posts on Copenhagen as well as my guide on things to do in Copenhagen.

Now, I am not saying that visiting Copenhagen will only cost you £96, I am merely using it as an example to illustrate just how inexpensive travel can be with a little change in lifestyle. On the other hand, if you become a danger to society without your caffeine fix then, by all means, keep that Cafe Nero or Starbucks routine (I would hate to see you on the six o’clock news). Instead, save £20 from your wages a month or whatever you can afford, or walk to work instead of buying that daily bus/train pass.

Anyway, this was not a post on travelling to Copenhagen for that you can check out my quick guide to Copenhagen. I also not a believer in totally maxing out the credit cards just so I can get a quick fix to my itchy feet and incurable wanderlust because that credit card statement will be waiting for you when you get back home. If you have one, make sure it comes with rewards(check out my link to the points guy below)!

Travelling on the cheap doesn’t mean you miss out on luxury. It’s ok to be a cheapskate that loves luxurious things in life. Marriott hotels don’t come cheap and yet I have stayed at many for FREE! I have stayed in lodges right on the banks of the Zambezi with the safari animals roaming right before me, and that didn’t cost me half as much as people would think. If you want to travel more, or travel for close to nothing then I am sure the travel tips below will help you do just that. I have put together some of the travel tips I live by, that can see me travelling short and long haul a couple of times a year without messing up my credit score or selling my kidneys for a plane ticket.

Top Tips For Traveling On A Budget

1. Be Loyal, Because Loyalty Pays

I travel quite a bit for work. My longest project was in Peterborough for about a year and about 6 months of that, I basically lived at the Marriott Hotel. So I signed up for their rewards scheme. In a period of a few months, I had racked up 250,000 points! Guess what that got me. That got me 10 beautiful days in Hong Kong!

My colleague who was on the project longer than me had racked up enough points to go to the Maldives with his then-girlfriend(now wife), that’s flights and hotel for a week for two people. ALL FREE! Also getting to Peterborough was by train from London to Peterborough via East Coast Trains at Kings Cross, now run by Virgin Trains. I signed up for their rewards as well. I earned enough points to go to travel to Edinburgh via first class too. Not mention I still had plenty more points to spare.

You can read my post on Top 10 Things To Do In Edinburgh for more. Also when a train is late/delayed/ cancelled I don’t even get upset anymore because if it’s late/delayed for 30 minutes, you get half your money and 1-hour plus, you get your full price back in vouchers. To use whenever you please. So sign up for those loyalty schemes if you want to travel. These will allow you to either use for travel or other things like spa days, flights, hotel stays or voucher to use in retail stores.

view on Portree before sunset, Isle of Skye, Scotland

2. Charity Begins At Home

If your parents, your sister, brother or cousin is travelling, help them book their flights or accommodation. If they are not on a loyalty scheme then you get to charge their points to your account. My boyfriend’s recent trip to Cuba was booked by yours truly. Same thing when it came to his flight to India via Emirates airlines. All his points went to my account because he doesn’t have a rewards account with them.

I was with him for the first 5 days of his trip to India, in addition to his 20+ days stay in India at Marriott. Guess what? Between points earned while staying in India for a month and those I earned while on a project in Liverpool at the beginning of the year, I now have enough Marriott points to cover at least 4-5 days FREE stays in China, Panama, Qatar, South Africa, Turkey, Russia, El Salvador, Malaysia or even Malaysia. Leaving me with just hunting for a cheap flight to get to my chosen destination.

3. Booking Hotels Early – Early Bird Gets Catches The Worm

This doesn’t really apply here, in away. Of course, book early so that you get a better choice in where you stay. My favourite hotel booking site is Booking.com. This is because of their hustle-free booking and free cancellation. For my recent trip to Greece, I needed a place for myself, my sister and her friend. We were travelling to Santorini and Athens so I needed hotels for both cities.

I booked several options. Each time I saw a place I liked I booked it! As the trip date got closer and closer I narrowed it down by cancelling a few that weren’t close to what we were going to be doing. The trick here is to keep a close eye on the deals for the same hotels you have already booked. My stay in Athens, I had booked at the Radisson Blue and as the weeks passed there were more deals being added for the same room I booked. About 2-3 weeks before we were due to leave they had more deals for the same hotel and room that we had already booked for about £60 lower than the price of my booking.

I booked it and cancelled the previous booking. That was a good chunk shaved off our total. That’s also a little trick I use all the time. Book whole bunch and watch them bring the prices down. So book on the cheaper price first before you cancel the first booking. You can also compare your deals with other sites but make sure they offer the same flexibility when it comes to free cancellations.

4. There Is Strength In Numbers – Make Group Bookings – Hostels And House Rentals

I am not a big fan of hostels but I am starting to turn over a new leaf as hostels have stepped up their game in the last few years. I have also been challenged by YHA Hostels to go on a weekend staycation for under £100 for two people! So watch how that unfolds in the next 2 weeks. If you are budget conscious then don’t overlook them as there are some really good ones out there.

Yes, even for those like me that don’t like sharing rooms, bathrooms and such, with strangers. There are hostels out there that have single/double occupancy rooms. You still get to have the “community” feel of travel where you meet other travellers in many of the events or pub crawls that most hostels host and still have your own space. Another way to save money is renting a place. I have found this to be a great way to save money if you are going as a group.

My friends and I rented a villa in Malta for a friends birthday trip. For a total of seven days, we paid about £110 each. Can you imagine how much seven days would cost if we all had to have our own hotels rooms(even if we shared)? It would definitely cost a lot more.

Above, I also told you about the studio rental in Copenhagen. So you can also rent out a place and still save money. Sites like Airbnb, HomeStay, HostelWorld, Expedia as well as Booking.com, Trivago all have some crazy deals too. So compare those and get the one that suits budget and needs. You can also rent out your place on Airbnb while you are away so you have money when you are back from your travels. In a way recoup your travel costs.

Malta

5. Seek out Opportunities To Travel For Work

If your work involves a little travel then make the most of that and explore the places that it takes you to. I had been sent for Sitecore training(IT stuff for those not in the know) in Kronberg, Germany which was starting on a Monday and ending on Wednesday. The tickets were already paid for so it didn’t matter that I got there on the weekend as Saturday expenses would be my own while Sunday night was paid for as I had to arrive by Sunday in order to start at 9am on Monday. So what did I do? I flew in on a Friday night! I visited Dusseldorf on Saturday, Sunday I was in Cologne, and Monday morning I was in Kronberg!

It always helped that I have a friend living in Dusseldorf so exploring with his car made it all that much easier(see point 6). While I was in Kronberg, in the evenings I explored the town. You can read about my explorations and how I found myself in a castle on my own in Kronberg here. Straight after the course, I was back at the airport and back in London in about 2 hours! Also, note that if you travel for work try and keep to one hotel group and add your stays to your loyalty scheme accounts.

You can also check out my Instagram/Twitter posts of my explorations of places in Peterborough, Port Sunlight in Liverpool where I took advantage of fact that I was there for work and explored the city. I have also been to Madrid for work and managed to have some of our Spanish colleagues take us out on the town to see where the locals’ watering holes are(think bars!).

6. Be An Opportunist

Take advantage of the fact that you may have friends and family overseas. Go and visit them and hopefully they are kind enough to let you lounge in the spare room or couch. You will only be spending money on your ticket and maybe food. I was in the USA a while back and spent most of my time at my sister’s in Columbus Ohio, before going to lounge at my brother’s so I could explore Michigan.

The only hotels I paid for was when I went solo to Chicago and Seattle. I forgot to mention that Seattle was paid for with my Marriott points. Plus I had views of Mount Rainer from my room – Score! My exploration of Croatia’s Zagreb was also while visiting a friend who offered me a spare room. Her mum also managed to cook for us one afternoon and hey presto, less money to spend on food.

My trip to Dusseldorf and Cologne I mentioned above, were made easy because my friend drives so I had my very own personal guide in the city. My next opportunity is by way of Alissa who is going to be my personal guide and host when I visit Australia end of the year. So again unless we leave her home city of Melbourne the accommodation bill will be much lower then say, if I would be staying at a hotel.

Now I am not saying you should now just start being a fake friend just for the sake of travel, but make sure nurture your distant friendships around the world as you may need them just like your friends may need you when they are coming towards your city.

7. Travel and Earn Money While You Travel

This one doesn’t really apply to me as I have a full-time job at the moment, in addition to the demands of this blog, but think of other ways to earn money while you travel. Below are a few ideas to help you earn money if you do extend your travels. In saying that, if your job isn’t time demanding then these can also help you earn money in addition to your current job where ever you are. The money can be used towards home and away travels.

1. If you are good with your camera then consider photography(will do a post on how to improve your photography soon). You can take event photos for small/local companies in the city you are visiting.
2. Manage a social media account for a local company.

3. Teach kids or even adults computer skills(we take things for granted in the developed world sometimes). Teach someone to use your laptop’s basic functions like, sending an email to their family,job searching, these skills may sound stupid to you but will mean the world of good to someone who can then move on to using a computer at their nearest library.

4. Do you dance, do yoga, or are into health? Then how about you teach it the next time you are in a new place?

5. We all have transferable skills, most of which we can earn some money from. Teaching any other skill not mentioned above giving marketing or business advice to local business in your new town. This can help you pay for your next destination. Failing that you can find a local farm and see if they need any picking and packing.

6. Don’t take your job hunting skills for granted! How about teaching people how to write the CV and cover letter or even helping people find jobs abroad. Or any interview and job hunting skills you already know.

Budget Travel Tips | 10 Tips and Tricks To Save You Money When You Travel

8. Watch Where Your Money Goes – Buy Experiences, Not Things

Do you really Need That? For those that shop for the sake of “oh my gosh, it was on sale and I just couldn’t resist”, then this one is for you. If you are a lover of ridiculously expensive things then weigh things up. Is that *insert brand name here* going to give you the same experience as witnessing the sunrise on Table Mountain or watching leopards elegantly walk across your path(post to come) in Botswana’s Okavango Delta? Then put that expensive purse, sneaker, clothing item down and head for the next airline ticket desk instead. If you cannot stop then buy elegant, quality and timeless pieces.

Those things do not go out of fashion and if they are good quality they will see you through many destinations looking as fierce as Naomi Campbell strutting the catwalk. I am sure some of you have seen my Vivienne Westwood bag feature in a lot of my pictures on the blog. I have been travelling with that old gal for years and she still looks as new as the day I laid eyes on her. In my best cockney – Quality Mate!

I am a lover BIG statement jewellery pieces and handbags, but I don’t buy them as much as I used to, so now only buy if there really is a real need(or crazy ass sale) because travel experiences for me have taken more of a priority than having the latest purse. BUT, I trust me I wouldn’t decline one if Gucci, Prada or even Michael Kors was to have one delivered to my door.

Budget Travel Tips | 10 Tips and Tricks To Save You Money When You Travel

9. Have Great Flight Search Skills – I’M Like A Bird, I Wanna Fly Away.

Yep, Just like Nelly Furtado, I am like a bird that constantly wants to fly away. By far the most expensive part about travel is the flight, but most of the time its not as expensive as you think it is. Want to travel to Kenya or Tanzania’s Serengeti for a safari but think its expensive? Do you want to visit Brazil but think its expensive? It’s not.

I love markets because I love the thrill of the haggle, it’s the same when it comes to flights, in that I love me a BARGAIN. Check out Google Flightsas that will show your flight prices for various destinations leaving from your city or your chosen starting point. You can even choose a destination based on how cheap it is to fly there. Another site that has AMAZING deals is Secretflying.com.

I watch this site like a hawk. I have come across flight deals to Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Panama, China for well under £300 for a return! They have deals from the USA. Someone from the travel group I am a part of on Facebook travelled to Kenya from the USA for under $500 including flight and accommodation. One deal that still haunts, for not taking it last year was a flight to Brazil for £182 return!!!

Yes, I still cry every night for missing out on that deal. Other sites include Flyonous.com in addition to your Expedia, Flight Scanner, and Momondo. If you can’t wait for deals then bear in mind which days you travel, as some days cost more than others. Wednesday and Sundays, are apparently the cheap days to fly on. Also take advantage of flights with stopovers. If your flight has a stopover this is an opportunity to get a taste of a new city without investing too much time or money in it.

If you like it you can come back for longer. Also consider going directly to airlines like Norwegian airlines, Icelandic airline as they do flights between Europe and USA for under $100. That’s a steal if you are in the Euro/Pound zone. Also, search the low budget airlines where you are. I cannot stand RyanAir, and each time I say to myself, “Never again Bee”. They are like a drug with those deals making me ache just for one last hit.

Did I also mention that the same flight to Copenhagen I booked for £10 each way, I found a week later for £2! Yep, so how can one travel addict resist?! I think I need rehab, seriously. The more you save on flights and accommodation the more you get to splurge on maybe a little shopping combined with your exploring or spending on culinary experiences, theatre experience or whatever your vice is.

10. See Things For Your Self – It’s Better To See Something Once Than To Hear About It A Thousand Times

There is no harm in hearing about something a thousand times, but one must go and experience it for themselves. I love reading about people’s experiences of a destination, their tips on saving money, to the best and easiest ways to get to a particular place. Hence this post on how I afford to travel for next to nothing, which not only gives you an insight into how I Travel but how you too, can save money on travel.

We are only in the middle of that year and I have already been to Germany, Denmark, India and Greece all with the above tips I have mentioned. That’s 4 countries and 7 cities in that last 6 months alone. Some of the sites for my source of wanderlust inspiration as well as learning from their experience or mistakes; OneikaTheTravellerwho has been to 66 countries so far, Adventurous Kate for her solo travels as well as featuring other travellers for more travel inspired tales, join Facebook groups with liked minded travellers who come with a wealth of travel information from every corner of the globe.

Groups like Nomadness Tribe with thousands who have been to each country on the planet, imagine the travel knowledge at your disposal. Bloggers like ThePointsGuy, TheFrugalTravelGuy will take you about rewards schemes and travel deals that will have you travelling for without going broke, as well as many other bloggers out there who can give you personal accounts for destinations that you have in mind. That way you will have information on the form of the cheap of transport. The best routes to the place you should visit that you wouldn’t have otherwise considered.

Another Tip: My quest to limit my 10 top travel tips and hacks to just 10, I nearly forgot to mention was travelling in the off-peak season. I have found November to be one of the cheapest times to travel too. As the kids go back to school and folks are saving for Christmas shopping and travelling back to families in December, there are plenty of tickets at crazy prices around that time so you are more likely to find a bargain for both flights and hotels during this time.

Also See

Cheap Hotels In Santorini
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Cheap Afternoon Tea In London
Cheap Hotels In Central London
Best Airbnb In Bangkok
Money-Saving Tips When Visiting London
Cheap Hotels In Lake Garda Italy
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Budget Travel Tips | 10 Tips and Tricks To Save You Money When You Travel