Many believe that travelling on a budget is nearly impossible to do and requires you to have a reliable stream of passive income in order to be abroad for a significant period of time. In fact, budget travel is entirely achievable to anyone who is serious enough about it. The key difference between affordable and luxury travel lies in what you prioritise throughout your journey. Typically, a lavish and relaxed trip prioritises comfort and quality over price. When you begin travelling with cost in mind, your priorities shift from convenience to affordability, while still allowing you to explore the same number of places – or even more. So from UK spouse visas to flexibility, here’s the ultimate guide to travelling on a budget, and how to see more for less!
Learn To Be Flexible
Flight and accommodation prices regularly fluctuate throughout the month. If you’re flexible on the dates you choose to travel, you could make significant savings before you’ve even left the country. Across major UK airlines like TUI and Jet2, you will often find the most affordable prices during the week or at less popular hours of the day – early mornings and late evenings in particular. Travelling during the School holidays should be avoided completely, as prices tend to be at their highest in the year during these periods. When booking flights, it is highly recommended to book as early as possible for the best guaranteed prices. If you’re booking last minute flights and trips, be sure to make a booking on flight comparison sites such as Skyscanner, rather than using the airlines’ sites directly.
Cut Costs With Budget Accommodation
Travellers who are conscious of saving money often choose budget-friendly accommodation. Most overseas destinations offer cheaper accommodation options like shared hostels and dorms for a significantly reduced price. Additionally, you could consider camping to save money on accommodation entirely. Another option, which is popular with travellers, is using their spare time to pay for their accommodation. Sites like Workaway allow you to work for a couple of hours during the day in exchange for somewhere to stay, and sometimes even for food too.
Choose Your Destination Wisely
It’s not very often that you’ll see budget travellers spending most of their time in notoriously expensive destinations like Dubai and Switzerland. It’s not to say that you can visit these places if you’re looking to save money, but their high-end hotels and premium prices make travelling on a budget notably more difficult. If you do choose to explore these locations, it would be wise to visit for shorter periods of time. Certain countries and regions are associated with being more affordable to travel to. Some of these places include Thailand and Vietnam, both of which are popular for their low cost of living and affordable transportation. If you visit Thailand especially, you can expect to pay pennies for their local street food and less than £10 for budget overnight accommodation. Budget destinations can be found all across the globe, including across Europe. Take Portugal, for example, where costs here are believed to be remarkably lower than in Spain. Both countries offer travellers a taste of the Mediterranean climate, with Portugal ranking above its neighbouring country for overall safety and ease of travel.
Prepare For Travel Expenses
In the excitement and chaos of preparing to travel abroad, many travellers forget to check their credit and debit card allowances when they start spending outside of their home countries. Many credit and debit card providers have a set 3% foreign transaction fee that is immediately added to any spending you make abroad. To review your allowance before you take off, start by researching and applying for cards that allow you to spend abroad with no additional fees. Some of the most popular choices among UK travellers include Monzo Bank, Chase and Starling Bank – all of which allow you to spend and withdraw cash overseas for free. You can also choose to apply for a specific travel card. These pre-paid cards allow you to pick any foreign currency and deposit as much money as you like for your travels. These travel cards are particularly useful for travellers visiting places for set periods of time, where they set themselves a spending budget that they don’t want to surpass.
Although there are numerous ways to cut costs while travelling, starting to save long before your departure can help you build a substantial travel fund with little impact on your day-to-day lifestyle. The key to travelling on a budget lies in thoughtful planning before your trip and smarter spending decisions throughout your journey.
Find Work Abroad
If you’re someone who typically worries about your finances day-to-day, working abroad could be a suitable option for you. It offers the most security and financial freedom, as well as creating opportunities for meeting new people and potentially longer-term residency too. Finding work abroad involves applying for a specific work visa in the country you wish to temporarily stay in. Some countries are harder to apply for a visa in than others, but the majority of regions across the globe will require you to submit a number of different documents as evidence that you meet their application criteria. If you’re a UK resident looking to apply for a working visa abroad, you can reach out to a British citizenship lawyer for advice on how to apply for the best chances of application success.
