For travelers, planning a vacation doesn't have to mean breaking the bank.
More than half of Gen Z adults are frequent travelers, taking at least three trips a year for leisure, according to data research group Morning Consult. And many of these travelers come from less financially well-off households, meaning they don't let their modest funds limit their excursions to just one summer vacation per year.
Experts say there are plenty of apps and third-party sites that make it possible to travel on a budget; it’s simply a matter of knowing how to best use these resources to meet financial constraints while still checking off the must-dos when visiting particular places.
“First you need to know how you're going to attack the beast,” says Jo Franco, host of the Netflix travel show. The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals and CEO of her journaling company JoClub. “What are the things that (you) want to see and experience, what lights up (you) and choose a daily splurge.”
Here's what experts told TIME about how to travel on a budget.
Know your limits before planning a trip
Experts say budgeting doesn't necessarily have to limit a trip, but rather means travelers need to make adjustments when it comes to finding affordable options.
Travelers should first assess how much money they would like to spend on a particular vacation to best meet their financial constraints, Madison Lee, a 25-year-old travel content creator, told TIME, which can mean be open to a variety of travel dates. flying from a smaller airport or traveling mid-week rather than over a weekend. Traveling during a particular location's shoulder season (usually spring and fall) is also more profitable.
More time
Before planning, travelers should consider whether they are restricted to vacationing at a specific time of year or if they have more flexibility. “Are you going to research the destination first and find the cheapest flights, then work backwards and plan that into your schedule? Or do you know that you only have these two weeks off and your time is limited to those two weeks,” asks Franco, who has created travel-related YouTube content for over a decade.
Travelers should keep in mind that vacations will always be more expensive during domestic (and international) holidays. Franco warns that people need to be aware of “travel freaks,” which is when a certain event happens in a city that attracts tourists and drives up prices. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experience these things,” Franco says. “But if you're on a budget and traveling for the sake of traveling and not necessarily to experience (something), then it would be good to research what's happening in places during the year.”
It may also be ideal to choose a lesser-known location, according to Lee. “Choosing countries where your currency goes further will allow you to experience incredible things for much less than in popular tourist destinations. Decide what you want to see on your trip: mountains, beaches, cities, etc., then look at the less-visited places that have those qualities: Milos versus Santorini, Albania versus Croatia, Chiapas versus Yucatán,” she says.
Know what you want to get out of your trip
Franco suggests travelers make sure they know what they want most from a particular place, whether that's visiting a particular museum, eating at a specific restaurant, or exploring nature. Analyzing their preferences should help them decide whether they want to splurge on an experience or meal for the day.
For trips lasting a week or more, Franco suggests people only plan the first three days of their trip and leave the rest to fate. “When you travel on a budget, you'll end up in more common places… you'll meet more people,” Franco says. “The spontaneity that makes a trip special…usually happens when you meet someone. They tell you about a place. You follow their advice, you go to the place where you end up having a magical time, or you meet a person who ends up becoming your travel companion and you sync up and plan the rest of your travels.
Waiting to arrive at a vacation spot can make the trip a lot more fun. If a person's budget is very tight, Franco also suggests that it might be better to go to the second most popular destination in a country rather than the first, because it is less expensive.
Save on hotels
Travelers can save on the most expensive parts of their trip by booking smart.
Solo travelers should consider staying in a hostel, which also tends to offer discounted community events or activities in the area. They can also provide amenities such as washing machines or kitchens. Lee also mentions services like Couchsurfing, which allows guests to stay with locals abroad. But “if you're traveling in a large group, it will be cheaper to get an Airbnb with multiple beds in the Airbnb and multiple hotel rooms,” says Franco. (Airbnb prices have seen increase over the past few years, although some experts believe prices are expected to fall in 2023.)
Franco also suggests users check out apps like Hotel Tonight or more popular websites like Booking.com, which also offer mobile deals to individuals. It can also be helpful to check out companies that offer bundled savings options, which happens when someone books a flight, hotel and car rental, on a site like Expedia or Priceline.
Experts warn, however, that people should consider the whole vacation, which includes money for transportation to and from each location. “Staying out of town can sometimes feel like it's saving you money, however, if transportation costs are expensive in that city, you might end up making more money in transportation costs than if you spent a little more for accommodation”, Lee Notes.
Save on flights
Knowing when to book a flight is essential to keeping prices low. Lee adds that airlines typically release new fares on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so booking on those days can help travelers choose the best seats or save the most.
Cassy Martinez, a 31-year-old based in Rio Grande, Texas, founded GlobetotterA online travel community which hosts group trips to Europe and Mexico. Martinez recommends not waiting too long before booking your flight and stay. “I plan the group trips I organize almost six months in advance and I do a lot of price estimates. I often notice a significant spike just five months later, so you really have to plan ahead.”
Franco uses an app called Hopper for flights. The app informs shoppers of the best time to book a flight based on historical prices. Google Flights and Skyscanner are also great options, experts say. For those who travel frequently, choosing an airline and sticking with it can help them rack up points for checking bags or get free upgrades. A travel credit card is also essential for borrowers who want to use their points to fly miles.
However, people should also be aware of thefts that may be too good to be true. “Flights (maybe) are really cheap, but most of the time you can only take one personal item on the plane,” says Franco. Travelers with extra baggage may also consider booking an overnight train or bus, which can extend the time it takes to reach a destination but is much more affordable.
“The journey is what you make it,” says Martinez. “There’s always something that matches different people’s bank accounts and meets you where you are. »
