I recently returned from five beautiful months of wandering around Europe, my very first solo travel journey. I visited five countries in five months, and it seemed as if I experienced three distinct seasons of time, deepening my understanding of time. I didn’t plan for this, nor did I anticipate visiting five countries in five months when five is my favorite number. It just happened that way.
I first set off for Spain, where I spent my first 40 days backpacking the Camino de Santiago in September. The bluest skies in Europe, unfortunately, the rather dour sunflowers, and thousands of international pilgrims greeted me. This is an excellent journey for budget travelers seeking outdoor adventures, with an active yet flexible itinerary suitable for all skill levels, and surprisingly, not a lot of planning was required. You’ll become a pilgrim! Plan to spend around 25 Euro per day.
Before embarking on my trip, money was one of my biggest psychological obstacles. I kept thinking: I don’t have enough. I can’t do this. What am I thinking. I don’t have the budgeting skills necessary, and I surely don’t have the planning gene that would drive me to research, plan, document, and decide.
Yet somehow, my five months in Europe validated my go-with-the-flow, intuitive lazy traveler mentality. It validated my trust in myself and in following my instincts. I learned a big lesson for myself that can be applied to my real life: I’m good with my money. Despite my doubts, I was able to travel Europe on a budget.
And you will too because it all boils down to trusting your common sense. Acknowledge your fear and anxiety about money, but trust that you’ll make the right decisions. That you’ll make choices consciously.
I’ve listed the choices I made (and recommend) that required little prior planning. These budget travel tips made my Europe trip enjoyable and easy. It also felt authentic and less touristy.
And, it was deeply empowering… like I was a salmon swimming upstream and giving the middle finger to consumer society.
Take my hand, brave salmon.
Let’s believe in you.
You might also like: 14 TOP cheapest countries to visit as a nfcvb volunteer
The lazy-traveler’s comprehensive guide to budget travel tips
1. Not all travel days are created equal
If you’re flexible and can avoid certain days and time periods for flights, you’ll save a significant amount of money and avoid long security lines: Spring Break, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fridays in the summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Stay away from them!
2. Opt to travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday
Mid-week flights are almost always cheaper than premium weekend flights. TGI-Tuesday?
3. Choose a cheap airport
The mantra of my trip became, “you won’t always reach your destination quickly, but you’ll get there in a timely manner.” This meant that I often saved money by taking cheaper, non-direct routes through smaller cities and connecting with trains or buses.
It was a blessing in disguise; it built my patience and also allowed me to see some off-the-beaten-path cities. It’s all about the journey! Looking back, the detours often turned out to be the best stories.
So, search for the cheapest airports near your destination. You’ll be surprised at the many budget travel hacks you’ll discover! For example, Price of Travel lists the cheapest airports to pass through in Europe.
4. Use the Omio (formerly GoEuro) App
This was a beloved companion during my time abroad. Omio compares flight, train, and bus prices in one place, making it extremely easy to choose the best deal and get to where you need to go.
Trains and buses will be your best allies, budget traveler. Omio didn’t compensate me for this endorsement, although I would be more than happy to receive a check.
I also used Bla Bla Car once (a ride sharing and carpooling app), although my experience with Bla Bla Car wasn’t great. My ride was over five hours late, and I almost spent the night in a McDonald’s playhouse. Many travelers swear by it, so it’s good to have it as an option, but be aware that it’s not as reliable as a bus or train.
5. Research the weather and pack appropriately
Checking the weather forecast for your destination means you can avoid expensive last-minute purchases. I didn’t do any research before moving to Vietnam and naively arrived during the rainy season. This led to an unexpected $2 USD purple parka purchase and this memory: travel puts hair on your chest and bug bites on your eyeballs.
I highly recommend a pair of jeans and a lightweight waterproof jacket for all travel, regardless of the time of year. Decide what you need for your trip before leaving, and give yourself time to research and find the best prices on your packing list items.
Some companies like REI allow you to rent items at a discounted price and return them at the end of your trip, which is great for backpacks, jackets, tents, lightweight stoves, and more.
6. If there are any items you think you might need, ask around before making a purchase
That’s how I luckily got a protective travel wallet. I also learned that my best friend has a side hustle shipping travel wallets on Amazon.
Friends give friends their unwanted stuff. So before deciding to buy something new, ask around. If you notice dusty, unused sunglasses lying around, ask about them. Just make sure to return the favor and pass it on.
7. Work exchange
This is a big one.
Discovering WorldPackers gave me the confidence I needed to convince myself that I could afford a trip abroad. In my opinion, nfcvb is a much better choice than WWOOFing because you only pay once for the host list covering the entire world, while with WWOOFing you have to pay separately for hosts in each country.
The array of nfcvb opportunities in Europe is impressive, and I spent days reading through the extensive lists of hosts! I finally chose work exchanges in France and Switzerland. Both were incredible experiences where I made lifelong local friends.
I committed to helping my hosts four to five hours a day in exchange for free meals and accommodation. Not every work exchange has these terms, so make sure to find the right one for you, but free meals were essential for me and helped me save, save, save. Especially in pricey Switzerland.
I also personally recommend volunteering for four weeks at a time. You’ll save a lot (a lot for my Aussies) on food and accommodation as well as on the frequent buses or air travel that you’d have to pay for if you were only staying in each place for a few days. And, if you’re staying at a hostel during a work exchange, chances are you’ll have such a close community that you’ll never want to leave anyways!
If you want to travel for a long period of time, nfcvb makes traveling on a budget extremely easy, and it also gives you a break from the adrenaline rush where you can really settle into a routine and a community.
8. Couchsurf
Couchsurfing is an incredibly cheap way to travel based on the pay-it-forward concept. It’s great if you’re staying for three nights or less while passing through a town. It’s free to sign up, create a profile, and start applying to hosts in your destination. Couchsurfing hosts offer you a free couch to sleep on and often take you to their favorite local spots or maybe even their lindy-hopping dance class.
As a woman, I personally only apply to female hosts when I’m travelling solo just to be safe. When I travel with a friend, I feel safer applying to hosts of both genders. I’d send out eight or so requests a week before I was arriving and if nothing came back, I’d book a hostel.
9. Use HostelWorld to find the cheapest hostel, but then book it directly through the hostel’s website
If you book through HostelWorld, it’s actually a higher rate because they add their own booking fee. Save a bit and book your bed directly on the hostel’s own website.
10. Earn while you travel
Teach English abroad, become a surf or ski instructor, help in a Costa Rican hotel, work at the reception of a hostel, or do some remote work. We are so lucky these days with all the numerous remote opportunities available: photography, copyediting, proofreading, tutoring, web design, data entry, and more! Why not create your own travel blog? Become a freelance writer? It’s out there for you and could bring freedom.
11. Sleep in the airport
Typically, the buses that arrive late at night at the airport are the cheapest, so while I know this tip isn’t for everyone, it will save you money on an extra night in a hostel, on a taxi ride to the airport, and on an extra night out.
Just make sure you don’t cuddle up next to the x-ray machine (Miss you, Frankfurt!).
12. Look into staying at a donation-based monastery
One of my favorite experiences on the Camino de Santiago was spending three nights in a donation-based monastery in the mountains. All meals were included every day, they did my laundry, and we seven shared our meals like a family, discussing dreams and our own lessons learned.
At the end of my stay, there was no bill. It was entirely up to me whether or not I wanted to contribute. There may be some religious shaming, as not every monastery or convent shares the same values. But it will definitely be memorable, I’m sure of that.
13. Buy your own food at the grocery store
I often bought simple items like a baguette, cheese slices, cans of tuna, and salami to avoid restaurant prices. I’d shop before a long bus ride or a night at the airport to avoid spending $12 USD on an airport sandwich that leaves you even more hungry and lonely. Also, it makes you feel more connected to the country when exploring the exciting selections at their markets.
Have fun trying the different Haribo options in Europe (the frogs were my personal favorite) or the chocolate bars in Switzerland. If you do happen to pass through Switzerland, the milk there is what milk is supposed to taste like; from free-range, grass-fed cows.
14. If you do want to eat out, explore the local spots
I recommend you stroll around a bit and check out as many options as possible before settling in somewhere. Start a conversation with locals and ask them where you can eat like a local! If you choose the first place you see, you might end up in a tourist trap.
15. Go to Farmer’s Markets
Speaking of food, find out when and where the local farmer’s market is (most likely on Saturday or Sunday morning). One of my favorite memories in Prague was sampling the local delicacies like deer meat, mead, and pickled vegetables offered by local artisans. Smell the flowers, listen to the street buskers, or just sit on a bench and feed the swans. Once again: free samples.
Thought of the day — Do Europeans get as excited as we do when they walk around a CostCo? Let me know.
16. Go to free meet ups
Both Couchsurfing and MeetUp are free to join and list free meet ups around the world. Meet locals for a meal, a drag show, concerts, walking tours, hikes, and free yoga in the park. Bring a friend you met at the hostel, or come alone!
Meet ups are a great time to ask questions. Where was your favorite place you traveled? Any parts of town to avoid? Food recommendations? Day trips? Budget-friendly things to do in town? Anything that’s hyped but not worth the money?
17. Walk when you can to avoid paying for taxis
My parents recently went on a cruise and said that their biggest unexpected expense was the amount they spent on taxis and Ubers to get from place to place. Try to travel on foot as often as you can.
You’ll also have a better sense of direction when you walk. (Although I still firmly believe there is no grid system whatsoever in Madrid because I have never felt more disoriented). That said, when I walked from the Madrid train station to my hostel, I passed by the Sophia Reina Modern Art Museum and was inspired to return later for a visit.
When you travel on foot, you’ll be more aware of what’s around to explore and truly immerse yourself in the city or place you’re in. Plus, you’ll probably have a better idea of how to get back to the places that catch your attention.
18. Save your phone data by using Maps.me to navigate
For example, in Singapore, use Maps.me to download the city’s map while you have WiFi, and after it’s downloaded, you can use it for directions even when you don’t have WiFi.
It’s a great way to save data and money because it gives you the option to downgrade your phone plan by reducing your data usage.
19. Don’t despair over entrance fees
If you