Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. With the right mindset, you can travel around the world on a budget. One of the easiest ways to go on this kind of travel is by backpacking. It may not be fancy or luxurious, but if travel is your priority, it’s an excellent way to make it happen.
These tips for backpacking are all about finding value and lowering your expenses, while still being able to afford to do what you want. So, follow this budget travel guide to backpacking and see the world on the ultra-cheap.
Also read: 12 packing tips for beginner backpackers
10 Backpacking Tips To Travel On A Budget
1. Avoid Expensive Destinations
When you’re backpacking, try to pick destinations where you don’t have to spend much money on the essentials. For example, if the destination itself isn’t that important to you, why spend $11 for a pint in Norway when you can get one for just $1 in Vietnam? Just remember to research the exchange rates.
2. Travel As Light As Possible
An important travel packing tip is to pack as lightly as you can, leaving all non-essential items at home. This way, with just a backpacking bag, you won’t have to spend extra on airline baggage fees and you can move around more freely.
3. Get Good And Comprehensive Travel Insurance
It’s very important that you get good travel insurance, even if you’re going on a backpacking trip. It may seem like an unnecessary expenditure, but remember, it’s sure to be cheaper than a hospital bill or an emergency plane ticket.
Read more: Why should you buy travel insurance?
4. Get A Good Credit Card
When you’re travelling, you obviously need access to money, so it’s important to have a credit card that offers good exchange rates. You can also look for ones that have great deals on miles, travel insurance, and more.
5. Know When And Which Flights To Book
If you’re looking to book the cheapest possible flight to your destination, book your tickets during the off-season. Also, remember to book them as early as possible. You can even book with smaller carriers who often have great deals for budget travel.
Also read: What will air travel be like after coronavirus?
6. Travel During The Off-Season
Every destination has off-peak times when flights and hotels often offer discounts. This might be the period just after summer vacation, or after New Year’s Eve in early January. These times are likely to vary at different destinations, so do your research beforehand.
7. Use Your Student ID For Tons Of Discounts
Lots of places, such as museums, stores, trains, and even airlines give great discounts to students. So if you’re a student (or even if you’ve just graduated recently) one great tip for backpacking is to flash that ID to avail yourself of these lower rates.
8. Travel Overnight And Overland
If you book overnight trains and buses, you won’t have to spend money on a place to stay for the night. As an added bonus, they’re usually a lot cheaper than flying.
9. Eat Street Food And Drink With The Locals
Street food is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture, and it’s also much less expensive than eating at restaurants. And while you’re eating local, why not take it a step further and ask the locals for tips on where to drink; they’re sure to know the best places.
10. Avoid Countries That Require A Visa
Visas can be quite expensive to get, and they also often take a lot of time to come through. So, save yourself some time and money and pick a destination that doesn’t require a visa.
Also read: Visa free countries for Indians to travel to
So, Which Of These Tips For Backpacking Travel Will You Follow?
Travelling around the world may seem like a distant and impossible dream. But in reality, it’s one that’s actually realistic and possible to achieve without breaking the bank. While there are some expenses you shouldn’t compromise on (such as travel insurance), there are tons of ways you can travel the world on a budget, and backpacking travel is just one of them.
