You know you are a grown-up when you set out on a journey and begin planning the itinerary.
But what if you don’t have the luxury of being able to plan ahead, and all you have is a set budget?
How do you travel on a budget in your 20s and still have fun?
Well, this article is for YOU!
It contains some great advice about how to travel on a budget in your 20s and still have fun.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
1). Plan Your Trip Out In Advance
It is always a good idea to plan your trip in advance.
You will save a lot of money and stress by not having to chase down cheap hostels, hotels, and Airbnb in far-off cities.
Try to plan your trip a few months in advance, and book a hostel or hotel that meets your budget.
If you are on a very tight budget, you can try to find cheap hotels on Couchsurfing and other private-hostel platforms.
If you are on a more expensive budget, look into hostels or hotels that have bed and breakfast programs. If you are on a tight schedule, you can also try to plan a long weekend trip for the next week or so.
Break the trip into days so you don’t burn yourself out.
You can also try to break your trip into multiple segments so you can save money on each segment.
2). Decide Where You’re Going and How Much You Can Afford
Decide where you are going to travel to first. If you are budgeting $300 for a month of travel, you’ll want to decide where to go first.
After that, you’ll want to decide how much you can afford to spend per day. Ideally, you will have a rough idea of how much you will need to travel for the month.
Once you know how much you’ll spend, cross out all the less-than-ideal choices and see what is left.
If you are really on a budget, you can always cross out the less-than-ideal choices and see what choices are left.
And in case you are unsure how much you will need to travel for the month, try using the PocketGuard app. It will help you determine your budget and give you a good estimate of how much you’ll need to travel.
If you are unsure where to start looking for cheap Airbnb, try using TripAdvisor Rentals. You can search by city, region, or country.
3). Set a Budget
When you are planning your trip out, it is important to set a budget.
The budget will help you plan out your trip and make sure you have enough funds for everything you need.
You can also find online budget calculators. If you are on a tight budget, you can also look into hostels or hotels that have bed and breakfast programs.
4). Find Cheap Accommodation
If you are tight on funds and have no plans to splurge, it is always wise to check out cheap hostels and hostels in the cities you are visiting.
Look for hostels that have minimum age requirements, and make sure you can get in without an invitation.
Hostels are generally quite affordable, and if you are on a budget, they are the perfect place to start your travel budget-friendly journey.
Budgeting between $80 – $100 per night for a hostel or $200 – $250 for a hotel may seem like a lot of money, but consider that you are likely to only stay in hostels or hotels once, and that is often plenty.
5). Pack Lightly
When it comes to travel, less is usually more.
So when it comes to your personal items, you should keep them as light as possible.
Try to bring only the necessities for your trips such as a backpack or smallish suitcase.
You can always add things on the go or at the hotel. You should also try to pack lightly when you are going on a vacation or a long trip. You don’t want to bring all the baggage of your home life with you on your trip.
6). Find The Cheapest Flights
To travel on a budget in your 20s, you have to do a lot of research.
When you are working on your budget, make sure that you find the cheapest flights available.
Find the best deal on the websites of airlines and travel agencies. Search for the flight that offers the best bang for your buck.
Be sure to factor in taxes and fees when calculating your budget-friendly airfare.
7). Find a remote online job to do while traveling
When you are on a budget, you should look into remote working.
You can freelance while traveling to build your portfolio and make more money to fund your experiences.
This can be a great way to make money while traveling. You can look into the types of work that are available, and find a remote job that you are interested in.
8). Eat and Drink Affordably.
When you are on a budget, it is tempting to go out and buy the most expensive meal in the city.
But doing so will only waste money, and might even have an impact on your health. Instead, try to eat and drink as cheaply as possible in order to save money for your trip.
For example, instead of a dinner that costs $30 – $40, eat and drink for only $5 – $10. Or even $4 – $5. You will be much happier and healthier for it.
9). Rent or Buy Used Gear
If you plan on traveling a lot while in your 20s, then you should definitely consider renting or buying used gear.
You can save a lot of money by using this method instead of purchasing new gear when traveling.
You can also use this method if you want to travel to an area where there is a lot of theft and vandalism.
By renting or buying used gear, you will avoid having to replace expensive items like cameras and computers when they are stolen or broken during a trip.
Final Thoughts
Traveling is a great way to meet new people, see a new part of the world and learn about different cultures.
It can be a fun, cheap, and affordable way to explore a new country and meet its people.
You can travel on a budget in your 20s and still have fun by using these tips. Now let’s get started.