Travel Guides

How to save money when travelling

By Dominic Welling

dominicwelling@consumerchoices.co.uk

Cutting corners to save money is a must for any student traveller who is attempting to see as much of the world as possible but on a tight budget.

Eating and Drinking (see our guide to eating and dining on the cheap)

A good place to start when trying to cut out any unnecessary expense is your eating habits.

For example, when you’re out and about a good tip is to buy some snacks - such as fruit or sandwiches - at a local supermarket, and then munch on these any time you get hungry rather than stopping at a cafe or restaurant.

Alternatively pack up a picnic lunch from the deli section of the local market and find a spot in the local park to sample some fresh bread and local deli items.

While we’re on the subject of eating out, although sampling the local cuisine is part of the travelling experience, try to limit the number of meals you eat out at restaurants.

Instead look out for various street vendors - this will be cost effective while allowing you to sample some of the local culinary treats.

There is also no shame in eating fast food when you’re travelling as a student. There will be a McDonald's, Burger King or equivalent in pretty much every city you visit and although it may lack glamour, it will certainly save you money.

If however you insist on going to restaurants to get your fill, a good idea would be to eat out at lunch time to save money.

Also, depending on what your accommodation is like and what the facilities are like, you could always cook your dinner for yourself. Popping to the local supermarket to pick up some fresh ingredients and cooking yourself up a treat back at the hostel could save you a fortune.

Accommodation

It goes without saying, but it you are trying to cut down on spending then first and foremost book some cheap accommodation where possible, probably in the form of a hostel.

Although you may have to share a bathroom and sleep in a room with six bunk beds and double that amount of complete strangers, it will be a significant money saver.

However, if you must stay in a hotel, then stay in a two-star, rather than a four-star. Since the focal point of your trip will probably not be your hotel room, there is no reason to spend big bucks on it.

Also try to plan ahead as far as possible in terms of accommodation.

Where possible, if you can book the place you’re staying at in advance rather than waiting until you’ve arrived you’ll probably find that you save a decent amount of cash.

To make it really cheap, you could also choose a few destinations where you can stay with friends or family.

Another thing worth looking out for is couch surfing – www.couchsurfing.com – which is a worldwide network that connects travellers with members of local communities, who offer free accommodation. It will save you heaps and is great fun at the same time.

General spending

The main thing to remember here is to take advantage of the many student discounts offered while you are travelling.

A vast number of museums and other tourist sites as well as some transport and accommodation, all offer discounts to students - provided of course you still have a student ID.

Even if you do have an ID, make sure you get an international student ID card (ISIC) before you set off on your travels as well. A good place to pick one of these up is STA Travel.

If you feel the need to buy some souvenirs, try your best to avoid tourist trap souvenir shops. Get yourself off the beaten track and discover local goods which will not have been tagged with inflated costs for tourists.

Another good tip is to look out for open markets and don't be afraid to haggle with the sellers.

Travel

If you can, walk everywhere. It's the best way to experience the city you are in and it also has the added benefit of being healthy and cheap.

That said most rail networks and metro systems offer multi-trip discounts and booklets of tickets which provide great value for money, not to mention the various travel cards on offer– especially in the major European cities.

Other freebies/cheap deals/tricks

Remember, if you stay in a hostel try to find people who want to go to the same places as you - tours and occasionally ticket prices tend to be cheaper when paid for in groups.

Take advantage of what's available. For example, most hostels and tourist offices offer free tours, maps, and guidebooks and a lot of the museums and galleries in Europe can also be visited free of charge.

Back to the top