10 Ways to Travel on a Budget

My husband and I love to travel. But now that we’re a family of five, we’ve found that hotels, restaurants, and museums add up very quickly. I know I’m not the only one who wants to explore cool places without spending my whole paycheck. So! I reached out to experienced travelers for their best budget tips…

TRANSPORTATION

Photo by Joanna Goddard

“One of the biggest ways I’ve saved on a trip is planning around flights, not destinations. If I’m flexible about where I go, I often find flights that are hundreds of dollars cheaper, which leaves more room in my budget for experiences.” — Sophia Lopez

“Visit a place just before one of their big holidays. For example, instead of visiting Mexico City for Day of the Dead, go a week or two beforehand. That way, the flights, hotels, and restaurants will be less expensive and not nearly so busy.” — Samantha Clark

“Once you’ve reached your destination, walk as much as possible! Not only does it save on transport, but I’ve discovered some of my favorite cafés, viewpoints, and neighborhoods simply by wandering around, instead of taking a taxi or the metro.” — Sophia Lopez

FOOD AND DRINK

Photo by Ali LaBelle

“My road-trip essential is our huge Stanley flask. We fill it with coffee before leaving the house, and it prevents us from buying overpriced cappuccinos. The thermos works so well, the coffee is still warm the next day.” — Diana Moss

“The best restaurant recs — especially those that don’t cost an arm and a leg — tend to come from locals. So, if I’m in a wine bar, vintage shop, or bookstore, I try to strike up conversations with the people who work there. I want to know the neighborhood places they love, versus the fancy, overpriced, designed-for-Instagram places you’ll find on everyone’s travel guides.” — Ali LaBelle

“Routinize lunches when you’re at a weeklong vacation rental by announcing that every lunch on every day will be the same thing, like sandwiches, chips, and fruit. This saves on three fronts: the planning that makes a vacation feel like this classic Onion headline, the labor of cooking (even your second grader can make himself a sandwich), and, of course, money.” — Miranda Featherstone

ACTIVITIES

Photo by Jannelle Sanchez

“If you’re traveling with young kids, check out the local library calendar. Many libraries offer fun activities throughout the week — plus free snacks, clean bathrooms, and air conditioning. They’re also a great place to chat with local parents and get the scoop on other cool (and free) parks and places worth visiting.” — Jannelle Sanchez

LODGING

Photo of Lena’s house by Joanna

Photo of Joanna’s house by Lena

“My family and I love to find places to stay on HomeExchange (yes, like in the movie The Holiday). We’ve booked a gorgeous apartment in San Francisco; a cozy house in Bend, Oregon, where we took care of the cat and watered the garden; and a sunny home in Santa Barbara — all for free. There is a yearly membership fee of $235, but it pays for itself with one night at a house swap, given the price of hotels and Airbnbs these days.” — Marian Schembari

“We do the same house-swapping approach, except with friends. We sometimes swap simultaneously, but not always. For example, my friend Lena’s family lives in a lovely house (with backyard chickens!) in San Francisco, and my dad and I stayed there this past New Year’s, while they were visiting relatives. Then, a couple weeks ago, we were upstate, and Lena and her family stayed in our Brooklyn home. The lodgings, both times, were cozy, comfy, and fun — for a grand total of…zero dollars.” — Joanna Goddard

CAMPING

“One of the best ways to travel cheap is to camp on public land for free! I find spots using The Bureau of Land Management and Free Campsites. Some of my favorite places I’ve ever visited have been free camping situations.” — Elaina Jindra

What would you add? I’m so excited to hear more ideas!

P.S. A genius way to choose a vacation rental when traveling with kids and six tips for planning the best vacation.

(Top photo of Samantha Clark.)