Traveling can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experience you will ever have, but sadly  some never take the opportunity due to finances. Vacations or trips can cost a pretty penny, but I don’t think money should ever be the reason that you don’t travel because there are so many way to make it work whatever budget you might have.

The first thing you can do to make travel happen is to start saving money for your trip. That can be easier said than done, but I have a post outlining different way to set aside cash to make your trip a reality. Once you’ve saved enough money to get to your destination, there are also many ways to save on your trip while there. It may not seem possible, but I’ve traveled 3 months in Europe spending just under $3,000 so I know that it is!

In this post I’m going to focus on ways to save once your are there. There are many flight hacking methods that you can use to get to the destination cheaper, but that could be a whole post in itself. The ways to save that I outline below can help reduce your travel costs by half if you are willing to put them into practice. It may be the difference between taking a trip and staying home.

1. Stay at a place that offers free breakfast. This is not only convenient, but will save you so much money on breakfast, especially if you are traveling with a crew.
2. Buy your own groceries instead of eating out
   • You don’t have to do it every night if you really want to experience Italian pizza, but doing it for the majority of your trip will save you an arm and a leg.
   • If you have a kitchen in your accommodation it will make meals easier, but you can also get creative with sandwiches and mixes that don’t require any cooking. If you don’t have a fridge, only buy supplies for each meals, or items that will keep.
   • Pack you lunch when going out for the day.
3. If you don’t want to cook but don’t want to spend a lot on food, consider eating local street food. It is usually delicious and will be significantly cheaper than going to a restaurant.
4. Use reward points – this is a part of travel hacking that you can read all about all over the internet, but did you know that rewards points can be used on more than just hotels and flights? A lot of them also have activities that can be redeemed with points too.
5. Walk – Although it may not be possible for some, if you walk to your activities instead of taking a taxi or bus it will save you money. Not only that, but you will also see so much more of the city than you did otherwise. This may not be possible in all cases (especially if you’re traveling with someone who can’t walk long periods) but I urge you to consider it when you can. My max walking distance to an activity was about 5 miles before kids, and about 3 miles now with kids.
6. If you can’t walk, try taking public transportation. There are many different ways to get around, but public transportation is usually going to be your cheapest. It may not be the most glamorous or comfortable, but every penny you save here can go towards an experience or activity.
   • Don’t be afraid of overnight buses instead of a plane ride. It will not be as comfortable or quick, but if you do it when you’d otherwise be sleeping it will still get you there.
7. Look for bike rentals – Biking is such an easy and affordable way to get around a city, and a rental will usually last the whole day or multiple days.
8. Bring a water bottle – Staying hydrated when traveling is so important, but buying water along the way can cost you as much as $5 per bottle depending on where you’re traveling. If you’re going to a country without safe drinking water, you can also buy water bottles with built in filters.
9. Order still water when eating out. Instead of spending money on a soda or coffee, opt for the free water. Some countries will default to bottled water in which you’ll be charged for if you just ask for water, but if you ask for still, tap water it will likely be free.
10. Look for free activities in every city you can find fun, free things to do. It could be a park, a playground, free walking tour, going to the beach, free museums, free landmarks etc… You just need to do a little bit of research before you go.
11. Pack light – If you only pack a carry on, you will not only save on budget airline fees, but you will also save in other ways. If you run into a situation where you need to store your luggage, it won’t cost near as much than if you were storing a big bag. If you are walking around a city and only have a carry on, you can often just bring it with you without much hassle, rather than having to lug it all around the city.
12. Rent travel guides or get free ones from online – Instead of purchasing travel books or maps, first try looking at your local library to rent a copy for free. There are also many resources online and apps for your phone that off free content
13. If you are going to eat out, make your biggest meal lunch since restaurants often have discounted meal prices on their lunch menu
14. Don’t consume the extras – At some hotels and some restaurants they will provide you with things you didn’t necessarily ask for. If you consume them, you will likely be charged at the end. This can include things like the mini-bar in a hotel room, water or snacks left in your room, or a wine brought out with dinner.
15. Buy alcohol at the store – Instead of paying a major up charge for each drink with your meal, go to the store and buy a 6-pack or a bottle of wine and drink it at the beach or in your hotel, or wherever you want to (legally).
16. Share a plate – When eating out, instead of ordering 2 entrees, opt for an appetizer and entrée to split between 2. This will save you money and allow you to try multiple things. If you’re traveling with kids, they can often share with each other or you as well.
17. Splurge and save – To make the most of your trip, pick one thing that you will do no matter the cost, and save on everything else. If you are traveling with multiple, make sure that everyone has something they get to pick. If you really want to go scuba diving, saving on meals and museums will be an easy choice. Alternatively, if visiting the 5 star restaurant for a culinary experience is your must do, than skipping out on activities is your better bet. Everything in moderation!
18. Do it Yourself – 9 times of 10, planning a walking tour or day trip yourself will cost you much less than purchasing a package. It would be more convenient to just buy the package, but it will also cost you more. With a little bit of research and time you can have the same experience for much less.
19. Bring snacks/drinks with you – You never know when hunger might strike (especially if you’re traveling with little ones), so having a snack on hand instead of having to buy a $6 pastry will add up over time
20. Look for coupons – If you are going to spend money on an activity, check to see if there is a coupon that you can use first. If you are a student, bring your student ID. A lot of times there are special discounts for students. If your place of stay has booklets of activity information, pick some up, there are often coupons in there. Make sure to also look online at sights like Groupon. You can find discounted dining, activity and services there.

Although these are some ways to cut back on spending while traveling, I don’t think you need to do them all. Pick a couple that will make the most difference for you without sacrificing your experience and enjoy. Just because you are saving a little here and there does not mean you have to sacrifice everything.