14 Tips To Travel Cheaply Around the World

The guys that read my blog know that I have been able to travel all around the world on a very low budget. I have been able to do this on around $1300 a month (including flights, busses, etc.). Because of requests from readers, I have decided to write this article sharing my 14 best budget travel tips. I will countdown to my favorite tip from tip #14.

14. Use packets on cell phones and use common provider

When traveling to a country you are going to want to have a phone number. There are always a few companies to choose from when choosing a pre-paid sim card. Here’s what I do to get the best deal:

Ask what most people have (calls and texts are always way cheaper to the same company). Don’t ask what the best company is because you will end up paying a ton more for ridiculous fast internet or something.

Then you want to ask about packets. In most poor countries there are ways to make your cell phone plan ridiculously cheap and a lot of time it has to do with buying text or calling packets.

Saves you approximately: $30 a month

13. Always research taxi prices

Find out the normal taxi prices online or from a friend before getting in a taxi. Taxis are the biggest ripoffs in any country you will go to.

Saves you approximately: $60 a month

12. Research bus and subway routes

Research bus and subway routes from airports and bus stations. There is usually a very cheap alternative to taking a taxi, especially from popular places such as airports and bus stations. This is also a great way to meet girls in the day.

Saves you approximately: $150 a month

11. Cancel all continuous bills before leaving for a long trip

If you are going on a long trip, do all you can to get rid of anything you have to make payments on. I can’t tell you how many friends I have who are making five times more than me ask me and ask how I am able to travel all over the world when they can barely pay their bills. Their problem is that they are buying things they don’t need and that aren’t making them happy.

Sell everything that doesn’t continue to give you happiness. If you have an apartment, furniture, unwanted car, etc., sell them on Craigslist. These days, you can even sell your belongings that still aren’t paid off. Do this and you will find yourself mentally free and, most importantly, financially free.

Saves you approximately: $200-2000 a month

10. Don’t take the “Try Hard” taxis

A good rule to remember is not to take the taxis that are “try hard.” These guys are trying so hard so they can get to the people that overpay before somebody else. Be smart and take a taxi that isn’t trying toO hard to find somebody to drive around. These are the people that aren’t as accustomed to ripping people off.

Saves you approximately: $30 a month

9. Price haggle strategy

In most third world countries you will find markets where they will try to get you to pay up to 3x more than what they would charge a local. The problem is that you don’t always know what this price is, so here’s a little strategy that I do:

Ask them for the price, when they say something ridiculous, look at them like they are crazy and laugh. Then say a price that is 1/3rd of their original offer. They will haggle for a bit and agree when they hit 1/2 their original offer. They will go away feeling like they were able to talk up the price and you will come away getting a much better price.

Don’t be afraid to feign walking away if they don’t agree. I’ve gotten deals by walking away probably over 50 times. “Wait! OK.. .this is my final offer!”

Some people will rip you off more than others, but this is a general way to save some money.

Saves you approximately: $20 a month

8. Take buses and trains over flights

Buses and trains are almost always much cheaper than flights. It may take you a bit longer to get there, but you will have saved money and you will have been able to see the local scenery.

If you want to save even more money, don’t take tourist or main buses, take the buses and trains that the locals take. These may be more run down, but you will save a lot of money and get to experience more of what it’s like to be a local.

Saves you approximately: $200 a month

7. Research and ask around for cheap hotels

When you are getting a hotel, make sure to ask for a cheap hotel. If you are talking to a taxi, give a price range. If you are online, just sort it by price or stars.

The difference between a $25 hotel and a $50 hotel is $750 vs. $1500 a month. You may not get the nicest rooms, but you will get your own private room (that you can bring a girl back too) and you will save a ton of money.

The only downside to this is that some cheap hotels aren’t in the safest neighborhoods. This is something I don’t mind, but if it bothers you, just add “in a safe neighborhood” when asking about it.

Saves you approximately: $750 a month

6. Stay in one spot for at least a month

Try to stay in a place for at least a month and get a monthly rental. These will usually be 1/3 to 1/2 the price of a hotel per month. You can search online for “furnished apartments in X city” or check out Airbnb.com (where you can rent apartments from people for days, weeks, or months).

Even if you find cheap hotels and end up spending $750 a month in hotels, you would be better served getting a monthly rental for $400 to $500.

Saves you approximately: $250-350 a month

5. The cheapest monthly rentals and hotels are found on foot

The best way to find cheap furnished monthly rentals is NOT online, but rather walking around a university area asking people and looking at signs. University students need furnished apartments and this is an ideal location for picking up attractive girls.

Even if you able to find a $400 to $500 monthly rental online, you could still be paying less. The landlords that aren’t internet savvy are the people that will be offering you the best deals on the best apartments. The landlords that are internet savvy are the ones that can pick from clueless traveler after clueless traveler and overcharge them.

Saves you approximately: $100-$200 a month

4. Eating out vs. cooking

Get groceries, don’t eat out. Now that you have a monthly rental with a kitchen you can cook. Eating at cheap restaurants can cost you an average of $8 a meal, compared to $3 a meal cooking. If you cook, you will end up saving a lot of money.

Saves you approximately: $450 a month

3. Research flights ahead of time on the right websites

When searching for cheap flights use Cheaptickets, Expedia, Travelocity and, my favorite, Google flights. Search around on dates, even when you don’t want to go. You will notice cheap prices on certain days. Then, Google the name of the airline and try to book your flight through them. You will be able to know exactly when these cheap flights are and it is usually cheaper through the original airline.

Saves you approximately: $200 a month

2. Get a travel credit card or debit card

If you don’t have a credit card tailored to travel, you are literally throwing away money. These credit card companies offer incentives that give you a good percentage of money back on travel purchases, airline miles, and signup bonuses where you get essentially $400 given to you after you spend your first $1000 to $3000.

Then, your current credit card most likely has foreign transaction fees. These are usually around 4%. That will add up very quickly, so make sure to get a card that has no foreign transaction fees.

Check out http://www.creditcards.com/no-foreign-transaction-fee.php to check out the options for travel credit cards.

Debit Card

I pay no atm fees and my debit card is accepted nearly anywhere in the world. How? I use a Charles Schwab card. This has saved me thousands over the years in ATM fees and is very reliable.

Saves you approximately: $200 a month

1. Stay away from tourist traps

DO NOT stay in tourist traps! You won’t get to know the culture, you will be overcharged for hotels, food, and all other services, and you will essentially visit the same place over and over again.

I have traveled the world and while it’s ok to spend a couple days in tourist areas, it’s usually not a good choice to spend much time. You will spend tons more money in these places and you won’t really get to know anything about the place you are staying.

Girls will be harder to get in these areas because seeing foreigners will be so common and you will be overcharged on EVERYTHING. You have also essentially taken the adventure out of traveling.

Saves you approximately: $500 to $5000 a month

Bonus Tip: Choose the Right Place

Something that could save you thousands of dollars in travel costs is simply choosing the right place for you. You should also be doing your part to research the places that seem interesting to you. The best resource on the internet for this is RooshVForum.com. Use the search function and search through the thousands of posts on different countries and cities.

Budget Travel Could Be Your Answer

If you are unhappy with your life, the only answer is change. Following these tips you can budget travel the world on only 1300$ a month. This is doable for most people, so if this is something you have dreamt about, you have no excuse not to make it happen right now.

Read More: 4 Thoughts I Didn’t Have While Traveling