In this guide, I get honest and transparent about how to afford travel and share 15 small ways to make travel more accessible no matter your budget.
When people think about travel, they usually fall into two point of views: 1. Travel is insanely expensive and completely unattainable for ordinary people, or 2. Everyone who travels extensively is rich or has figured out how to score “free” travel as an influencer or blogger.
But the answer to how to afford to travel is actually much simpler. Ultimately, it boils down to changing your mindset, tweaking your habits, and getting creative. And with an open mind, an honest look at your priorities in life, and a willingness to be flexible, there are many ways to travel and explore the world in a way that fits your budget.
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How to Afford to Travel: 15 Ways To Make Travel a Reality
So first things first, let’s cover how “normal” people can afford to travel. These tips are simple and assume you have some sort of full-time salary.
1. Set realistic expectations and goals
This is one of the most important tips I can share. Being realistic can help you achieve attainable travel goals without being hard on yourself. For example, not everyone can afford a week of glamours luxury at an over-water villa in the Maldives at the drop of a hat (myself included).
So when trying to afford travel, setting realistic expectations and goals means being honest about how often you can afford to travel, where you can travel, for how long, the style of travel, etc.
However, I fully believe that travel can be accessible for most people! And by taking the time to implement some of these tips and tricks (with a dose of realistic expectations), it’s not a stretch to say that one day you could make it to the Maldives!
2. Change your idea of travel to fit your budget
When I say change your idea of travel, there are many things to consider!
First, do you want to travel or go on vacation? Both are valid and important in life. But, vacations are generally more expensive simply because they feature fancier hotels, possibly all-inclusive packages, and popular (read: expensive) destinations.
Have you considered planning a travel experience near home? If budget travel still feels too expensive, try finding adventure closer to home. You’d be surprised at how many fun staycations or attractions may be nearby, and it’s a great way to satisfy the travel bug while saving for bigger trips.
Cut out luxurious travel options. Your most significant traveling expenses will be the flight, transportation, accommodation, and food. And things like private transfers and taxis, first-class plane tickets, luxury hotels, and eating at expensive restaurants add up quickly.
Read More: 6 Ways to Save Money While Travelling
3. Change your priorities and become a penny pincher
This isn’t a glamorous tip, but sometimes finding a way to afford travel is as simple as changing your spending habits. And I don’t mean cutting Starbucks or avocado toast from your life.
Look at your housing situation, car payments, shopping habits, and how frequently you eat or go out. While I recognize it’s not possible for everyone to cut costs in every area (and I wholly believe we all need to treat ourselves), it is usually possible to cut back in some way, even if small.
For example, I don’t buy clothes frequently or as trends change, and I avoid name-brand/luxury labels. I use my belongings until they fall apart or break. I’m patient and take the time to find the best deals and save money for big ticket items because I view them as an investment.
I didn’t own a car for 7 years and have avoided car payments my whole young adulthood. When I did have rent to worry about, I picked a place well below what I could afford or took a job that included the benefit of free housing (hello, EPIK Program).
4. Be patient and focus on saving money
Another unglamorous tip, but being able to afford travel, is as simple as taking the time to save money. And the best way to successfully save money is with some advance planning and giving yourself enough time to do so (patience, baby!).
If you have a trip you’re dying to take, it’s essential to sit down, calculate the costs, look over your finances, and make a thoughtful savings plan. And the earlier you plan, the more time you have to save money (and the less painful it will be).
The time you need to save will depend on your situation. But I begin planning or considering pricey trips a year or more in advance. I then typically set aside X amount of dollars weekly or monthly to go towards that trip.
Read More: 16 Easy But Effective Ways to Grow Your Travel Savings Fund
5. Be open-minded and flexible
Keeping an open mind and a flexible attitude can go a long way when it comes to being able to afford travel. Why you may ask? Well, because specific destinations and dates are naturally more affordable!
Being open-minded about where you go means choosing where you travel based on affordable flights, affordable hotel stays, and the overall cost of things there.
Being flexible on the dates means traveling in the off-season, researching and comparing travel costs across weeks and months, and little things like avoiding flying out and back on weekends.
6. Do your research
Doing your research can go a long way when it comes to saving money for and on travel. Through thoughtful research, you’ll discover affordable destinations and budget-friendly hotel options that are high-quality (because they exist!) before they’re fully booked.
Plus, proper research and advance planning may mean the difference between enjoying cheaper early bird pricing versus more expensive last-minute rates.
7. Embrace inconvenience
We all have different ideas about what constitutes inconvenience, but in general utmost convenience (aka travel where you don’t lift a finger or have to think/plan) can be costly.
Other helpful ways to save on travel that may add a touch of inconvenience include:
- Public transportation instead of taxis on your trips
- Unique travel booking opportunities that save you money:
- Lufthansa surprise where you agree to fly somewhere Lufthansa chooses at a discounted rate
- Last-minute discount vacations like on Expedia
- Error fare and deals found by Secret Flying or Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights)
- Bumped flight vouchers: sometimes, when flights are overbooked, the airline will offer a voucher for anyone willing to miss their flight for the next. These vouchers can range between $200-$1,000!
- Traveling with a carry-on and avoid paying for checked bags which can cost up to $100+ per bag.
- Avoiding using a travel agent unless for a complex trip or booking with a group. They can offer discounts on group travel, but for shorter trips, you’ll likely pay more for their services.
Read More: Tips for Traveling Without a SIM Card That’ll Save You Money
8. Be creative: volunteer travel, unique visa opps, etc.
If you dream of full-time or more frequent travel but can’t afford it, consider getting creative and stepping out of your comfort zone by embracing unique opportunities. Thanks to a touch of creativity, I’ve made some incredible things happen.
For example, in college, I switched from a Spanish to Scandinavian Studies minor to apply for a scholarship to study abroad in Denmark. I won $11,000 to study in Copenhagen for a year because the program had only seven applicants! I would’ve never won that much for Spain, the more competitive program with hundreds of participants!
You’d be surprised how many unique opportunities and ways you can make travel happen! Some other unique and creative ways to travel include:
- House or pet sitting
- Volunteering or working abroad using sites like Workaway or WWOOF
- Doing a home exchange or Couchsurfing
- Car/pet relocation programs
- Find your roots with Birthright trips. Birthright Israel is the most well-known, but other ancestry programs exist for those with Hungarian, Greek, and Macedonian ancestry.
- Travel jobs (see below)
9. Consider remote work or applying for a travel job
I know, I know, I can vividly picture your eyes rolling in the back of your head. Changing careers isn’t something that people can do at the drop of a hat. But, with some patience and advance planning, it’s not impossible.
Manifest your remote work dreams by looking into all types of job possibilities that match your background, professional certifications that may be required for a change in field, how to build related expertise, and sprinkle in a hint of networking. And do it while you have a stable job.
Another option is to say f*ck it and apply for a temporary or long-term travel job. There are many low-entry travel jobs out there that are easier to get than you may realize.
Some cool travel jobs to consider are:
- Teaching English Abroad
- Working on a cruise ship as seasonal help
- Working at a hostel or as a dive/yoga instructor abroad
- Checking out Workaway
- Working as an Au Pair abroad
- Looking into holiday working visas like in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, etc.
Read more: (Sorta) Easy Ways to Travel the World
9. Consider picking up a side hustle
A side hustle is another thing that’s not for everyone, which is totally ok. But I’d be remiss to not mention it as a viable way to bring in a little extra cash that could be put toward travel.
Before my blog and writing career took off, I did it as a side hustle to bring in additional income while I earned a more stable salary from my previous full-time jobs. Not only that, but I’ve also taught English online, worked as a server and a tour guide, and picked up odd jobs here and there to bring in some extra moola.
To make a side hustle more bearable and enticing, I recommend finding something you enjoy doing that you can monetize in your free time. That way, you earn money while doing something you like.
10. Look into rewards cards and travel hacking
Travel rewards cards are a simple and easy way to help you afford to travel. Simply by using your credit card on everyday purchases and expenses, you earn points that can be put towards flights and hotels. And most offer an enticing sign-up bonus. I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred, considered one of the best travel cards on the market.
Travel hacking is a hobby many people find great success with scoring free or discounted travel just by using credit card reward programs to their fullest extent. Travel hacking should only be done within your means; otherwise, it defeats the purpose. 10xTravel offers a free course to beginners and is a great community to ask questions and learn more about the process.
Read More: A Review of Chase Sapphire Preferred By a Normal Person
12. Look into traveling outside of the U.S.
If you haven’t had the chance to leave the country, you may not realize that U.S. travel is actually pretty expensive! Accommodation in major U.S. destinations is often upwards of $150/night, and meals and nights out can rack up quickly.
One way to save money on travel is to look to destinations outside of the U.S. and choose a more affordable place. I’m not talking Rome, Paris, or London. I’m talking Spain, Portugal, and more off-the-beaten-path destinations. And that only scratches the surface of affordable destinations around the world.
13. Don’t waste money on a fancy hotel
Don’t get me wrong, where you stay can be important, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in your room. But at the end of the day, if your trip is more about exploring, accommodation is only a place to sleep. So why waste the money?
Don’t be afraid of budget options. Budget options don’t always equate to “bad quality” and are often a fraction of the cost of luxury options.
Hostels can be an excellent option for those looking to save money, and many offer budget-friendly privates for those against staying in dorms. As a backpacker, I’ve stayed in hostels for as cheap as $5/night.
And if hostels aren’t for you, every destination has “cheap” hotels. I always book a place between $75-$100 per night when possible.
Read More: Hostel Etiquette: 15 Unspoken Hostel Rules Everyone Should Know
14. Plan travels around cheap flight tickets and don’t overlook budget airlines
Consider planning your trip backward and choosing where you travel based on the cheapest flight tickets from your home airport. As I mentioned earlier, flights are usually one of the biggest expenses of a trip!
I love using Skyscanner because you can select “Explore Everywhere” in your flight search bar. Simply plug in what airport you’d like to fly from and your dates, and voila! Skyscanner even lets you see flight prices for a whole month, allowing you to see when it’s cheaper to fly too!
Budget airlines like RyanAir and Spirit have a bad reputation, and I get it. They charge for every little thing, their seats are small, and their onboard service is essentially null. But you can’t beat those budget-airline ticket prices!
Especially for shorter trips, if missing crappy airplane food or avoiding a checked bag means saving hundreds on a flight ticket, it’s worth it. You’re not going to remember the flight anyways.
If you do decide to fly on your next adventure, save money on airport parking by checking out ParkFellows.com, a website that helps you find the cheapest airport parking around the United States.
15. Don’t sacrifice good financial planning for travel, but don’t sacrifice travel for “perfect” finances
Before you look into funding an adventure, your finances should be “healthy.” I recommend everyone have a 3-6 month emergency fund (in a high-yield savings account) and take care of any high percentage debts like credit cards.
Many financial planners recommend tackling debts with an interest rate higher than 7% because those can accrue interest and spiral out of control quickly. But debts with a lower interest rate, like car payments, student loans, etc., are normal and shouldn’t stop you from traveling.
Because if you ask me, life is about living. Why strive for absolute perfection when it comes to money if you don’t even get to enjoy it until retirement? Life is short, and there’s no guarantee you’ll even make it that far. Take the trip now, just do it responsibly 😉
My Personal Experience: How do I afford to travel?
From the looks of my social media and travel blog, it may look like I’m rolling in dough because I travel frequently. And while I live a comfortable life, I’m far from being “rich.” Over the years, I’ve been able to travel through great timing, privilege and circumstance, hard work, and a bit of creativity and flexibility.
Some ways I’ve been able to afford to travel may not be an option for you, but this list isn’t exhaustive. It’s to showcase the unique and creative ways I’ve made travel possible so you can begin to find ways to make travel happen for yourself.
My privilege
I’d be remiss to not discuss my privilege. My college degree, American whiteness, lack of kids, and support from loved ones have given me opportunities that have allowed me to travel.
And if one or none of these things were true, the last 10 years of travel would have certainly been more difficult or at least substantially different.
With my access to higher education, I’ve been able to nab some fun jobs that have allowed me to travel. And my native-English ability and American passport allowed me to teach English in South Korea and Vietnam (plus travel visa-free to many places).
And these days, I have the gracious support from my loving partner while I’ve been living in Germany. The list goes on.
Read More: Travel is a Privilege
The Unique Ways I’ve Funded my Travels
Over the past 10+ years of my young adulthood, I’ve been able to travel to 50+ countries (4 of which I’ve lived) and 31 U.S. states.
But a quick note: the unglamorous truth is that I pay for the majority of my travels, and those moments of “free” travel are usually tied to work. But I have also found unique ways to offset travel costs and make it more accessible for myself.
So in no particular order, here are some of the ways I’ve funded some of my trips or helped me cut costs:
- Part-time tour leader: A side job where I enjoy all travel expenses paid and experiences in different places—but I do work 90% of the trip. However, after the group leaves, I can stay for a few days only having to cover hotel and food costs on those specific days (the flight back is “free”).
- Full-time ESL teacher in South Korea with EPIK: free rent, free flights there and home, and a steady income to fund my travels in Asia
- Part-time online English teacher: Earned a side income from teaching English online, about $500/month, that helped me afford life and travel.
- Full-time marketing associate: Traveled frequently to meet with clients in various states on the company’s dime and earned miles.
- Side hustle as a travel blogger: I earn money from affiliates/ads and have gotten sponsorships, although it’s always required some work (written review, social media posts, etc.).
- My partner and our DINK status: He’s in the military and has been based abroad, which means I’ve been able to visit Guam without paying for accommodation and live in Germany rent-free thanks to his generous support and his job benefits. Plus, we’re “DINKs” (dual income no kids), which means we split travel costs and have more disposable income in general.
- Won a scholarship to study abroad for a year: In undergrad, I changed majors from Spanish to Scandinavian Studies to better my odds of winning a scholarship to fund my dreams of studying abroad, and it worked! I was awarded $11,000 to study in Copenhagen for a year.
- Tuition-free Master’s program in Germany: In Germany, even international students can attend university for “free,” which allowed me not only to get a Master’s cheap but live in Germany with my partner and travel around Europe affordably.
- Miles and travel rewards: I love earning rewards, miles, and points, and I am always careful to squeeze out everything I can. These rewards have gotten me a handful of free flights over the years.
- Taken bumped flight vouchers: These opportunities don’t come up often, but when they do, I recommend taking them if you can.
- Made friends and connections abroad that have allowed me to crash with them while visiting and have unique experiences.
- Freelance travel and SEO copywriter: a source of income that gives me the freedom and flexibility to travel.
There you have it! Some simple and creative ways to make travel more accessible no matter your situation. I hope you find this guide helpful!