2. Create a smart itinerary<\/h3>\r\n
Avoid zigzagging around and build an itinerary that lets you get around as efficiently as possible. In this guide<\/a> you\u2019ll find all my tips for planning a trip as well as possible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The web has more and more information, and there are loads of travel blogs as well as forums. Finding all the information you need is no longer as hard as it used to be. An extremely useful site I\u2019d recommend, especially if you know a bit of English, is wikitravel<\/a>, besides my blog, of course!<\/p>\r\n\r\n The plane ticket is often an expense that has a huge influence on the total cost of a trip; read my guide on how to find cheap flights<\/a>, check sites like Secret Flying<\/a> regularly and become a cheap-flight ninja!<\/p>\r\n\r\n It may seem strange, but traveling light<\/a> can really save you a lot of money. Ideally you\u2019d manage to travel with carry-on luggage only, so you avoid pointless surcharges from the airlines. Remember to weigh your luggage before you leave: if you\u2019re slightly over, wear a few extra layers or fill your pockets to stay within the weight limit. Plus, if your luggage is heavy, the temptation to take a taxi rather than walk will be great too. I believe a good backpack<\/a> is the ultimate solution for budget travelers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The cost of water can also have an impact on the cost of your trip. Always carry a water bottle or an empty bottle to refill. In some countries it\u2019s not advisable to drink tap water, but it\u2019s still worth having a water bottle because many hostels\/hotels provide large jugs of drinking water for their guests. The solution suited to every situation is a water bottle with a built-in filter<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Here<\/a> you\u2019ll find the complete list of the things I bring on a trip to be ready for anything and travel light at the same time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n For trips outside Europe, take out good travel insurance that covers you for at least medical expenses and personal liability. In this article<\/a> I compare the ones I consider the best value for money. If you\u2019re an EU citizen traveling within the European Union, I advise against taking out a policy, because you enjoy the same rights as people insured in the country you\u2019re in. It\u2019s explained here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n If you\u2019re looking for more tips on how to travel safely, then I recommend this article<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Are you a student? There\u2019s a chance you\u2019re entitled to a discount abroad too; just remember to bring your student card, with a photo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Currency exchange fees are expressed as a percentage and can reach as much as 3%; this means that if you\u2019re withdrawing in a currency other than your own, on top of the withdrawal fee, which could already be a few euros, you\u2019ll have to pay an extra 3% on the total amount withdrawn.<\/p>\r\n For transactions in your own currency (for example within the eurozone if your card is in euros) the problem doesn\u2019t exist, but still watch out for the fixed withdrawal fee abroad.<\/p>\r\n The best cards for traveling abroad<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n Every time you go to the ATM, bank fees add up, especially outside the European Union. So try to pay by card whenever possible, but avoid doing it in sketchy places and always ask whether there\u2019s a fee. Some cards even offer cashback, which basically works out to a small discount on your purchases.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re about to leave for a remote destination such as a small island, then try to bring everything you\u2019ll need with you, food included! Islands, and more generally all the remote areas of a country, have inflated prices and often have no ATMs, so make sure you have enough cash with you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Currency exchange offices, especially at the airport, don\u2019t always have favorable exchange rates. The best solution is to change your money with other travelers who may be traveling in the opposite direction to you, using the official exchange rate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Besides the withdrawal fee you pay your own bank, the local bank may also want its cut (in Argentina and Thailand it can be more than 5\u20ac!). So try to find out whether there are local banks that offer free withdrawals, or at least look for the cheapest one. The fee, if there is one, is normally shown before you complete the withdrawal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Avoid buying food and changing money at the airport. ATMs are also best avoided, because they always have very high withdrawal fees. As a rule of thumb, avoid spending your money at the airport.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Use public transport as much as possible. In cities, the metro, if there is one, is normally extremely cheap and efficient; find out whether there are daily or weekly passes and do the math to see if they\u2019re worth it. Also remember that it\u2019s almost always possible to use public transport to get from the airport to the city center.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Avoid taxis and walk as much as possible. If you have no alternative, then consider apps like Uber<\/a>, GrabCar<\/a> (very popular in Southeast Asia) or BlaBlaCar<\/a>. The first two for a cheap taxi service, the third for long distances. If you\u2019re forced to take a regular taxi, then make sure you agree on the price before getting in. Especially in developing countries, the meter isn\u2019t used.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Take night buses or trains for long distances: you\u2019ll save the money for a night\u2019s accommodation and you won\u2019t feel like you\u2019ve wasted the whole day getting from one place to another.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Car relocation<\/a> doesn\u2019t give you much flexibility, but it\u2019s still a budget option. It consists of returning a car that had been rented for a one-way trip back to its base. The rental company covers practically all the costs, but sets the dates for the transfer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Cycling from one place to another obviously isn\u2019t for everyone, but if it doesn\u2019t scare you, your transport costs come down to the maintenance of the bike itself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Hitchhiking is the ultimate solution for the budget traveler. Besides being completely free, it\u2019s relatively safe almost everywhere. In many countries where not everyone can afford a car, hitchhiking is perfectly normal. Be careful, though, because in some countries it\u2019s illegal and there are precise rules to follow if you want to ask for a ride.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Do you turn your nose up at hostels? Take a look at this<\/a> page. Sleeping in hostels<\/a> will save you a lot of money. In some countries a night in a hostel can cost less than 5\u20ac, and more and more hostels offer private rooms at very competitive prices, which are great solutions for couples and families or simply for anyone looking for more privacy than they\u2019d have in a dorm.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you really don\u2019t want to sleep in a hostel, then consider Airbnb<\/a>, a cheap solution for renting rooms or entire apartments\/houses directly from private owners.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Choose your hostel<\/a>, or your accommodation in general, with the location in mind. Especially in cities, being close to points of interest and public transport hubs can save you a lot of time and money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Booking sites like Booking and Hostelworld pocket a commission of at least 15%. Once you\u2019ve done your research, contact the property by email or show up in person<\/strong>: you\u2019ll most likely be offered a better rate.<\/p>\r\n At worst you\u2019ll pay the same price after getting the chance to see the place in person. Only avoid doing this if you\u2019re traveling in high season or during holidays, so you don\u2019t end up without a place to stay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Couchsurfing<\/a> is the ultimate solution for the budget traveler: it gives you the chance to be hosted for free by another member of the site and to get to know locals at the same time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Go camping! A tent or a hammock can give you a place to sleep for free practically anywhere, or at any rate at a really affordable price in the case of paid campsites.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Some families may go on vacation and not want to leave their house unattended for weeks. Or they may have a second home that stays closed and empty for many months of the year. A great way to find accommodation without spending anything and to spend some time, short or long, in one place.<\/p>\r\n House sitting<\/a> means looking after a house, and often the pets, for any length of time, with the chance to stay there for free. House exchange<\/a>, on the other hand, is more simply something like \u201cYou give me your house and I give you mine for a certain period\u201d. No money changing hands and no red tape.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Especially in countries that aren\u2019t exactly budget destinations, cooking will save you a huge amount! Most hostels have a kitchen, and if there isn\u2019t one you could make sandwiches practically anywhere. Remember that if you\u2019re traveling there\u2019s nothing wrong with cooking; it certainly won\u2019t be the time spent making food that ruins your trip!<\/p>\r\n\r\n When, on the other hand, the country you\u2019re visiting allows it, then don\u2019t cook! In some areas eating out can be extremely cheap – we\u2019re talking 1-2 \u20ac a meal. Especially at lunch, try street food and avoid restaurants full of tourists or those with \u201cWe speak english\u201d on the sign; eat where the locals eat and always go for the menu of the day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Breakfast included for the same price is obviously a bonus; read the reviews to find out what kind of breakfast it is: a big breakfast and a few snacks at lunch will get you through to dinner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n OK, here we\u2019re talking about tactics that are interesting, to say the least. Bin diving means fishing expired products out of supermarket bins; I\u2019ve never done it personally, but it\u2019s a relatively common practice among hardcore travelers and it also helps avoid waste. About a third of the food produced worldwide is wasted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Visit the local market<\/strong>, which often offers extremely competitive prices compared to supermarkets, especially on fresh produce like fruit and vegetables. They\u2019re also extremely interesting places to visit, where you can come into contact with the people and the culture of the country you\u2019re in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re staying in a hostel, then join the free activities on offer! Hostels often organize activities to get their guests socializing – dance classes, cooking lessons and much more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n These tours have become extremely popular in recent years and can be found in almost every big city. It\u2019s a walking tour led by a local. The guide expects a tip, obviously not mandatory, but definitely recommended if you enjoyed the tour. To find information about them, type the name of the city plus \u201cfree walking tour\u201d into Google.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Alcohol and cigarettes kill your budget. If you really can\u2019t resist a few drinks in good company, then buy them at the supermarket. Hostels often let you drink your own alcohol as long as there\u2019s no bar on the premises; in that case, be smart!<\/p>\r\n\r\n Haggle over the price! Especially in developing countries, all prices are negotiable, from taxi fares to souvenirs, from tours to many other things! Don\u2019t be shy, and above all don\u2019t overthink it: in many cultures \u201chaggling\u201d isn\u2019t seen as a sign of rudeness. A tip? Always pretend to be only vaguely interested and the discounts won\u2019t be long in coming.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The tourist offices you can find in many cities provide plenty of maps and information, all completely free.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Working in exchange for room and board in some community or farm, or simply behind the reception desk of a hostel in exchange for a free bed, are extremely common practices. There are several platforms that offer this kind of opportunity. Workaway<\/a> is probably the most popular, but there are many alternatives, such as Worldpackers<\/a> ($10 off the annual membership with the code “nicola10”), which even lets you earn money while volunteering, and finally wwoofing,<\/a> the latter focused above all on sustainability.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Whether you\u2019re traveling with a group of friends, your partner or simply people you met the day before, take advantage of it! Renting a car, sharing a taxi, asking for a discount on your accommodation or simply cooking: done as a group, in the long run it will save you a lot of money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Avoid any tour unless it\u2019s the only way to do a particular activity. I\u2019ve often been told \u201cyou need a guide to do this or that\u201d; often it\u2019s just pure marketing.<\/p>\r\n One of the thousand examples I could give you is the hike up Pico do Papagaio on Ilha Grande in Brazil to see the sunrise. The tour costs 135 reais (about 24\u20ac at the current exchange rate<\/a>); needless to say, with my flashlight and the help of Organic Maps<\/a> I did it for 0\u20ac, after being advised against it because I could have gotten lost in the jungle at night.<\/p>\r\n OK, now that you\u2019ve read all these tips, try to put as many of them into practice as possible and you\u2019ll immediately see your expenses go down. As you\u2019ve probably gathered, the secret lies in using unconventional methods, but above all in getting rid of the vacationer mindset and getting into a traveler\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\r\n If you have any other useful tips, or need any clarification, leave a comment!<\/p>\r\n Planning a trip? Check out these posts:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Which travel insurance to choose<\/a><\/p>\r\n Which travel backpack to choose<\/a><\/p>\r\n The best cards for traveling<\/a><\/p>\r\n What to bring on a trip<\/a><\/p>\r\n Since I no longer run ads, if you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your travel insurance<\/a> through one of the links on this site. Doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU and UK residents, I recommend True Traveller<\/a>. For everyone else, I recommend HeyMondo<\/a>, which offers a 5% discount. Thank you for your support!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n3. Don\u2019t buy a guidebook<\/h3>\r\n
4. Save on plane tickets<\/h3>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/spostarsi_low_cost-1-1.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\n<\/h3>\r\n
5. Travel light<\/h3>\r\n
6. Always carry a water bottle<\/h3>\r\n
7. Fight expensive mishaps<\/h3>\r\n
8. The student discount<\/h3>\r\n
Managing your money<\/h2>\r\n \r\n
9. Use a card with no currency exchange fees<\/h3>\r\n
10. Pay by card<\/h3>\r\n
11. Watch out for islands<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Remote](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/isola_isolata-1.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\n<\/h3>\r\n
12. Change your money without paying fees<\/h3>\r\n
13. Try several banks<\/h3>\r\n
14. Watch out at airports<\/h3>\r\n
Transport<\/h2>\r\n \r\n
15. Use public transport<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Local](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/bus_low_cost-1.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\n<\/h3>\r\n
16. Avoid taxis<\/h3>\r\n
17. Travel at night<\/h3>\r\n
18. Car relocation<\/h3>\r\n
19. Pedal<\/h3>\r\n
20. Try hitchhiking<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Hitchhiking](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/fare_autostop-1.jpg\")
<\/h2>\r\n<\/h2>\r\n
Accommodation<\/h2>\r\n \r\n
21. Sleep in hostels<\/h3>\r\n
22. Airbnb for apartments, houses and rooms<\/h3>\r\n
23. Consider the location<\/h3>\r\n
24. Don\u2019t always book online<\/h3>\r\n
25. Try couchsurfing<\/h3>\r\n
26. Sleep under the stars<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Camping](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/campeggio-1.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\n<\/h3>\r\n
27. House sitting and house exchange<\/h3>\r\n
Food<\/h2>\r\n \r\n
28. Cook your own meals<\/h3>\r\n
29. Don\u2019t always cook<\/h3>\r\n
30. Included breakfast<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Included](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/colazione_inclusa-1.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\n<\/h3>\r\n
31. Bin diving<\/h3>\r\n
32. Visit the local market<\/h3>\r\n
Other useful tips<\/h2>\r\n \r\n
33. Join your hostel\u2019s free activities<\/h3>\r\n
34. Join a free walking tour<\/h3>\r\n
35. Stop burning your money on smoking and alcohol<\/h3>\r\n
36. The price is often negotiable<\/h3>\r\n
![\"In](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/mercato_thailandia-1.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\n<\/h3>\r\n
37. Visit the tourist office<\/h3>\r\n
38. Volunteer<\/h3>\r\n
39. Strength in numbers<\/h3>\r\n
40. Avoid organized tours<\/h3>\r\n
![\"40](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/tips_tricks_backpackers.png\")
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