What’s your best tip for budget travel?
One of the biggest things I’ve noticed from traveling is that you don’t always need to fly.
Obviously, sometimes flying is the easiest or only option, but if you have a little extra time to get where you’re going, I’ve found that cars, trains, and buses can be a really good way to save some money.
Especially if you’re traveling by yourself, a bus or train can be way cheaper than a plane ticket. I’d say 8 times out of 10, if I’m looking at a trip where I have the option to take a Greyhound or train instead of flying, the bus or train is going to be cheaper. The trade-off is that, well… you’re going to be sitting there longer.
But personally, if I’m saving a decent chunk of money and I’m not in a huge rush to get somewhere, I don’t really mind taking the scenic route.
If you’re traveling with a few people, I also think renting a car can make a lot of sense. Instead of everyone buying their own plane ticket, you can split the rental between everyone. From what I’ve noticed, the things that can make a rental feel expensive are usually the deposit and gas, but once you’re splitting those costs between multiple people, it really isn’t that bad.
And a random rental-car thing I’ve noticed: check the fuel policy before you book. I’ve personally had rental places where the refueling charge wasn’t nearly as dramatic as people make it sound, but every company is different, so don’t quote me on that. Sometimes it can make more sense to just return the car and let them handle the gas, and sometimes you’re better off stopping at a gas station yourself.
I think the bigger point is just don’t automatically assume flying is the cheapest or only way to get somewhere. If you have the time, look at all your options. Sometimes taking a few extra hours to get there can save you quite a bit of money—and honestly, a road trip or train ride can be part of the trip too.
Budget travel isn’t always about finding some magical $20 plane ticket. Sometimes it’s just being willing to take the slightly longer route.
