Solo trips are considered the expensive one and this is the reason why most travelers avoid it. However, solo traveling is not always meant to be expensive and can be done on a budget if planned strategically. In this article, I am sharing the tips for solo travel on a budget that won’t hole in your pocket and you can travel to your dream destination. Just keep the below-mentioned tips handy to enjoy your alone trip within a budget.
How to Travel Solo on a Budget?
If you are prepared smartly, you don’t need to break the bank! Yes, a journey is more about planning and how to make a perfect trip rather than just booking the destination. Before and during traveling, you have various opportunities to cut costs, how? Learn about our best tips for traveling –
Plan your Budget
The first and foremost step is to know your budget and then plan accordingly. Budget planning includes transportation, lodging expenses, insurance, itinerary, airways, etc. It should be kept in mind that the budget is realistic and reflects your saving goals. If you are planning a trip a few months ahead, it is better to start saving today.
Avoid Traveling Peak Season
We all know that traveling in a peak season is always expensive whether you travel alone or with friends. To make your solo trip budget-friendly, it is recommended to travel in shoulder season. It eliminates various costs like accommodation as many more hotel rooms are empty, the plans offered by various travel agencies also reduce their charges, etc. By cutting these costs, you can enjoy a budget-friendly solo trip.
Choose the Destination Wisely
Your travel budget substantially depends on where you are traveling. The more expensive the travel destination you choose, the more will be expenses. Destinations like New York, Venice, Maldives, etc are a few locations that are top choices for travelers though they are the most expensive ones.
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This is why we recommend tapping cheap destinations to reduce your expenses. However, if you still want to visit top destinations, keep reading tips for solo travel on a budget.
Research the Best Deal
Don’t forget to knock on the door of travel agencies like Liberty Travel, G Adventures, Contiki, etc for the best possible deals. These agencies periodically launch new offers and coupons that are very useful for travelers to reduce their traveling costs without compromising the best destinations. Along with travel agencies, keep an eye on hotel booking companies like booking.com to get discounts on accommodation.
Book Early or Last Minutes
Don’t be bewildered, either booking earlier (way earlier than your solo trip) or booking at the last minute, can be beneficial for you. When you book too early, the tour packages, accommodations, etc basic necessities are available at a cheaper price. While booking late, you can leverage the travel benefits like last-minute discounts or the best deals that travel agencies and booking companies offer.
Use your Credit Card Points
If you are a travel enthusiast and working professional, you may use credit cards regularly. Depending on which company’s credit card you have, you might get some attractive offers that save you a good amount of money. It could be the savior for you in booking hotels, rooms, booking of flights, or other modes of transportation.
So, before making your bookings, have an eye on your credit card points. And if you don’t have a credit card yet, get it as soon as possible for the best benefits.
Book the Capsule Hotels
Looking for the amazing tips for solo travel on a budget? Book the capsule hotels instead of large villas! Yes, you read it right. Capsule Hotel is a concept in Japan that originated in Osaka in 1979 and now become an attractive choice for travel lovers.
When it comes to affordable accommodation, especially for a solo trip, capsule rooms are best. They are small, cozy, and perfectly suitable for individuals, and the best part is they are very affordable when compared with traditional hotel rooms.
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Avoid being Extravagant in Restaurants
It is an important tip when you are looking for an affordable solo trip. You do not necessarily need to save money on travel and accommodation, saving the food bill is also a great opportunity to save a few bucks and make the trip affordable.
For example; if you have visited expensive or fancy restaurants, don’t just order a three-course meal, wine glass, etc for a starter, just get your main meal, and save unnecessary costs.
Explore Low-cost Lodging Options
Lodging is the biggest hurdle when it comes to traveling solo but you can easily find cheaper options. Previously, in our article, we discussed how to find affordable lodging while traveling, you can look at that article. Online research, CouchSurfing, Renting RVs, etc are a few options that you can try instead of being entirely dependent on costly hotels and accommodations.
Conclusion
To be more confident, assertive, and decisive, solo travel is the best way to travel with “yourself” but the biggest hindrance here is the budget. No doubt, traveling alone is considered as the expensive one but you get over this tag if follow the right strategy of saving money. In this guide, we have shared 9 best tips for solo travel on a budget while not compromising the benefits of solo traveling. We hope this article will be very useful for your future solo trip plan.