This post was written by Ralph Starks, a blogger and traveler who enjoys exploring the world in the best ways possible.
Budgeting comes in many magnifications but if you’re looking to keep your daily travel expenses under $50, it takes some planning. Half of a hundred dollars is an arbitrary amount which can be a lot or a little depending on where you’re headed and your personal finances. With a little planning, preparation, and perseverance though it’s not impossible.
Here’s how to travel the world on $50 a day.
Over-Plan To Under-Spend
A bit part of saving money while traveling is to calculate your general budget before you book anything, then narrow things down from there. Starting with your transportation, you don’t need to chase down the cheapest flights or even fly at all. Sites like Rome2Rio can help you find alternative travel and accommodation options. By expanding your search it becomes a lot easier to save by simply having more choices for your disposable income.
Where Do You Go?
Destinations can make or break your $50 a day travel plans. Assuming you’re starting with dollars in your pocket, searching for favorable exchange rates can narrow down your plans to places where $50 a day may actually be feasible. The time of the year you go can make a difference too. Traveling in the off season to a city or country often yields plenty of deals. It might be a little chillier or warmer part of the year but the flip side is you’ll not only be saving money but likely dealing with less tourists.
Once You Arrive
So you’ve booked how you’re getting there, where you’re staying, now it’s time to put your plans into practice. Start with how you’re going to get from the airport to your hotel or wherever you might be staying. Upon arrival you’re least familiar with a place and more likely to over-spend just to get settled in. Chances are though there’s a comfortable and convenient way to get you from the airport but if you don’t know about it, well, you’re at the mercy of ruthless taxi drivers.
In case you’re not sure, there’s always the airport information desk (hopefully it’s open) or try contacting the place you’re staying directly. Did I mention how important the planning stage was?
Snacks
It’s an underrated part of traveling on a budget but a quick trip to a market or grocery store to stock up on snacks (before you even leave home) can save you a lot on miscellaneous hunger fits. When you’re at the mercy of airport shops or whatever you happen upon as you’re sightseeing, it can often meal paying too much for a meal that’s not much good. Better to have the types of snacks you prefer and in bulk, to hold you over until you can have those truly memorable local meals.
Traveling on only $50 a day isn’t a feat in frugality if you plan appropriately. You can actually enhance your trip but thinking like a local when you’re somewhere new and planning locally before you leave home.
