This is Your Sign to Travel More in Your 20s ??

5 Budget-Friendly Travel Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Travel Experience

With the rising travel costs and travel restrictions not so long ago, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Millenials & Gen Z-ers to experience the world. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up your urge to travel!?

Today, we'll talk about the experience of travelling itself and the tons of ways you can save money while travelling and still have an unforgettable experience. From affordable hostels to cheap flights and budget hotels, there are plenty of affordable travel hacks out there if you know where to look. Whether you’re planning a trip abroad or somewhere closer to home, these tips will help you get the most value for your travel cost no matter what your budget is! ??

Research First, Book Second. ??

We all get super excited when planning for a trip or a vacation abroad, but make sure you do your due diligence when reserving your flight, accommodation, and other activities.?

You can use apps like?Skyscanner ,?momondo ?etc to find cheap flights deal between different countries! All you need to do is to put in your home airport (or country) along with your destination. You should see what deals are available on those specific dates, or over a period of the following month (if you’re flexible that is)

P.S.?Another great tip is to use Google Incognito or VPN when booking your tickets! As weird as it sounds, some airlines jack up the ticket prices according to the location you’re in, or your online user behaviour.?

Don’t Be Afraid To Travel Alone ??

Many people are hesitant to travel alone and let’s face it, it can be scary! However, travelling alone has a ton of benefits.?

But before we start, if you’re travelling alone then it’s important you pick out a budget-friendly destination. Research on things like hostels, flights and unique activities so you know where you can cut unnecessary costs from!?

Keeping the budget aside, travelling alone will allow you more freedom to go at your own pace, see what you want and do what you want without considering anyone else’s needs. We all have days where we feel like taking a silent walk in the city at 8 am in the morning rather than going on a long 5-7 hour tour with 20 other random people.?

If you’re travelling alone, you’re responsible for your own plan!?

You can have a lazy day, go on a hike, or socialise with random people in a coffee shop. You’ll be the one in charge. This can be a great way to grow as an individual and gain a new sense of independence. ??

Fly between Tuesdays to Thursdays ??

Flying midweek is generally cheaper than flying on a weekend. This is because many people are free on weekends rather than on weekdays. With that being said, The?busiest days to travel are Mondays and Fridays , so it’s safe to say flying between Tuesday-Thursday is a good way to save time and money.

If you can swing flying during the week, you can save anywhere from 10-20% on your flight cost!?

Other than your flight dates, timing is also key. Try to avoid flying during rush hours for both departure and arrival. Rush hours generally vary between different locations. Try to search for the peak hours of the destination you’re travelling to and book your tickets accordingly, since flying during these times will result in higher costs.

Bonus Tip: If there is a holiday season coming up such as New Year, Christmas, or Eid, make sure you book your tickets in advance! The later you book your ticket, the costlier it’ll be. This goes back to the first heading!

Make sure to plan ahead and make your move before prices surge. ???

Stay In Hostels or In Cheap Hotels ??

If budget is your top priority, hostels are great for single travellers!

Hostels generally run less than $50 a night, depending on where you travel and what sort of space you choose in a hostel: dorm, private room etc. But, without a doubt, they're an excellent way to meet new people and make lifelong friends! Living in a hostel is a golden experience in itself, however, hostels may not be the best option if you're travelling with friends or family.

If you have more people travelling alongside, then you would have to share the existing space, arrange more resources, and prioritise comfort in this case. Hence, it would be better to stick to a relatively affordable hotel that falls in your budget range or even an affordable Airbnb that's a little further away from the city centre to stay cost efficient.?

Hotels generally run around $100 a night, but that cost definitely varies based on the brand, proximity of hotel to the city centre, but be sure to look for deals online and make sure they offer free cancellation!

Just use the filters correctly, add you budget, location, neighbourhood preference if any, and platforms like?Airbnb ?and?Booking.com ?are there to show you all the unlimited options available! You can choose and enquire about the accommodation that you like and book the space in advance to save money! Happy saving!

Check For Hidden Fees Before Your Booking ??

Before you book your flights, make sure that you check the airline’s policy on changing your flight. Some airlines charge a hefty fee if you need to cancel or change your flight. If you’re booking with a budget airline, you may not be able to change your flight at all!?

Likewise, check out the hotel’s cancellation/no-show policy. Some hotels charge a large lump sum amount if you need to change or cancel your reservation.?

So, keep an eye out for sneaky fees ??

The 3 L Framework: Live Like a Local???

One of my go-to ways to have the best travel experience while being on a budget is to live like a local wherever I go!

Try local food and those little, cosy cafes! One way I meet local people when I travel solo is that I go to local events near my area, and use platforms like?Eventbrite ?and?Meetup ?that allow me to meet local citizens and even expats in some countries which is a great way to expose yourself to different cultures. Airbnb also offers these experiences, but yes they're definitely costly, I'd advise trying it out if you have an extra $100 lying around somewhere, and I can guarantee you won't regret it, but you don't have to if you don't have the means to, don't stretch yourself and enjoy the place within your budget, there's sooo much more to do! Oooh and pls visit local markets...it's a completely different experience ??

If you have no idea what to do or where to go, then try living with a local if you can. Again, apps like Airbnb and CouchSurfing give you that option so you don't end up spending so much money on 4-5 star hotels. And besides, you won't even be staying longer than 8-10 hrs in a hotel room, so why spend so much?

Also, for all the shopaholics out there,?to each their own, so you do you ?? buuut surprise surprise.... you can find the Zara's, and the H&Ms everywhere. To make travelling an experience you can never forget, maybe try to get out of your comfort zone and explore some local brands too. Remember, you’re here to try new things!

Staying like a local?allows you to immerse yourself in the culture of the country you've visited. I've honestly been introduced to the most amazing cultures, local music and food just because of putting myself out there and meeting locals wherever I travel! Try it please if you can! ??

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways to save money while travelling. Whether you’re booking your flight and accommodation or visiting during off-peak hours, there are always ways to keep your travel budget low.?

Travelling in your 20s is one of the best investments you can make for yourself and I can't stress on that enough! Go volunteer, intern abroad, use that scholarship you just got, travel with friends or travel solo for your first time, you won't regret these experiences! I'll dive more into opportunities that allow you to travel later on, but here's what you can expect on the other side ??

You’ll be able to:

• You'll learn so much about yourself (especially if you’re going solo), and have no responsibilities while travelling
• Discover yourself from within, and what’s limiting you from growth
• Experience a diverse set of cultures and expand your mindset
• See the world for how it is, not how the media has portrayed it to be

As a Pakistani, I can relate to this on a deeper level! I've been asked many times about my passport, but I've never used having a Pakistani passport as an excuse to not being able to travel, you can still most of the it, just need to take the first step and the experience will follow ???

Sometimes, we're scared of travelling because of what we hear about that place on the media and we refuse to give it a chance. I won't go here into details but I think we all know the stereotype of let's say Pakistan in the media. But, there's still hundreds of thousands of tourists that give Pakistan a chance and come here just to get to see its scenic beauty, amazing food, and unmatched hospitality. As we know now, there may be hundreds of ‘Pakistans’ in the world, we just have to get out there and explore it for ourselves!

To sum it all up, with a little bit of homework and proper planning, you can travel the world without breaking the bank. So if you’ve been dreaming of a vacation to another city inside your country to see the sights close to home or plan your first international trip to Europe, go ahead and start planning your next adventure! You've got this! ??