Every "travel cheap" article says the same things: cook your own meals, take buses, stay in hostels. Here are 20 tips you haven't heard — from people who actually travel on $30-50/day.
One caveat before the list. The biggest lever is not a tip, it is the destination: $50 a day is tight in Western Europe and comfortable in Vietnam, so where the US dollar goes furthest is worth reading before you book anything the rest of this list applies to.
Before You Go#
- Fly on Tuesday/Wednesday — consistently 20-30% cheaper
- Book 4-8 weeks out for short-haul, 2-3 months for long-haul
- Use Google Flights Explore — shows cheapest destinations from your airport
- Get a no-foreign-transaction-fee card — saves 3% on everything
- Download offline maps — avoid expensive international data
Accommodation#
- Stay 3+ nights — Airbnb and hotels offer weekly discounts (30-50% off)
- Book apartments with kitchens — even if you don't cook, having a fridge saves money
- Stay in local neighborhoods — not the tourist zone. 40% cheaper, better food
- Hostels with free breakfast — saves $5-10/day
- House-sit — TrustedHousesitters gives you free accommodation worldwide
Food#
- Eat the set lunch — In Latin America, "almuerzo ejecutivo" or "menú del día" is $2-5 for a full meal
- Follow construction workers at lunch — they know the cheapest, most filling food
- Markets over restaurants — every city has a central market where food is 50% cheaper
- Street food is usually the best food — and the cheapest
- Cook dinner, eat out for lunch — lunch specials are always cheaper than dinner
On the Ground#
- Walk the first day — you'll discover more (and spend less) than any tour
- Public transport always — a metro ride is $0.10-1. A taxi is $5-15
- Free walking tours — tip-based. Usually excellent. Available in every major city
- Negotiate everything — in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, the first price is never the final price
- Find a Local Friend — they show you where locals eat, shop, and play at local prices
The Biggest Money Saver#
A single day with a Local Friend saves you more than any travel hack. They steer you away from tourist traps, show you where to eat for $3 instead of $15, and help you avoid the scams that drain budgets.
Browse Local Friends on Roavi. Travel cheap without sacrificing experience.
This article was written with the help of AI and reviewed by the Roavi team.