70+ Frugal Hacks I Use To Travel On $55 A Day

International travel is a big priority for me! Having been to 40 countries now – including 3 trips of 6+ months – I have learnt a thing or two about travelling on the cheap.

I usually work on a daily budget of US$55 / EUR$50 / AUD$75*, equivalent to US$20,000 per year.

I’m happy with the trade-off of travelling cheaper to travel longer.

While others may travel on less, I’ve settled on this number as comfortable for me. I don’t feel deprived but also don’t feel too wasteful!

Here are over 70 tips, tricks and tools I use personally to keep travel costs low while exploring the world!

Note: This post contains some “affiliate links” and referral codes. If you click through and make a purchase or sign-up to services, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Accommodation

• Save money by staying in shared dorm rooms in hostels, for US$25-$30 a night in USA/Europe or $8-$15 in many parts of Asia. Yes, you can do this at any age! I’ve stayed in over 130 hostels and love the diversity of fellow guests, old and young. (Detailed post to follow…)
• If you don’t fancy sleeping in shared dorm rooms, try using the private rooms available in many hostels to still get the benefits of cheaper accommodation and socialising opportunities.

• Be prepared to pay cash for your hostel booking on arrival, to avoid credit card surcharges.
• Use aggregator site Hostelz.com to compare cheapest prices on hostels across multiple booking sites.
• Use Airbnb for accommodation ranging from entire homes, private rooms and even shared dorm rooms. (Sign up via link for $25 to start).
• Get Qantas frequent flyer points by booking Airbnbs or hotels via the Qantas site.

• Sign up to Trvl aggregator site and get commission back when you book hotels or hostels. (Use this link for $20 off your first booking.)
• I also check for hotels on Booking.com if options aren’t great on Trvl. (Get $20 cashback after your first booking here).
• On occasion, I’ll also use Hotels.com for hotel bookings. They have a stay 10 nights, get one free loyalty program, but it is worth double-checking rates as they aren’t always the cheapest. (Get $50 off your first booking of over $200 here).
• Try Couchsurfing.com for free accommodation and cultural exchange in users’ homes. Note that accommodation may vary from an actual couch to an airbed or sometimes a full bedroom. Read host profiles closely to find good matches, then increase your chances of being accepted as a guest by writing considered, detailed requests to hosts. (Servas and BeWelcome are other sites with willing hosts, though I haven’t used these yet myself.)
• Housesitting can be a great option if you are comfortable looking after pets, especially for longer stays. I have a profile on Trusted Housesitters to view and apply for housesitting opportunities. I’ve also had success arranging housesits directly through friends and acquaintances. (Get 25% off Trusted Housesitters membership fees via this link or use referral code RAF216125).
• Pro-level tip: If I have an early flight booked, I’ll occasionally sleep in the airport the previous evening to save a night’s accommodation and the stress of getting there in the morning. I check out reviews and best places to sleep on SleepingInAirports.net beforehand.

• Before booking, check that accommodation options are in walkable areas or along reasonable public transport routes to save money on getting around.
• Try asking for a discount! I have been successful in negotiating cheaper rates at Airbnbs for long stays simply by asking; or when extending my stays, I often pay the host directly to avoid Airbnb fees.

Flights

• Don’t presume that flying is best to get between places! Check alternative transport options on Rome2Rio. I’ll take a 6 hour bus ride over a 1 hour flight most times; they are often equivalent in travel time (considering getting to/from airport, check-in and security clearance time, bag collection), with the bus being far cheaper and usually dropping off in a more central location.
• If deciding to fly, check flight aggregator websites to find cheapest options. I usually compare a couple of sites, such as Google Flights, Kayak and Skyscanner. I like the latter two for their price monitoring emails if you aren’t ready to book.
• Use Skiplagged flight aggregator to find alternative flights from point A to B. If you are flexible, you may find cheaper fares involving a connection, rather than non-stop. In fact, you can view flight itineraries with layovers up to 24 hours to create your own stopover day trip on the way to your final destination.
• Skiplagged also allows you to find ‘hidden city’ fares – when you want to travel from A to B, you may find a cheaper ticket with stopover going from A to B to C. You’ll need to get off after your first flight at point B, leaving the final flight unflown. Note: Make sure you are travelling with carry-on baggage only, or your checked luggage may continue on without you! I recently did this on a flight Portland – New York – Atlanta, getting off in New York and saving $100.

• Once you’ve found the flight you want, check the airline’s own website to see if cheaper rates are offered. (You can use an ‘Incognito’ private browser when making your booking, to avoid airlines tracking your activity search and increasing prices on you!)
• Have an Australian ABN? Sign up for Qantas Business Rewards and earn extra frequent flyer points by adding your ABN to flight bookings for you and your ‘employees’. (Interpret ’employees’ as you will…)
• Consider travelling light with carry-on baggage only to save on checked bag fees and time waiting for bag collection on arrival. Check the airline’s baggage policy first.
• Use AirHelp to seek compensation if you experience flight delays or cancellations, especially on international flights.

Ground Transport

• Worth another mention, I check Rome2Rio first when determining how to get between locations. It quickly presents bus, train, flight, and driving alternatives. Great site.
• There are plenty of good quality discount bus companies available as alternatives to Greyhound. Megabus and Flixbus operate in USA and parts of Europe. Boltbus and Peter Pan are also decent USA options. Fares can be as low as $1 if booked in advance. These companies often have free wifi on board and comfortable new buses. I also regularly take overnight trips by bus to save on accommodation.

• To quickly compare bus options, check sites like Wanderu or Busbud. Note: They seem to not always show all discount providers, so it’s still worth double-checking company sites directly.
• In many countries in Europe, train travel is quick, relatively cheap, and can be an attraction in itself. For tips on maximising your train travel experience – such as how to get tickets and which side of the train to sit for the best view – I check the comprehensive Seat61.com site written by train aficionado Mark, ‘The Man in Seat 61’.

• Amtrak trains in USA are a scenic, though slow, way to travel. I have taken trains from Salt Lake City-San Francisco and San Francisco-Portland during my one-year USA mini-retirement and loved each trip. They often include overnight portions, so I sleep in the generously spacious reclining seats while being transported easily to my destination.

Local Transport

• I can’t emphasise this enough: Use public transport! Google Maps makes it easy by showing local public transport in directions.
• Visit the crowd-sourced Wikivoyage site to read pages related to the city you’re visiting, especially for an overview of how to use public transport there. (Save pages for offline viewing on your smartphone to reference later).
• Make sure to have small bills and coins to pay fares onboard buses, trams, and trains in case they don’t give change. Public transport companies seem to increasingly have apps for mobile ticketing too, making buying fares even easier.
• Taking local public transport from airports to your accommodation can be an easy way to save money. For example, I recently took the bus from Austin Airport for $1.25, instead of a $20+ taxi/rideshare trip!

• Rideshare services can be a good option. If available in my current city, I’ll take Uber Pool or Lyft Shared for cheaper rides by sharing with others travelling the same direction. (New users can get credit towards first rides here: Uber using code ‘ubernewbers‘ or Lyft using code ‘WIGG22078’).
• Existing Uber or Lyft users can earn cashback via Freebird app (USA), which gives loyalty points redeemable for cash deposits. I got $20 in cashback after my first week of use, so it’s legit. (Sign up for $25 in bonuses – $5 back on your first 5 rides – here).
• When exploring on foot, I have several apps which reward my steps walked with money or points, including Walgreens Balance Rewards (USA), Qantas Wellbeing (Australia), Sweatcoin and Achievement (international).

Entertainment & Shopping

• My first stop is often the local tourist information centre for info on events in town and to ask knowledgeable guides for free entertainment suggestions.
• Many cities have free (tips-based) walking tours – just search “free walking tour ‘city name'” or check freetour.com for listings. I love doing these soon after arriving to get an overview of a city’s history and attractions, plus to hear local recommendations from guides. I have also made friends (and drinking buddies) with fellow travellers this way.

• Check for free days at museums, galleries and zoos; typically held once per month or even weekly. I have saved literally hundreds of dollars on entry fees by timing when I visit.
• I use Groupon to find discount offers on attractions before I arrive in a new city. (Sign up here for $10 to start).
• Layer on the bonuses by making Groupon and other purchases via cashback portals CashRewards or Raiz Rewards (Australia), Ebates or Swagbucks (USA). (Get sign up bonuses of up to $10 via links).
• I have my credit cards linked to Dosh, Drop and Pei apps (USA), which give additional effortless cash back when making card purchases for selected dining, shopping and entertainment. Drop gives bonus points for your nominated favourite services; I have Lyft, Groupon and Trader Joes selected here. (Receive $5 on each app on sign up. Use referral code gzyvfj in Pei).
• When buying online, I always check for promo codes as easily as searching “‘attraction name’ promo code”. The Honey and Wikibuy extensions on Chrome browser apply available discount codes automatically; I’ve saved plenty on Groupon in particular.
• Consider getting a library membership. I have multiple library cards now, with signup as easy as showing ID and mail received to a local address. I enjoy the access to digital resources including e-books, audiobooks, and films to stream, even once leaving the area.

• Check if your library membership gives access to culture passes, providing free entry to selected museums, galleries, and even state parks. I have enjoyed free admission to multiple New York City and Denver attractions through my library cards.
• Check relevant interest groups on Meetup.com or Facebook to find social events to attend while in town. For financial independence enthusiasts, there is an ever-expanding network of ChooseFI local groups; I have attended or organised ChooseFI events in six US cities so far on my mini-retirement trip.
• Consider volunteering for events and festivals for free admission, plus occasional other perks like free accommodation and food! I have saved thousands of dollars doing this over 15+ years, attending well-known events including Glastonbury UK music festival, SXSW USA, and Dublin Theatre Festival. (A detailed how-to post on this coming soon!)

Food & Drink

• I loooove to visit grocery stores in new countries, which provide entertainment in themselves. Seeing the different products available and what is prioritised is always fascinating (eg. rows of meat pastes in Germany; extravagant cheese aisles in France). You can taste the ‘flavour‘ of a country cheaply this way.

• Unfamiliarity with local grocery brands – in fact, sometimes not being able to read non-English labels at all – I save money by having no hesitations buying generic brand foods, as I usually haven’t succumbed to local advertising yet to know what’s popular!
• Book accommodation with kitchen facilities in mind to help make your own meals to save. Plus, take advantage of free breakfasts offered at many hostels or hotels.

• Always carry a reusable water bottle and small snack on you, so you don’t get hangry and make poor food spending decisions. This is especially useful when caught in places like airports or bus/train stations, where inflated prices abound.
• Dining out is part of what I enjoy about travel, but I save this for only a few times a week to enjoy the experiences more. I’ll tend towards buying from food trucks and market stalls, splitting meals with friends, saving leftovers for later (hello, American portion sizes!) and ensuring I’ve researched restaurants ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
• Aside from discounted meal vouchers, Groupon also has My Groupon+ deals which give instant cashback on selected restaurants when you add offers to your credit card.
• For Southwest Airlines frequent flyer members (USA), sign up to Rapid Rewards Dining to get points when using your linked card at selected restaurants.
• Avoid or limit drinking alcohol while dining out. I much prefer to spend on tasty food and skip the booze money-sink. I can get a decent bottle of wine for under $5 in grocery stores to take home for a ‘night cap‘ if desired.
• I’ll usually skip dessert, satisfying my sweet tooth with some fancypants chocolate from the grocery store for a fraction of the cost.

Staying Connected

• For short trips, I’ll usually set my phone’s voicemail to explain my vacation dates, then leave my phone on ‘flight mode’ to avoid call roaming charges.
• I buy cheap Skype call credit to make calls while on wifi, including to standard landline and mobile phones. The 3 cents per minute is far cheaper than any call roaming!
• For longer trips, consider purchasing a local pre-paid SIM card, for unlocked phone handsets, especially to access mobile data. This is usually FAR cheaper than phone roaming. For example, I signed up painlessly in-store for a $40/mth pre-paid SIM in USA for 8GB and unlimited calls/texts; by contrast, enabling phone roaming on my Australian SIM would have been $5 a day = $150/mth.

• Free wifi is usually plentiful and available at libraries (even for non-members), cafes, fast food places, shopping malls, accommodation, etc. Don’t feel obliged to make a purchase; I have saved by standing outside many a Starbucks worldwide to quickly check emails on my phone.
• For wifi networks and passwords in airports around the world, check out this list.

Side Hustles To Earn While Travelling

• Use Indeed.com’s Job Spotter app while exploring on foot to get paid Amazon credit (USA) or cash (Australia) for pics of ‘help wanted’ signs. Read my full review of how I made $319 in my 10 weeks.

• I use earned Amazon USA credit on e-gift cards for Airbnb, Uber, Starbucks, Chipotle, Whole Foods, Safeway, Hotels.com, or even physical Visa giftcards with a small purchase fee.
• I earn money by doing small market research-style tasks with phone apps Field Agent (international), Easy Shift (US & UK), and GigWalk (US). I’ve done gigs including taking photos of product displays in grocery stores, buying and reviewing food items for reimbursement, and testing customer service in retail stores. Tasks vary in time commitment and payment, so may not always be worth going out of your way, but I have often found gigs in my vicinity when out shopping already.
• Use BestMark or MarketForce (USA) websites for mystery shopping tasks at restaurants, receiving payments and reimbursements for meals on completion of surveys.

Miscellaneous

• Before starting your travels, consider what luggage you’ll use, as this will affect how you move around a city. I prefer carry-on backpacks for mobility to walk around on different terrain, to make public transport use easier, and to alleviate hassle when staying in accommodation with stairs only.

• Cultivate the habit of always looking behind you whenever leaving your seat to avoid losing things and costing you money in replacing them!
• Secure your belongings with luggage padlocks and in lockers/safes where available, for peace of mind and avoid theft. Having discovered the hard way that travel insurance doesn’t typically cover theft of ‘unattended’ items left in accommodation for the day, avoid replacement costs by securing your things!
• Avoid using debit cards for pre-authorisations at accommodation providers, as funds can be held up for days after departure and affect your access to your money. Use credit cards instead to avoid getting caught short.
• Use cards without foreign transaction or ATM fees. I have enjoyed using the no account-keeping fee Citibank Plus Everyday Account (Australia) with Mastercard debit card for several years. The exchange rate and flexibility are much better than pre-paid travel money cards.
• Check your card statements for unusual activity, especially while travelling! On the flipside, inform your bank by phone or message when you’ll be overseas, so they don’t lock your accounts due to your own strange activity.
• For responsible credit card users ONLY, consider looking into travel hacking with credit card sign-up rewards (common in USA, but also possible in Australia and abroad). My flight Australia-USA was free after taxes on Virgin Australia with card sign-up bonuses, while I maintain a healthy frequent flyer point balance to cover several more international flights. (Detailed post to come soon.)
• I have a ‘fail budget’ contingency line of $50/week; an allowance so I don’t stress out when I make spending mistakes that are common while travelling. For example, mis-ordering at a restaurant due to language barriers; having to take a taxi when lost; or paying accommodation taxes I wasn’t anticipating. It keeps me from ruminating too long on spending hiccups when I’ve mentally set aside funds for those inevitabilities.
• Finally, I recommend not getting too hung up on saving the extra dollar if it will impact on your travel time and enjoyment! Having been personally guilty of spending over an hour researching the cheapest hostel to save $5 on a stay, I encourage you not to be that person!

Got any more great budget travel tips to add? Found a new favourite here? Let me know in the comments below!

* Budget note: I usually use these budget figures in Northern America, UK, Europe and Australia. For developing nations such as in South-East Asia, my travel costs can be as low as US$25/day.