How to travel cheap: the complete method

Travelling cheap rests on three levers: going off-season (or in the shoulder season), choosing a destination where the cost of living is low, and booking transport and accommodation methodically. The plane ticket and the accommodation often make up most of the budget: that is where the biggest savings are. The rest (meals, local transport, activities) can be controlled with a few simple rules.

How do you actually travel cheap? This guide brings together the complete method: where to go by season, how to pay less for transport and accommodation, how to keep to your budget on the ground and which tools to use. We quote no “miracle” prices: fares change every day. Instead we give you the mechanisms that bring the bill down, and links to our guides to check the best time to go for each destination.

Where to go on a budget, by season

A destination is not “cheap” all year. Prices follow demand: school holidays, holiday weekends and the high weather season push up flights and accommodation. The right strategy is to aim for a destination when the weather is still pleasant but crowds have dropped. For each month, our Where to go section lists suitable destinations.

Period	Destination ideas	Why it is more affordable
January – March (January, February, March)	Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam	Outside the winter school holidays, this is a quiet period for Southern Europe; in Southeast Asia, the dry season draws crowds, but the cost of living stays low.
April – June (April, May, June)	Portugal, Spain, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Malta, Turkey	The shoulder season: the weather is already good in the Mediterranean and summer prices are not yet in force (watch out for holiday weekends in May).
July – August (July, August)	Albania, Central Europe, Indonesia (Bali), Scotland	This is the most expensive period everywhere: favour countries where life stays affordable and book early.
September – October (September, October)	Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Croatia, Morocco	The sea is still warm and families have gone home: it is often the best weather-to-price ratio of the year in the Mediterranean.
November – December (November, December)	Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt	November and early December are quiet; the year-end holidays, on the contrary, send prices soaring.

Budget destinations in Europe

In Europe, Albania remains one of the most affordable destinations of the Mediterranean basin; the best period is detailed on our page when to go to Albania. Portugal and Spain outside the big cities offer good value, especially in the shoulder season (see when to go to Portugal and when to go to Spain). Mainland Greece and the lesser-known islands are kinder to your wallet than Santorini or Mykonos; September is often ideal there (when to go to Greece). Turkey is also a frequent option for small budgets (when to go to Turkey).

Budget destinations outside Europe

Further afield, the flight costs more, but the daily budget can be much lower. Morocco is close and accessible all year depending on the region (when to go to Morocco). In Asia, Thailand (when to go to Thailand), Vietnam (when to go to Vietnam), Cambodia or Malaysia let you travel for a long time on a tight budget once you are there. The calculation is simple: the longer the stay, the more the local cost of living counts compared with the price of the ticket.

Transport: paying less for your ticket

Be flexible on dates

The price of a flight varies with the day of departure, the time and the season. Comparison sites offer a “whole month” or “calendar” view: use it before fixing your time off. Travelling midweek and avoiding summer Saturdays and the start of school holidays often lowers the price. If your dates are fixed, be flexible on the destination.

Compare airports

Leaving from a regional airport or a nearby city can change the price, in either direction. The same goes on arrival: many cities are served by several airports. Include the cost and duration of getting to the airport: a cheaper flight with an expensive train or parking is not a saving.

Read the total price

The advertised price is not always the price paid. Check what is included: cabin bag, checked bag, seat selection, payment fees. On low-cost airlines, travelling with a single small bag is often the real source of savings. Always compare two offers with the same baggage.

Book at the right time

There is no magic day to buy a ticket. In practice, booking early is prudent for high season and school holidays, when the cheapest seats go fast. Off-season you have more leeway. Price alerts on comparison sites let you follow a route and buy when the fare drops.

Consider the train, the bus and carpooling

For nearby European destinations, the train, the long-distance bus or carpooling are often competitive once baggage and journeys to the airport are counted. Night trains also save a night of accommodation. Young people can get discount cards: see our guide to travelling cheap as a student.

Accommodation: sleeping for less

Type of accommodation	Strengths	Things to watch
Hostel (dorm or private room)	Low prices, shared kitchen, meeting people	Limited privacy in a dorm; read recent reviews
Private rental	Kitchen to save on meals, good value for groups	Cleaning and service fees to add to the displayed price
Small hotel / guesthouse	Good value outside tourist areas	Compare with and without breakfast
Camping	Often the cheapest option in summer	Equipment needed, booking in high season
All inclusive (club, all-inclusive resort)	Budget known in advance	Mostly worthwhile outside school holidays; see our guide to cheap all-inclusive holidays

A few rules apply to every type: stay slightly away from the very centre but close to public transport; check whether the tourist tax is included; favour cancellable rates when the difference is small; and for a long stay, ask for a weekly or monthly rate.

Budget on the ground: keeping your spending in check

Set a daily budget

Divide your “on the ground” budget by the number of days: you get a daily ceiling that is simple to follow. Note your spending each evening (a phone note is enough). Keep a reserve for the unexpected, which you only use if needed.

Eat local

Restaurants in very touristy areas are the most expensive. Markets, street food, lunch menus and convenience stores cut the bill noticeably. Accommodation with a kitchen lets you prepare breakfasts and picnics.

Get around like the locals

Public transport, multi-day cards or passes, walking and cycling cost less than taxis. Find out before you arrive the cheapest way to get from the airport to the centre.

Choose your activities

Many things are free: beaches, hikes, neighbourhoods, markets, some museums on specific days. Book directly the paid visits that really matter to you, and compare with tourist passes only if you expect to use a large part of them.

Limit bank fees

Abroad, card payments and withdrawals can incur foreign-exchange fees. Check your card’s terms before leaving and, at the payment terminal, choose to pay in the local currency rather than in your home currency (dollars or pounds). Our currency converter helps you estimate prices on the ground.

Useful tools and habits

• Flight comparison sites: use the whole-month search and price alerts; then check the price on the airline’s site.
• Accommodation comparison sites: filter for free cancellation and look at the total price, taxes included.
• Local transport apps: bus and train timetables, often cheaper than taxis.
• An eSIM or a suitable plan abroad, to avoid roaming fees.
• A spreadsheet or budget app to track your spending day by day.
• Our “when to go” guides to choose the right period, and our methodology to see where our climate data comes from.

No tool is always the cheapest: compare at least two sources before buying, and beware of countdown timers and “only 2 seats left” messages that push you to buy in a rush.

Travel agency, online site or doing it yourself?

There is no “cheapest site” in absolute terms: each platform has its own deals and promotions. The right choice depends on the type of trip.

Option	Advantage	Limits
Do it yourself (flight and accommodation booked separately)	Total freedom, often the lowest price if you compare	You handle problems alone (cancelled flight, missed connection: know your rights to compensation for flight delays)
Online travel site (flight + hotel package)	Bundled price sometimes advantageous, package holiday protections	Remote customer service, paid options to watch
Travel agency	Advice, support if something goes wrong, useful for a complex tour	Service fees possible; compare with an online offer
Last-minute offers	Real discounts if you are very flexible	Limited choice, difficult during school holidays

Whatever the channel, three criteria let you compare objectively: the total price for equal services, the cancellation and change conditions, and what happens if there is a problem (who helps you, and how). Rules differ by country: a package holiday (flight and accommodation sold together) may carry legal protections that a separate booking does not, so check what applies where you book.

A “luxury” trip at a gentle price: is it possible?

Yes, by playing on three parameters. The period: a high-end hotel in the shoulder season often costs far less than in high season. The destination: in countries where the cost of living is low, a very good hotel remains affordable. The length: alternating a few comfortable nights with simple accommodation lets you treat yourself to an exceptional moment without blowing the budget. Private sales and flash offers on platforms can also be worthwhile, provided you compare with the public rate and read the conditions.

Adapting the method to your profile

Solo

Solo travellers often pay more for accommodation (no room sharing). Hostels with private rooms, guesthouses and destinations where small hotels are affordable limit this extra cost. Solo is also the most flexible profile: take advantage of it to leave at the last minute.

As a couple or with friends

With two or more people, a rental with a kitchen and a shared rental car become attractive. Always compare the price per person, not the total price.

As a family

The school-holiday constraint is the most expensive. To get around it: leave at the start or end of the holidays rather than in the middle, choose a nearby destination reachable by train or car, or opt for a package where children get reduced rates. All-inclusive gives peace of mind on the budget: see our guide to cheap all-inclusive holidays.

Checklist: preparing a cheap trip

• Choose the period before the destination (shoulder season, outside school holidays).
• Compare several dates and several departure and arrival airports.
• Calculate the total price of the flight: bags, seat, transfer to the airport.
• Compare accommodation including taxes and cleaning fees, with free cancellation if the difference is small.
• Check entry requirements on travel.state.gov (US citizens) or GOV.UK foreign travel advice (UK citizens) before paying.
• Check your bank card’s fees abroad.
• Set a daily budget and keep a reserve for the unexpected.
• Take suitable insurance (see our travel insurance guide).

Mistakes that cost a lot

• Booking a cheap flight without checking the arrival time (an extra hotel night or taxi).
• Forgetting the price of bags and of the transfer from a distant airport.
• Choosing a non-refundable fare for a small price difference.
• Leaving without checking entry requirements (passport, visa, electronic authorisation): being denied boarding loses you the whole trip.
• Withdrawing small amounts abroad several times, with a fee each time.
• Accepting the conversion into your home currency offered by a payment terminal or an ATM.

Do not save on the essentials

Some savings cost a lot when something goes wrong. Check entry requirements on travel.state.gov (US citizens) or GOV.UK foreign travel advice (UK citizens) before booking. For a stay in Europe, or anywhere else, travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is strongly recommended.

Our guides to go further

• Cheap all-inclusive holidays: how to choose well (Spain, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey)
• Travelling cheap as a student
• Cheap sun holidays: where and when
• Our cruise guides, another way to know your budget in advance

Cheap travel FAQ

Our sources

• Our “when to go” guides, based on the normals of national weather services (see our methodology)

Updated October 2026.