Budget travel tips
Travelling on a budget is not about doing less. It is about six decisions that move the total by hundreds — and about not paying for things that are free if you know where to look.
The country decides more than the flight
A cheap flight into an expensive city loses to a normal flight into a cheap one, every time. Compare what a day on the ground costs before you compare fares.
Compare countriesCarry-on only is the single biggest saving
Hold luggage costs money on every leg and time at every airport. If your list fits a cabin bag, that fee disappears for the whole trip.
Build a carry-on planWash once, carry half
One wash in the middle of a trip takes two days of clothes out of your bag. Knowing which kind of laundry you will actually have is what makes that safe to plan for.
How to wash on the roadNever pay a middleman for a visa
Agencies charge a steep markup on paperwork you can file yourself, on the same form, in the same time. Start from the official government page for your passport.
Check your visa requirementsThe cheapest bed is not the cheapest stay
A room with a kitchen beats a cheaper room without one within about three days, because breakfast and one meal a day stop being restaurant meals. Compare what the booking includes, not the nightly rate.
Compare types of accommodation
The calculator takes your trip and returns the packs you actually need — weight, size, and the rules of the airline you are flying.