Six ways to travel on the cheap
With both of us either battling the price of rent in London or earning minimum wage in Bristol, there’s no surprise that we’ve learned a few nifty tricks to keep costs low when on our holibobs.
1. Hit up the supermarket
American supermarkets are bizarre.
This is a surefire way to cheapen your trip and is the first thing we do after we’ve checked in at our accommodation. Supplies for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks such as crisps and houmous (vital), are great for reducing the number of times you eat out for the sake of eating out.
If there’s a Lidl nearby, you’ve struck gold. Take advantage of their bakery section, which is full to the brim of fresh, local confectionaries. Nom.
2. Ask for local advice on Reddit
Élesztö, Budapest. Some of the most outrageous craft beer and burgers we’ve ever had the pleasure of getting our mouths around. Found through Reddit.
If you want to beat the tourist traps, this is the best way to do it. The popular internet forum is full of authentic — and cheap — recommendations from real locals.
If you’ve never used the site before, just type in your destination into the search bar and you will find a ‘subreddit’ with plenty of conversations dedicated to where you’re going. It’s a guaranteed winner to help discover a coffee with a view, a quirky craft beer pub and great value restaurants.
3. Make sandwiches
One of many lunch spots in Amsterdam.
A baguette by the banks of the Seine. A slice of Rugbrød opposite the Copenhagen Opera House. A pretzel outside the Reichstag.
Yes, instead of faffing about trying to find a cafe or restaurant with the holy grail combination of stunning views, good service and great food, take the matter into your own hands by making sandwiches using local ingredients from the supermarket instead. It’s cheap, easy and tastes great. No, really, sometimes we’ve held up a sandwich as the standout moment from a holiday (see: Paris baguette, 2016 — unforgettable stuff).
4. Sign up for a free walking tour
Barcelona, Spain.
We always thought walking tours were too touristy and dated for us. How wrong we were. We’ve now been on four — and counting.
Why? Best enjoyed right at the beginning of a trip, they’re a great way to get your bearings of a new place and give real insight into the area’s history and culture that only staring at a Wikipedia page could match.
Best of all, free walking tours require you to ‘pay what you like’, which means if you’re like us and on a budget, you won’t break the bank. A company called Sandemans operate walking tours across Europe and we can’t recommend them enough.
5. Hire bikes
You might not be able to hire penny-farthings in Gent, Belgium, but cycling around on your travels is the way to go.
As well as being our favourite way of getting around a new place and seeing a city in all its glory, hiring bikes for the duration of your trip is a great way of saving money on public transport. In major European cities there are plenty of bike hire options to choose from, with Amsterdam and Copenhagen being our favourites to pootle around so far.
Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced cyclist, we find that cities are accommodating towards cyclists’ safety, with plenty of cycle lanes in place to help you breeze through the streets. Apart from Budapest. Don’t cycle in Budapest. We were lucky to come out alive.
6. Plan your trip around free things
If you’re culture vultures like us, then there’s always time to squeeze in a gallery or museum visit on your trip — especially if they’re discounted. Before you book, we recommend researching local museums and galleries to find out if they have any days where they’re offering free admission.
