{"id":11905,"date":"2018-11-05T09:15:15","date_gmt":"2018-11-05T14:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/?p=11905"},"modified":"2024-06-18T07:35:36","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:35:36","slug":"how-to-travel-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/how-to-travel-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Travel On A Budget: 14 Creative Tips That No One Talks About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are a lot of important elements to traveling in a financially-sustainable way – <\/span>making money on the road<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>managing that money<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>keeping your money safe<\/span><\/a> (as well as your <\/span>identity<\/span><\/a>), and of course saving money on the two most expensive aspects of travel on a budget: <\/span>flights<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>accommodation<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about all the other things you spend money on while traveling?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From meals, to tours, to cab rides, to bottled water, there are a lot of different ways that travel depletes your finances.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with a few of the tricks below, you\u2019ll be able to cut costs on all the other little expenses in your travels, so you can stretch your dollars a little farther and stay on the road a little longer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, I give you 14 expert tips on how to travel on a budget so you can travel like a rockstar.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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This post was originally published in 2018. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. <\/em>

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Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1. Save On Baggage Fees With This Carry-On Hack<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2. Stick to Your Budget by Staying Out of Cities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3. Money-Saving (and Other) Benefits of a Water Bottle<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4: How to Go Local To Save & Get a Deeper Travel Experience<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5: Get a Local Experience (and $15 Credit!) Using Withlocals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#6: Free Tours & Local Friends with International Greeter Association<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#7: How to Save on Transportation with Ride Sharing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#8: Car Sharing Can Save Money At Home & Abroad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#9: Almost-Free Roadtrips with Vehicle Relocation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#10: My Favourite Way to Save Money and Explore Culture<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#11: Apply Everything in Moderation while Traveling<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#12: Take Advantage of Low-Price Guarantees on Hotels<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#13: How to Ensure You Get the Lowest Price on Airfare<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#14: There\u2019s a Science Behind Free Upgrades<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n


#1. Save On Baggage Fees With This Carry-On Hack<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you may know, I used to travel with carry-on luggage only (for years!). (Here\u2019s my approximate <\/span>carry-on packing list<\/span><\/a>). I survived, but it was a tight fit, especially if I was traveling to a place where the weather was anything other than tropical.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to a reader, I eventually discovered a new technique to get a wee bit more stuff through carry-on and still satisfy the regulations. Although this trick doesn\u2019t accommodate a <\/span>huge<\/span><\/i> amount of stuff, it just might give you enough wiggle room to avoid having to check bags, and\/or will save you the cost of baggage fees or penalties that some budget airlines love to levy if you\u2019re so much as a few grams overweight.<\/span>
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Enter From Stage Left: The Fanny Pack<\/span> \/ Hip Pack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These bags go by many names: Fanny pack. Bum bag. Hip pack. Belt bag. Butt pack.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And more.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re worn by power walkers and tourists alike. And thanks to a recent (if not upsetting) revival in fashion circles, they\u2019re actually considered \u201ccool\u201d. <\/span>Most of the time you see people wearing them as a cross-body sling. Even I have one (and I sure ain’t a trendsetter, but there’s no denying it’s a handy (or rather, hands-free) way to carry stuff). <\/p>\n\n\n

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Here I am in Mexico, pictured with the Pacsafe Vibe 100 Anti-Theft Hip Pack. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In case you don\u2019t know what I\u2019m talking about, a fanny pack is a pouch worn around the hips or waist (or as a sling) that allows you to go hands-free.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not particularly a fan of the fashion statement that fanny packs make when worn around the waist, and I\u2019m aware that pickpockets enjoy depriving tourists of their fanny packs – or at least the contents thereof.<\/span> This is why I very specifically own and recommend the Pacsafe Vibe100 Anti-Theft Hip Pack<\/a><\/strong> because it has a whole bunch of security features that will ensure nobody gets into your bag without your permission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, having learned this little carry-on trick from a reader, I had to get one from a market in <\/span>Peru<\/span><\/a> and try it out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It worked\u2026<\/span>
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Fanny Packs Don\u2019t Count as Carry-On Luggage<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carry-on regulations permit one piece of luggage that fits within the airline\u2019s carry-on dimensions, as well as a personal bag\/purse\/laptop bag. (Although I regularly had a purse and<\/em> a daypack containing my laptop, whenever I was accused of having more than one personal item, I simply squished my purse <\/a>into the daypack and I was golden).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But fanny packs don\u2019t count. In fact, because you wear your fanny pack, <\/span>it\u2019s considered personal attire, <\/b>and thus it\u2019s not part of your carry-on entourage. It doesn\u2019t get weighed, analyzed, or even glanced at.<\/span>
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Even if It\u2019s Not Allowed, It Works<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This tip came from a reader who confirmed with the check-in staff at an airport that fanny packs are considered personal attire and thus he brought a whole fanny pack worth of extra stuff without incurring any penalties or problems.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But not all airports, airlines, and check-in staff may share the same sentiment. The good news here is that <\/span>as long as you stand in front of the check-in counter which is usually at chest height, they\u2019ll never see your fanny pack anyway.<\/b> And once you\u2019re past the check-in staff, you\u2019re in the clear; nobody will stop you from getting on the plane with your fanny pack in addition to your carry-on entourage.<\/span>
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Fanny Pack Drawbacks<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These drawbacks to traveling with a fanny pack might not stop you from taking one, but it\u2019s prudent to mention them anyway:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n