I took a year off work to travel when I was 29, and it was there and then that I wished someone had taught me earlier on in my youth – how to travel on a budget in your 20s.
Why? I landed decent-paying corporate roles after I graduated from university and travelling used to be my respite from the daily grind.
I gave myself free rein to spend on my travels. After all, I deserved it after all that stress at work, I reasoned.
When I found myself thrown into a career break due to circumstances in life, I knew I had to stretch every dollar I had if I wanted to travel more while not working.
It was there and then that I realised – if I knew all these tips while travelling in my 20s, I would have maximised that travel mileage so much more.
My mistakes are now your gain, right?
If you’re here to learn how to travel on a budget in your 20s, or even how to travel on a budget in your 30s, then you’re definitely in the right place.
I’ve spent hours scouring the web for budget travel tips, backpacker blogs, and guidebooks, in search of ways I could make my budget work.
Here are my top eleven tips on how to travel the world on a budget in your 20s at a glance:
1. Ditch The Check-In Baggage
2. Be Flexible With Travel Dates And Locations
3. Work On The Road – Be A Freelance Writer Like Me!
4. Go On Free Walking Tours
5. Eating Out At Lunch Instead Of Dinner
6. Shop At Local Markets
7. Offer Your Skills In Exchange For Accommodation And Food
8. If You’re In School, Apply For An Exchange Programme
9. Choose To Travel To Cheaper Countries
10. Offer To House Sit Or House Swap
11. Don’t Be Afraid To Eat Street Food
11 Ways On How To Travel On A Budget In Your 20s
1. Ditch The Check-In Baggage
With more airlines, even full-service carriers, decoupling check-in baggage, and adding this to your flight can easily cost you an additional hundred dollars or more.
Not only will this give you the freedom to breeze through check-in and the baggage carousel at the arrival hall, but you’ll also never have to deal with lost or damaged baggage.
On a two-week trip to Europe, I was so frustrated by the crazy prices for check-in baggage that I ended up purchasing a 40-litre front-loading backpack that was carry-on-friendly, and also cheaper than the original baggage fees.
Not only did I save money, but bringing only carry-on also meant that I had the flexibility of not opting for check-in baggage on my subsequent domestic flights.
It made for a more hassle-free experience at my destination when making my way to my accommodation.
2. Be Flexible With Travel Dates And Locations
It is not uncommon for most people to think of travelling during the year-end holiday period.
But everyone else is probably thinking the same thing as you, making air ticket prices sky-high.
If you’re travelling solo or have more flexible travel companions, look at moving your travel dates and locations around to snag the cheapest possible combination of ticket prices.
Travelling during shoulder season, the sweet spot between the peak and off-peak periods has also become a new habit of mine.
Not only do you not have to deal with fewer crowds, you still get to enjoy some, if not most, of the destination’s highlights before they wind down for the off-peak season.
3. Work On The Road
When I set aside my year to travel, I knew I had to think of ways to make money while I was travelling so that I wouldn’t run out of funds so quickly.
I had worked in communications for a few years by then and enjoyed writing. I knew if I wanted to monetise a skillset and do something on the road, it could be being a freelance writer.
At that time, I was in touch with a travel company that had planned an impromptu trip for me previously.
They were looking for content, so I pitched a few topics and managed to start writing for them while I travelled around New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan.
If you love writing but don’t quite know how to get started, I got my start taking this freelance writing course.
4. Go On Free Walking Tours
I’ve done free walking tours in many cities all over the world and even in sunny Singapore, and I have never regretted any of them.
Free walking tours are just as their name suggests – free, so you don’t even have to fork out anything. (Though a small tip is advised if you can afford it.)
Such tours are usually also organised by really enthusiastic locals or ex-pats who may have lived a while in the city.
In fact, going on such tours as you travel in your 20s, is probably the best way to meet people.
As a solo traveller, I’ve found these tours to be one of the best ways to get to know fellow travellers who wouldn’t mind exploring the city together with you afterwards!
If you ask nicely, the guides would probably share with you their favourite local hangouts that don’t charge tourist prices.
Of course, if you prefer taking paid walking tours, there are also plenty of options on GetYourGuide, Viator and Klook.
5. Eating Out At Lunch Instead Of Dinner
All of us would probably have our must-go food places while on holiday and some of these places don’t come cheap.
Some dining establishments offer lunch menus with similar dishes at a fraction of their dinner prices.
Call ahead and ask if they have lunch specials or better still, ask a local – you might find somewhere your guidebooks or friends never even knew about.
6. Shop At Local Markets
While I’ve since stopped buying conventional souvenirs (think magnets, keychains, and shirts), I understand most people would still love to grab a little something for their loved ones back home.
Instead of shopping at run-of-the-mill tourist shops which would tend to charge a pretty penny for cheaply-produced knick-knacks, consider popping by a local market.
Or search the local newspapers/magazines for flea events where you might find local artists peddling their handicrafts such as handmade stickers or accessories.
Not only will these products be more unique and probably much more appreciated by your loved ones, but you’re also supporting the local economy and their industry.
7. Offer Your Skills In Exchange For Accommodation And Food
When I travelled to Taiwan, I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and improve my command of Chinese.
At the suggestion of a friend, I found a host on HelpX who hosted me on his permaculture farm in Taichung, Taiwan.
I stayed there for a grand total of 3 weeks in his mountain retreat, helping him clean up an old family home and doing maintenance work to help him with his permaculture ideas.
I also offered my skills in cooking, helping him draw up a guide for present and future volunteers and pet-sit for his family dog.
In return, my host went above and beyond, providing me with a roof, and all three meals and even took me out to explore on his free days with his family and friends.
Honestly, there are so many things you can do in exchange for accommodation and meals. Or just accommodation.
Look on HelpX, Workaway or WWOOFing platforms for such opportunities.
8. If You’re In School, Apply For An Exchange Programme
When I was 21, I applied for my university’s exchange programme to go to my then dream country South Korea.
I knew I wanted to learn the language and live there, but travelling there in my early 20s felt out of the question unless I had a reason to be there.
And so I took a chance and applied for a spot at Seoul National University. I got in after someone pulled out and got to spend a whole semester there.
As a student, you are likely to have access to subsidised student accommodation, cheap university food, and free/low-cost cultural activities.
Plus, some schools even offer scholarships for exchange students. I applied for one before my trip and got a whole extra two thousand dollars to spend there.
Definitely look into any sort of exchange programmes your current school might have to maximise your travelling opportunities as a traveller in your 20s.
9. Choose To Travel To Cheaper Countries
Sure, it’s super cool to do a summer Eurotrip or even go to as many states as you can on a US road trip.
But, such countries can be expensive.
If you’re learning how to travel on a budget in your 20s, then you need to adopt a budget mentality and only go to the cheaper countries to get the greatest bang for your buck.
I am based in Singapore, so travelling around Southeast Asia is extremely affordable for me.
I love clocking new countries to go to, but I also recognise that these countries don’t have to be that far away.
Within Southeast Asia, I have so many countries I’ve yet to go to like Cambodia and Laos.
So if I was itching to travel but didn’t know where and I’m a budget, I’d definitely see where’s the cheapest and which would allow me to maximise my budget most.
10. Offer To House Sit Or House Swap
There are many websites and Facebook groups that offer house-sitting opportunities or a house swap.
If you’re someone in your 20s who has a space of your own, you could offer to swap your home in return for someone else’s place to save on accommodation.
You can also offer your house-sitting or pet-sitting services in return for a space in their house.
11. Don’t Be Afraid To Eat Street Food
I know it’s tempting to want to eat food that you’re familiar with and comfortable with.
But some of the cheapest and most affordable food I’ve had while travelling is what the locals eat – street food.
Have a ready stash of diarrhoea and charcoal pills, practise common sense like making sure the place isn’t full of bugs and pests, make sure it’s well-visited, and you should be good to go.
It might be rough at the start, but I promise, you (and your stomach) will get used to it!
FAQs On How To Travel On A Budget In Your 20s
Is Travelling In Your 20s Worth It?
Travelling in your 20s is absolutely worth it.
You’re young, you have mobility and while you may not have the robust finances of your 30s, you can always take cheaper options. You’re young and gung-ho enough to try staying in hostel rooms and doing your own walking tours.
Travelling in your 20s also helps you open up your mind, see the world and better appreciate different perspectives and cultures.
How Can I Travel A Lot In My 20s?
Here are some quick tips to help you travel a lot in your 20s:
- Opt for carry-on only to save on baggage fees
- Be flexible with your travel plans
- Work while travelling like being a freelance writer
- Go for free walking tours
- Eat out at lunch instead of dinner
- Shop at local markets instead of buying at tourist traps
- Offer skills in exchange for accommodation and food
- Apply for your school’s exchange programme
- Choose to go to cheaper countries
- Help to house-sit or pet-sit
- Try street food!
How Do You Budget In Your Early 20s?
If you want a quick, fuss-free way of budgeting in your early 20s, you can start with the 50-30-20 rule.
For a simple way to budget in your early 20s, spend 50% on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings.
In this case, whatever you spend on travelling should go into your wants.
Start saving as soon as you can, bit by bit, so you can enjoy the benefits of compounding interest as you get older.
Is 28 Too Old To Go Travelling?
Honestly, 28 is not too old to go travelling. You’re never too old or too young to travel.
Age is just a number.
I started travelling with my family when I was a toddler and today, in my 30s, I’m still travelling.
I don’t intend to stop! You’re never too old to go travelling!
What Is The Best Age To Travel Around The World?
The best age to travel around the world is any age!
Of course, if you have a child, it might be best to have them travel when they’re a bit older and can retain memories of their time on the road.
But if you’re the one in two minds, then I’m here to tell you – you can go travelling at any age and there isn’t a best age nor a best time.
I hope this article has helped you see that it isn’t impossible to learn how to travel on a budget in your 20s!
Travel doesn’t have to be expensive and it’s completely possible to create amazing travel memories even whilst on a budget.
Now that I’m in my 30s, I know I could probably afford to expand my travel budget a little.
But now that I know how I can do much more with so much less, I’ll probably keep travelling this way for a while.
What’s your favourite budget travel tip?
Excerpts of this article were previously published on Anywhr.co and the content has been refreshed to include new and updated information.
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