Follow these tips to save a little extra cash on your next backpacking trip.
Pack Light
Being a backpacker abroad, you want to be light on your feet. Having large baggage can cost you at the airport, in addition to slowing you down. Only keep the essentials in your bag and be careful which electronics you bring.
Keep Your Itinerary Flexible
Keeping a strict schedule is not typical of backpackers, and for good reason. Being flexible allows you to find the cheapest deals on travel sites and lets you shop around. Avoid booking your tickets in advance, as you will often find routes where a plane ticket might be cheaper than taking the train. Plus, you never know what kind of adventures you’ll stumble upon, and you’ll miss out if your trip is already set in stone.
Be a Voluntourist
Voluntourism is a growing trend where travelers can help the communities they’re visiting in exchange for food and lodging. There is a diverse range of opportunities depending on the country you visit, so be sure to check out Trazee Travel’s Voluntourism section to learn more.
Stop and Smell the Roses
Transportation will be one of your biggest expenses, so don’t try to conquer an entire region in just a few days. Instead of moving city to city, slow down and spend an extra few days in one spot. Your trip will be more relaxed and you will learn a lot more as well.
Cook Your Food and Pre-Game
It can be tempting to go out to eat and drink every night abroad, but that is an easy way to deplete funds. Many hostels have kitchens, and visiting the liquor store before you go out will save you a lot of money.
Share
In the growing “Internet of Things,” there are a variety of options available that bypass the traditional tourist resources like hotels and taxis. Websites like Airbnb and Couchsurfing allow travelers to stay in the homes of locals, offering a much more authentic experience than staying in a hotel. Ridesharing is also becoming increasingly popular with Uber and Lift Surfer offering transportation and carpooling opportunities within and between cities.
Read This Next
Easy, Healthy Hostel Meals
Food & Drink
Sep 14, 2014#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedTravel
Apr 30, 2025Platform Helps Remote Workers, Business Travelers Find Work-Friendly Hotels
If you’ve ever attempted to work on the go — not necessarily for a business trip, but just because your job offers the flexibility of remote working — you may have struggled with working from your hotel room. Your options are typically plugging your laptop in next to a tiny in-room table, if you’re lucky, or you’re stuck answering emails from your hotel bed — hardly conducive to productivity.
Sponsored Content
AmaWaterways’ Specialty River Cruises
When you embark on a river cruise with award-winning AmaWaterways, unpack once and step aboard a world of unparalleled experiences. With enriching excursions, exquisite locally sourced food and wine, nightly entertainment and more included in the fare, you will learn why AmaWaterways has the most returning guests out of any river cruise line.
Hotel
Apr 30, 2025Discover the Best of the Adirondacks at Schroon Lake
Looking for the perfect summer kick-off trip? The Lodge at Schroon Lake, in the Adirondacks, offers the ultimate vacation for travelers of all ages. Expect outdoor activities, beautiful scenery and lakeside fun — all the necessary ingredients for an unforgettable summer trip. Here’s a closer look at what The Lodge at Schroon Lake has to offer this summer:
Destinations / North America
Apr 29, 2025Cheapest U.S. Fall Shoulder Season Destinations Revealed
Planning ahead for a fall shoulder season (mid-September–October) trip? If you’re traveling on a budget, you’ll want to visit one of the cheapest U.S. fall shoulder season destinations.
Hotel
Apr 29, 2025Fairmont Royal York’s Spring Programming
Take in the Splendor of Spring, a curated selection of activities and events, at Fairmont Royal York.
Slideshow
Apr 29, 20257 Must-See Sites in Sapporo, Japan
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here are seven must-see sites in Sapporo, Japan.
ShareThis