Top Tips on How to Save Money While Travelling

We thought this would be a great post to write about, as all of us have friends who have fallen victim to spending all their money within their first weeks of travelling. They have plans to travel around Australia; visit all the pristine and white beaches, scuba dive the majestic and colourful Great Barrier Reef, camp on Fraser Island, skydive over the Whitsunday Islands - the list goes on.

In reality, they get to Sydney and end up spending all of their hard-earned money on booze and dining out within their first month. Then they realise they can’t afford to stay any longer and have to fly back home. Don’t be that person!

Here are a few free tips to be aware of when travelling the other side of the planet:

Hostels are without a doubt the way forward

It’s the best place to meet people and the best way to save money. If you enjoy your own space then some hostels offer private rooms, meaning you’ll get some privacy while enjoying the social vibes of a hostel. Another free gem; while booking hostels, keep an eye out for ones that offer free breakfast or dinners. Nothing beats free food!

If you enjoy a drink, then swap the spirits for ‘goon’

For those of you who don’t know what goon is, it's basically ‘boxed wine’. In all honesty, the hangovers aren't the best but you'll definitely wake up with a heavier purse/wallet.

Keep track of your spending!

There are plenty of apps out there that will help you cut back on any unnecessary expenses - one great example is 'Yolt'. We recommend having a daily budget, so you get to spend your money on the activities you actually want to do!

Don’t pay for WI-FI!

There’s plenty of places where you can make the most of free Wi-Fi. Another option is to purchase a cheap local SIM which will save you some money in the long haul. Or you could go into full backpacker mode and ditch your social media apps to be at one with nature - without technology.

Invest in an excellent backpack.

Sounds cliché because this one will end up costing you more upfront, but in the long run it is a fantastic investment. The amount of people you’ll meet having to bearhug their backpacks because it’s seconds away from being completely ripped to shreds is endless. They end up being forced to have to panic buy the next useless backpack they come across. Prepare in advance! Check out some of the ‘Osprey’ backpacks. They are extremely reliable and efficient.

While we’re talking backpacks - make sure you pack light! Everyone makes the mistake of overpacking when they go travelling. Have a look at YouTube for ‘things to take when travelling'. If you don’t, you’ll be hating life and carrying a full-heavy backpack around on a scorching, hot day.

Cook, cook and cook!

90% of backpackers claim most of their expenses go towards eating out. There are super cheap supermarkets in Australia where you can cook in bulk and save yourself a lot of cash. It’s also not a bad option to enjoy a nice picnic on the sandy beaches of Australia or while watching one of the beautiful sunsets.

Freebies

Make the most of freebies. Hostels and shops on the high street like to hand out vouchers for food and drinks. Your hostel may also recommend free activities such as free surf board hire, guided walks and yoga. Take advantage of these!

Use bank accounts such as Revolut or Monzo to minimise all those unnecessary transaction fees.

These fees all add up so getting one of the virtual cards is a game-changer! They will also help you keep track of your budget in various currencies. Allocate a rough budget for each country, but leave some money in your home currency - just incase.

Sort out your travel insurance before travelling

Chances are quite slim that something bad may occur, but it is always better to be safe than sorry! Make sure you’re covered for injuries that occur during any activities you plan to do.

Consider travelling via coach or hiring a car/camper van

This can depend on your group size, the type of experience you’re after, where you’re travelling, etc. If you’re not sure how to travel, then drop us a message. We’re happy to help!

Hope these backpacking tips help save you all heaps of money! If you think we’ve missed anything or want to know more, then send us a message and we’ll get right back to you.

Email: info@myadventureproject.com

Facebook: facebook.com/myadventureproject

Instagram: @myadventureproject_