Having the perfect mix of time, health, and finances for travel is rare. You’ve probably heard many people, or even yourself, say that they’ll travel when they’re older or retired, because then they’ll have the free time and budget to travel. That plan is missing the youthful energy to take advantage of the adventure of travel. However, the young ones may have the drive and energy, but often lack the finances to support their wanderlust. If you are a young person who desires to see the world, what can you do to facilitate traveling on a budget? Is it even possible to do so?

Fear not, the answer is yes!

Yes, you can travel on a budget. Doing so makes the opportunity to travel accessible to more people. Plus, if you can save money on one trip, it gives you more money to put towards the next one. Keep in mind that cutting back on costs doesn’t mean you have to cut back on the fun. There are plenty of ways to save money when traveling, with a few helpful suggestions and a bit of insider knowledge, you can see the world without putting yourself in financial bind.

Here are five key tips that you can use for traveling on a budget.

Choose A Destination Fitting Your Budget

There are certainly some destinations that are naturally going to be more expensive or more reasonably priced. What you need to do is research these possibilities and find a place that fits with the budget you have in mind. There are a numerous factors that make a destination a cheaper or more expensive place to visit. There’s also a lot to consider on your end. You might find a destination that’s cheap and easy to reach, or maybe a place where the cost of living is cheaper, or perhaps even a destination where the exchange rate is heavily in your favor.

Do your homework, although the temptation might be to visit the popular, touristy, more Instagrammable locations, they are going to be a lot more expensive. You’ll save yourself money, and likely have a much more rewarding, unique, and genuine experience if you choose a less well-known destination. This same principle applies once you arrive at your destination too. The hotels and restaurants on the main strip are likely going to be considerably more expensive than those a little further away on a quieter side street.

Look for the hidden gems, the authentic experiences, and you will certainly have a more enjoyable trip while also saving money.

Travel at a Cheaper Time

The time of year has a massive impact on the total cost of a trip. While nobody is able to guarantee what the weather will be like when you travel out of season, you can be confident that you’ll have a quieter, less crowded, and all around cheaper trip.

Everything involved with your trip will be cheaper: hotels, tours, flights, trains, excursions, and food will all be reduced at off peak times. If you need to have a little time for yourself, away from busy crowds and swarms of tourists, out of season travel will is the perfect solution. The queues and lines will be shorter, you’ll also be able to get a lot more seen and done when you travel at off peak times.

A hidden benefit is that you’ll see a side to your destination that many other travelers don’t see. Additionally, you can save yourself some money by also being flexible about the day you fly, not just the time of year. Flights are usually more expensive on the weekend than during the week. The best days to fly are between Tuesday and Thursday because most people are working and not able to travel.

Find The Planning v. Spontaneity Balance

There are benefits to being both well prepared and being spontaneous in your bookings when traveling on a budget. It’s often cheaper, and considerably less stressful, when you can book parts of your trip in advance.

Look at transport, accommodation, and activities well before you plan to go, and you’ll likely find at least one, if not more, good deals. However, you can save some money by being a little more spontaneous, especially in less touristy destination. You can save some money by booking accommodation directly rather than through a website or agency. Also, last minute deals can pop up at the best of times and be a blessing to travelers on a budget.

Use Google Flights

Google Flights is a powerful tool for finding the best deals for any destination. Let’s say that you want to book a trip to the City of Lights, Paris, France. Paris one of the most popular and premium travel destinations in the world, so you might assume it’s beyond your budget. However, if you use Google flights to find flights to Paris, you’re going to find the best deals and flights for your trip.

Just by using this single simple tool you’ll be able to filter for the different specifications of your trip and compare prices that fluctuate depending on multiple factors. For the bargain loving and money savvy traveller, Google Flights is certainly a handy tool.

Consider Sharing

While you may imagine a solo trip to discover yourself, you can save some money by sharing the costs of things as you go. For example, if you’re willing to stay in a hostel or dorm with a shared bathroom, you’ll save a lot of money on accommodation. If you book carpooling services, you’ll either save some money by simply paying for your space in a traveling vehicle, or could even earn a bit of money by offering that space for hire.

There are 5 simple tips that you can use for your budget travels. Traveling on a budget isn’t only possible, but is bound to be an adventure! Get packing!