5 Tips for Solo Travel on a Budget

Q: Isn’t it WAY more expensive to travel solo?

A: It can be, but check out my 5 tips for sticking to your solo travel budget!

One of the major drawbacks of solo travel is that costs can creep up quickly! Since you’re unable to split things like accommodations, rental cars, etc., with your travel companion, you need to strategize making every dollar COUNT! However, in some ways, I think solo travel can sometimes be a more cost-effective means of travel since you’re not compromising with someone else’s (*higher*) spending habits. Regardless, I’m here to help!! Check out the tips below for managing your solo travel budget, and please reach out to me with any specific solo travel budget questions! I’d love the opportunity to plan a budget-friendly solo travel trip for you!!

Here are my top 5 tips for solo travel on a budget!

Be flexible with your destination and dates.

A little bit of flexibility can go a LONG way towards keeping solo travel costs low. Visiting a travel hot spot during the height of the holidays WILL be expensive, solo or not.

First, check out which season is considered “high” vs. “low” for tourism. I recommend having a few destinations in mind that you’re interested in and then researching flight prices and hotels based on various dates. While the low season will typically offer the worst weather (either because it’s particularly cold or rainy or HOT), my absolute favorite time to ravel solo is during what’s called “shoulder” season, i.e., the tail end or beginning of high season. You can score affordable rates without compromising too much on weather conditions. I also appreciate having fewer crowds! Another way to save some money is to remain flexible regarding the specific weekdays of travel, such as flying out mid-week or taking an extraordinarily early morning flight. Lastly, consider staying at an accommodation just outside of the main tourist area instead of in the (over-priced) city center.

If you’re focused on keeping your solo travel budget in check, flexible travel plans like these should be step one!

Research accommodations… HEAVILY.

This is where solo travel costs can get inflated. Splitting that hotel cost in half with a travel partner DOES make a huge difference and DOES allow you to stay at more luxurious properties. But don’t under-estimate the non-financial value that will come from traveling alone; solo travel is the ultimate self-care!! Here are my suggestions for managing your solo travel accommodation budget:

• Take advantage of points and deals: First and foremost, make sure you’re taking advantage of every possible discount that exists! Solo travel is a perfect time to use all of those credit card points you’ve been saving for “a special occasion.” Or better yet, wait to sign up for a travel credit card until just before booking your solo vacation, and rack up new points!! You should also look at what sort of travel perks your credit card offers before booking; sometimes, that includes an upgraded room, hotel credit, or a complimentary breakfast!

  A quick search on various hotel booking websites, such as Booking.com and Tripadvisor, will tell you the lowest going rate for a given hotel room. But don’t stop there. *After* I’ve researched those lowest online rates, and *before* booking, I HIGHLY recommend calling the hotel directly! More on this below…

• Consider booking directly: More often than not, I get better deals on hotel rooms by booking directly with an actual human being on the phone. I’ll reference a discounted rate that I found online and see if they can meet or BEAT it. I’ll kindly yet bluntly ask, “I’m on a tight budget; what is the best rate you can offer?” You would be *shocked* how often there are deeper discounts or extra perks to be had!

• Choose a hotel with single rooms: Did you know that some hotels offer smaller “single” rooms with twin-sized beds for solo travelers? These exist if you look for them!

• Check out budget hotels or hostels: Even if you don’t want or feel comfortable sleeping in a shared dorm-style hostel, many hostels have a select number of “private” rooms with private ensuite bathrooms. These are typically priced somewhere in between a traditional hotel room and a hostel bunk bed. PLUS, there is the added bonus of staying in a social accommodation where there is a higher probability of meeting other solo travelers! One of my favorite hostels which offers trendy private rooms is Selina — they have locations throughout Central and South America and are rapidly expanding!!

• Shared rooms: If your solo travel budget is backpacker tight, shared hostel bunk rooms are your best bet. These can be as cheap as the cost of a sandwich, and the social atmosphere means it’s SUPER easy to meet like-minded travelers! Hostelworld is typically the first place I look for a local hostel. If you want a bit more privacy at a similar price point, consider renting a private room in an Airbnb. You may not have to share a bathroom, AND your roommate could turn into your own free local travel guide (if you two really jive)!

MANY cities have free walking tours!

Did you know?? Because I didn’t until I started traveling solo! SO MANY cities offer free walking tours. It’s the perfect way to get the lay of the land in a new destination, meet like-minded solo travelers, and not spend a DIME on an activity! You can just google search “free walking tour [Barcelona]” — or whatever your destination! I also like to ask the local tour guides for tips on the best restaurants and other activities in the area!

Staying at a hostel? Most hostels offer free or discounted activities right on-premises! Not staying at a hostel? You can still call and book an activity with them directly! Hostel tours cater to a younger, budget-conscious audience; again, it’s a PERFECT way to meet other solo travelers! I stayed at one of Selina's hostels in Costa Rica that offered yoga classes, game nights, and group bonfires!

Another place I love to check out for inexpensive group activities when traveling solo is Airbnb Experiences. These are often less expensive than massive tour companies, and locals host them! Sometimes this allows for insider access! For example, I met other travelers on an Airbnb Experience to the famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. BUT, unlike a corporate-led tour, mine was hosted by a man who used to work as a fishmonger there! He was able to sneak us into the non-tourist underbelly of the fish market and introduce us to the “real” folks and produce, keeping the market alive!! SUCH a memorable experience!

Lastly, while there is merit to booking tours early online (because there are sometimes early bird discounts), the least expensive tours and activities are usually offered on the street by locals. Make sure to do some on-site diligence and ensure it’s not a scam, but these are usually your *best* bet for getting a reasonable price! Sometimes you can even negotiate!

Strategize meals.

Even people who LOVE going out to eat (ahem, ME) may not want to sit alone at a fancy dinner every night while traveling alone. This makes solo travel meals cheaper! Casual take-out means you’re spending less on dining each day. If you choose to eat out, it can be entertaining to sit at the bar and chat with the bartender!

When traveling solo, I also look at hotel policies in advance to see whether they offer free breakfast! Sometimes it’s filling enough to skip lunch entirely, or you can stash one of their extra granola bars in your bag for later! If you’re looking to save even more money on each meal, consider wrapping up half of a big lunch and keeping it for dinner that night.

It’s INFINITELY cheaper to buy groceries while traveling — and typically healthier too. If you’re open to staying in an Airbnb instead of a hotel, pick one with a full kitchen. If not, I’ve made due in hotel rooms with a mini-fridge and microwave; groceries don’t have to mean full-fledge gourmet dinners!

I find meals to be one of the most accessible ways to save money while traveling solo!

Transportation.

I’ll be honest; transportation is typically one area that I AM willing to spend when traveling solo. Something about commuting from place to place alone in a foreign place can often feel incredibly vulnerable and unsafe. I would recommend choosing safe transportation over budget transportation if you’re on the fence in a given situation.

BUT, if you DO feel comfortable, public transportation can be a VERY inexpensive option in many countries. For example, I felt incredibly safe taking a 4-hour bus trip while traveling alone in Uruguay, and it was 30x cheaper than a private car transfer.

Another budget-friendly option is a shared ride like an Uber pool or a locally run group shuttle. Group shuttles are very common at airports, and you can often reserve them in advance online!

Lastly, even if I’m taking a local taxi, I like to ask the driver for their business card. Aside from offering a more reliable pick-up when you call directly, I’ve usually been able to negotiate a cheaper rate for my return trip. It also feels safer when you’re able to ride with them repeatedly and build up some rapport!

Do you have any additional tips when budgeting for solo travel? Share below!

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