Traveling alone doesn’t have to drain your wallet

Published May 28, 2009 | By Guest

When traveling solo, you can’t share the costs with anyone. And to add insult to injury, you’re often asked to pay a single supplement. But it is still possible to travel on a budget. Here are some ways you can save money:

Use your legs
Public transportation can be expensive, especially in larger cities. Walking, however, is free and a great way to discover somewhere new. Getting by on foot allows you to see things you would probably bypass otherwise, and lets you go at your own pace.

Look for free admission
Many tourist attractions offer free or reduced admission, often on a specific evening or on a certain day each month. You can also find public museums and galleries that never charge a fee. Look for listings in your guidebook or at the tourist information centre.

Try fancy restaurants at lunchtime
Do you love fine restaurants but realize you can’t always afford their food? Try going at lunchtime instead, when most restaurants offer meals similar to those on the dinner menu at lower prices.

Walk into a grocery store
Grocery stores are ideal for buying cheap (and healthy) snack alternatives. They also give you insight on the local culture and can make you discover delicious new ingredients. Or try a farmers’ market if you’d like to meet people while you’re shopping.

Find accommodations with a kitchen
Most hostels, and many hotels and guesthouses, offer a self-catering kitchen to their guests. Not only can you use it to store the snacks you picked up at the grocery store, but you can save money by preparing your own dinner. Kitchens are also a great place to meet fellow travelers and you’ll often find yourself making meals together, which, it so happens, will save you even more!

Eat the local cuisine
Local specialties are usually the cheapest, and tastiest, meals you can find. As long as you steer clear of the overpriced tourist traps, you’ll get to observe cultural customs and probably meet locals too.

Sleep in budget accommodations
It goes without saying that a night in a hostel or guesthouse is bound to be cheaper than one in a hotel, especially if you travel solo. And don’t let the thought of hostels scare you off; they’re often cleaner and safer than budget hotels and usually come with a guest kitchen.

Travel off-season
Traveling off-season has many benefits, not the least of which is lower costs. Everything is cheaper, from accommodations to museums. It’s also a great way to avoid large crowds; imagine having the Greek Parthenon to yourself rather than sharing it with a million sweaty tourists!

Make use of public libraries
Using the Internet to stay in touch with friends and family or to plan the next leg of your trip can be really expensive, especially if you don’t have your own computer. Most public libraries offer free or inexpensive web access, even to non-members.

Stay in one place longer
Especially if you’re abroad for months at a time, staying longer in one place will not only allow you to recharge your battery, but will also give you a chance to find the cheap local spots instead of settling for the first ones you see.

Next time you travel solo, try to see the city you’re in from a local’s perspective rather than that of a tourist. You’ll reap the benefits by paying less, meeting more people and truly experiencing the culture.