Acknowledge your location. There’s no point in planning a budget trip to Bali if you live in New York. Why go two continents over if you have Mexico, Canada, and not to mention, the entire United States at your doorstep? The only reason why I’d do that is if I got some unbelievably discounted international flight that was comparable to the cost of a local flight or drive.
Accept the strength of your passport. If there’s one thing influencers seem to forget about when they tout the mantra ‘everyone can travel’ is that not everyone can travel, because certain passports are more privileged than others. Check out tourism/transit visa fees before you decide to travel somewhere. Some countries (like the US) issue 10-year tourist visas, while others issue visas strictly for the time you say you will be there.
Pro-tip: If your visa application requires a return flight ticket, you can buy flight reservations for about $20 rather than risking paying for a non-refundable flights and have your visa application denied. Same goes for proof of accommodation – book a fully refundable hotel (e.g. Marriott) and cancel your reservation when your visa is approved.
Know your context. If you must travel in peak season, then book ahead to secure the best deals. Ideally you should travel at the start and end of low-season to optimise your rates to climate utility. Depending on the country’s appetite for haggling, it is in your favour to book directly while travelling to secure non-tourist rates and barter down prices.
Long layovers sneak in more travel for less. They are a fantastic way to see a place without committing a massive portion of your holiday budget. Several national carriers even offer free layovers up to several days to encourage people to visit their countries. If you have time, this is a great way to sneak in a taste of a new place without breaking the bank.
Stay away from gimmicky experiences. These include, but are not limited to, bungee jumping from Victoria Falls, booking a hotel in Times Square, the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, and flying in a hot air balloon over the Namib desert. For the full list, please see the “Top 5” recommended things to do on any city’s TripAdvisor page. These experiences are highly commercialised promotions that will leave you short of cash and memories. I once took a helicopter over Niagara Falls, but you know how much I remember? None of it. What I do remember is that night I took a minibus from Serbia to Greece, while the driver blasted Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ on repeat.