We’re all different. No, more than that: we’re VERY different. Everyone has their own level of income, social and cultural background, their own idea of pleasure, and ultimately, their own priorities and things that bring joy. Does that make some people better and others worse? Absolutely not! It just means we’re different. And thank goodness for that! If we were all the same, life would be unbearably boring.

And now, onto the tips. Or rather, a story – about how we manage to travel on a tight budget. It’s not about being stingy or saving for the sake of saving. Our budget is simply limited, but we want to see and experience a lot — and do it often. So we organize everything in a way that lets us get the most out of every trip while spending as little as possible. This might not be relevant or interesting for everyone. Some already know this stuff. But it will definitely be helpful for beginner budget travelers who are just starting out.

To give you an idea of what I mean by “budget travel,” here are a couple of examples. A three-week road trip through Austria, Italy, and Croatia — including visits to Vienna, Salzburg, Austrian lakes and gorges, museums and castles, hiking in the Dolomites, and beach time cost us €1,500 total for three people. That includes fuel for 5,500 kilometers. And a 12-day trip with friends across Turkey in rental cars from Istanbul to Oludeniz and back, with Pamukkale, a balloon flight, ancient cities, boat trips, beach time and more came to €500 per person, including the flight.

And one more thing. Fellow budget travelers, don’t be ashamed of traveling on a budget. Don’t listen to those who say “if that’s how you travel, you might as well stay home.” Let them stay home! You — go travel! Even if all you do is stroll through the city without spending a cent, admire architecture, peek into old courtyards and stairwells, climb up to viewpoints, breathe in the damp freshness of parks and wander along riverbanks — then sit down on ancient stones in a famous square, munching a sandwich and sipping coffee from a paper cup — you’ll experience so much magic. Trust me, there will be plenty of reasons to smile. So, let’s begin…

Research & Planning

As my husband says, every hour spent on preparation saves €10 during the trip. I don’t keep such precise stats, but it really does help to save money. How?

– I always look in advance for free or low-cost parking when planning road trips. This saves not only money but also time and nerves. I also try to book accommodations that include parking.

– I research cafes in every destination ahead of time: I read reviews and check prices. Of course, we sometimes pop into places spontaneously — especially for coffee and a treat, which is a tradition in every new city. But I always have a few “pre-scouted” spots that are popular or interesting. In almost every city, you can find good restaurants that offer “dishes to share,” which are usually quite budget-friendly when ordered for a group or family.

– I always check for free tours and free museum days. For example, in Poland, with the right planning, you can visit almost everything for free.

– Almost all museums in Europe offer so-called family tickets, which help you save significantly. Plus, if you’re traveling with children, in many countries their entry to museums is free — and often transportation is too. For example, in Austria during school holidays.

– In most places, there are travel passes and group tickets for public transportation, which are great for saving if you’re traveling with family or friends. This is especially true in Germany. But it’s worth doing the math. I prefer to stay in places where we can walk to most attractions. We love walking.

So oftentimes we don’t need passes. If there are just a few planned trips, single tickets work better. But in big cities, passes can be useful. For example, with free transportation in Vienna, we could hop on a tram and head away from the center to enjoy coffee and pastry at half the price.

– Most tourist cities offer various city cards. The benefits vary: some museums are included for free, others at a discount. Often, these cards also include free transportation. But again — you need to calculate whether it’s worth it based on your interests and the places you plan to visit.

I literally sit down and calculate which museums interest me and how much I would save overall. If it makes sense — we buy the card. If not — we skip it. Sometimes there are specialized cards, like in Verona for visiting four major churches. If you plan to visit all of them, the card is absolutely worth it. The best cards we’ve ever bought were the Vienna Pass and the ArtCard in Naples.

– It’s helpful to be aware of country-specific quirks. For example, in Italy, coffee at the bar and coffee at a table have different prices. I’m not saying you should always drink standing up, but knowing this helps if you’re budget-conscious. Same goes for toilets: in Italy, the price of using a paid toilet is often the same as buying a coffee. So it’s smarter to grab a coffee and use the restroom at the same time. Also, trendy chains like Starbucks often charge twice as much as charming little cafés. Although I must admit, thanks to my kids, visiting Starbucks has become a bit of a tradition — what can you do…

Getting There

If you’re driving, there’s not much you can save on, aside from parking. And watch out for prices in roadside places like “Autogrill”, they can be sky-high! If flying, you can play around with airlines and dates, but that also takes time.

I buy tickets from low-cost airlines well in advance, after monitoring different options. I’ve even bought tickets 9 months ahead in the past. I often travel off-season (I’ve written about off-season travel before), which helps save both on flights and accommodation, as the latter is significantly cheaper outside peak season.

Sometimes I go for the cheapest tickets just because I feel like exploring somewhere new — it doesn’t even matter where. There are no “boring” destinations for me; I can find joy anywhere. Train and bus tickets are also usually cheaper when booked early. And prices can vary depending on the time of day — some hours are more in demand than others.

Accommodation

Let me start by saying that accommodation is not a priority for me. That’s why we’re perfectly happy staying in campgrounds, hostels, and apartments. I avoid hotels and only use them as a last resort. Why? Because hotels are the same everywhere. But apartments and hostels often have an authentic feel, which I find much more interesting.

Also, a hotel in a historic center is usually expensive. Meanwhile, a hostel or modest apartment can be located in the center and still be reasonably priced. Finding affordable but decent accommodation usually takes more than one evening of scrolling through Booking. The earlier you start searching, the better your chances. I read reviews carefully across multiple platforms (not just Booking!), check the map, and choose a location within walking distance of the main attractions.

I always book with free cancellation. And even after booking, I keep checking — sometimes a great and cheap option pops up closer to the trip because someone canceled. There are also new listings with no reviews that are very cheap and promising. Of course, that’s a risk. But I’m willing to take it, especially since, in my case, accommodation isn’t a priority.

Don’t be afraid of hostels. We don’t stay in shared dorms (though that’s also a viable option), but we often stay in private rooms. I love hostels for their relaxed atmosphere, interesting people, friendly staff, and the presence of a kitchen — which also helps us save money. Also: traveling with friends is always cheaper than traveling just as a family. Renting a two-bedroom apartment or a cottage can cut the cost per family by 1.5–2 times.

Food

Like accommodation, food is not a priority for us, so we don’t stress about it. I cook very well and I love doing it. So for me, the “horror” of cooking while traveling isn’t horror at all — it’s actually a pleasure. Especially in campgrounds, outdoors, when we can grill something: meat, fish, shrimp, sausages, ćevapi, halloumi, vegetables.

Cooking pasta with seafood in the evening, with a glass of wine — what’s so terrible about that? In daily life, we prefer simple food. That’s why a big bowl of crunchy salad with olive oil, lemon juice, mozzarella, prosciutto, cheese, good bread, and wine is our ideal dinner while traveling.

How to eat affordably while traveling? Buy groceries at supermarkets and cook. You can also buy ready-made food from the same supermarkets — it’s quite budget-friendly. Food courts in shopping malls are a good option. Street food is perfect for a quick lunch.

Believe it or not, for me, having a balık ekmek in Eminönü in Istanbul, a slice of pizza by a canal in Venice, or a herring sandwich with a view of a Dutch drawbridge is much more enjoyable and emotional than eating at a cafe table. And way more memorable!

Another tip is to look for Asian or Turkish eateries. They’re usually cheap and delicious. For example, in Milan we had a great, affordable meal in Chinatown. There are plenty of places like this in Germany too. And don’t forget to learn about local traditions.

For example, the aperitivo culture in Northern Italy. It’s especially common in Milan, but you’ll find it in other cities too (like Bergamo). The idea is simple: you buy a glass of wine or Aperol and get a bunch of appetizers with it — enough to fill you up. Sometimes it’s even a full buffet. You just need to research and find these places. Speaking of which, buffets can be great too: you pay a fixed price and help yourself. We’ve found such places in Poland, Italy, and Germany.

And one more thing: don’t stress or feel ashamed about packing your own lunch if you don’t feel like going to a cafe. There’s nothing wrong with that. Whoever says it’s embarrassing or “not proper” is just a stuck-up snob. Do what’s convenient for you. Period. We often bring or pick up some sliced prosciutto, cheese, sausage, bread, veggies, and herbs — and settle down somewhere on a park bench, lawn, stairs, or riverside and have a lovely, relaxed lunch.

This reminds me of one occasion. I was on a business trip in Frankfurt with two colleagues (a man and a woman), and we took a day trip to Heidelberg. I suggested buying food at a local deli and having a picnic at the highest cable car station. The male colleague said he’d never eat like that in public — it wasn’t “proper,” blah blah. But I insisted. In the end, we sat at the top with an incredible view of Heidelberg, eating our sandwiches. By the way, there were locals doing the same. Guess what my colleague still remembers from that trip? The lunch with a view of Heidelberg! And that was six (!) years ago. He might never have known how cool that was…

Well, that’s about everything I wanted to share. I hope this text will be useful to someone. And if you already know it all, may these “captain obvious” tips simply be a pleasant read.