My partner and I want to travel abroad (probably Spain or the general Mediterranean) within the next year. We don’t need fancy hotels or flights, cheap as possible, and want to spend our money on the dining (we’re both chefs so it’s just about our favorite thing) and experiences. We’ve both never been out of the country (US) but just got our passports.
We each have 5k saved right now, how much more should we need to have a good time?
How long is worth it to go for? I have at max two weeks pto from my job. Should we go for a full week, 10 days?
What are some frugal travel tips? (Especially for transportation/flights, hotels/bnbs/hostels)
What are some amazing experiences you’ve had traveling to Spain/the Mediterranean that we should check out?
How do we explore an area without being annoying tourists/only doing the cookie cutter tourist things?
How to vacation internationally without overspending/staying frugal
byu/Secret_Immortal inFrugal
Posted by Secret_Immortal
6 Comments
Assuming you’re a woman, I’ve used “host a sister” group to swap my apartment for someone else’s in Germany. It’s a guest/host/swap group.
I have traveled Spain, Portugal and France for less than $40 a day.
Hostels, cheap hotels, etc.
One bag travel.
Hostels.
Flixbus and Trains.
hi! I’m a college student who has traveled to Spain and Mexico as well as many parts of the US on a budget. I live in California so I’m used to eating out being incredibly expensive, so I was pleasantly surprised about how far the dollar goes eating out in Spain! I would absolutely stay in a hostel (some even have private rooms that are still more affordable than a hotel etc). Hostels are neat because they may have a kitchen to use (cooking at least one meal a day really helps budget traveling) and they may offer activities that are cheap/free with the employees. my trips have been nothing more than 2k with everything included. I’m sure you could save an extra thousand to be a bit more comfortable in your budget but I think you’re close! I also highly recommend 10 days abroad so you have time to settle in, stay in one or two places, and see all that you want to.
I think you’re in a great spot, $10k combined should cover a comfortable 7,10-day Mediterranean trip if you budget smart. Rough rule of thumb is flights would approximately be $500-900 per person, lodging say $40-120/night depending on type, and plan $40-120 per person per day for food and experiences, so aiming to save an extra $1k-2k as a cushion is sensible. With two weeks PTO, 10 days is ideal to balance travel time and relaxation, use midweek flights, night buses/trains, smaller guesthouses or private hostel rooms, and eat lunch menus/market meals while splurging on a few dinners. To avoid tourist traps, I’d stay in neighborhoods outside the center, do local food markets and small walking food tours, and split/shoot receipts as you go. And then maybe a budget tool to track expenses. A good example is SetForMoney which can help track and split shared trip spending by letting you text expenses or snap receipts into shared “vacation” envelopes between household members. Alternatives include YNAB or Monarch. All the best!
The cheapest way to travel is to go somewhere cheap and do hostels. Not much else drives as much cost as flights, accomodations, and general economic state of the tourism sector.
Gaining knowledge of places you haven’t yet heard of is the way – there’s no cheap Barcelona. But a North African city with centuries of cultural and economic exchange with spain? Now you’re cooking
So my company has sent me around the world and I have also been around on my own budget her are some tips.
Spain is pretty cheap (my company is based out of there)
Thie first time you go is the most expensive.
Make friends for next time. (I have made friends that let me crash on their couch/spare bedroom)
Hostels, couch surfers, air bnb, mr bnd, and airport lobbies to sleep have been my goto when I was broke.