Why Is Traveling On A Budget A Good Idea?

Get more out of your trip with less money

Most travelers cannot afford all the luxury that popular destinations can offer such as five-star hotels, fancy restaurants, guided tours, rented car or more specialized amenities, like an underwater cage to see white sharks, perhaps. For this reason, many local entrepreneurs have developed a wide range of options that are more suitable for the budget traveler. In an age where the flight fares are getting lower and lower, and a worldwide tourism industry more versatile than ever, more adventurers are packing their best clothes, comfortable shoes, selfie stick and tripod to go out there and see with their own eyes all those amazing scenes once seen on that super cool social media account. This has allowed many tourists to come and go back to their home countries without necessarily having to apply for a travel loan in the bank, or save for many years for just a few weeks off in a dream destination.

However, it is easy to magnify the hardships that one has to face when choosing the budget option, that is, choosing to walk your way to the hostel, sleeping in a bunk bed along with other three (or more, many more) people, or the poor conditions of the bathroom. According to my experience as a budget traveler, despite money restraints, I believe there are at least five reasons why budget traveling is a good idea.

1. You get to see more…of the good and the not so good

It is true, we all get to that famous place for the picture, and if we had the premium choice, we would be taken there briefly, with some air conditioning, refreshments while we commute and with a guide to take our pictures until we are satisfied. Ready for the next social media post. But there is a question to be asked. What else would I learn from that place on my own? How many daily-life scenes did I contemplate? How many flavors and smells did I try? Naturally, as a traveler with more limited resources, there is more physical exhaustion, but paying less usually means being more like the locals, sharing their struggles and joys at least for a little time, and this can become one of the best rewards of traveling. I never imagined how delicious the Pho soup is until I went for a walk through the streets of Hanoi and saw a bunch of locals just sitting on the sidewalk having this hearty dish. On the other hand, I never imagined how hard it can be for Myanmar to catch a boat to cross the Yangon river to Dala at the sunset after a working day until I went to buy some fruits just next to the ferry terminal.

2. Higher engagement with other travelers

Who would have thought that those bunkbeds conversations are like a gold mine when it comes to valuable advices for the next stop of the adventure, or even the next trip? Yes, if you are friendly and put your social skills to work a bit, you will be surprised about how people are willing to share their experiences, good and bad, about the places they visited, and one of those places might be your next destination. Even more, they are willing to share their plans so you can improve your own. Wondering where to go for the best local dish? Thinking about going out in the evening? Where can I buy that medicine that I need now? Most likely, other foreigners have been through the same and the word of mouth is fast enough to get to you, perhaps faster than Google. Budget options usually mean shared spaces or services. Try to use them, hone your intuition to know who to talk to, and be ready to make new friends with which to share plans and experiences.

3. Unexpected adventures

The travel plan can be improved greatly after sharing experiences with other visitors. Even more, with enough luck, you and one or more people have the same plan to see that landmark. Some attractions can be more affordable with more people included, say, sharing a taxi, renting a scooter or discounted tickets. Personally, some of my best adventures are those that I shared with other backpackers who I met the day before in a pub, at a landmark or at the hostel. I am still in touch with some of them, to share details about more recent trips. Not having a tour guide can mean more planning, but it can also mean more flexibility to appreciate specific details or special interests that otherwise would be missed due to the rush of the tour schedule. If the place captivated your interest, why not staying in that place for longer? Locals can definitely surprise you when they offer their help to get you where you want to be, and that can also be the beginning of a great story to tell your friends back home.

4. Know yourself better (and your travel buddies)

Traveling on a budget can be a great practical course of management. Risk management, time management, human interactions management, and, if traveling in a group, teamwork. It means that you have to sort out many more things to make your plan work. It means to dare to ask (especially when you do not know the language at all) and make things depend more on your diligence. But once things start to work out in an environment way out of your safe zone (say, your own city), you start realizing how capable you are and how much you need to act instead of panicking in an adverse situation. On the other hand, priorities change when abroad. For me, sometimes covering all the places of interest means skipping breakfast or lunch, and other times it means poor night sleep for a few days in a row. Obviously, these are bad habits in everyday life, but I can take it for the sake of the experience. The more you travel on a budget, the more you know your own limits and your taste on things worth seeing and experience. You will not be investing your money and time on things that, no matter how popular, they are not relevant to you.

5. Greater sense of achievement

Either you traveled alone or with your buddies, once you put your feet on that plane that will take you back home, the emotional bag (and the backpack, of course) feels full. Full of treasures in the shape of sights, memories, conversations, food, distances walked, night buses, midnight snacks in the middle of nowhere. When you look back at that picture or show that video to your friends, there is so much else to tell. You realize that you were in more control of the experiences you wanted to have, but left enough room for those small surprises that will put a smile on your face later. You will realize that you already have the experience for the next destination. It is truly an achievement.

Traveling on a budget can become a more gratifying experience for all the little (good and bad) details that make it much more authentic. With all that said, I am definitely not against traveling first class. If I can do it, I do it. Surely the indulgence feels great. But next time you are planning your coming trip, maybe you want to build it thinking on these factors, feeling excited about the budget restraints.