Although this Blog is dedicated to traveling in less-developed countries, most of these Money-Saving Travel Tips also apply to Western countries. Volunteering or working to travel for free is not covered in this post. I’ll start by covering the essential travel expenses in depth: accommodation, transport, and food.

1. Accommodation

Things to avoid: hotels, resorts, eco-lodges & accommodations provided by all-inclusive tour packages.

Instead, go for:

1.1. Hostel / Guesthouse / Motel

How to find a good deal?

Online Agency

I used to use Hostelworld, Kayak, and Booking. Eventually, I realized Booking has most of options out there, and if bookings that can be found in any agencyes, Booking would offer the same, or cheaper. Eventually, Booking became dominant in the market.

The reason of that dominance was the company became more expensive. That’s why I switched to Agoda.

Search Engine

Alternatively, for smaller, lesser-known locations, you can try to use Google. For example, if you wanna go to Himare, Albania, type “Himare, Albania hostel” into Google Search. You’ll be able to find a hostel that isn’t listed on Booking.com. It’s called Sun Bakers Hostel, and it’s the best deal in the area.

Walk-in

This option is related to less-developed countries & lesser-known destinations, such as West Africa or Central India, where many affordable guesthouses are not listed online, and hostels do not exist. In those destinations, the lowest prices online will be around $40/night. However, with a little bit of adventure, by walking around, you can easily get yourself a private room for around $10. Here are a few ideas on how to get this done:

• Walking around, or asking the locals – In order to avoid walking with a large backpack, what I like to do is, I go to a local eatery, get something to eat, and then I ask them If I could leave my backpack in there, while I am looking for a place to stay (and I’d offer them a few bucks for that service). Alternatively, you can walk into the first hotel you see, and if the price is too high, ask to leave your backpack at the front desk while you look for something within your budget.
• Start scanning guesthouses from the bus window once it gets to the city. Once you spot one that looks affordable, pin it on your GPS app. Then once bus arivesm tyou simply walk back to that spot.
• Another (more convenient) thing you can do is book a place you’ve found online for one night only, then explore the town while looking for a cheaper guesthouse for the rest of your stay.

1.2. Airbnb

I am sure everyone’s heard of this popular, globally used website for getting a room, shared room, or the whole property, directly from the owner. Many hostels and guesthouses advertise here rather than on booking.com.

In developing countries, Airbnb can be a great way to connect with a local who will serve as your host, guide, and friend.

…if you get lucky, because locals in less developed countries generally don’t know about Airbnb. The ones that do, they usually live in a nice place, and stay with them woin’t be cheep. Long story short, in less developed conntries most deals would be pricy, but some of them very affordable, while stayoing with a cool host. Hhose hosts would be usually young locals that are educated, and open-minded. They like to connect with visitors in a friendly way.

The website is based on mandatory reviews, meaning that after you finish your stay, both you and your host are required to leave one. It forces both the visitor and the host to be responsible for keeping their Airbnb accounts active.

Airbnb charges a fee to hosts, but travelers should be aware of unexpected (but still transparent) fees that most hosts add. Those are the Cleaning Fees and the Service Fees.

1.3. Camping

If you are traveling with your own tent, here are several ways you can use it during your trip:

• Pitch your tent at the campsite – The most common form of camping (although such sites are pretty scarce in developing countries). If you travel without a tent, keep in mind that many campsites nowadays rent tents.
• If you are trying to get a place in a full hostel but they have a spacious yard, you can ask if you could pitch your tent there.
• Wild camping – In many Western countries, this is completely legal as long as you keep a proper distance from anyone’s property. In developing countries, wild camping is loosely regulated. I’d say, as long as you find a safe & discreet spot, you’ll be fine. Somewhere in nature, you pitch your tent at night and move on early in the morning.

1.4. Couch Surfing

Unfortunately, the days of Couch Surfing seem to be over. Some corporations have purchased this revolutionary website and started charging member fees. Many hosts don’t see a point in paying for membership in order to provide free accommodation. Some hosts are also trying to charge for their rooms. Alternatives to old-school Couch surfing do exist. But you need to be extremely lucky to choose a travel destination and find a no-fee couch-surfing spot there.

1.5. Improvising…

Stay with the locals you’ve just met

I know it doesn’t sound very safe, but here is my rule: If a random person approaches me and offers me a place to stay, it might be risky. On the other hand, if I approach someone and ask if I can spend a night in their place (and offer some cash), chances of getting robbed are significantly smaller, aren’t they?

In what situation would you consider asking to stay with the locals you’ve just met?

• In extreme countries like Niger, life is cheap, but accommodation is expensive. If you offer a local option for 3x less than the cheapest hotel fare, you’ll make him rich; it’s a win-win scenario!
• If you arrive late and many guesthouses and hotels are already closed, or it is too late and unsafe to search for accommodation. Here’s an example from my travels:
  • When I arrived in Kaduna, Nigeria, it was 2 AM + heavy rain. The tuk-tuk driver took me to the guesthouse where I had a reservation, but it was closed. We were banging on the door, but nobody opened it. So I asked the Tuk-tuk driver if I could crash at his joint, and I’d give him $5. He hesitated a bit before agreeing. Ironically, as much as some readers would find this scenario safe for me, the tuk-tuk driver was the one who felt unsafe:)
• On your bus journey, you meet some nice locals and start chatting with them. As the journey progresses and the relationship grows, they invite you to stay at their place before the end. I’d consider that situation safe, as long as you realize the communication is spontaneous and friendly. The key is to “read” people. That’s why independent traveling is an art!

Sleep while traveling

For your journey, choose a night bus and save one 1 night of accommodation! Peru and Bolivia have upcharge options for sleeping seats. India has awesome full-bed buses that operate at night.

Sleep at the airport

This could be very convenient if you’re flying with a very early departure or a very late arrival. Great way to save money and stress! I have described this with more details in my Save Money on Flights post. You can try to do the same at train stations and bus terminals. I’ve never done it, but I am sure it can be easily done in some locations.

Wild Camping (as described above)

2. Transport – long distance

Things to avoid: private rides or car rentals

Car rentals could be a very affordable option for 3 travelers; however, you need to keep in mind that in developing countries, there is a much greater risk of getting robbed in your car than in a public bus. Also, police at checkpoints or land borders love collecting bribes from travelers in private or rented vehicles, while they rarely hustle travelers using public transport.

Instead, go for:

Public Transport

• Bus vs train – In Africa, this is not a debate, cause trains are pretty much non-existent. Elsewhere, it depends on the country.
• In many developing countries (especially in West Africa), buses do not have set departure times. They simply leave once they get filled. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
• In many countries, vans & fourgons (12-15 seaters) are a legit alternative to a classic bus. In West African countries, for many long-distance journeys, they use regular-sized cars (old and beaten up). The advantage is that they get filled more quickly.
• Keep in mind that if you find yourself in a chaotic, disorganized terminal and ask about transport to your desired destination, they may try to sell you a private ride. So make sure they put you in the vehicle with the other folks!

Hitch-hiking

We all know about the money-saving benefits of hitch-hiking and the risks involved. Any ride I took that way felt safe and convenient. I have never heard of anyone experiencing any hostility while hitchhiking.

3. Food

Things to avoid: restaurants, fast food (in developing countries, western-style fast-food restaurants are considered cool & trendy. That being said, they are not the cheapest meal option)

Instead, go for: Cooking after buying local produce,, grocery stores, street food (local eateries, street stalls), and street markets

If your accommodation doesn’t have a kitchen, here are a few improvising options:

• A portable electric heater might be useful. I always travel with one. They look like this. The weaker models are used for boiling water for tea. The stronger ones can be used, for example, to cook rice.
• At your guesthouse, you can improvise by asking your host, when they cook a family meal, if they can cook some extra, in order to make a plate for you in exchange for a few $$
• If you meet some friendly locals, you can suggest to them that you’ll buy groceries, so they can prepare a mutual meal.

Fun fact: In Kenya, small local eateries are called “Hotels”. They do not provide accommodation at all. Only the cheap local meals.

Bottom line

Don’t go to nice fancy restaurants. You would most likely get disappointed. Instead, get local food which is cheap, natural, and exotic.

If you get diarrhea, I know 2 natural remedies: black tea, and weed:)

The other essentials:

1. Stay healthy

This tip may not necessarily save you tons of money, but it would definitely make your trip more enjoyable.

Things to avoid:

1. Vaccines (it is more likely they will decrease your immunity than they will protect you)
2. Medicine, antibiotics & pharma products
3. Eating fried, processed, and sugary food
4. Stress
5. Party all night
6. Heavy & hallucinogenic drugs
7. Heavy alcohol & sugary cocktails
8. Frequent sleepless nights

Instead, go for:

1. Strengthen your immunity through a healthy lifestyle (keep reading #2-7)
2. Natural medicine / Superfoods – here are some of the stuff I consume on a daily basis, whether I travel or not: Hawaiian spirulina, green tea, chamomile tea, sodium ascorbate, ginger, turmeric, goji berries, chia seeds, and drink warm water (it hydrates better)
3. Eating fresh natural food; plenty of fruit, veggies; snack on nuts, seeds & dried fruit
4. Meditation & yoga
5. Sleep well
6. (If you have to) Stuff to consume in moderation, like weed, or legal euphoric herbs like coca leaves (South America), khat (East Africa), dokha (Middle East), or betel nut (Oceania)
7. (If you have to) Low proof booze like beer & wine (and hydrate with water afterward)
8. Well, if you follow these recommendations, it’s less likely you’ll get sick.

Some other things to keep in mind:

• If you are taking a 2-week trip, you don’t have to worry too much about your well-being. However, if you are on a multi-month trip and not taking care of yourself, your body will crash sooner or later.
• If you do get sick, don’t be judgmental and trust the doctor in the country you are visiting!
• Wherever I go, I carry a small spray bottle of sanitizing alcohol in my pocket. I use it frequently at the places where I eat, or at the toilets I use.

2. Rely on Wi-Fi or buy a SIM card

Things to avoid: Routing service from your home country

Instead, go for: Wi-fi or a local SIM card & cybercafes

• Even if I am in a country where Wi-Fi is scarce (West Africa), I would rarely buy a SIM card unless I need to apply for a visa for another trip and have to leave my phone number on the application.
• With the Maps.me navigation app (and pre-downloaded data of the country I am in), I can easily survive several days without going online. If I do need the internet, I rely on cybercafes. Small tip: when you’re looking for one, make sure the neighborhood in which the cybercafé is located has electricity 🙂
• If you are getting ready for a longer journey, you may wanna make sure your phone is unlocked so you can plug in another SIM card.
• If you really need to make a phone call, and you don’t feel like buying a SIM card, just ask a local if you could use their phone and offer them a dollar or so.

3. Find your Base and settle there

Things to avoid: Jumping from town to town – taking frequent long-distance trips and spending nights in different towns almost every day. I am not suggesting traveling slower, seeing less, or being a lazy backpacker. Just to organize your trip differently…

Instead, find your Base and settle there for several days. It’s usually a city.

Any good Base will have:

• Many things to see and do, both inside and outside, are easily accessible for daily trips. For instance, get a base in a city. Then tomorrow go for a day trip to a village 2 hours south. The next day, a day trip to another village in the north. And each day go back to the same accommodation.
• Many affordable accommodation options.
• A decent supermarket, hopefully some street market, and plenty of cheap buy options

Benefits of setting a Base:

• You’ll save money on accommodation, food & transportation.
• You can comfortably unpack at your accommodation, which is supplied with food, fill the fridge, etc.
• You’ll have more opportunities to meet people and connect with them. They could be a great source of interesting and/or useful information.
• No need to worry about looking for accommodation every night.
• Overall, you’ll be less tired/stressed out.

How to find a good Base?

1. Cities

In most cases, a good Base will be a large city, which is also a popular tourist destination. Here are some of the important factors for your research, if you consider making a certain city your Base:

• Check the accommodation options online
• Besides searching for “Things to do“, you can also type in your browser “Daily trips from…” or “Things to do outside of…” in order to find out if there are any interesting daily trip options.
  • A small tip: if you find a nice trip option 3-4 hours from your Base, it will be too far for a day trip. In that case, you can ask whether your accommodation can store your luggage, then take a multi-day trip with only a small backpack. Afterward, you go back to the accommodation where you dropped off your stuff. Assuming you don’t pay while you’re away for that multi-day trip, since you just stored your stuff and didn’t occupy a bed.
• Look at the map and observe the surroundings of your potential Base. See if there’s any lake, mountain, historic town, or beach nearby (for your daily trips).

Keep in mind, a great Base doesn’t necessarily have to be a large city. Cuzco in Peru is a fantastic Base with plenty of things to do, and the city has fewer than half a million people. On the other hand, if your Base is a megacity (more than 5 million people), it could be impossible to take daily trips, cause it takes forever to get out.

2. Centrally located towns

In this case, transportation is an important factor to look at. Transportation between small towns can be scarce (unless they are located along an important national route). Make sure you find your accommodation close to the bus stop.

3. Small Islands

If you are planning to visit an island with a size of less than 1000 km2 (386 sq ml), you can just look for affordable accommodation and settle there during your entire stay. Besides exploring the island, you’ll have the opportunity to take boat trips to nearby smaller islands. In order to reach the most distant parts of the island, you might have to wake up early and know what time the last bus leaves. That said, as in the previous example, make sure your accommodation is close to the bus stop.

4. Travel during the Off-season

Things to avoid:

• Traveling in July, August, for Christmas & New Year’s (these are the vacation periods for the majority of the world’s tourists)
• Traveling for a major national event (Rio in January during the Carnival, or any destination during the Olympics)
• Visiting a country in the month of its favorable weather (the Caribbean in April, or SE Asia December – March)

…because:

• During those periods, flights, accommodation, and many activities are more expensive. In some cases, the price difference could be substantial!
• It is much harder to find available accommodation
• The location you are visiting may be more prone to robbery, pickpocketing, and various scams.

Instead, take a trip some other time of the year, or choose a different destination

If you are dying to visit Rio during Carnival, instead, you can attend the same event in any other major city. It will be as spectacular, just less touristy. Brazil is a big country, so plenty of destinations to choose from.

Another thing to keep in mind, people have the wrong idea about the rainy season in the tropical parts of the world. That doesn’t mean it rains all the time and everything is flooded. It simply means it is the time of year when they receive most of their yearly rainfall. I generally travel the world from May to November, and I spend most of my time in tropical countries… so you can call me a rainy-season traveler. In my experience, some days have indeed been negatively affected by the heavy rain, but never ruined. On the other hand, many days were breezy & cloudy. In other words, less hot and more comfortable. Keep in mind, in the tropical world, rain can feel very refreshing!

5. Travel to cheaper countries

Countries to avoid: US, Canada, Uruguay, Western Europe (especially Scandinavia & Switzerland)

Instead, go for: Eastern Europe (outside the EU), Central America, Venezuela, Bolivia, Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, and Africa, except the Northern and Southern parts of the continent. A good rule is that the more touristy it is, the more expensive it is. For instance, Nicaragua is much cheaper than Costa Rica, and Laos is much cheaper than Thailand.

Here are some of the countries that are not as cheap as you might think (cheaper than the Western countries, but significantly more expensive than the ones suggested above): Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Turkey, Morocco, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Croatia, Estonia, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia & Hungary.

Check out the Some Nomad Stories Travel Development Index, where countries are rated based on the travel expenses & quality of infrastructure.

6. Travel to visa-free countries

…or to countries with a cheap Visa!

This actually contradicts some of my travel suggestions, because many expensive countries are visa-free (for citizens of Western countries). On the other hand, many exotic developing countries that I promote charge a lot for a Tourist Visa.

However, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are visa-free for 30-60 days. Central America is usually visa-free for citizens of Western countries.

Here’s the simplified categorization by Visa prices for US, Canada, EU & Australian citizens:

• Visa-free countries: South, Central & North America, Europe & Southern Africa (again, this is simplified)
• Easy-to-get affordable Visa: Most of Asia & East Africa
• Expensive Visa: West & especially Central Africa (especially Nigeria, Congo & Angola)
• All-inclusive Visa*: Turkmenistan, Bhutan & North Korea (The only way you can enter and explore any of these 3 countries is with a guided tour. So the Visa price will include: accommodation, guide, all of the transport, meals, and tours)

7. Don’t hire a guide

Beware of the guide scams

• At some tourist sites, they might try to charge you the fee that comes with the guide, or they may lie to you that you can not enter the park without a guide. In some places, that is actually the fact, so that’s why it’s important to do your homework and be prepared.
• In many developing countries, random people could approach you while you are walking on the streets and offer you guided services. They also might scare you by telling you how you’ll probably get robbed without their presence.

How to get around without a guide?

• Rely on the GPS/navigation app like Maps.me or Mapy.cz, where you can pre-download the country/region you are visiting. You can do the same with Google Maps; however, I never use it because it’s not as detailed.
• Online research – there’s so much info available out there. If you spend some time and do the research, you’ll easily be able to explore your destination on your own.
• Get the info from the others – The staff at your accommodation, other travelers you meet, people on the streets (I like to ask for advice at the local eateries where I have my meals, or at the street stands where I happen to buy something).
• Follow the people who look like they know where they’re going
• Use the language-translation Apps (if you don’t speak the local language)

So, if you still feel like you could use a guide…

Let’s say you are visiting a non-touristy country on your own and don’t know the local language. You feel like you could really use a local, not only for help with the language barrier and navigation but also for safety, socializing, and getting to know the culture and lifestyle. Instead of finding such a person at the agency, you can get much cheaper and friendlier service by improvising…

1. Find your accommodation on Airbnb, Couchsurfing, or a similar site. Communicate with the hosts before you book to find the right person for you.
2. Local guesthouses or small eateries are great places to meet locals and make new friends. Then you use your new friend as a guide and treat them to dinners, booze, and presents instead of paying a legit, taxed tour guide fee. If you come back to eat at the same place for the 3rd or 4th time, I am sure you’ll be able to establish a friendly relationship with the people who are feeding you.
3. Find somebody through social media.
4. Go with the flow, and let things happen organically. However, you need to keep in mind that if someone approaches you on the street market and offers you guided service, that person might try to squeeze you as much as possible at all times, and the relationship may not feel as friendly and organic. The more you travel, the better you’ll get at reading the people and establishing the right relationships!

8. Don’t visit too many tourist sites

As a religious promoter of less touristy destinations and non-touristy activities, I have to admit that tourist sites are usually popular for the right reason: they offer interesting things to see and experience. I also visit tourist sites. It’s just that I am selective, and, more importantly, I spend most of my time exploring non-touristy places and doing non-touristy things. Bottom line is, being selective and more creative is a great money-saving travel strategy.

When should you say “NO” to visiting a certain tourist site?

• If you visited a similar site yesterday, keep in mind that popular tourist destinations often offer many sites in the same category. Kenya’s got safaris, Rwanda’s got Gorilla trekking, Costa Rica jungle ziplining, and so on. So if your destination provides several similar tourist sites, choose only one. Then, if you had a fabulous time, consider doing another one, but do your research, cause you wanna make sure it’s different from the one you did yesterday. Otherwise, you’ll probably get disappointed.
• If a certain site is something you are not passionate about, like European museums, it would be a perfect example. I’d say 90% of the world’s population has no appreciation or passion for the art of paintings or sculptures. Yet, 99% of the tourists who visit Paris go to the Louver. Do you think they are enjoying themselves inside? Do you think they can understand the beauty & significance of Mona Lisa? Well, you know the answer to that one. So again, do your research on the site you are considering visiting. Then, ask yourself if that is something you are actually interested in. Do not feel obligated to visit a popular site just because you are in the area. Travel the world your way!

Instead of attending many sites, consider:

• Visiting street markets
• Walking around in the busy streets, or neighborhoods surrounded by great views and nature
• Exploring the no-fee sites (or low-fee sites): beaches, hiking trails, parks, riverbanks, hills, etc…
• Asking locals about fun and free things to do in the area

What about the “Wonders of the World”?

If you are in the area near Peruvian Machu Picchu, Egyptian Pyramids, or Zimbabwean Victoria Falls, should you pay the fee and go for it? I would definitely suggest “YES”, but in order to avoid the crowds and have a better experience, get there either super early (at least 30 min before they open) or an hour before closing time.

Final thought: Over the years, I have had many disappointing experiences from visiting various entrance-fee sites. On the other hand, all of my favorite moments and memorable experiences occurred in no-fee environments.

9. Don’t party too much

Experiencing the nightlife is definitely an important part of learning about the lifestyle of the country you are visiting. I have been doing it over the years, and I would suggest you do the same, but you need to keep in mind that, no matter how cheap the country you are visiting is, attending nightlife will affect your budget, and maybe even your safety.

Some of the nightlife expenses travelers usually don’t think about:

• Fewer public transport options – Because of that, and because of safety, you’ll end up spending extra $$ on a taxi.
• Fewer cheap food options – You won’t be able to find street food, so you’ll end up spending extra $$ in a restaurant. Also, even cheap local eateries tend to charge more in the evenings.
• Getting wasted, and caring less about your budget – Some locals might hustle you to get them a round of drinks. Let’s say, if sober, you’d say “No”. However, while wasted, you might decide otherwise…

I would highly recommend getting in the habit of waking up early. That way, you’ll be able to get the most out of your day, and it will be easier for you to say “NO” to the nightlife. You’ll prefer going to sleep early instead. Set the alarm every day at 6, 7, or 8 AM at the latest. Just like you would during your working week.

10: Don’t buy touristy souvenirs

In developing countries, the only people who buy souvenirs are Western tourists. For that reason, the souvenirs tend to be sold for Western prices. That being said, you should…

Avoid: Buying anything at sites like National Parks, or touristy souvenir shops… Unless you are getting magnets, make sure you never pay more than 2 euros for them, no matter what country you are in. Pretty much anything else, other than being overpriced, will be bulky, fragile, or heavy.

Instead, go to street stalls or local shops, and look for some small ordinary things, which would be considered unusual, or unique in your home country.

I like to use paper bills from the local money as a gift, the remaining leftover, before leaving the country. Every country in the world has completely unique bills, with interesting content printed on them. That being said, it makes it a great souvenir!

Did I miss anything? Possibly. If you know any money-saving travel tips, please share them in the comments below.