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The phrase budget travel doesn’t exactly conjure up the most elegant tropes: hostels, overnight buses, two-for-one drink deals. But beyond the tired stereotypes, there is a wealth of travel advice worth tapping into, regardless of which tax bracket you might inhabit. The truth is, structuring a trip around a budget is applicable to most people, and deciphering where you can save is less about pinching pennies, and more about simply being a savvy traveler. Plus, it’s often an area where creativity shines the most.
“I find so much of the innovation in travel emerges from the lower end of the market. The places, for instance, innovated by people in the fashion, food, and media worlds,” says Culturati Travel Design founder Nancy Novogrod, who is also the former editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure and House Garden.
It doesn’t have to be the entire theme of your trip, either. So-called budget travel can apply to some details of a vacation—like hotel rooms—while allowing you to splurge in other areas more important to you (like that Michelin-starred tasting menu you’ve been eyeing on Instagram for the last six months). Whatever the reason, there’s always room for nuance. Ahead, let the 19 expert-led tips guide your next holiday in a direction that will leave you emotionally fulfilled and sans debt.
Book a Meal, Not a Room
Want to experience the grandeur of a five-star hotel but can’t book a room? “Even if an overnight stay isn’t in the cards, the world’s best properties can still anchor your trip,” says Jules Perowne. The founder and CEO of luxury travel consultancy Perowne International points out that some of the most iconic city experiences happen over a drink or a long lunch. “Café Antonia and Le Bar du Bristol at Le Bristol Paris, for instance, are where le tout-Paris gather to socialize,” she says. “The same can be said for Jacques Bar at The Lowell in New York, or their on-property restaurant Majorelle, whose soufflés alone are worth a detour.” The same can be said for other facilities within a luxury hotel. “I love getting a day pass for a pool cabana or beach club,” says founding partner of J/PR, Jamie Lynn O’Grady. “My favorite trick is to book a spa treatment; it often includes access to all the property s amenities for the day, giving you the full luxury experience without the expensive overnight stay.”
Be Open to the Eleventh Hour
“Increasingly, last-minute means opportunity,” Perowne says. “While it’s creating real disruption across the industry, the upside for travelers is that many hotels now work on a dynamic rate structure.” Travelers who are willing to be a bit spontaneous can often reap unexpected rewards. “I’ve had friends pick up the phone, ask the right questions, and end up staying somewhere they thought was completely out of reach. Sometimes there’s a cancellation, sometimes it’s a mid-week window—but if you’re flexible, and just a little bit bold, there are some brilliant openings to be found.”
Splurge—But Keep It Brief
If you have your heart set on staying at a bucket list property, then you should do it. “Even on a budget trip, I always make sure to splurge for a night or two,” says O’Grady, who likes to book a short stay at a high-end hotel at the very end of a vacation. Same goes for travel advisor Anna Tretter of Tretter Travel. “When I build itineraries for clients, if there is one ‘splurge’ hotel, I ll always put it at the end of the trip,” she says, adding that “there’s nothing worse than starting high and progressively lowering your standards throughout a trip.”
Turn Dinner Into an Overnight Stay
“Some sought-after restaurants have simple places to stay attached,” says Novogrod. “Like Lo Scoglio on the Amalfi Coast, where guests arrive on yachts and Rivas for wine-and-pasta lunchtime bacchanalias.” Or there’s Al Trabucco da Mimì on Italy’s Gargano coast, which is a traditional wooden fishing structure turned restaurant that also offers a small handful of charming rooms for rent.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend
For those whose schedules are a bit more nimble, a luxury experience can be had on a smaller budget. “I ve found that the best time to travel is right before or after a destination s peak season,” says O’Grady, offering the example of the first three weeks of December as a “goldmine” for deals on flight and hotels because most people are focused on pre-holiday plans. On a similar note, Tretter says “the best time of the year for balancing great weather and more favorable rates in the Caribbean and Mexico is the week after Thanksgiving once everyone has gone back to school and work.”
Search for Airfare on ITA Matrix
The biggest levers for overall spend on a trip, Tretter explains, will be airfare and hotel costs. “If your travel dates are flexible, optimize flight costs by searching for airfare on ITA Matrix,” she suggests. “Instead of searching for exact dates, select the ‘search calendar of lowest fares’ option, pick the first date you’d be able to depart on, and then enter a range of nights you’d be satisfied with.” From there, ITA Matrix will do the work of searching all the different configurations of departure dates and number of nights to present you with the least expensive options.
Ignore Restaurant Roundups
Okay, maybe don’t entirely ignore restaurant roundups. But the spots that always land on travel guides are likely to be more difficult to get a reservation at, and can also be on the pricier side. The solution? Just ask a local. “A little research goes a long way and you’ll find an incredible culinary experience for a fraction of the cost,” O’Grady says. “These are the hidden gems with the most authentic, delicious food and the best vibe.”
Shoulder Season Travel Is King
Shoulder season, the time between a destination’s high and low tourist season, is an overlooked sweet spot. “Traveling during this period—usually in deep fall or early spring, depending on the destination—can be advantageous, both for avoiding the crowds and the opportunity to experience hotels and resorts that may be beyond reach in peak season,” says Novogrod. “Mid-week is mostly better than weekend for lower pricing, and heading north, rather than to the beaches (Stockholm or Oslo vs. Capri or Comporta) in warm weather can help.” Shoulder season is also an opportune time for finding lower safari prices. “Each season brings something different and beautiful, and shoulder season rates mean you splurging for that dream lodge might feel more within reach,” says Tretter.
Go Where No Man (in Your Social Circle) Has Gone Before
The fact of the matter is, the tourism industry is rooted in supply and demand. “If you want to go to the same destinations that a lot of other people want to go to and at the same time of year, you re going to pay a premium,” says Tretter. The alternative, of course, is to steer in a different direction. “As a passionate traveler, I get really excited about emerging destinations,” O’Grady says. “They offer an incredible opportunity to experience a culture more authentically and get more value for your money. Places like Montenegro, Turkey, and Budapest are at the top of my list right now.”
Don’t Write Off Travel Advisors
There’s a lingering perception that travel advisors are only for a certain age or tax bracket—but that’s an outdated view. “It’s completely changed the way my family and I travel,” O’Grady says. My advisor, Xavier Cano, not only secures perks like room upgrades and free breakfast but also brings a wealth of knowledge I wouldn t have otherwise. His guidance is invaluable for making the most of my budget and time.” These advisors know all the ways to enhance your trip that you might not be aware of. “Don t pay for breakfast on vacation ever again! Some hotel partners even throw in complimentary airport transfers,” Tretter notes.
Ditch Checked Bag Fees
Paying for checked bags is among the more rage-inducing travel fees. “Go carry-on only,” suggests O’Grady, who says it’s her ultimate travel hack. “My secret weapon is a tiny bottle of laundry detergent. Hand-washing a few items on the go saves you so much space and gives you the freedom to move easily from place to place.”
Tour the Town With a Local
While most luxury hotels curate impeccable programming to immerse guests in the surrounding neighborhoods, far more often than not, you don’t have to pay a fortune to live like a local. “There are some interesting opportunities for tours with locals, at-home lunches (screen with care), and tour companies like Culinary Backstreets that provide well-priced deep dives into the food scene in destinations throughout the world,” Novogrod says.
Go High-Low With Your Dining Choices
“When it comes to eating out, consider mixing high and low dining options: enjoy an inexpensive sandwich at a local café for lunch and then treat yourself with a prix fixe dinner,” Tretter suggests. Besides, if you’re indulging in an expensive, elaborate tasting menu one night, you’ll probably prefer a lighter, more casual meal the following day.
Don’t Procrastinate—Book Early
With travel, sometimes it pays to be flexible and spontaneous. Other times, the early bird gets the worm. “Just like flights, hotels are priced dynamically, which means that as rooms get booked, the remaining rooms get more expensive,” says Tretter. “The best way to guarantee the best rate is to book early with a travel advisor that offers price drop monitoring (which also helps avoid the less expensive rooms being sold out).”
Be Strategic About Your Flight Class
If you’re planning a momentous trip and are considering upgrading to business class but don’t love the price tag that comes with it, consider going half and half. “Splurge for lie-flat business class on overnight flights to Europe, but then save with a less expensive seat on your daytime flight back to the U.S. when you won t be sleeping anyway,” says Tretter.
Travel With a Group
Aside from experiencing the joys of traveling with friends, going on an adventure with a group can also save you money. “It’s an underrated way to stay in really nice places but at a lower price point,” explains Tretter. “Oftentimes, splitting the cost of renting a full-service villa can be less expensive than staying in an equivalent-caliber hotel.”
Visit Europe’s Heavy Hitters in the Off Season
We all know that major European cities are struggling with over-tourism, but if you’re still determined to visit destinations like Florence, Rome, or Athens, go in the off season. “Honestly, it’s the best time to go,” Perowne says. “Fewer crowds, better service, and much better rates. It’s the same story in places like Seville and Nice.” One of Perowne’s best trips, she shares, was to Palma de Majorca in late January. “I stayed at Sant Francesc—the city felt like it belonged to me.”
Consider Your Itinerary Before Booking a Room
When a vacation is spread out over a few different destinations, be strategic about where you allocate budget for hotel rooms. “If your trip starts in a city where you expect to be out and about most of the time, opt for a less expensive hotel, and then consider splurging on the accommodations where you expect to utilize the hotel s facilities more thoroughly,” says Tretter.
Travel When Kids Cannot
As joyful as traveling with little ones can be, their school schedules can influence a destination’s rates. “Many kids in the U.S. go back to school by mid-August, so the last two weeks of August can be a surprisingly fantastic opportunity for favorable rates domestically,” says Tretter, who suggests taking advantage of this early “shoulder season” in places like Aspen, Jackson Hole, and Deer Valley.
