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8 Ways to Make Your Money Last When You Travel

Give your wallet a break. Make your money last on any trip.
Last Updated
:
February 8, 2024
by
Editorial Staff
Young woman traveler using smartphone wallet to pay
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Adobe Stock
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Raise your hand if you’ve ever come home from a vacation completely broke. 🙋‍♀️ Been there, done that my friend. In fact, the only souvenirs we’ve brought back from some trips are empty wallets and overdraft notices. But desperate times call for savvy measures if you’re going to jet set on a budget!

Unless you’ve got cash to burn or a money tree garden, chances are you want to soak up the sights not drain your account, amirite? Look, we love experiencing new places as much as the next intrepid wanderer, but we also love keeping our utilities on and our credit score up. So we’ve mastered the art of globetrotting without going totally broke-o.

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The Best Ways to Make Your Money Last When You Travel

In this post, we’re spilling all our hard-earned secrets for stretching those precious travel coins. We’re talking scoring screaming flight deals, hacking hotel rates, eating like a local, earning free rewards, and flashpacking in style…without calling mom for a bank transfer to fund your souvenir shopping. Even if your budget is smaller than carry-on, you CAN indulge your wanderlust without wiping out.

So grab your passport and a moneybelt because you’re about to get a first-class education in affordable adventuring! No frequent flyer status required. This is one trip to financial freedom that EVERY budget can afford.

Keep the supplies you need to stay clean and healthy with you

keep the supplies you need to stay clean and healthy with you
Canva Photos

Another way to make your money last while traveling is by keeping the supplies you need to stay clean and healthy with you.

If you have a small bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, contact lens solution, and contact case along with your medication then this will help make sure you don’t spend too much money on hygiene products while traveling!

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Find free activities in your destination city

find free activities in your destination city
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One way to keep your travel expenses low is by taking advantage of the free activities that are available in the cities that you’re visiting.

For example: visit historical sites like churches and museums (for free!) or go for walks around the city and enjoy the scenery (and maybe even see some local wildlife!).

You can also download worldwide travel guides for offline use, which will help you avoid having to pay for access to websites or buying physical books.

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Make sure your accommodations are affordable

make sure your accommodations are affordable
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The place that you stay at while traveling can make a huge difference in how much money you spend on overall travel expenses. To make sure your accommodations are affordable, look up hotels and hostels before arriving – this way you’ll be able to find the best deals!

You could also consider renting out an entire apartment or home through Airbnb if you need separate rooms for multiple people.

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Bring a credit card with no foreign transaction fees for emergencies or unexpected expenses abroad

bring a credit card with no foreign transaction fees for emergencies or unexpected expenses abroad
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Finally, if you’re traveling to an unfamiliar place where you might need cash, then it’s always a good idea to have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

You never know what sort of emergency expenses or sudden costs might come your way while traveling, so using this method will give you the backup that you need!

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Take advantage of local transportation, like buses or trains, instead of renting a car if it’s not necessary for getting around town

take advantage of local transportation, like buses or trains, instead of renting a car if it's not necessary for getting around town
Twenty20

Another easy way to make your money last when traveling is by taking full advantage of local transportation. If public transportation is available in the city that you’re visiting then use it instead of renting a car!

This will help you avoid any unexpected costs that are associated with driving in an area where you don’t have much experience.

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Don’t forget about food – buy snacks before arriving at the airport so that they’re less expensive on arrival!

don't forget about food - buy snacks before arriving at the airport so that they're less expensive on arrival
Adobe Stock

One more way to make sure your money lasts while traveling is by bringing some extra food and drinks along with you!

Before coming to the airport, buy some healthy snacks and bottled water and pack them into your luggage so that you won’t have to worry about spending all of your money on overpriced snacks once you arrive at your destination.

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Have a plan B in case of emergencies

have a plan b in case of emergencies
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Emergencies happen, and sometimes they can completely derail our travel plans. That’s why it’s always important to have a backup plan in case things don’t go as expected.

For example: if you lose your passport or get robbed, having a credit card with no foreign transaction fees could save you from having to spend even more money on unexpected costs.

In addition, make sure that you have a copy of your important documents in a place where you can access them easily – this could make a huge difference if you find yourself in an emergency situation abroad.

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Prepare a travel insurance

prepare a travel insurance
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Another great option to have on hand is travel insurance, especially when you’re traveling to dangerous places or going on particularly adventurous activities.

In case something goes wrong while abroad, having the peace of mind that comes with having travel insurance will significantly reduce the financial burden placed upon you during the process of dealing with whatever emergency has come up.

author avatar
Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff at TravelMasta is a team of travel knowers led by Tengku Adam with over 6 years of experience. We have been learning about travel since 2017, and we are optimistic about becoming the largest travel resource site in the industry.

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