How to Actually Solo Travel on a Budget

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Rumor has it that there's no such thing as waiting on anyone to travel anymore – the rumors are indeed true. Sorry, flaky family and friends, you'll just have to catch the vacation recap on Facebook and Instagram. So, finally, you've decided to take that leap and start planning your first solo trip. But you want to keep yourself on a modest budget. Trust me, it can be done. Let's talk about it!

1. Flexibility

Be flexible when picking your destination! My favorite way to find cheap flights is to open up the Google Flights map and explore different destinations. For example, type in flights from [your city] and explore the different destinations on the map with the cheapest flights.

2. Accommodation Alternatives

For my laid-back, spontaneous travelers, hostels or couch surfing might be ideal for a tighter budget. But if you prefer a bit more privacy, I recommend looking into boutique budget hotels, Airbnb's, and well-known budget-friendly chain hotels like Tru Hilton, Hampton Inn, and Best Western. Booking.com and Expedia are my favorite places to find discounted stays. Hotels usually tend to run great deals during shoulder season!

3. Travel During Off-Peak Season

Translation: Travel while everyone is caught up with work and school. From my own personal experience, this is one of the best times to travel. During the off-peak season, you'll find discounted flights, hotels, activities, and fewer tourist crowds. When I traveled solo to Portugal last March, I was pleasantly surprised with how relaxed the atmosphere was. Off-peak season in Europe is usually from November to the end of March.

4. Day Trips

A trip doesn't always mean leaving for 3 to 4 days. Sometimes it's exploring other cool cities in your own state or even taking an hour flight to the state over and spending the day there and coming back home in the evening. My first day trip was about 2 years ago to Chicago with a couple of my girlfriends. As college students, you can only imagine how tight our budget was. Our one-way tickets to Chicago were about $26, and because we planned the itinerary beforehand, I was able to make $100 stretch (including my flights) for the whole day. We took the subway, had Chicago-style dogs, visited the world's biggest Starbucks, went to a few free museums, and did lots of sightseeing – it was such a great way to spend the day in the city on a budget!

5. Book Your Tours Ahead of Time

Figure out what you want to do during your trip and how much you're willing to spend on each activity. Are you going to do a walking tour around the city? Are you interested in a food tour? Are you adventurous and like activities like zip-lining? Are you into water activities? Booking activities before your trip will usually get you the best deal, and it's better to have your spot secure rather than waiting and finding out all the available spots for an activity have been filled.

6. Eating Locally

For me, good eats are an absolute must when I travel. Based on your food preferences, I would recommend researching some good mom and pop shops in the area. In big cities like NYC, Chicago, Vegas, and Los Angeles, they're pretty easy to find and are relatively more affordable than big chain restaurants. Also, keep an eye out for happy hours! Not only can you get discounted drinks, but some places will offer discounted appetizers and small plates.

I hope these tips help you take your solo trip with confidence, and duh – I want to hear all about it!

Mwah! Happy Travels <3