4 Times You Can "Cheap Out" While Traveling

So when can you cheap out when it comes to travel? Sometimes you can't like when it comes to safety, but there are some times that you really can save a lot of money when you travel if you do things on the cheap.
Advice on traveling cheaply.
Filmed in England
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[@Pechocho.]

The best travel guru!!

[@woltersworld]

You make me blush 😊 thank you

[@mgweir3252]

Going off season can save you a fortune. You might have to dress a little warmer, but the upside is the savings and crowds are usually smaller.

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

Rome is my favorite city on earth. But going there in peak season sounds like a nightmare. Incredibly hot, much more expensive, very crowded. I prefer late autumn or early spring and the weather is usually comfortable enough with a sweater and/or light jacket.

[@RaylanGivens123]

This is the way to go. I also don't want to spend the entire day walking around in summer heat.

[@stacyk716]

We usually stay at hotels that offer a free breakfast. Also buying alcohol from a store to enjoy cocktails in our room before heading out for dinner. Having a refrigerator is important to us so we aren't constantly buying overpriced water. On a recent trip to Lisbon, we had dinner in our room after buying wonderful breads and meats from a local grocery. Plus a six pack of Belems for $1.40 Euros! Great tips! Thanks Mark.

[@woltersworld]

That's what we did living in Lisbon too. You were a true local :)

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

The only thing I’d add is this: You will not see everything you want to in almost any destination. Think about and write down the list of places you MUST see, and in descending order the ones you might want to. But don’t spend your vacation running from site to site. You will be tired. You will still miss things. The sites will be a blur in your memory or photos on your phone you won’t ever look at again. Usually a free walking tour will get you to 3/4 of any given city sites in a half day when you arrive. Those you want to return to- do! But you can now relax and slowly enjoy Rome or Paris or Prague. Sit at a sidewalk table and share a carafe of wine with your friends for a couple hours. Go into bookstores. Linger over lunch or dinner. Go to farmers markets in Southern Europe. Do the things that build memories rather than Facebook posts.

[@christao408]

Completely agree - just walking around and experiencing the place is a great way to appreciate it and is much cheaper than trying to pay all the admission fees of sights.

[@PlanetaryCitizen]

I usually make up a list of sights I want to see and like to keep a photographic record of where I've been, but I don't worry too much if I don't get around to everything.

[@einy2crikey]

In London, get an Oyster Card for the Tube. Also, buy a 3- or 4-day pass which gets you into most of the museums, Thames River boat tour, Tower of London, etc. by just showing the card. No waiting in lines to pay and it's cheaper than paying for each site.

[@joshuafolks]

Cheap/basic accommodation is my #1. If I'm traveling somewhere I want to get out and see the sights. If I'm paying too much for a hotel I'm more inclined to stay there and make the most of that, rather than seeing what I'm there to see. And basic accommodation can still be clean and comfortable, that's all you need!

[@2pugman]

We have had hotels where they couldn't find our reservations, after booking 30 days prior to our trip. The hotel manages to "find" a modest room at the more expensive price that we already paid. Bait and switch rooms have happened to us a few times.

[@jonathankinnear8431]

One of the best ways Alex and I like to save is we plan some of our trips by not visiting the most expensive destinations all the time. We generally go on 4 trips a year. Once per season. We have trips where we will splurge a little more on the destination. Such as going to Alaska, Caribbean, the UK, Switzerland, France places like that. Then we also go for lower cost places like Vietnam, Colombia, Philippines, India so we kind of balance our budget out that way. Also, for the cabin we chose on our upcoming cruise to Alaska we opted for the bottom of the barrel inside cabin because we plan on spending very little time in our cabin. We still get to enjoy the amenities of being on a 5 star ship which is surrounded by viewing points and platforms and even has an elevated glass bottom observation deck which is pretty cool and now we have a bit more to spend on our shore excursions that way. Also, we are big fans of eating at street food places instead of eating at Michelin star restaurants with maitre d's all the time. Which I'm sure are fantastic by the way but living in Montreal which also has amazing restaurants and being within 350 miles of both Toronto and NYC, we have our picks of fine dining places readily available to us so we don't feel like we are missing out that much. For example, when I visited Chicago I got my Italian beef, Chicago style hot dogs deep dish pizza or Chicago style flaming saganakis at places we could take out or inexpensive diners. I am totally with you on the use of public transport and have used it in multiple cities all over the world. I am the 1st one in line at the Alamo counter if I'm visiting say Texas or Newfoundland. but in Europe or SE Asia why bother. Another way we save money sometimes is by travelling with another couple. If you visit somewhere which is very car dependent and the public transit isn't known for being the greatest it really helps save your travel budget a long way as now you share your gas, car rental, groceries and accommodations in 4. That's how we travelled to Banff a couple years ago. Had it have been just Alex and I that trip would have proven to be very costly with everything we did and also we were able to share driving time which was an additional benefit on top of always sharing great times with our friends. Another way we save is by getting travel tips from great people like yourself Mark. You and your family remain to be my favorite travel KZbinrs on the planet because of all the love and care you have put in to making all of our travels better over the years. There's a saying I go by in life which is people don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. The advice you have given so many different people on so many different levels of travel has always been invaluable. That's why your video have grabbed the attention of some of my friends who have never even left the Province to a seasoned traveler like myself. To that that I say a massive thank you. You guys rock.

[@krunoslavkovacec1842]

Related to hostels, if you travel with your family and get a small enough room, you can fit your whole family and not be around strangers. Also, stay in smaller towns/villages around the destination you want (if it's a large city). Particularly in smaller countries

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

Airbnb or VRBO give better value for money for a traveling family. Though the hostels are great for younger people for the social aspect. I ALWAYS stay close in. If booking well ahead you get a good price. For instance, I just booked a small castle for 8 for this Christmas. It’s on the edge of a Bavarian village. It’s decor is cozy and charming. and it’s $60 a night for each of us. Last trip we rented a place with a huge roof deck overlooking the Coliseum for 4 people for $200 a night. And if close in you don’t spend 2 precious hours a day getting to and from your lodging. And you can wander Rome or Venice or Prague at night or early in the morning. Well worth the small extra cost.

[@krunoslavkovacec1842]

@@JodyOwen-we6oo Awesome planning. Could you reveal the name ofbthe castle/village ?

[@gscott5062]

Some hostels have private rooms too!

[@jturie]

@@JodyOwen-we6oo I second this...two couples in their own hotel rooms at 250-350 per night is insane.

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

G Scott And some are genuinely nice places. Nuremberg has a hostel in the castle, or Tosconia (near Rome but a car is necessary) an amazing place if you like quiet medieval villages. Every year I feel a little more awkward hanging around 20 something’s to whom I’m not related though…

[@googlyooglyoogl]

Don't try to fit as many things as possible in a trip. Then when you do spend money on something you can take your time and really enjoy it.

[@christinewatson5205]

I just did 19 days in Japan and my biggest budget tip is PLANNING. Depending on where you go there are usually a lot of options for tourists to save money (pretty much everywhere has realized that tourists will blow bigger bucks than locals), from attractions to accommodations to transportation. But, if you really look into it, it may not be as great a deal as you think. For example, Tokyo has an app/pass called the My Tokyo Pass. You can buy it for 2, 3, or 4 days and it lets you into 35 different museums, parks, and zoos all for an upfront cost. You can go to any museum under the app, enter once per attraction, and your entry fee is covered. Cost differs depending on how many days you pick and if you add the subway ticket or not for an additional fee. But when I sat down to plan my daily itineraries, and plan my routes to those places, I quickly realized that all-attractions-covered pass did not make sense. The pass for 2 days was 6,800 yen, but most of the national museums I wanted to go to were between 500-1,000 yen each. And just with opening hours I could probably only do 2 to 3 museums a day if I wanted to stop and eat at some point. Also, Tokyo is BIG. While some museums were close together others were way on the other side of town and that is an hour transit one way. Suddenly those "savings" ended up costing more than just paying at the gate. Look at where you are staying, what you want to do each day, how much entry fee is (almost everywhere will post their entry fee online), and Google Map your route ahead of time to know how much of your day and your wallet you are devoting to A to B travel. Once you get a base cost for your trip, you can see where some expenses can be saved.

[@emergingloki]

Except trains in the UK for any appreciable distance. Hiring a car or flying (sometimes via a different country, I kid you not) are often cheaper.

[@samelmudir]

very true. trains in the uk are swiss level prices

[@theodoresmith5272]

When people push the narrative that European train travel is so awesome, I tell them look at the flight numbers leaving the airports and look up the prices. It isnt so great. Flights are often very cheap. London to Paris by flight is cheap. The bullet train isn't. It is a very good system but it's very expensive to use.

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

My problem with flights is wasted time, not cost. We are going to Rome, Bavaria and Paris for Christmas and New Years this year. We could fly between destinations and spend 2 days of our vacation getting to the airport, on a plane, from the airport to our lodging. Or, as we will, the night trains give us a bed, transportation and breakfast for $175 each. We travel while asleep. We arrive rested and ready for our destination. And we save $150 or more per person doing so. And train travel still feels exciting unlike air travel which feels like a trip to the dentist.

[@Notimp0rtant523]

Mark! I’m finally going to Germany in two weeks, my first ever intercontinental trip, and YOUR videos have been the biggest help to me over the last few years of settling my fears, saving, and finally making it happen. THANK YOU!!!

[@theorderofthebees7308]

One tip I would offer tourist visiting NYC is that the subway system is on the weekend is not the same like the weekdays. They do a lot of scheduled maintenance so the train don’t follow their regular routes at all. So it’s better on the weekend to get a taxi or Uber or Lyft if you can particularly if that train line is going to be interrupted by maintenance. Safe travels

[@gnomealone350]

You should cheap out on stuff that’s less important to you, but you need to figure out what that is. On a recent trip to London I stayed in kind of a hole (even though it was clean and safe) and most of my meals were the sandwich deal from the grocery store. But I spent HUNDREDS on theatre tickets, because that’s what mattered to me.

[@missj.4760]

My favorite way to cheap out on food is to eat at a local food market. It is cheap, typical, authentic and delicious 😋.

[@wickedgulch]

I have often saved money by renting vehicles and booking flights one way. A recent example of this is: we flew into Norfolk VA, rented the car, stayed in Virginia Beach for a week, then drove the car to Richmond VA and flew out from there. The total savings was almost $600.

[@BillHicks420]

Wow, that's surprising. Isn't 2 one-way tix usually more expensive than round-trip?

[@jturie]

@@BillHicks420 yes, but he's carrying multiple people in the rental for the same price. By yourself, it's not much of a saving.

[@undisgraziato]

@@BillHicks420not domestically.

[@Wilko1145]

When in UK have breakfast in wetherspoon. Also coffee, lavazza ground coffee( beans) is £1.40 with unlimited refills. Go to a coffee shop and you'll pay £3 for one cup!.

[@RAD6150]

We went to Europe last year and we did something others might think is too much... We drove 4 hours from Detroit to Toronto. It was cheaper to take two cars, park them for almost a month, and drive back by almost $4500! We flew into LHR and out of CDG... When we returned, I booked two rooms so we stayed in Toronto overnight before heading home - the rooms were free because I had rewards nights available. I will absolutely do it again.

[@woltersworld]

So true. I'm flying to Germany later this year and driving 2 hours to Indianapolis saved us $500 per person. So true to look. And parking was only $9 per day at the airport. Saved so much vs Chicago

[@RAD6150]

I also opted to go hotel > apartment > hotel so we had laundry and cooking facilities for half the trip - less clothes to carry and saved on meals. We rented a car when outside of major cities (leaving Paris to Amboise to Epernay to the airport) because it was cheaper than attempting to arrange transportation between and at the locations for four people. Also allowed us to do things at our own pace...

[@andreamalloy6266]

Definitely shop for food at a local grocery store to save money. Especially snacks, bottled water 😊

[@LordDavid04]

Except you usually end up spending money buying all those goodies to bring home for family and friends! 😁😆

[@arkrazor22]

Minimizing luggage (preferably in backpacks) will help drastically with airline fees, ease of traveling (including busses). If you need to clean clothes, just find a local laundromat and pay $5 while you go out for a walk or out to eat. Also, check out free hikes in the area with nice views.

[@mypradasatthecleanerss]

Good tips. Also can save by not going to recommended restaurants every evening. If you walk past a place that just looks like a cafe and it’s open in the evening, maybe try this. The food could well be hearty and not too expensive versus a restaurant you might read about in the guide book for instance.

[@christofferdh]

That can also be rather risky, you still should check the reviews, specially in places like Madrid,Barcelona,Rome etc. as there is tourist traps and places with extreme prices, scams, or just awful food, so I do recommend to at least check the reviews on Google before you go into a place you see, where often locals also leaves reviews, to not go to that 1.2 star rated place that serves frozen pizza for 30€, or the 3 day old microwave Paela, so there are risks. Both Tripadvisor and Google also have filters for pricing tiers for restaurants, not always perfect, but if its max dollar signs expensive, you do not have to go there for example.

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

My list is: Small and off main tourist routes. Clients are speaking local language. A menu with only a few items and no ‘tourist menu’ preferably on a chalkboard. This means a chef gave thought to what he saw in the market fresh that morning and how to make it amazing. I rarely eat poorly except places like Prague or England where eating well is almost impossible.

[@mypradasatthecleanerss]

@@JodyOwen-we6oo we’re not that bad in England!

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

Cealondon Apologies! I actually liked England quite a lot. I liked the people. Driving was a blast on B roads and the drivers were very polite- especially compared to Italy. I didn’t hate the food there. But it is a bit bland.

[@meursaultscourtroom8886]

Make sure you compare train prices in Europe when traveling between cities/countries, same journey different train company can be a big difference in price. If you can buy ahead of time, for most trains, there are usually big savings! Rome to Rio is a great site to compare different ways to travel between cities.....and the Man in Seat 61 site is great for train specific tips.

[@lawrencemcfarland6714]

Also shop between carriers and booking sites. In December I needed to take the train from Vienna to Munich. The fare on ÖBB (the Austrian train service) was about half the price of booking it on DeutscheBahn...for the same train.

[@brucesmith9144]

Don’t use the currency exchange at the airport. Rates there are often advantageous for the ForEx agents. I have gotten better rates at an ATM or a bank in town.

[@bobothetroll2873]

I live in a country with bad public transport. So using a city's public transport system, especially with subways, is part of the experience

[@stijnvanderveken]

if the hotel has a breakfast buffet take a lunchbox or tinfoil with you. So you can eat in the morning and pack a lunch with you. This way you can keep exploring 😊

[@phurwitzma]

In many places you can cheap out by seeking out restaurants that locals eat at. They are often outside the touristy areas and much cheaper.

[@woltersworld]

Preach!!!! So true Paul

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

Also a LOT more fun. I’ve had many hours long conversations with people because our tables were 2 feet apart and my American accent piqued their interests. Same applies to railway journeys in 6 or 8 person compartments, fwiw.

[@poesc]

When I last went overseas, we just went to the grocery store to get most of our meals. Didn’t need to go to expensive restaurants. I rather save the money for other experiences and tours.

[@woltersworld]

Saved buckets of money and got to see how locals really live and eat from the grocery. Awesome

[@malanvandermerwe8161]

And when you buy food at a grocery store look for the marked down fridge where you will find real bargains on items that are nearing its sellby date.

[@adrianblizzard6436]

Stay at hostels , make dinner there and breakfast . Get to meet interesting travellers and save money . Win win I say . Worked for me when I was in my 20’s 😊

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

It’s awesome. In your 20s. I insist nieces or nephews I take to Europe ditch us older folks at least one night and stay in one. I’m 52 now, and travel in friend or family groups. An Airbnb or equivalent costs less/same for a more pleasant experience at this point.

[@bdimon]

When our group of four traveled to Rome, we discovered that one taxi for all of us was only slightly more than four bus tickets. Since we are family, the four of us got a quad room which was a lot cheaper than two double rooms.

[@labtechsuperstar]

I like the suggestion (and have done it, too) of eating a big breakfast and/or a late lunch and then skip dinner. Also using supermarkets/kiosks is great. I usually buy big bottles of water or cases of water for way cheaper than in restaurants, etc.

[@jugatsu23nichi]

A cheap out I use is staying at Hotels where I have status and have access to the exec lounge for free drinks and finger foods. Totally can save a whole dinner with that sometimes. Definitely save on drinks :)

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

True and you meet very cool REAL PEOPLE !

[@laura_and_shanman]

Another good tip is staying somewhere (if somewhere for a while ie 5-6 days) with toaster, fridge and get some easy bfast items. Save a lot that way

[@senorasarahCDMX]

We hit the local grocery store in Rome last year. It was one of the best parts of our trip. It was an adventure trying to talk to the lady behind the meat and cheese counter, checking out the local products, and we got delicious parmesan cheese for a bargain. We made some of the best sandwiches with the local cold cuts, cheeses and focaccia. And we were blown away by the wine selection! We each brought back 4 or 5 bottles of wine as souvenirs in our suitcases, as each one was about 5 euros or less!

[@noahmc1547]

Several countries in Europe have US bases where retirees and active duty on leave can stay a lot cheaper. Also they have grocery stores on base where food is cheaper, no VAT, etc…

[@xicanavida1559]

We always rent a place w kitchen and buy simple groceries. Eat a good breakfast skip lunch and have dinner out this helps a lot. We also don’t stay too close and use local transportation that is on same route as the attraction or area we want to go to also we use cash most of the time. The money is spent on the tours/ experiences

[@michelle8143]

This is very helpful, thank you! (Btw, the food pasty is pronounced "pass-tee". They were popular in northern MN where I grew up due to the immigrant miners!)

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

Some supermarkets have excellent deli food. You have to look around since most do not. Premade sandwiches, etc.

[@ThePittsburghTraveler]

We research all our destinations at Wolters World 's channel great info on all your videos!

[@bianks22]

I do love staying in good comfortable accommodation so find ot hard to cheap out there. But agree with finding a hotel with breakfast where possible, using public transport. I also like visiting places in the off season. I love visiting Portugal in October when there are less people but the weather is still superb and I just came back from a trip to Greece where I got amazing deal on a hotel, visiting during the quieter months can save a small fortune.

[@jcnlaw]

I always get a SIM card from a local wireless company when in Europe. Much better service, especially using Google maps. It saves money and I get much better service.

[@pockets3956]

WOW! All of your comments are straight on! We have done all of those to save money over the years. I love your channel! (not sure why I'm only seeing this post a year later as I have subscribed to you for over two years). One thing we did similar to your "go to ALDI" comment was when we first arrived and checked in, we immediately walked to the nearest corner grocer and bought nibblies and wines for light meals, and morning necessities, this cost us a mind blowing 25 Euro for like four days of "downtime eating and daily post-exploration wines" so we could concentrate on specific nicer local meals and spend. Second, I have never heard of free walking tours but we do do inexpensive walking tours (I love finding ghost tours and tipping) and those help us to either get local ideas of where to explore further or where to give a miss.

[@toddb9311]

Hello! Don't forget farmers' markets. One of our best meals ever was sitting on the wharf in Vancouver eating fresh snap peas, blueberries and smoked salmon

[@sabrinalavdisarnold825]

Years ago in Oahu, we skipped the rental car and took The Bus everywhere or walked. We took 2 taxis. For domestic beach travel, we stop and get groceries. Breakfast and lunch we eat in the rental and cook at least two dinners.

[@timothybird4264]

Remember central london is very walkable, and that way you get to see stuff you might not ordinarily see from a tube or bus

[@ljrigsbee]

In the UK, if you get food for takeaway, they don’t charge the 20% VAT. Some restaurants have separate takeaway menus, and it can be significantly less than the dine in price. One seafood restaurant had a fish and chips meal for nearly £20 dine in, but it was maybe half that for takeaway.

[@injustifiiable]

I like Airbnb's...and buying groceries and staples like coffee, pastries, frozen breakfast sandwiches, booze for cocktails, meats and cheeses for charcuterie at home for happy hour..it's all about living like I would at home, like a local.

[@yesorlando05]

Excellent list! We have done ALL of those, lol. They're all great ideas to save that really add up. We can afford to pay more, but it makes no sense to pay more when you don't have to and still get to enjoy everything.

[@LordDavid04]

Rick Steves has good advice on traveling on a budget. If you want hotel/breakfast/transport all included, look for cheap tours or cruises. They can save $$$ when it comes to accommodation and transportation, just ditch the add-ons tour companies try to sell you. Use the bus to get downtown, maybe skip the ride back to the hotel and use public transport or if with other tourists in your tour, share a taxi.

[@frednich9603]

Very good list Mark. I just be cheap, because I tend to enjoy street food more than sitting down at a restaurant. I also stay at hotels farther away from tourist attractions (as long as there is public transportation to get to the sites)

[@woltersworld]

Every little thing adds up for more money for the actual trip. Hope you and T are doing well

[@aussiebornandbred]

Great advice, thanks mate 👍🏻😁

[@CarinaB26]

The family/group tickets on the metro / s-bahn offers a really good deal if you're in a group of 4 or 5 persons, travelling together.

[@woltersworld]

Yes!!! So big savings there. Love using it especially since all the kids are counting as adults now

[@SteveWilliams63]

You did some good advice there! I am English, still never been to York to my shame! It amazes me how little research travellers do before they go somewhere. Take a few hours to try and get to know somewhere beforehand and it can pay off. If package holidays all seem to go to the one location, avoid that location, it'll cost! I wanted to go the NYC a few years ago, twice in the year as it happens. All the package trips were in Manhattan, around Times Sq or up to 100th+. So I looked at, what do I need to do when in the US for a week? Turned out, I didn't need to stay on the island at all. So, I stayed at a budget hotel in New Jersey with free breakfast buffet . The cash I saved on that covered me for a rental car. I did two days in Manhattan driving to Staten Island and getting the ferry (best view of lady liberty) and walked up all the way to Central Park. I prepaid the ESB and made sure I did Rockefeller too, as you say, you can't see the ESB when you're on it! I did the entire walk on Google Street view. Found all sort of great places to detour to on the way, totally free such as the Fire Station from Ghostbusters and, right at the start, the HQ from MIB. Photo ops which cost zero! On our two days on the island we did most all on our list as cheap as we could. Hot dogs from a vendor, went into a deli the locals were using off Broadway. We even stopped and bought lemonade off some kids down a back street off 55th I think it was! Just the once we used the subway. Because we didn't stay on the island and had a car we did the Comedy Club in New Brunswick and Six Flags Great Adventure (we spend some $ there getting priority tickets for the place) We did the outlet malls, we did ihop, boy they throw some food on a plate, took it for take out too and ate the next day from the minifridge and microwave. We did Coney Island & Flushing Meadows, both iconic locations, free again! Sometimes it pays to go to movie/TV locations. Everyone recognises the background which is cool and more often than not, it's free Had we done the package deal we would have been stuck in NYC all the time spending a fortune and likely could only stay a few nights. We did a week. Hell, we even got some tips from the hotel cleaners of places to go with great views too, again, totally free and tourists don't go there. I've done the same thing in LA, Vegas, Philippines and where ever I go and if I can't get a bargain, I don't go as it's likely over run with tourists anyway! All the amazing things we did and it costs us half the cost of a package deal

[@mmortensen5598]

Did the same thing many years ago with my family, but we took public transportation. Our hotel in NJ had a bus stop on the corner that went in to NYC Central station. There was a special public bus lane (not for tourist buses). Traffic was at a standstill everyday for most people, but our bus cruised on in without stopping. It was beautiful and saved us a lot.

[@kenlongfellow]

Great advice! I am a frequent visitor to Edinburgh for monthlong stays and I try to 'make myself at home'. I buy a monthly bus pass so I can travel the entire region anytime I like without concern for having exact change for individual rides (I also go to more places since it's "included"). I stock my fridge with staples so I can always have a snack or simple meal. Locals can be a great resource to point you to sights, attractions, restaurants, etc that are authentic and less expensive than the more 'touristy' places. I've found that buying a pint and having a chat can be a great investment in my visit and opens the possibility of finding a new friend. I also try to stick with cash since the bank card foreign transaction costs can really add up - mine adds 3% for every merchant point-of-sale I tap but if I withdraw local currency from a cash machine, it is a one-time transaction fee. I also get some foreign currency from the bank prior to departure, which has very good exchange rates and no fee at all.

[@carolwiese6825]

Have you ever traveled the Euro train and is it worth it for adding Germany and Norway to UK?

[@kenlongfellow]

@@carolwiese6825 I haven't so I cannot advise.

[@swicheroo1]

Every country is different in the ways you can cheap out. Generally, I like to do Airbnb with groups of 3 or more. You can save on meals. I wake up early and do a stroll through the neighborhood and grab stuff from the grocery (which is part of my tourism because I love groceries) and make coffee and set up breakfast. This way, everybody can get an extra 2 hours of sleep and take their leisure getting ready. I get some alone time, doing things that my group generally finds puzzling (grocery stores). And, though, I try to sample restaurants, I know there's at least one dinner that will come from a chance encounter with a farmer's market or a fishing boat.

[@woltersworld]

You are right. So many differences you need to look out for.

[@nikosniko7092]

Great tips! Cheers

[@kellieheironimus6736]

Free Walking tours are invaluable to me when I visit a new city. I have used free walking tours on Cruises and visiting by land. This has helped me get a background on the city I am visiting while getting to see all the major sites. International Greeters are another free walking tour resource.

[@marilynsue4273]

Last week in Vegas I had dinner on the 106th floor of the Sky Pod ($115) the next McDonald's on retail level ($7).

[@News.happenings.updates]

Look out for Pastries or bakeries that sells 50% off after 5pm or discounts during “ Happy Hours” like promotions during less peak time…

[@woltersworld]

Oh I do... I do 😉 yummy!

[@rickybobby1055]

Absolutly great information. Thanks Mark.

[@woltersworld]

Thanks!

[@tombrett9689]

So happy to see you in York! Love my home city

[@weejackrussell]

In the UK you can stay cheaply in university student halls when it is the summer holidays.

[@krackenkiller9286]

Being in York, worth pointing out that most museums, galleries etc are free in the UK (donation boxes encouraged). And a lot, but not all historic sites are too. Worth checking before going

[@cleon_cleon]

Thanks!

[@texasflood1295]

Public transportation saves a great deal of money and you get to experience the city the way the locals do.

[@samuelahlquist]

Related to food, compare prices for places with a breakfast and without if it’s 10€for the hostel without breakfast but 12€ for with them that’s different. Also think about the convenience factor of having a breakfast included and not having to go out every morning and look for food. With restaurants, sometimes I find the best food is the stuff at small hole-in-the-wall places rather than the big comercial restaurants and you get better bang for your buck.

[@woltersworld]

Yes! Great point

[@tommontreal4821]

Very good insight !

[@BurntTransGarage]

I stayed at a cute B&B in Kilkenny, Ireland for 65 euros. Bedroom was very small, just enough room for a queen bed, but had a private on-suite bathroom. Breakfast was excellent and the whole thing is ran by a wonderful couple. I tell people more about this accommodation than the $250/night Raddison Blu in Dublin.

[@tobiojo6469]

Awesome video

[@TMD3453]

Love going to grocery stores. They tell you a lot about the culture and you’re eating what the locals eat. Cheers

[@News.happenings.updates]

I know the part I spend a lot during Travelling is snacking local street food…. i suggest to place a side a budget for sncking besides eating in Restaurants … I look fwd to eating local food… For Accomodations… Those days when I travel for work like seminar and meetings… I would go for Room with Breakfast as other meals are normally included during the whole seminar days. .. I would arrived a day or two earlier and leave a day or two later… somehow I still save because I can opt to share room with the other candidates of the seminar that I know.

[@tobiojo6469]

Hey Mark, cool video

[@ronweasley1354]

The Paris cheap out you mentioned I actually would recommend. Skip the Eiffel Tower and go up the Arc instead. The view is much better since it includes the Eiffel Tower, and more importantly it’s free or is much cheaper (I think they charge to go up now, still much cheaper though than the Eiffel Tower). Just make sure you’re okay with stairs since there isn’t an elevator.

[@JodyOwen-we6oo]

There’s an office tower you can go to the top, have a coffee and by being a customer (unless it’s changed) pay for the €5 for the elevator. On the fringes of the Rive Gauche. But the Eiffel to me is worth the money. Each to their own, of course. The Arc is nice too of course.

[@LordDavid04]

Go to that monstrosity of Tour Montparnasse instead. No queues, not even the "express" line. You get a great view of all of Paris including the Eiffel Tower as well. In addition to that, if the city you're visiting has a free observation point, you might want to go there instead of the TV tower or whatever it may be. But that's if you intend to save on money for the view of course.

[@Hodaggium]

I've done this all in my travels as well. If you're ever in Saint Louis, go to Forest Park, all the museums there are free, as is the zoo.

[@AdamAxeL1979]

York - one of my favourite places to visit 😊 was just next to Clifford’s Tower a little over a week ago.

[@woltersworld]

I love the city too

[@wavetranquility4243]

Great vid! The public transport tip is so important- the tube in London = big savings!

[@C_ia_R]

Traveling with others help cut costs. Taxi/rental cars you can divide the cost. Sharing hotel room or airbnb. Food costs etc

[@SteveandLizDonaldson]

Great tips! Ours: stay at Bed & Breakfasts. Cheaper than hotels, home-cooked breakfasts, and usually a delight to talk to the owner about their tourist recommendations for their city. Lunch: at a pub or restaurant. Even a nice one. Much cheaper than eating dinner there. Dinner: grocery store: most have ready-made sandwiches or basics to make your own. Stock up on drinks for the next day. Also, buy your gifts there to take home! Local chocolate bars, etc.

[@mentonerodominicano]

The dollar pizza is my go to when I'm in NYC. And make sure to get your own water. Big cities always have lots of free attractions and museums, look for them online (Garfield Conservatory in Chicago, Smithsonian Museums in DC, Little Island and the Highland in NYC).

[@dirtbikerman1000]

York is amazing to walk around anyway. I have 2 travel tips to save money 1. Go to Vietnam, hotels, $9 a night with breakfast. Fuel, fill the motorbike up for about a dollar. Food, street food and loads of cheap places...EVERYWHERE. 2. Don't travel and watch the world through Walters world haha. I've been to quite alot of places around the world but for people who don't or can't travel, KZbin travel channels are amazing.

[@richardwallace6313]

all pretty good suggestions

[@lindabreu983]

Points and miles!

[@soojoe]

Another awesome video! Gotta watch those bag fees!

[@thedew2007]

I enjoyed all the B-roll around York

[@woltersworld]

Great city

[@pyridonfaltis9761]

I don't think there is such a thing that a free breakfast - it's just included in the price whether you eat it or not. That being said, what Mark said, is spot on. If you can eat a hearty breakfast, you don't have to eat much for lunch.

[@therehastobesomethingmoore]

For meals you need to stay away from tourist places…go 4-5 blocks farther away, where the locals eat. Huge difference.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

Good points Walter. Some of the hostels are cool.

[@shanewashington1457]

Great tips, thanks! Sometimes, for me, when I go to different cities, I'll schedule the bus, train, or flight at night to help save travel time and money for the hotel one night. It was not the best sleep, but it helped me on a few trips.

[@colormedubious4747]

This works best for domestic car-based travel, but I pack a cooler full of cold beverages and sandwiches that I make, along with a heavy-duty grocery bag full of light snacks and extra beverages. I stay at economy/business-class hotels with free parking, refrigerator, microwave, and included breakfast. I avoid fast food like the plague (a.k.a. diarrhea). On travel days I eat from my cooler as I drive. I often do the same at the hotel, especially when there aren't any appealing dining options within walking distance. The money I save allows me to indulge guilt-free in a delicious sit-down meal at a great local restaurant every so often. I mostly travel solo, but if you're traveling with family the savings really stack up.

[@DMUSA536]

No Marter where I go just a clean room and comfortable bed. The majority of my time is out exploring. Snack in between breakfast and dinner.

[@russmeans]

Something to think about is historical passes. Scotland Heritage has a pass that gets you into their sites for a reduces price. It paid for itself after 3 castles for us.

[@woltersworld]

Yes!!!!

[@christao408]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing. Breakfast and dinner from the grocery store is always a useful way to save money and eating out so much is tiring. Also agree about going into all the sights. Sometimes, just wandering around and seeing the city is more fufilling than hitting all the official tourist sights.

[@karenvonbargen4472]

Stonehenge: you have to pay big bucks to get in. Park in the parking lot and admire the henge from the other side of the fence then go to Avebury where you can frolic among the bigger, more interesting henge and actually touch the stones and don’t have to have a set time to be there.

[@louisfilliger3734]

The grocery store tip is key.

[@jonathanotchengco9651]

I go cheap on everything except the location of accommodation. If i can save on transpo and time. Worth the extra time.

[@Magic_beans_]

When I heard “cheap out”, I thought of the opposite: where do people shoot themselves in the foot trying to save money? For example our host has mentioned cheap flights that go to a secondary airport, so you have to take a long ride into town. That sort of thing.

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

nice to see you in York it’s one of my favourite cities to visit. In the Uk going on the hop on hop off buses are a good way to get to see where all the sites are I bought a day ticket for the bus from the station when I was in Oxford and it took me right to my hotel and I could use it for the rest of the day. Also tourist offices often have day passes which will get you in to a lot of sights for free with the pass you can work out wether it’s worth buying. I did that in York one time and it paid for itself.

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

Great cheapouts my friend. I love traveling to Germany in and out of season but I do find out-of-season much cheaper of course :).

[@antuanschocorft9252]

One of my tips is when travelling from example Berlin to Paris do it on an overnight bus as overnight bus are generally cheaper plus you don’t need to pay for an nights accomodation

[@horstbrunner1684]

Use airline or hotel credit cards and build your points to get that free travel or stay. Just remember to make sure you apy off the credit card bill each month.

[@wlhamaty]

We stayed at a mom-and-pop hotel, I think they call it a pension, in Rue Claire in Paris. It was economical and wonderful. We used a lot of public transportation in Paris. The river cruise had an excursion in Budapest to the Széchenyi Baths (thumbs up!), but it was expensive, and I wasn't sure we'd both want to go. I ended up walking a short way to the metro stop, then taking a very pleasant walk to the baths. I paid about 1/4 of the excursion fee, got there earlier, and stayed later. I prefer to eat like the locals, and that can be a bargain too. I was at a "soda" (small restaurant) in a tourist town in Costa Rica where there were a bunch of young people at another table who were ordering burgers and pizza and the like. On the other side of the menu they had "comidas tipicas" -- way better and much cheaper.