Rookie Traveler Budget Mistakes - Best Budget Travel Advice Ever

[@jezanne]

Good advice Mark! But I will add one on plane travel: Don’t hesitate to pay a little bit more for direct flight. The super deal with a long layover may seem great but there is two caveats: 1. You lose time for visiting 2. You will likely spend money during that layover, even a sandwich is expensive in a airport and more likely you will go to a sit down restaurant and have a drink to help spend that time. You could easily spend 100$ just there.

[@woltersworld]

Yep

[@me-lg1yw]

You may also miss your connecting flight if your first flight is delayed.

[@adventuretravels7340]

I disagree a long layover like 24 hrz is an amazing opportunity to get an idea of the city your in I've had amazing layovers in Tokyo Paris and Singapore just call it a free mini trip.

[@ohwell225]

@@adventuretravels7340 I feel like a 24hr layover is one thing, but an 8hr layover is quite another. That's not really enough time to explore much when you also have to reenter airport security--even with expedited airport security passes like global entry or precheck. You might not know what's in the immediate area around the airport, either, so finding something in that 8hr timeframe to do for the mini trip could be really difficult. So, it's a super long layover without much payback. The airports I've been to in the US tend to be pretty isolated.

[@paulkoza8652]

I agree. And you avoid the potential that the layover is too short and you miss your connecting flight.

[@maril1379]

Tip be aware of dress. Don't wear souvenir t shirts check how locals dress. You don't want to stand out as a tourist. Learn some basic phrases in the native language. Even just saying thank you in the native language is apprecuated. Do not assume English is spoken by everyone everywhere. Be familiar with local customs and holidays. Thumbs up PS Portugal is rated one of the safest countries on many sites. Thanks from NYC

[@priscilabee583]

my best tip is to book a hotel that allows you to do most sightseeing by foot instead of being stuck in the metro without seeing anything. Even if the hotel is more expensive then a hotel far from the center, what you save in transport and in stress of figuring out bus/metro routes in a place you go for the first time makes it worth it.

[@ykjo5613]

I stand by this rule! Great tip!

[@frankfuentes5659]

That's the first I look for. We like to walk around so that's priority #1. #2 would be a room with at least a queen size bed.

[@paulallen9137]

I think the best budget thing I've been doing this year is rebooking hotel rooms. Book the hotel room you want with free cancellation. Then when you see a better deal, or promo code, book it again and cancel the original booking. You get the same hotel, but for less money.

[@holdencawffle626]

Good tip. But free cancelation typically costs an extra charge

[@marianneelliot-hansen]

Pro tip: Buy Marseille Soap Bar. They are made of olive oil from France, they can come in bar form, so they don’t need to go into your liquids bag for air travel and don’t spill. They smell nice, first of pure soap smell, then a little Olivey, not fake (personal preference there) and you can use it for clothes washing, body wash, hair, and hands. Everything!! Even sensitive skin

[@russmeans]

Part of a fun learning experience is going to a foreign supermarket. It was money saving, but such a unique way to see the every day life of another country.

[@Snowshowslow]

Yesss it's one of my favourite things to see what seemingly random thing they have a whole aisle for, what things are common enough to make it to the ready meals section and to try some common bakery items 💯

[@jodpigbass5904]

YES .... i totally agree ...i always go to the supermarket wherever i am .. you find the best snacks and i remember 30 years ago a tube of mayonnaise in my backpack saved me on many occasion..

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

True Russ. This is true even in the US. The Supermarket deli can be good. You do miss the restaurant experience, however.

[@catalinacurio]

There’s a supermarket in Lisbon called Pingu, or something like that, I love Pingu the penguin so I just remember that part. It’s cheap and good, their own brand is as good if not better than expensive.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

@@catalinacurio Thanks !

[@DAshby139]

The grocery stores are one of my most favorite parts of travel! Seeing the different brands, food types, and not knowing what half of what im getting is. Its the best! Not to mention a HUGE money savor! and you're really are eating like a true local! Most locals aren't eating at $30 a plate every day. They have the $3 box meal from the supermarket. Do the same. It adds so much to the experience!

[@LarryB-inFL]

Additional tip: There are banks that have no brick & mortar facilities and will reimburse you for ANY ATM transaction fees, worldwide. I opened a Schwab checking account for just that reason, and I fund it from my "regular" bank account. Further tip: I switched to T-Mobile. They offer FREE data in basically every country, and always free phone service to/from the USA. Yes, the free data is slow, but you won't accidentally get a big bill no matter where you get diverted to. And, yes, of course they offer an international data plan.

[@danieldumas7361]

For International travel, I book through an Agency. When the airline decides to change your flight without your consent (or even knowledge), the Agency will have more clout to fix the situation.

[@rydiggydawg3166]

FamilyMart and 7-11 convenience stores were a lifesaver when I traveled to Japan. Not only affordable but you can find some really tasty and healthy snacks.

[@triciarie3972]

I can recommend a budget friendly destination - Budapest, Hungary. Budapest reminds me a lot of Paris - the same look of the 5 story apartment buildings - the Danube going through the center rather than the Seine - beautiful Cathedrals - great food - excellent public transportation. In addition Budapest has thermal pools. But it's a fraction of the cost.

[@pansyrosereality]

Great idea. I’ll check that out myself.

[@ayo_k32]

Adding that to my list for the next travel year. You sold me with the thermal pools.

[@toddnelson7393]

@@ayo_k32 The thermal pools in Budapest are great. It's not just one pool but a bunch of pools all different temperatures. So you feel like Goldilocks walking around finding the right one. Trying to find something similar the Budapest pool in the USA, but no luck.

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Thanks for the tip.

[@ykjo5613]

BUD is AWESOME! Was there in 2010 and 2019. It has changed but still pretty amazing.

[@sahilanant123]

Hey Mark! So the incognito trick might not really be worth it because the point of sale (PoS in revenue mgmt terms) remains the same; it doesn't think you're in a different location. So afaik, prices don't inflate because you keep seeing them. They are always controlled by us in revenue management where we handle inventory. A VPN could perhaps help to buy from a different PoS. I work in a BA short-haul where there are just two points of sale (UK and the Rest of Europe) so there's not much difference between the two in terms of fares as the willingness to pay is roughly the same, but it can differ in the rest of world scenario. The faster the lower fares sell (always look out for the selling class when you book a ticket; this is just a single letter such as K, L, etc., and is different from your cabin, which is economy, business, etc). Each of these classes is stacked in the form of a ladder (increasing classes at the top of the ladder, the topmost being fully flexible), and we just open and close classes to reduce/increase fares. In the inventory, the system jumps to the higher classes by closing the lower ones depending on how much demand we've forecasted in each fare class (the lowest open class at the time is the fare you see on the website). This is what eventually inflates the fares. We could always intervene and open a lower class if the demand for a flight slows down (these last-minute deals are due to this), closer to departure, and reduce the fare. A full flight, or a 90-100% load factor for the routes we manage is almost as important as maximizing revenue for us. Demand and supply. :) Low-cost carriers are only low-cost when it's low season haha. Trust me, we have easyjet and Wizz Air as our competitors lol. Also, 1 pound fares dont include carrier-imposed fees and taxes, which make up the major component of what you pay anyways. Hope you are well!

[@diamend5]

For the phone plan issue, I would recommend getting a local SIM card. In Italy I was able to purchase an Italian SIM Card for $30 for 15gb of data and that meant we had a local number to be able to contact local businesses. It was very convenient and then I was able to turn on my hotspot so my husband could just piggy back off my cellular data. It was cheaper than adding the international plan.

[@Charlotte-bc7vj]

Yessss! Only works when you’ve paid off and unlocked your phone, a lot of people are stuck on contracts with their phone provider but you can find out how much your pay off is and pay to unblock it 😊

[@al84765]

There are also several e-sim options available

[@Anoalekontrieger]

@@Charlotte-bc7vj are sim locked phones still a thing? Here in Europe every phone is sim lock free is my understanding

[@Chan12282]

Thanks for this! Where would you buy a local SIM card?

[@diamend5]

@@Chan12282 The airport or some train stations have cell phone shops. Similar to the US, you just look for a cellular store. The one I purchased was in a row of shops around the corner from my hotel in Venice and you could see the advertisement for SIM cards along with cell phone cases and accessories. If you don't want a SIM card they also offered phones - similar to Track phones.

[@ericleszkowicz898]

Love these tips: One thing I did during lunch was to watch where the construction workers were heading to eat in Germany and found a great little sausage stand.

[@ttqueenie]

For meals.. we research supermarkets and purchase items for breakfast and make sandwiches in our hotel room. We also look for cooked meals in the supermarkets. At the hotel we boil water and let it cool by morning and bottle for the day. We also make our coffee and tea in the room and walk with.

[@walkietalkietraveller2932]

that's a bunch of good, money saving advice, Charissa. :)

[@goingawayguide]

Great video! I'll add one more - when booking hotels/airbnbs, don't look at just the price of the room, but also the location. If you book a cheaper hotel that's outside the main area you want to explore, you'll have to pay to get there and back each day, and that might wind up costing more than if you'd booked a more expensive hotel/airbnb in the main area you want to explore; plus you'll spend time traveling there and back!

[@AyaV18]

If you go to Japan, their ATMS at the airport have literally identical rates thats posted, vs going to an actual exchange counter who will give you a lot less.

[@PLBizon]

Traveling off peak time is a great tip. I traveled to Spain in October and indeed the weather was great and no lines to museums and other attractions. Thank you Mark for another great video.

[@woltersworld]

Best time!

[@brandonhunnewell706]

​@@woltersworld Hey Wolter! An affordable destination that i noticed you haven't put a video on yet is the Philippines! Do you have any tips for travellers going there?

[@mrb152]

Just don’t go any later into November. I did in mid November and it was super cold!

[@barbarawissinger]

I always travel to Malta in February (am there now🙂). The weather is lovely (especially compared to home in Germany), it’s cheap & less busy. We’ll try Spain/Portugal next year.

[@TMD3453]

Even the very end of August can be good in Europe. Thanks, Mark, happy travels!!

[@stevo728822]

When touring a city get a multi day tour pass. For example in Copenhagen I got a 5 day pass to multiple attractions. Saved me 150 Euros to pay separately.

[@mypradasatthecleanerss]

Just to add to data plan tip-be careful about having your data on when you haven’t done yet arrived in your destination. I was on a ferry from England to The Netherlands (at the time both in the EU) and so I left my data roaming on as it was included in my plan for the EU. Went to sleep and woke up to quite a big bill because somehow I’d picked up signal in international waters.

[@honeyrococo]

Yes, we live in France and one day made a day trip to Andorra which is outside the Schengen Area but we didn’t think to turn our roaming data off. Just being there for 3 hours with our phone apps updating in the background cost us 40 euros 😢

[@texasflood1295]

The best advice here is USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I have used a bus from the airport to my hotel for $2.50 when a taxi would have been $50.00 in Honolulu and $5.00 on the subway in London when a cab would have been $90.00. Sure, I had to walk an extra few hundred feet from the bus stop to the hotel but I got a "free" dinner out of the deal. It's also a good way to experience the city the way the locals do.

[@Kaiju_Traveler]

I use Airalo for cheap data phone coverage when I need it fast. Unusual get like 10gb and some minutes for $25

[@cdakskid]

If you don't require high end hotels, hostels are a great option. They are less expensive and there are many seasoned, budget conscious travelers at them who are usually more than happy to share "hacks" and advice. I've gotten so much valuable information and advice from fellow travelers at hostels, which isn't as easy to get at hotels. Also, many hostels organize group activities, which are fun. For those who don't care for staying in dorms or are travelling with a spouse or family, many hostels offer private rooms, similar to what you get in a hotel.

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

One-star hotels are usually only a couple euros more than a hostel bed, and you get a private room. Low-rated, low-budget hotels. Usually, only the decor is dated and there is really nothing wrong with them.

[@BKLNHobo]

@@A_Canadian_In_Poland One star hotels in the US are usually dangerous.

[@lannguyen-pu1db]

@@BKLNHobo supermarkets, shopping centers, movie theaters, restaurants, places of worship, the streets, and ESPECIALLY SCHOOLS ARE DANGEROUS in the you esse of aye...

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

I like the social aspect of hostels, but I really need my own private room and bathroom.

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

Some hostels actually have individual rooms you can reserve. It pays to at least ask.

[@mattihp]

One good thing is checking up supermarkets that the locals use as there are so many traps with supermarkets that have awful prices.

[@nicolagilmour1914]

Lisbon last year at the end of October was very hot and extremely busy. We are only guessing pent up demand for travel was the reason. As regard to buying multi ticket passes ,be careful. We didn’t do it and we’re so glad as the lines to enter the monastery were so long around the building in sweltering heat. If you had bought the passes you would have no choice but to join this ridiculous line.

[@marytapia8024]

I love how you keep it real. You’re speaking to the people ! Thank you

[@jafrazer]

Check out school and public holiday dates in your location before travelling. School holidays means that locals will be taking their home country vacations, so it may be more expensive. And mid-March might be a cheap time to come to Europe, but not Ireland! All hotels will be much more expensive than usual with everyone coming for the inevitably disappointing St. Patrick's Day.

[@tjaspire]

I ordered my foreign currency ahead of time through B of A. They charged me no fees!

[@mij6918]

Check if you can get travel insurance included with a bank account. I'm in the UK and have a Monzo premium account, it costs £15/month but I have it just for the travel and phone insurance that comes included with premium. For me it's cheaper, but also MUCH more convenient than having to book it seperately for every trip.

[@aniveed8005]

SO happy to see you back in my favorite city! Spot-on tips as always! I always go (on the first morning) to a store of some international celphone company and buy a SIM CARD for that country, (in Lisbon it was only 20 Euros and good for a month) and then have them insert it in my phone (their eyesight is better than mine! ), keeping my chip taped to the inside of my case for back home, and then I have phone service for anything, anywhere, not just where there is Free WiFi. Being able to call an Uber anywhere, anytime is a big plus, especially in Lisbon where Uber is super cheap, and good for chatting with the driver and getting local tips and recommendations for food and activities. We travel a lot (at least 3 international trips per year) especially as we get older and know we won't always be able to walk as much as before, and we bought a ONE YEAR travel insurance policy. It covers all our travel to wherever for any trip up to 30 days. About $400 per person.

[@davesaunders7080]

I always get a local sim card for my cell phone from the first stop in Europe I go. For like 10-20 Euros you can have a local number and enough data for a 3 week trip using Google maps every day and I use wifi in accommodations at night. It also usually works fine without roaming fees in most every country you may go through.

[@JimandVal]

Traveling off season is our thing!!!! Went to Amsterdam in January 2020 and it was sooooo affordable and we got lucky the weather was amazing the whole time!!! We rarely travel June-Aug.

[@thedavidguy01]

Lots of good advice! If you’re over 60 also look for senior discounts. They’re not as common in Europe as in the USA but they exist and can save you a lot. For example, trains in both France and Italy offer senior fares. In France it’s a minimum of 10% off as long as you book at least 1 day in advance. I’ve gotten as much as 50% off for senior tickets.

[@woltersworld]

Yes! Great point!

[@Snowshowslow]

Same thing for youths / students :)

[@pansyrosereality]

Good one

[@karenmarr7266]

Madrid has TONS of senior discounts!

[@martyscheall9626]

Go to know!

[@litalpeled2055]

Great tips, as always. LOVED the tip on "not oversleeping" and then showing your kid "passed out" outside. so cute LOVE your videos! i'm a fan for more than 6 years already

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

Yes- you can use a VPN. Good idea!

[@ghazalk]

Great video!

[@MadHatterND]

I recommend double checking your plane seats periodically before the trip. Sometimes the carrier changes the type of aircraft and those wonderful seats you purchased are now in a different location.

[@jonnythunder92]

Great advice...when we travel as a family, we always go for self contained accommodation. Then we do some grocery shopping to make sure we always have breakfast in. then alternate between - lunch out and dinner in, or flip that, make a packed lunch and dinner out.

[@ronnysmobilephone]

If you got a budget Switzerland is kinda not in the game plan. 😅

[@Czechbound]

*Accommodation* : Don't discount staying hostels. I stayed in many, many YHA hostels around the globe. Many now have private rooms. They were all very clean, and a great way to get ideas for things to do. If you're a solo traveller, it's a great way to meet people to do activities with. Even if you are choosing to stay in a hotel/ apartment, visiting a hostel is a great way of getting information of things to do. They are always very plugged in to what is going on. Also a great place to organise tours as they do this all the time.

[@AsstVillageIdiot]

Scandinavia in late Nov - early Dec you can see the Christmas markets. Yes it's cold, but not brutal (at least not if you are from NH), and the darkness is a quick adjust, really. And there's glugg. Old once-very-elegant hotels near the city centers can be quite reasonable. I would emphasise your general lessson that nothing is going to be more expensive than bad decisions, so worry less about the few bucks and worry more about what your temptations are likely to be.

[@victoriadell614]

Glad I'm not the only one who got burned on the "no trains on Sunday morning London" thing. Seriously? Still can't believe that's a thing. All good advice per usual - thanks Mark!

[@woltersworld]

Yeah it was, "I learned it the hard way" kind of thing. Ended up flying BA from then on so I had normal flight times that worked with public transportation

[@sewgeekdesigns9113]

We have that in some parts of America like no buses on Sunday…. Like people still work on Sunday 😅

[@eaglenoimoto]

I lived in London for over a decade and never heard of this... you mean the first train might be a bit later than on other weekdays? Anyhow, buses in London are 24/7, there are specific night buses for times there are no trains.

[@koenven7012]

@@eaglenoimoto in London, yes, but do they run out to Stansted or Luton or wherever those budget airlines fly from.

[@jettenielsen4951]

About travel seasons, I would add also check for local holidays.

[@jennysjourney02]

Another thing that saves money, and maybe this is obvious, is not buying souvenirs. If I do it's something I can use, it's small for space, and is under a dollar amount depending on my budget. Especially in touristy areas it can be ridiculously expensive. Thanks for these budget tips. I'm hoping to start traveling international in the next year or so.

[@woltersworld]

Yes! I did a presentation this week on budget tips and I had that in my list of tips. Get 1 nice one instead of tons of crappy ones or if want to get something for friends. Send them postcards instead.

[@picobello99]

​@@woltersworld But first do your research before sending postcards. It can be expensive and a waste of time. I had to wait for an hour in an over crowded post office one time and then it would cost €40 to send 5 cards. That was a bit too much for me.

[@Charlotte-bc7vj]

@@picobello99 wow!! Where was there? 😱

[@1958zed]

For my first trip to Europe (mostly Germany) in late September 2007, a friend told my to drive from village to village and find a guest house / B&B / pensionne. I did that and it worked out well. I paid 35-55 euros per night for a basic room with my own bathroom and shower, and breakfast was typically included. I was usually the only non-native tourist there, so it was a great opportunity to meet the locals. The language barrier was a bit of a problem, but we always worked through it.

[@stephenhill6003]

I did the same when visiting England from the US. It was a great way to meet people and the language barrier was fun ("Two countries separated by a common language." 🙂)

[@roberthalverson3987]

Excellent travel tips mostly for beginner travelers, but also as a reminder to expert travelers. Thanks Mark for making this video. It summarizes many tips all in one place. Now we can share it with friends and family, to help them save money and avoid disappointment.

[@nathanjw940]

I couchsurf and yes it can save a ton of money. That said be a good guest. Me and a friend stayed in Denver 5 days. Our host was up to see if we got back we were so quiet he didn't realize we were home. We also treated him to a baseball game. If it wasn't for him just coming back from being out of town we would have gone whitewater rafting. Tip if you stay with family or friends do something unique with them. Staycation is always fun from a couchsurfer and one of the main reasons why.

[@woltersworld]

That's cool

[@atheistweirdo]

I'm a solo traveler I will stay in hostel in Europe and highly recommend it for people who travel alone and want to meet fellow travelers to explore the local area but also allow you to explore alone. Review the reviews of the hostels before booking, and some have cheaper solo rooms compared to hotels. I'm going to Japan in March and plan to use railroads and bicycles as transportation.

[@karenmarr7266]

Also, hostels offer lots of different services such as free city tours, group dinners, self serve kitchens. If you are traveling by yourself, it's a good way to meet other people.

[@catalinacurio]

I intended to live in a hostel for a few weeks and wound up staying there for almost a year (I was working locally), best time of my life and so many friends made. 😊

[@Charlotte-bc7vj]

I LOVE hostels and have met great friends there. As I hit my 30s on solo trips I opted for female only dorms or in a cheap location, private rooms. You can still meet people in the common area etc. Now I have a kid my hostel days are behind me but I can’t wait to encourage him to do hostel travel once he’s old enough! So fun. Walking tours are great for meeting people when you’re solo too!

[@atheistweirdo]

@Charlotte 87 I try to tell everyone this. The movie hostel scared so many American about hostels that every time I mention it they always bring that up. I will plug hostelworld as an app all young solo travels need.

[@picobello99]

For the public transportation it's always a good idea to see if there's a (multi)day pass. Most cities have those. It's cheaper than buying separate tickets for every ride and saves you time. Booking asap isn't always cheaper. Sometimes it's better to wait. Flight prices often fluctuate depending on popular demand. Booking on a saturday afternoon is probably going to be a bit pricier than on a monday morning.

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

One caveat with that is in places like Los Angeles they have a policy of "fare capping" so you pay no more than $5/day or $18/week to travel and in LA's case, they will eliminate day/week/month passes due to that price "cap" according to the website.

[@BKLNHobo]

In this day and age everyone can and should research local transit before they even arrive. KZbin is chock full of videos.

[@glorgau]

Yep, it's all dynamic pricing this days.

[@mariohendriks1]

My advise on the transportation stuff: If you travel by car in the Netherlands always use the P+R sites at the outskirts of cities. For example in Utrecht a day ticket for parking at one costs about €6 which includes a free local public transport day pass for 5 people. One hour of street parking in the city center will cost you €6.46 (Or € 46,55 for a day).

[@clairewalsh6638]

Happy to learn I'm an expert budget traveller, I use pretty much all these tips. Another I'd add is that if you are planning to shop at supermarkets most nowadays have websites so you can do research before.

[@wncjan]

As goes for restaurants; if you want to eat cheap and good, go to places where local students eat. Students don't have that much money but they love good food as much as anyone.

[@oooh19]

How do you know who’s a student? You can’t tell by look

[@wncjan]

@@oooh19 If you are in a university town and see a restaurant where the audience is mostly young people, I say most likely at least some of them are students.

[@oooh19]

@@wncjan true but everyone any age appreciates reasonable prices for their food

[@TheGlitterGlobe]

Great tips! I watched twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything! Travel takes homework and patience! A flight tip I’ve discovered is to always check round trip and one-way tickets. I just booked NY to Athens and back with two one way tickets and it was a huge savings! Another thing I found was to check multiple airports. I leave from a small commuter airport anyway so it’s always a hassle (connections/flight changes/cancelled flights), so sometimes it’s worth it to check multiple airports and ways to get somewhere. One year I flew NY to Chicago to Athens. Absurd? Half the cost!

[@jenniferalbert910]

These are GREAT tips!

[@woltersworld]

Thank you jennifer!

[@OTseven]

Always a joy. Surprisingly learned several tips I'd never thought of before. Thank you

[@honeyrococo]

We live in France and whenever we travel to England we go to the Tesco or Sainsbury etc. website a week or two ahead of time and order some food to be delivered the day we arrive so we can just crash out after our long drive. Plus on the website you can rank things by price so you save the most money - for example, in the store itself, cashews might be near the veg, and also in the world foods section, and also in the bio / organic section but on the website you can choose the best cheapest cashews because they are sitting next to each other on the page. Then we have cheap basic foods where we are staying without having to go anywhere. And the delivery price is super reasonable and lots of times your first order is free.

[@byemyself3166]

6 a. m. from Stanstead - who takes a cab 🤯? If I have an early flight from any city and from whatever airport, I always stay at a hotel right next to the airport. Normally, you find rooms for any budget there. Also, the official exchange rate is not what you get at your bank or cc company. The official rate is normally only applied to trade. All transactions differ from the official rate.

[@eimundhaugan235]

As a Norwegian traveling to Sweden this summer its amazing how I dont have to worry about exchange rate! (Norwegian Krone and Swedish Krona is almost 1:1)

[@cindy-ml7vo]

I have a friend that never came with me to Greece(I'm greek) because of the after 3 days, fish stink theory. If your foreign friend tells you, we can go for 2 weeks, it will be fine, GO! They know who you'll be staying with, the family with the extra room.

[@Brunette_Rapunzel]

I have found that taking the bus (in most cases, but not all!) is cheaper than the train or underground. What I do to save on food costs is, when I go to a new city, I try out one local restaurant so I can try the local specialty, then grocery shop for the rest of my stay in that city. Also, sometimes hostels are the way to go 9if you are young or traveling solo), but I've actually found that sometimes airbnbs are cheaper than hostels! It all comes down to doing your research! I highly agree on knowing your budget. It's very tempting to blow it quickly! :)

[@susanstadtlander9140]

Good tips! May I add, when letting your phone provider know of your travel plans also let your bank/cc's be aware of your itinerary or you may not be able to access your funds for your budget. If they suspect fraud they may put a hold on your cards and create a needless hassle for you. Safe travels!!

[@vm1776]

you mentioned transportation methods at your destination. It's good to research ahead, but ask your lodging what they recommend. We went to a festival in New Orleans and our hotel staff told us to use public transit to get there but said that it would be dangerous to wait at bus stops for pickups upon our return and they gave us the numbers for a cab company for the return. We hadn't realized how deserted those bus stops would be at night on streets that are busy in the day.

[@anthonydavis3424]

Blacks

[@austinmarch6357]

Great video! Going on my first trip abroad soon, so this will be very helpful.

[@paulkoza8652]

Mark, this was excellent advice for the novice. My main effort is to do the research on the destination before I go. This has helped me see hidden sights and also to avoid traps.

[@AnneMB955]

I’ve booked airfares, accommodation, ground transportation, phone plan, insurance online before I go. That way I know how much I’m spending. A little cash for tips and debit card with no fees. These have been learnt over time so Walter, we’ll done on helping newbies. You are very wise. 💰

[@abelquiron2653]

I am a seasoned traveller and I think you have nailed it. Congratulations.

[@jerryhorn4697]

Excellent tip at the end regarding travel outside of summer. NEVER travel to Mediterranean Europe in the summer because everyone in Europe goes there on holiday in summer. Too HOT! Too HUMID! Too CROWDED! Too EXPENSIVE! I always do my international travel in autumn or winter. The weather and scenery are beautiful with the changing colors and the approaching Christmas holiday. The locals I have met are always glad that the summer crowds are gone. The cooler temperatures make everyone more sociable and friendly to off-season travelers.

[@woltersworld]

And you get like 2 weeks for the price of one

[@Ramg66]

Watch out for tricky restaurant hosts, I was in Rome and we went to have lunch, my wife and I both ordered the same thing each some shrimp with pasta and a beer, the host was telling us about his wifes mushrooms and asked if we would like to try some, we said yes, then he asked if we wanted our salads now, my wife and I were both happy salads were included, NOT 120 Euros later..... be careful, we had to pay it even though he made it sound like they were for free or included. Also be careful if you order wine and they bring the whole bottle, don't fall for these scams. Most importantly ask for the prices before you order if they are not posted.

[@xXxKingjonxXx]

Great video, so much travel wisdom. A great start here video for travelers.

[@betasequence4885]

Thanks heaps for this :) I'm a veteran traveller but (due to being spoiled rotten) my mum has done most of the planning. Super happy to get tips from the legend himself and his awesome family.

[@rebeccagutierrez1960]

Thanks, Mark, for all your great tips. I love shopping at local grocery stores for little food items and snacks near my hotel. I was in Portugal in August, 2022 and will return in April, 2023.

[@coreymickanuik8199]

Really good tips to follow. I got burned just traveling to the US for a weekend from Canada with my cell provider, so lesson learned and now when I travel the first thing I do is make sure I am on a travel plan with my mobile provider. Great tip about not exchanging money at airports, they are a trap!

[@babsr8479]

I did the multi destination airplane ✈ ticket. I flew into London, took the Eurostar to Paris and flew back from Paris. London is quite expensive so I did less time there and more in Paris, but I did manage a play in Piccadilly Circus. I got last minute tickets and saved that way.

[@magalig9026]

Thank you very much, Mark. I think the museum passes are worth it because they, in many cases, jump you to the front of the line, or no line.

[@woltersworld]

That's true. The tike saving nature can be worth more than money

[@koenven7012]

Another good budget tip is: do not rent a car at the airport. If you can, take a hotel shuttle bus/taxi/uber/public transport away from the airport and rent there somewhere. I did this last May in the US (actually my uncle picked us up as he lived near the town we went to) and renting about half an hour away from the airport cost half for the same company, the same vehicle type, etc.

[@Fan652w]

If you are visiting a major European city and are going to use a lot of public transportation, always buy a period ticket (eg one day, three days, seven days) valid on all forms of public transportation. This makes things both cheaper and easier. However, one word of warning about public transport in Britain OUTSIDE LONDON. AS A GENERAL (BUT NOT INVARIABLE) RULE, public transport period tickets are only valid on the vehicles of the operator who issued the ticket. Eg, in Nottingham where I live, a one-day ticket on Nottingham City Buses is not valid on Trentbarton buses, nor on the (excellent) Nottingham trams.

[@karenuhrich9683]

Great video, Mark! Thank you! I am learning the ropes through you and making notes for all my future travels. I just discovered that if I book separate one way flights instead of doing return flights when booking with airlines, it is often cheaper. I just saved over $200 doing this for my flight from Canada to London.

[@renat1786]

Also 2 separate flights might be better as they are not dependent from each other, for return flights if one is late on the first flight, return flight is lost too because of "no show" rule from airlines

[@woltersworld]

Sometimes it does work. Search various options.

[@ianprince1698]

UK railways offer their cheap tickets first so they charge the top price on the day of travel

[@MJWINNER_Sketchbook999]

Hi there thankyou. But Have u been to Equador?

[@AndyPanayiotou27]

Great video of tips. I would add, some hotels have free cancellation up until even just 24 hours before you arrive. If the one you're eyeing does, go for a reservation. Even if you're not completely sure yet. Just don't forget to cancel if you end up not going. Also, check for municipality discounts for attractions. Turin, for example, offers 1, 2 and 3 day passes to museums and other attractions at a fixed/reduced price that can save you maybe even 50% compared to buying individual tickets. An extra general tip: consider you're trip to the airport and then trip to the hotel (or wherever you're staying) when trying to manage your phone battery life. Budget airplanes and sometimes buses, trains and metros don't have a way to charge your phone. A power bank is worth it. Giving my experience going to Turin again, a 3.5-4 hour flight was an 11 hour trip when considering going to the airport and getting from Milan's airport to my hotel in Turin.

[@jlchavis0844]

There's some good tips. Another thing that can save you money is by using a travel credit card. They will often have cashback bonuses or points bonuses for local businesses and hotels and things like that.

[@ricktulisalo4362]

As always, I loved the video! I am usually a solo traveler and I almost always look for a B&B or an apartment abroad, rather than a hotel. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, I always like to have a refrigerator in the room to keep water, sodas, beer or wine cold. The cost savings of having these things in the room vs paying for them externally (unless you're visiting a club or restaurant, of course) is significant! Also, having a washing machine available drastically reduces the amount of clothes you need to bring, which can save money on checked baggage on an airline, or just being able to move about on the streets easily from the airport or station to the residence with less luggage. In Europe, especially Italy and Spain, the quality of the place is usually superior anyway, unless you need a restaurant or bar in the place you're staying. Keep up the good work!

[@lee6198]

This is my thoughts exactly. I need that fridge and even a microwave or stove top to make some food like breakfast or heat up leftovers for a snack. Even dinner. Like Taking a break during day to rest before some tourists night tours or concert.

[@pansyrosereality]

Curious , have you ever stayed in a hostel abroad. It’s something I’ve been thinking about specifically in Europe somewhere.

[@ricktulisalo4362]

@@pansyrosereality I have not. Some look interesting, but I just haven't done it. I have found apartments work best for me.

[@karenmarr7266]

Excellent video. For #9, public transportation. You've traveled to a new place and being on public transportation lets you rub shoulder with the locals, and see how they do it. Being in an Uber (for example) keeps you in a bubble of isolation.

[@andreamaronn4510]

I like to travel in the slower seasons and have found that, if I book my accommodations early, I usually get a discount (dropped cleaning or service fees, etc.) without even asking. 👍

[@StarryRoses]

I haven't watched anything from you in a while but here I am today and boy your subs number has blown up! I can't believe you're running towards a million 😁 so happy for y'all! I think you were one of my first channels and way back in the scratchy video days. Thank you for doing what you love and sharing it with us. You've been one of my biggest inspirations for developing my own channel. 🙏💖

[@swicheroo1]

I don't go crazy on crap souvenirs. I just identify something amazing that I want (this time it's some knives in Japan). And unless the trip is a gastronomic trip, I will try to self-cater a few meals using local ingredients to keep costs low (which is why Airbnb's can be economical).

[@pianocrisante90]

If you want to save money on your phone bill, buy a local SIM card. Because when you go to another country your mobile phone goes into world roaming which can add on very high fees. As an Australian who travels to Italy every year, I have 2 SIM cards: one for Australia and one for Italy, and I can save money that way. 0:15:40

[@rhondapetsch9646]

Those foreign transaction fees are no joke! He’s legit. Get a credit card with no foreign fees.

[@woltersworld]

its crazy how much some cards charge and it really adds up

[@kimmontenegro2258]

When traveling in the US and have a rental car, I look for a Dollar Tree and stock up on snacks, gallon of water, and drinks there. This way I always have something at the ready if I'm hungry or thirsty. If I have to park the car in a city, look for early bird specials since those can save a lot of money. Another consideration is to head to the event via public transportation and then get a car once needed away from the airport. Did that in Philadelphia this year. Saved me a couple of hundred dollars.

[@ronaldulibarri9498]

All of this is SOLID advice that we've proven to be true over the years. Thanks Mark!

[@woltersworld]

Thank you Ronald. I appreciate that. Hope you are doing well.

[@marycarla6245]

I think it’s a fine idea to go outside the hotel for breakfast however if you’re on a “time budget” I’ve found it sometimes more convenient to have a large breakfast at the hotel, a light lunch when out and about, and then dinner whenever and however we feel like it. It might not be a $ budget option but unless you know a place or have one recommended to you, it can be a waste of time IMO

[@Luv2tickt]

Traveling during different parts of the year. I'll give a great example. We're going to Cactus League Spring Training in a few weeks. About a week after we get back, there was a conference I was supposed to go to in Köln. It was around $150 cheaper to fly round trip to Germany than it was to fly from Milwaukee to Phoenix! Yes, it's spring training, so that's going to boost the prices...not to mention all the other issues going on. But it's also not exactly travel season in early spring for Germany. So...cheap tickets!

[@durhamskywriter]

re: public transportation: When planning for a conference, bus and metro routes affect my choice of hotels. I watch instructional KZbin videos, download the transit apps, and purchase the transit cards/passes online. I saved a bundle by getting a senior transit card when I visited Los Angeles last year.

[@barbobrien9318]

I think it would be helpful if you posted more videos for senior/retired travellers. Thanks

[@virtualworldsbyloff]

Also the public transport 3 or 7 day pass, I see tourists in Lisbon constantly paying 2€ for each ride when they ride 6 to 10 transports per day, while they could pe paying much much less and have total freedom of unlimited rides

[@SteveInNEPA1]

As a retired travel planner and hotelier, I find your content well researched and expertly presented. I had to smile the other day when you said Switzerland was the least friendly country, and on this video when you mention Switzerland as potentially breaking your budget. Why? After skiing in Davos back in the 80s when I was in my 20s, we booked a trip to the Alps for this June. It is expensive, but as you said in one video, knowing that going in will keep it fun. Thanks always for the great advice.

[@nathanjw940]

Another tip can you travel in your area? Has there been a museum that you keep passing up? Is there somewhere within driving distance you haven't done? Maybe you do Europe in May and something closer in the summer

[@woltersworld]

Yes! Travel local can save a lot and you get to know your area better

[@bryantsteury8910]

One of the travel tips my parents always gave me growing up and I do it now, akin to many of the tips you gave here, was a loaf of bread and a jar of PB and J is $8 and is great for 14 sandwiches that on the street are a minimum or 3 bucks. Not expensive but easy, portable, take 60 seconds to make and can defer you from an unnecessary expensive and time-consuming restaurant stop. At best McDonalds where you're not even experiencing local food

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

I agree! If you want to experience something of the local food, buy locally made bread when you’re going to make sandwiches!

[@MsTimelady71]

I'm going to have to dispute the "not paying for breakfast" part. In Spain, I was cheap and didn't pay for breakfast at my hotel. But I am an early riser and absolute nothing was open at 8:00am. I spent so much time walking instead of just paying for breakfast. Plus if you have children who are hungry it makes a lot more sense to pay for all-you-can-eat hotel breakfast.

[@oooh19]

Not all hotels offer breakfast 🥞 but many do

[@oooh19]

I’m shocked that cafes weren’t open

[@estellelegault5312]

Hello. My husband has been following your vlog for some time. I sometime viewed some as he would share the ones that would interest me. I am the world travel planner in our family so all experiences, and hints are quite useful. Loved this video and have now Subscribed. 🙂 For phones I usually get a local SIM card « monthly » package. This seems like excessive when only there for 14 to 21 days but I find this very comforting. It usually cost me less then $40 CAD.

[@woltersworld]

Yes. If you are staying in one country for awhile it can make big time economic sense

[@PapaJenkinz]

Just graduated and leaving May 5 for Europe for 7 weeks. Thanks for the great tips!!

[@dianehenry-ee6hr]

Once again, great tips Mark! I always do the research on our travel destinations to find the best value while traveling. We always use public transport. Also also, if the destination offers a city pass, we grab it for the savings.

[@alexmcleod9997]

One thing I did when I was in Thailand I had a new Sim card put in my phone during my time there so I could use it like normal and so that I would not have to rack up a huge bill. When I got back to United States I put my regular Sim card back in, and there was no crazy bill