My unpopular opinion: you only need $1,000 to see the world
I often get a lot of questions about how I am able to afford to travel as often as I do.
We all know that traveling abroad can be expensive. The truth however is that it doesn't have to be; you do not need to break the bank to see the world.
After my first solo trip to Lisbon, Portugal for $879 in 2022 I began to wonder if it were possible to see other destinations across the globe on the same shoestring budget.
Insert "Frugal Fridays" from The Holiday Lab
My blog, The Holiday Lab, was designed out of a love for travel and a want to inspire others to have similar experiences. I am happy to announce that I have stared a new segment that will come each Friday called "Frugal Friday". The Holiday Lab invites you to come along as we plan a spur of the moment trip for under $1,000.
Each Friday we will explore a new destination and provide all of the logistics and pricing information related to flights, food, lodging, and tours!
Is it possible to go to another country for $1,000?
The short answer is YES, but it takes a lot of planning, patience and a little sacrifice. In this weekly blog segment we will explore how traveling on a $1,000 budget is possible, and explain what you need to do to accomplish the same outcome.
The best way to meet your goal to travel for $1,000 is to set out a rough estimate for your overall budget. Notice that budgets may vary from person to person, and from trip to trip.
For example you may want to cook all of your own food saving money for tours, or choose less tours to bring home souvenirs for family. The most important thing is to split up your $1,000 in categories based loosely on how you intend to spend it.
The other important note is to plan your budget BEFORE you pick your destination or the time window for your trip. Having time flexibility and being open to any destination that fits your budget requirements really counts when trying to stretch your budget to the max.
My example budget for a $1,000 trip is as follows:
Flight: $400
Food: $150
Lodging: $200
Tours: $200
Lose Ends (transportation, gratuities, random items): $50
First, Let's Find Your Flight Deal that Meets Your Budget
So let's get started in planning your next adventure! The first step in booking a$1,000 trip is to score a great flight deal.
To do this, you will need to be open to any destination, and be okay with the potential of flying economy class as it is almost always cheapest. Remember this is about chasing a deal, not planning your dream vacation or being comfortable.
The best way to find a cheap flight is to use Google Flights. In my experience it is always best to book directly through the airline site once you identify the cheapest route no matter how tempting third party deals may be, you will wind up paying when things go wrong.
Step 1: Go to Google Flights Explore Page
Step 2: Choose your Home Airpot and select destination as "Anywhere"
Step 3: Explore until you find a destination that is under your allotted budget
Step 4: Proceed to the airline direct booking portal to book your flight
For this Frugal Friday - We selected Dublin!
After exploring the map I was able to identify a roundtrip flight from RDU (one of my local airports) to Dublin from November 15th to November 23rd, for only $375. The airline is Iceland Air and is only one stop. Having flexible dates for any deal window increases the places you are able to go.
Trip Cost So Far: $375
Flight: $375
Next Let's Find Where to Stay for One Week In Dublin
Staying in a hostel is a common option for solo travelers or those on a tight budget. I have had the opportunity to stay in several hostels during my travels, including two in Dublin. Hostels facilitate making new friends and foster a communal environment. Moreover, they typically offer breakfast, which helps in managing expenses. I prefer to book through a discount travel website like booking.com.
Step 1: Go to booking.com
Step 2: Search for stays in Dublin between November 16th and November 23rd
Step 3: Choose an accommodation in your budget
The hostel recommended for this Frugal Friday is one that I have personally stayed in and can vouch for.
Abigail's Hostel in Dublin has everything you need for a perfect stay in Dublin, including an ideal location near Temple bar. For one week, a bed in a mixed form room will cost approximately $200 keeping us very close to our budget.
Trip Cost So Far: $591
Flight: $375
Lodging: $216
From Dublin: Best Tours of Ireland for Travelers on a Budget
In my opinion, one of the most efficient ways to see a country is with a group tour. There are many benefits of a group tour for budget travelers. Tours often have pick up and drop off meaning you do not need to pay any transit fees to get there.
Tours are often lead by local guides who know the ins and outs of the area as well as secrets and hidden gems. Perhaps one of the biggest perks for budget travelers is that some of these tours do include lunch or a meal voucher.
Below are some selected tours that fit within our $200 budget. The goal was to do four tours for this price. Spreading 3 varied tours across your 7 days in Ireland will allow you to get a mix efficient culture and site seeing accomplished with your tight budget.
*Please always tip your tour guide!
Cost: $45
Suggested Gratuity: $5*
Lunch Budget: $15
Duration: 7 Hours
Cost: $88
Suggested Gratuity: $10*
Lunch Budget $15
Duration: 13 Hours
Cost: $95
Lunch Budget $15*
Suggested Gratuity: $20
Duration: 12 Hours
While there are many free things to do in Dublin, adding these tours is a great way to make the most out of your stay. If I were to go on all three of these tours that would put me just a hair over budget at $228.
Trip Cost So Far: $899
Flight: $375
Food: $45
Lodging: $216
Tours: $228
Lose Ends (transportation, gratuities, random items): $35
How to Plan a Meal Budget While Traveling
Food is often one of the largest expenses in any travel budget. However, with a few smart and calculated decisions, you can minimize spending the most in this cost category. While this is the easiest place to theoretically cut your expenses, it will feel very difficult. Setting a tight budget for food means that you won't be eating out, or drinking a lot of alcohol for that fact.
The first two recommendations I have for you is to make sure you pack one box of your favorite granola bars, as well as a refillable water bottle of your choice. These two items will save you a lot of money in a pinch when you need fuel.
There are decisions you can make to stretch your budgets like:
Getting takeaway vs. dining in
Split your portions in two and save half for later
Use your daily budget in the grocery store and cook in the hostel
Fill up on breakfast at the hostel
Bring food with you from home
Below is a breakdown of how I would spend my budgeted across 7 days in Ireland:
Trip Cost So Far: $994 - $6 under budget!
Flight: $375
Food: $140
Lodging: $216
Tours: $228
Lose Ends (transportation, gratuities, random items): $35
At this point in the planning process it is good to revisit your budget and look at the trip plan. With the totals above, we are sitting at a final trip cost of $994.
If you are over budget the first place to look at cutting costs is the length of your stay.
By shortening your stay you get daily budget back in Lodging and Food. Note however that changing the duration of your trip window may increase the total flight cost and push you our of budget in that area. Weigh all of your options. It may make sense for you to increase your personal budget to fit your lifestyle, and that is okay.
Traveling on with only $1,000 can be considered EXTREME, but it is achievable.
It is not always perfect, but you can travel abroad with only $1,000
If you have made it this far into the post, it is likely clear to you that budget travel takes a little bit of sacrifice and a lot of planning.
By making changes from a hotel room to a hostel, and making your own meals vs. going out, you open up yourself to more possibilities. If your ambition is simple, if it is to see the world, you can get there. It is cheaper than you think!
Look out for our next Frugal Friday blog post on September, 27.
Madison and Hayley holding a goat in Ireland, 2019
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