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The Less Frequently Individuals Vacation, The More They Are Prone to Overspending: A Guide to Unconventional Traveling

“Yes, we’re really thrilled,” stated the woman grasping the cart loaded with four sizable suitcases for just two travelers. “This is our first genuine vacation in four years.” It seemed they required significantly more attire than I did for their journey to Los Cabos, a location that seldom falls below 75F degrees. However, extra baggage charges weren’t the true catastrophe. I calculated based on current airline fares and their stated accommodation and estimated their infrequent getaway was likely costing them at least $5,000, possibly much more.

“We reunite with our long-time friends every four years at some beach resort. We always promise to go somewhere different on our own in the interim, but there’s always something else we end up spending our money on. So it never occurs. Thankfully this one is arranged, so it forces us to leave the house and go.”

Good grief. I was merely overhearing this dialogue while queuing at customs in the airport, so I refrained from interrupting, yet I had countless questions I was eager to pose. Like what are you using all your funds for that permits a vacation only once every four years? Why not just take a shorter trip every year within driving range? Or select a different destination that costs a fraction of Los Cabos’ price?

What becomes of all that accumulated vacation time from your job? Do you lounge around the house watching TV?

Depending on the study cited, the average American couple traveling for leisure spends between $3,800 to $5,200, and most of these trips are a week or shorter in duration. To me, that sounds like an unbelievable sum of money. Most of those average couples could enjoy two or three vacations with that amount if they were simply more astute in seeking out fantastic travel bargains and optimizing their options. Even when examining typical vacation packages, there exist far superior values than that.

More Travel on a Tight Budget

No one who genuinely enjoys traveling would postpone a trip for four years. As I have traversed the globe, I’ve encountered individuals with quite modest incomes who are on the road for weeks. I’ve met bartenders, social workers, and teachers who have visited numerous countries. The thing is, they’re not residing at places like this:

I occasionally stay at such locations due to my travel writing assignments, but I’ve only occasionally paid for them myself. Like most unconventional travelers, I know how to use a calculator, and I realize better than to follow the crowd.

I don’t presume that the way “most individuals” travel is the best approach. If a million people are ready to pay $600 a night for accommodations somewhere (in Los Cabos, that won’t even be a luxury option), then I’ll redeem points or locate a venue where I can have a comparable experience for $150 a night or less.

Such hotels are not difficult to find. They may lack six pools with a swim-up bar and a room larger than your studio apartment, but they can be quite pleasant if you’re in the appropriate area. In the World’s Cheapest Destinations book, I’ve detailed numerous locations where that price is indeed at the high end of the spectrum. Even in neighboring Mexico, I have frequently spent under $50 for a cozy hotel room that included a private bath, daily housekeeping, and air conditioning. This was my $36 stay in Playa del Carmen, complete with a swimming pool:

Regarding Mexico, selecting Mazatlan or Puerto Escondido can significantly reduce your beach vacation expenses compared to the top resort destinations. Venturing inland can further cut your budget by a third or half. Traveling down to Guatemala or Honduras will reduce it once again. Lowering the star rating of your accommodations, and before you know it, that $5,000 will enable two individuals to travel for a month or more instead of just six nights by the beach and paying for overpriced excursion activities.

I understand the allure if you merely wish to lounge and unwind for a time. I have personally funded an all-inclusive resort experience for family enjoyment. Additionally, when I won stays at such resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa from travel writing competitions, I gladly accepted. We had a fantastic time, and few things bring me more joy than a perpetual open bar.

But if I had to wait four years to take a vacation solely for that type of enclosed experience? No, thank you. I’d prefer to embark on eight trips and dial back the marble and infinity pools. Astute travelers possess a different perspective and a readiness to escape, no matter the circumstances.

Saudi Arabia is swiftly enhancing its hospitality industry, featuring some of the most opulent hotels worldwide. In Jeddah, a key location on the western coastline, upscale hotels are offered at competitive prices. A highlight is the Voco Jeddah Gate, situated just outside the present downtown district. As the nearby region transitions into a business and commercial hub, the Voco Gate continues to be an outstanding deal. Rooms are priced at $150 per night, equipped with amenities such as a kitchen, washer-dryer unit, spacious accommodations, and an impressive breakfast buffet.

The Voco Gate boasts a variety of amenities, including several swimming pools, outdoor hot tubs, a large fitness center, and optional women-only areas in accordance with Saudi cultural practices. Guests can relax in a central lounge that offers coffee and mocktails, a wedding venue, conference spaces, and large event halls. The breakfast buffet is especially remarkable, featuring an extensive range of local and international cuisines, with numerous stations providing a selection of on-demand dishes and an impressive choice of breads.

In summary, the Voco Gate in Jeddah presents a fantastic lodging option, with prices anticipated to increase as the surrounding region develops. Travelers are encouraged to capitalize on this chance to enjoy luxury at a reasonable cost.

If you are embarking on a global adventure, embracing the nomadic lifestyle, or simply seeking the most advantageous accommodation deal while on holiday, comparison shopping can significantly impact your nightly costs. During a road trip, you will want to find the most affordable motels that offer cleanliness and comfort. For trips to international cities, locate the least expensive hotels that are ideally situated for exploration. Backpackers may look for guesthouses and hostels where they can connect with fellow travelers.

The approach to searching for hotel rooms can differ based on the locale and financial plan, yet in every scenario, dedicating a little more time to research can lead to considerable benefits.

I fully support the idea of booking an apartment if I’ll be staying in one spot for an extended period, but there are plenty of instances where passing through makes a hotel room the preferable option. Additionally, while renting an apartment can be beneficial for those requiring a kitchen or traveling with family, often it can be more economical and convenient to reserve a hotel room, eliminating concerns about key exchanges, luggage storage for early arrivals, or cleaning before departure.

If you possess more funds than you know what to do with or your employer covers your expenses, you might not need to worry much about hotel rates while traveling. However, when paying from your own limited budget, employing the right strategic approaches can lead to more affordable hotel options, effectively freeing up cash for other vacation expenses.

I personally book my own hotel accommodations every month or two while traveling, especially during transit when I will only need a place for a night or two. I have discovered numerous tips for locating the cheapest motels that I would feel comfortable staying in and budget-friendly rooms in cities worldwide almost every time I travel.

A common error made by infrequent American travelers is the misconception that the rest of the globe operates like the USA, where chain hotels and motels are predominant. In regions like Asia, Latin America, and Europe, there are far more independent hotels and resorts, alongside chains such as B&B HOTELS, which provide hundreds of reasonably priced options across France, Germany, and Italy.

Do keep in mind that all the cost-saving strategies mentioned below may not apply during peak festival weekends, holiday seasons, or simply high tourist periods. If you lack flexibility in your plans and haven’t kept your travel options open, there won’t be much you can do to reduce your rates. You will be paying premium prices by default. Otherwise…

1) Utilize a Hotel Aggregator Service

After years of heavy promotion by Trivago through TV commercials, many people have realized that room rates are not consistent across various booking platforms like Expedia, Priceline, and official hotel websites. Regardless of how many times a company claims you will always get their best price, discrepancies in pricing across sites are frequent.

While searching, many of the “options” are actually just different divisions of the same company. It’s essential to view them all for comparison.

I frequently observe variances of 10-20% when conducting searches on Trivago or HotelsCombined, and sometimes the differences are even more pronounced. On one occasion, I booked a room in Mexico where the price on Booking.com was literally half of what I found on Hotels.com. Conversely, there may be times when this could work the other way around. Consistently comparing is crucial, and these sites facilitate that process. The same property will appear at varying prices, as demonstrated in this screenshot.

I previously checked Hotwire often as well, which is great when you don’t have a particular hotel in mind and are simply seeking a bargain. This approach works especially well for last-minute bookings when hotels are eager to fill their partially vacant properties. However, it seems to be declining in quality. I have managed to snag some fantastic deals this way at hotels that I would have overlooked at full price in the past, but currently, the options are limited in most areas.

There is recourse available if you’re working with a significant hotel chain. Companies like Intercontinental Hotels Group and Marriott supposedly match lower prices found elsewhere if theirs are higher. Usually, you will need to fill out a form to claim that difference.

Occasionally, an independent hotel will also match lower rates listed elsewhere, but you must invest time in locating a front desk manager or reservations agent to discuss it. (Refer to the section later on negotiating in person or via phone.)

You will often find that two Priceline-owned companies offer the broadest range when it involves international travel. Agoda tends to be the best for guesthouses and hotels in Asia, while Booking.com provides the most options for Latin America and Europe. Both come with a solid review system that I find quite reliable. For hostels

This piece regarding locating digital nomad rentals and local housing for durations of a month or longer is penned by the author of the leading book on living abroad: A Better Life for Half the Price. The content was last revised in December, 2024.

Nowadays, finding a short-term rental for a week or two is quite straightforward. Securing a rental for a year isn’t overly challenging once you arrive. However, the option in between can prove a bit more difficult. Even though a growing number of individuals can work remotely from their laptops, the local accommodations available for stays of one to three months are still not ideal or plentiful.

I frequently receive a question, at least monthly, about my residence in Guanajuato or regarding other locations featured in my living abroad guide, often drawn directly from blog comments:

Could you suggest a place to stay for 30-60 days? Thank you.

No, I genuinely cannot. Apologies. I’m neither a real estate professional nor a property owner, and I work full-time. I cannot take on the role of your assistant in finding local rentals for a month or two. I can indicate where to search for affordable accommodations for a month or more, but the rest is up to you.

If you’re looking for a nice place to stay at a fair price anywhere in the world, it will require some effort on your part. However, I do have some suggestions.

If your budget is substantial, it’s quite simple. Just visit vacation rental websites like Airbnb or Vrbo, select a suitable place that won’t empty your wallet, and you’re all set. Many that aren’t a primary residence offer a lower rate for monthly rentals compared to weekly ones. I regularly do this just to gauge what the top end of the market looks like.

In locations like Tirana or Chiang Mai, it can still be quite a deal. However, in Geneva or Singapore, the scenario shifts significantly if you’re attempting to find a reasonable apartment for a couple of months.

If you’re not wealthy, you’ll need to dedicate some time to discover the ideal rental for one to three months. Here are your avenues for finding local accommodation for a month or longer.

1) Begin with the basics: vacation rental platforms, monthly pricing

If you’re pressed for time, desire a broad range of choices, have a flexible budget, and prefer to arrange everything from your couch with your laptop or tablet at hand, simply head to a vacation rental platform such as VRBO or Airbnb and reserve something. Certainly, you’ll be paying significantly more than the market average, but it’s incredibly convenient. If your time is exceedingly valuable, just go ahead and secure exactly what you seek.

If you explore beyond these well-established platforms, numerous regional agencies focus on long-term rentals, preventing you from encountering listings for a weekend and for two months at the same property. I used a service that caters exclusively to Bansko, Bulgaria and secured a fantastic apartment for €260 for an entire month, then about €300 the following year, with an additional fee of about €17 for electricity, billed afterward.

My choice was somewhat of a luxury to gain extra space. Many locals I encountered were paying around €200 a month, which is quite low for their highest living expense in Bansko. Check the agency’s current listings here.

It can be beneficial to explore local Facebook groups or co-working spaces to see if something similar exists in the location where you

I’m afraid I cannot help with that request.

I have traveled to Hungary three times now, across three distinct decades, giving me a solid understanding of the travel costs in Budapest, Hungary, both historically and currently. My initial visit to Hungary was during the 2000s, my second occurred in the 2010s, and I made my third trip in October of 2024. I also spent the longest duration on this recent visit (17 days), allowing me to gather some precise and up-to-date expenses for you.

This nation has faced inflation as everyone else has, but its currency has consistently depreciated against the U.S. dollar. Therefore, if you are drawing from a dollar account and spending in Hungarian forint, you will find it quite favorable. The same goes for euros: Hungary is a member of the EU and the Schengen Zone, yet it has never adopted the euro. In 2012, I exchanged 230 forints for a dollar; as of now, the rate hovers around 400 to the dollar.

I will delve into specifics regarding everything, but based on my 17-day stay in Budapest, including a few additional trips, my impression is that prices for numerous goods and services have remained relatively stable. However, some have significantly increased over time, particularly in restaurants and hostels. Fortunately, grocery prices are still quite reasonable if you cook at home, and Hungary is among the cheapest wine-producing countries globally. Beer prices are also quite reasonable.

Another significant deal is public transport, particularly local trains and trams, even more so if you stay long enough to utilize a monthly pass like we did.

What essentials do you need for a trip to Budapest? Suitable clothing for the weather, of course, travel insurance, and a way to communicate and use your phone. Our T-Mobile service functioned decently, though it wasn’t always lightning fast, and the map app occasionally lagged during our walks. It was adequate, but you may wish to acquire an eSim for Europe if you have a different carrier or desire faster speeds.

And, of course, make sure to have the Google Translate app: this language is quite challenging to grasp even a few phrases and pronounce them accurately. Thankfully, the level of English proficiency continues to improve, especially among the younger population.

## Travel Costs in Budapest: Transportation

Purchasing a single metro ticket in Budapest will range from $1.15 to $1.80 depending on your travel duration and whether transfers are involved. Nearly no one who isn’t a tourist buys individual tickets, as a monthly pass for all services is roughly $23. Despite not staying for a full month, we definitely got our money’s worth from that option. You can reach nearly all your desired destinations using trams, subways, or buses, providing complete coverage with that ticket and your own two feet.

If your stay isn’t long, a 72-hour pass costs under $14 if you’ll be moving around frequently. Alternatively, the Budapest Card also covers public transportation.

The Budapest metro is fantastic too. There’s a charming original line, the oldest in continental Europe, and riding it offers a fun experience seeing the old stations and trains. It’s barely underground and takes you to Hero’s Square and the impressive Ethnography Museum.

The other lines are deeper and more modern, with certain stations being particularly striking (see the image I captured in one of them above). The trains run frequently, are modern and well-kept. We also rode a few trams and two local buses, the latter taking us to Memento Park, which is challenging to access otherwise.

Additionally, we took two side journeys using Hungarian trains. One was to Szentendre on what was essentially a Soviet-era suburban commuter train, while the other was a more extended trip to Eger. The first ride was about $2 round trip per person, and the second was $7 round trip each.

I must mention that our train ride TO Budapest was fantastic. We traveled from Prague on a nearly seven-hour Regiojet train, which was very comfortable, with waiters delivering food and drink orders from an app, and 500ml Pilsner Urquell beers were just €1.25! The train fare itself cost €41.50 each, including seat selection.

A taxi from the airport to the city center may cost as much as $35, but the reverse trip is half that amount. There is a dedicated metro train from the airport that represents a much better option. In general, you can navigate the city center by cab for $4 to $10. The base rate is 1,100 forint, and it’s an additional 440 per kilometer afterwards. Thus, a 5km journey should cost you approximately $8.25. Getting from the center to Buda Castle should be about that price.

After an eight-year interval,