I live cheaply when
not travelling – I live in a pretty small town in the interior of Spain, so
most things here are cheaper than they are elsewhere in the country. My major
expense – rent – runs me about 150 euros a month, and that includes all of my
utilities. I share an apartment with 3 other ladies – a fairly common
arrangement in Spain, even for working professionals – so that helps to keep costs low. Even when I lived on my own, rent and utilities averaged 275
euros a month – extremely cheap by American standards. I eat out, but not too often.
When I do, it’s usually at a place where I buy a beer or a glass of wine and
get a free tapa. At the grocery store, I buy very few packaged goods – which
are typically more expensive than whole foods – choosing veggies, fresh fruits,
fish, and meats instead of heat-and-serve meals. I also don’t waste leftovers.
I remix them until they’re all gone.
Blablacar – I
describe
Blablacar as a safer way to
hitchhike. I tend to use it for short to mid-distance trips to nearby cities or
provinces (roughly, 4 hours or less). Using the site or app, you can search for
drivers who are leaving from your area and heading to a destination you want to
go to. The drivers offer available seats in their car for a much, much lower
price than a train or even a bus. An added benefit is that you get the chance
to chat with a local about any number of things, including their
recommendations on what you should see and do when you reach your destination.
SpainPass – Like
much of Europe, Spain’s long distance train system is quite good. The trains
are reliable and fast, and depending on how early you buy your ticket, they can
also be quite affordable. I tend to use trains for exploratory, long-distance
trips.
Renfe – Spain’s national train
service – offers a very attractive multi-trip pass for non-Spanish travelers.
It’s called
SpainPass,
and it allows you to travel multiple legs on the train for about 40 euros per
leg. The only catch is that all trips must be paid for upfront, and they must
all be used in 30 days. Because of the time limit, I try to use this option
strategically. For instance, in December, there was both a long holiday at the beginning
of the month and the Christmas holidays at the end of the month. Using
SpainPass, I was able to travel to Valencia, Malaga, and Barcelona that month
for much less than plane tickets or regular-price train tickets. Whenever I use
SpainPass, I typically search for a destination that would cost me a lot of
money to get to and go there.
Skyscanner –
Simply the best app or flight search site I’ve found for showing the lowest
prices to my chosen destination. There’s enough flexibility in
Skyscanner’s search function for me to
select a departure location and leave the destination open, which allows me to
see where I can fly to for the least amount of money.
Pack light – when
I don’t travel via train or Blablacar, I’m usually on one of what I call
‘ghettoeurope’ airlines –
Ryanair or
Easyjet. These super low-cost airlines
are able to keep their prices low because they offer a no-frills service. This
is especially true when it comes to baggage restrictions. Both of these
airlines only allow you to travel with a small carry-on bag for free. While the
luggage size isn’t restrictively small, it may take some smart packing to keep
from having a too-large bag that costs you more money.
Hostels – Unfortunately,
this is one way I could probably travel even more cheaply. But, since I’m over
35 and my dorm room days are decades behind me, I find it hard to stomach the
idea of a communal bathroom, and I simply can’t wrap my head around the idea of
sleeping in a room with strangers. I mean, what if I need to poot, scratch, rub
one out? Now, I have stayed in
hostels, but I always opt for the private room option when I do – it’s more
expensive than the traditional hostel experience, but still much cheaper than a
standard hotel.
Home stays – I
do, however, love
Couchsurfing
and
Airbnb – two options for staying in a
home or apartment while travelling. Usually there’s a kitchen I can use to cook
a quick meal or even just have some fruit, bread, and cheese for breakfast or a
snack.
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| one of my most unique and enjoyable homestays - a hammock on a houseboat in amsterdam |
Eat out only for the
main meal – I’m a foodie, so I definitely like to eat out when I’m
travelling – but I try to eat out for my main meal of the day – typically late
lunch or dinner – and just eat fruit or snacks purchased at a local supermarket
for the other meals. I also try to save dining out experiences for iconic
dishes or local specialties, not just because I’m hungry and need a bite.
Public transportation
– Most cities in Spain are very walkable, but when my feet get tired, I opt for
public transportation, not taxis or car hires. Not only is public transport
cheaper, it’s also a good way to quickly get a feel of the layout of the city
and what the people are like.
No tours – I just
don’t believe in paying for them. And since I’m not one who feels like I need
to see EVERYthing when I visit a place – I typically pick out 2 or 3 must-sees,
and let the rest happen as it may – tours aren’t really worth my money. Also,
since I stay with locals, there’s no need for a tour. A quick conversation with
my host about what I’m looking for and how to get there, and it’s like I’ve
received a customized itinerary. However, there are occasionally
exceptions
to this rule.
Skip paid attractions
– Again, there are some rare occasions when I’ll make an exception to this
rule. But for the most part, I skip any site that I have to pay to enter. This
includes museums and theme parks. I prefer
parks, neighborhoods, plazas, local markets, and other outdoor activities as they
give me more of a feel for what the city and its people are like.
What are some of your tips for keeping costs low while
travelling in Spain, Europe, or elsewhere in the world? Share them in the
comments!
