Do you ever scroll through Instagram looking at all the picture-perfect faces posing in exotic locations, wondering exactly how they can afford to travel so luxuriously? Many of us think that, unless you’re filthy rich, there’s no way you can travel around the globe. Just a few years ago, this notion was true. Those of us choosing to work stable jobs hardly had time to travel, while for others, budget will have been a prime concern.
In the post-pandemic world, however, more companies are embracing the concept of remote working, meaning many of us can now enjoy a better work-life balance.
And, while the rising cost of living remains a key obstacle for many when it comes to travelling abroad, many of us are simply devoting more time and energy to finding ways to cut the cost of our holidays. When it comes to budget travel, you don’t necessarily need to compromise your safety by hitchhiking, eating cheap, low quality food or slumming it in third-grade hotels just to save a few pounds.
In fact, there are ways to pay less for travel, without compromising on where you’ll be staying, what you’ll be eating, or how you’ll be getting around. With a little advance research and proper planning, you’ll be surprised at just how much you could save on everything from booking hotels, to arranging airport transfers. Even if you’re not the most experienced traveller, there are hundreds of mobile travel apps that can help you with planning a holiday or trip abroad on a budget.
As long as you have a reliable phone with a charged battery and a steady internet connection, you can access all of these apps while on-the-go. Most of them will ask if you’d like to sign-up for regular notifications of any promotional deals, so you’ll be kept up-to-date on the latest offers at all times. If you’re looking for a good internet connection that offers steady connectivity and fast speeds, alongside free nationwide hotspots so you can stay connected while travelling, I recommend Grande Communications. This is one of the best services I’ve tried personally, if you’re looking for an affordable internet connection you can rely upon while travelling.
5 budget travel apps to download before your next trip
Although there are countless apps you could download onto your phone to assist with cutting travel costs, I’ve rounded up the top five apps I use the most personally.
- Tripcoin
A popular travel expense tracking app, Tripcoin enables you to keep an eye on your travel budget and spending abroad with a glance at your iPhone. Most travellers need to mentally convert the local currency back into their native currency in order to get a feel for the value of a potential purchase. If you download Tripcoin, however, the app will do the math for you. You can easily convert currency rates to the best currency exchangers in Sydney, analyse any purchases you’re thinking of making, note down any savings, and track expenses. In addition, the app offers an insightful daily expenditure round-of, so you can see exactly what’s draining your budget.
- Kayak
To find cheap yet reliable accommodation while travelling, you need a good hotel comparison app like Kayak. This apps is designed to help travellers search for the most economical hotels. You can compare prices, select the type of accommodation you need, or look for something budget-friendly. The app only lists approved hotels and accommodation providers, so you can look forward to a stress-free stay. Using an app like Kayak will help you to find the lowest hotel rates for your chosen destination, while ensuring you get the most for your money in terms of quality and amenities. What’s more, Kayak offers regular notifications if there is a drop in prices, so be sure to keep your notifications turned on!
- Travel Buddy
Travelling solo can make for an enlightening and fun experience, but traveling with others can be more budget-friendly and convenient. If you’re keen to find new travel companions, the Travel Buddy app enables you to connect with like-minded solo travellers and, if you get along, you could end up planning your next trip together. You can post photo from your travels, share comments, and upload other kinds of stories as well.
- Hopper
Just like there are off-season discounts on goods and clothes, there are also discount sales on off-season travel. If you’re planning to travel anytime soon, download Hopper right away. This nifty little app offers discounted deals and annual airfare trend predictions, enabling you to find the cheapest fares, and the cheapest times to travel. As a tip, keeping your dates flexible is one of the best ways to access the lowest possible year-round fares.
- Chase
One of my prime concerns when travelling is the matter of how I’ll be spending money, and minimising any credit and debit card costs, and currency exchange fees.
Ever since downloading the Chase app onto my phone and signing up for a free debit card, however, I’ve never had to worry about this. It’s free to use my Chase card for cash withdrawals and international transactions and, what’s more, Chase also pays me cash back on my debit card spending. As an added bonus, you can also open a savings account with Chase and at the time of writing, the interest rate is extremely favourable compared to some other easy access savings accounts I’ve looked at.
While travel can be costly, there are ways to reduce the cost of booking accommodation, transport and spending while abroad. Smartphone apps like the ones I’ve mentioned above can make for a helpful way to achieve this and, if you take a look on the app store, no doubt you’ll be able to find similar apps to assist you in planning an affordable holiday or trip abroad.
Enjoyed this post? Be sure to check out my blog post on the best essential travel apps too, featuring recommendations on everything from translation and navigation apps, to local ride-sharing and Lounge Buddy apps.
What are your favourite budget travel apps? Let me know in the comments!