Real tools, honest tips & every step I use to travel more—without breaking the bank.
💭 When you’re broke but dreaming of your next adventure…
Travel planning can feel impossible—especially when you’re juggling deadlines, a tight student budget, and zero clue where to begin.
I used to overthink everything:
Is this country too expensive? What if I run out of money halfway? Should I just wait until I have more saved?
But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t need thousands of pounds or months off to travel well.
All you need is a plan that works with what you’ve got—and I’m about to show you mine.
🧭 How I Choose the Right Destination (For My Budget & Vibe)
🌍 Go Where Your Currency Stretches
I always look for countries where I can comfortably live on under $40/day. Think:
- Bali for beaches, smoothie bowls, and $10 dorms
- Turkey for food, history, and views
- Jordan for ancient ruins and desert hikes
🧳 Use Tools to Compare Prices
- Google Flights Explore to see where it’s cheapest to fly
- Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” search to get flexible ideas
- Numbeo or BudgetYourTrip.com to check daily costs
💡 Real example: I found a £23 return to Portugal on Skyscanner and booked a 4-day Porto trip for under £150.
📅 How I Plan Around My Student Life
🕒 Use Reading Weeks, Holidays & Long Weekends
I travel when I know uni is calm. My fav times:
- Reading weeks (perfect for week-long trips)
- 3-day weekends (hello, city getaways!)
- Off-season breaks in March, May, or October
💰 Why Off-Season = More Value
You’ll get:
- Cheaper hostels and tours
- Fewer crowds
- Better chances of scoring flight deals
✈️ My secret: Book right after your last Friday lecture and return before Monday classes. Feels like bonus days off!
💸 How I Set a Realistic Budget (and Stick to It)
🔢 Do the Math First
I usually give myself a $250–$500 max for 7 days. That includes:
- Flights
- Hostels
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
- Extras (like SIMs, snacks, or souvenirs)
💰 Use a Daily Cap
I live by my $35–40/day rule.
If the destination fits that, I make it work. If not, I look for somewhere more budget-friendly.
💡 My Bali trip only cost $310 in total—with temple visits, massages, and beach days included.
🔍 How I Find Cheap Flights & Accommodation
✈️ Flight Tools I Use
- Google Flights → for flexible calendar pricing
- Skyscanner → for best deals + alerts
- Hopper → tells me when to book or wait
- Kiwi.com → for creative, multi-city trips
I aim to keep flights under $150 roundtrip for most short trips.
🛏️ Where I Book My Stays
- Hostelworld or Booking.com → dorms, capsules, and budget guesthouses
- I always read reviews for Wi-Fi, location, noise, and lockers
- I book 2–3 nights first, then stay flexible in case I want to move
🗺️ How I Build a Flexible Itinerary That Doesn’t Drain Me
📌 Less Is More
Instead of 6 cities in 6 days, I stick to:
- 2–3 locations max
- 1–2 key experiences per day
- Leave room to wander, rest, and eat slow
🛠️ My Planning Toolkit
- Google My Maps → I pin cafés, landmarks & hidden gems
- Rome2Rio → tells me how to get around (and what it’ll cost)
- ChatGPT → I use it to brainstorm routes, activities & hidden local tips 😉
✨ I love building “theme days” too: nature day, food day, market day, chill day.
🧳 What I Always Prep Before Leaving
✅ Final Checklist Before Departure:
- Screenshot bookings, addresses & directions
- Download offline Google Maps & Google Translate
- Pack carry-on only (read: What I Pack for Every Budget Trip)
- Keep £20 worth of local currency in cash
- Sort my SIM plan or buy one on arrival
- Write down key phrases or cultural tips
✨ I also stash emergency money + a copy of my passport deep in my backpack—just in case.
📌 Real Example: My $320 Turkey Adventure
Here’s how I used this exact method IRL:
- ✈️ Flight: £45 return to Istanbul
- 🛏️ Accommodation: $13/night hostels in Istanbul & Cappadocia
- 🍽️ Food: simit + kebab on the cheap
- 🛕 Activities: free mosque tours, balloon watching at sunrise
- 💸 Total for 7 days: ~$320 (including everything!)
And yes, it was one of the best weeks of my life.
💵 Got a Bit More to Spend? Here’s Where I’d Upgrade
If I have a few extra coins, I treat myself to:
- 🧖♀️ Balinese spa day (~$20–30)
- 🌅 Sunrise hike on Mount Batur (totally worth it)
- 🏄 Surf lessons or yoga class in Canggu
- 🏡 1–2 nights in a private villa to recharge
- 🍽️ Fancy beach dinner or rooftop café meal
💡 One splurge = memories for life. And your trip still stays affordable overall.
✅ Final Thoughts: Travel Isn’t Just for the Rich
The truth is:
✨ Travel doesn’t have to wait.
✨ You don’t need to be rich.
✨ You just need a good plan, a sense of adventure, and a bit of courage.
Start with $300.
Start with 3 days.
Start messy—but just start.
💬 What’s Your Dream Destination?
Tell me in the comments—what country are you planning next?
I’ll help you build your own travel plan (even if you only have £100 to spend!) 💬
Little Coin Traveler 
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