1.Buy the Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass gives you free unlimited use of trains, trams, boats and buses, from 3 to 15 days with purchase of the pass. Tip: Choose the Swiss Travel Flex where you travel unlimited for 3 days in a month (267 CHF). The pass also provides unlimited use of public transport and access for free to 500 museums across Switzerland.

Aside from regional transport, public transport in cities is inclusive too – like buses, trams and funiculars. Another wonderful aspect of purchasing the pass includes 50% off mountain railway tickets. There are a number of different options for buying a specific pass and it’s well worth doing your research and buying a pass that caters to your specific needs. Itineraries for travel on consecutive days are available or the flexible pass option. Passes for 3,4,6, 8 or 15 consecutive days can be bought. One of the main bonuses of having the pass is not having to queue up to buy tickets. This feels very luxurious and certainly lifts the stress of travelling in a new country. People under 26 years get a 30 percent discount on travel.

Some of the advantages of the travel pass include not being tied down to a rigid itinerary. With the flexibility to travel far and wide, this certainly enlarges the scope for travel. Switzerland with its wealth of clear mountain lakes and rugged peaks is the ideal place to explore by boat and mountain railway. With the additional option to visit over 500 museums with the pass, buying a Swiss Travel Pass ensures that visiting Switzerland is an affordable and rich travelling experience.

2. Take the scenic route

The Swiss Travel Pass also includes boat services, allowing you to enjoy a full day of ferry rides on Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne, or Lake Zurich, all covered by your pass. I hopped on a cruise boat on Lake Geneva on a gloriously sunny early day in Autumn and it was the perfect way to enjoy the stunning landscapes and charming lakeside towns that surround this iconic Swiss-French lake. Popular stops on the cruise include Vevey (birthplace of Chaplin), Montreux plus a magical view of the medieval fortress, Chillon Castle near Montreux.

3. Have a picnic on the train or boat

Most train stations in Switzerland have a Coop or Migros supermarket where you can load up on local cheese, sushi or salads, hot food section (Veggie Calzone for €3) plus an extensive selection of Swiss chocolate. Must try is Rivella – a typically Swiss, milk-based fizzy drink.

4. Stay in a hostel

If you are on a budget, Hostelling is the way to go. My favorites are the Bogentrakt Hostel in Chur ( Chur is a lovely wee town that you should definitely consider for your next trip to Switzerland- checkout my recent guide on Free things to do in Chur  ) , the Capsule Hotels Switzerland are a fantastic small chain that offers spacious, comfortable Japanese pod style beds where you can enjoy your own privacy at the fraction of a cost of a room: You can get 15% off your stay with the code: CAPSULE15  at the Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden and at any of their other locations , include Lucerne and Basel

Checkout my review of the Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden in my brand new guide on how to enjoy Zurich on a budget

5. Lower your average daily costs and cook your own meals

Eating out, along with alcohol will be your two major expenses in Switzerland. Luckily, many of the hostels will have their own self catering kitchen so you can prepare your meals and lunches. One of our favourite travel accessories is a good Tupperware box where we can store sandwiches and I also travel with my Indian spices in case we want to whip up a curry.

6. Sleep in Straw

Checkout ‘Sleeping in Straw’, a service where travellers and hikers can sleep in barns of farms across Switzerland for as little as 30CHF including breakfast!

7. Use a reusable water bottle 

The opportunities to refill your bottle are endless in Switzerland thanks to their excellent public fountains: Zurich alone has 1200 public fountains!

8. Try 100 types of biscuits at the Kambly Factory

Skip breakfast, lunch and visit the Kambly factory store in the picturesque village of Trubschachen which has 100 biscuit varieties to choose from, with free samples!

9. Free museums in Switzerland (and free chocolate)

The Swiss Travel Pass gives you free access to 500 museums. This includes Maison Cailler in Broc, Switzerland’s oldest chocolate brand where you can indulge in multiple free tasting opportunities including the infamous all-you-can-eat selection of Cailler chocolates.  Many museums in Switzerland are free: CERN in Geneva and the Nature Museum in Solothurn for example. Some cities offer free access to museums and galleries on certain days. Most museums in Zurich offer free entry on Wednesdays.

10. Hike to work off all the chocolate and cheese

With all that free chocolate and biscuits, you will need to walk it off and luckily, Switzerland’s offers 65.000 kilometres worth of hiking trails. To plan your hike, use the Schweizmobil website or download their app

11. Don’t drink

One way to save money in Switzerland is by avoiding alcohol. A beer will cost around 8 CHF while a mixer or cocktail will set you back by 15 CHF.

12. Free public transportation in Switzerland

In various Swiss cities, complimentary access to local public transportation network is extended to guests. Upon your check-in at lodging establishments in Bern, Basel, Lucerne, Lausanne, Montreux, Geneva, and throughout the entire Canton of Ticino, you will be provided with a pass that grants you unrestricted use of local transport for the duration of your visit. In Chur, you get access to local museums and also their very scenic outdoor swimming pools too.

13. Rent a bike 

Riding a bike may be one of the most eco-friendly ways to get from one point to another in a city or for exploring the outskirts of the city in a slow but contemplative way. Swiss cities like Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Zug or the Canton of Valais, have the option of renting a bike for absolutely free! In Geneva, ‘Züri rollt’ provides bikes with a valid ID and a 20 CHF refundable deposit to rent a bike for a day, or in some cases – a few hours. E-bikes and cargo bikes are available for 30CHF/day. The main bike station is at Zurich Main Station at Europaplatz. Bikes are available daily, all year round from 8am to 9.30 pm. It’s worthwhile checking out other Swiss cities for bike rental options, which might be cheaper than other transportation options.

14. Take a free walking tour

In Switzerland, major cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Bern have free walking tours. Here are a few tips on finding and enjoying free walking tours in Switzerland.

Free Walking Tours Switzerland

Free Walking Tours Switzerland offer informative and entertaining tours at no upfront cost.

Check the Tourist Information Point

Also check the local tourist information centre in the city you are in. They can provide details about any scheduled free walking tours, including starting points and times.

Check with your hostel

Plus check with your hostel who may run their own free walking tour of the city.

15. Don’t forget: Travel Insurance 

Tourists from EU-/EFTA-countries or United Kingdom (UK) are covered by EHIC scheme to receive medical treatment during their trip to Switzerland (holidays or business trips). Nationals of other countries must have proper Travel insurance to cover the costs of treatment in Switzerland. I recommend Safety Wing 

Disclaimer: This post was made possible thanks to a storytelling project about the Swiss Travel Pass in partnership with the Swiss Travel System and Switzerland Tourism. All views, good and bad, are entirely my own.

Introduction to Zurich

Perched beside the picturesque Lake Zürich, Zürich offers the best of all worlds with its incredible public transport system, a picture postcard old town that unfolds on both side of the Limmat river, tonnes of culture and world class museums that would be the envy of any European city, plus a fantastic bar and clubbing scene – no surprise that the city consistently ranks among the world’s most livable cities. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world but if you know where and when to go, Zurich has some budget friendly things to do. Curious? Checkout my guide to Zurich on a budget.

Where to stay in Zurich on a budget

Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden 

Situated directly opposite check-in 1 of Zurich airport is the Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden with 144 capsules in 8 bedrooms, separate bathrooms, a small gym area and a café area for breakfast, drinks and snacks or just to relax.

If you have a late flight out or arriving late at night and are looking for an affordable and comfortable option to stay in Zurich airport, this is the place. Booked at least a month in advance you can get rates between 60-70 CHF.

Plus, you can get 15% off your stay with the code: CAPSULE15  at the Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden and at any of their other locations , which currently include Lucerne and Basel

Stacked two high, the capsules are a Japanese style pod bed but designed in Switzerland. You can reserve the bottom bunk pod for an extra few francs. Rooms are mixed gender but there is a women only dorm if you prefer. There is also a capsule for people in wheelchairs and 5 capsules with bigger sliding doors for those with reduced mobility.

There are separate male and female communal toilet/shower rooms plus a disabled toilet/shower room. The capsules have a sliding door which locks and the key is via an app on your smartphone with bluetooth enabled or via a 4 digit pin code which you receive while checking in. In this way you have a key for both the room and your capsule this way.

The capsule on the inside includes a comfortable mattress, lighting, mirror, a couple of clothes hooks, very quiet ventilation system, mural of clouds on the ceiling and Swiss alpine scenes on the interior to give you a nice local feel. There is space under the lower capsule to store your luggage and shoes. They have cable locks if you need, as well as a separate luggage storage room.

The star feature of the hotel is the lounge. There is a host on duty 24-7. There are a bunch of cowering desks with plugs that have great views of the terminal window so a good spot for working and people watching.

A nice selection of wines are available and also cocktails on demand. There is a supermarket in the terminal about a 10 minute walk away but if you are feeling lazy, there are snacks like Pot Noodles available plus they make excellent flammkuchen and pizza from the oven (cookies too).

Breakfast contains cereals, fresh croissants, jams etc. There is a coffee machine too. The full continental breakfast is around 14 CHF.

There are no TV sets on the premises. There are groups of tables where you can play board games or chess with friends. There is also a Book Swap shelf where you can grab a book. The decor is a low key Danish Modern if that makes any sense. All in all, a very relaxed vibe.

Things to do in Zurich for free

1. The Secret Doors of Zurich

This might sound like something out of an Indiana Jones movie… but what if I was to tell you that there are three hidden doors in the heart of Zurich, each a time capsule and a portal into the towns ancient roman history and they only can be accessed with the help of a key…and you can get that key- here’s how.

Hidden in full sight of tourists and locals, hidden in an alley, an underground garage, or beneath the Lindenhof, history buffs can discover archaeological sites throughout Zurich’s Old Town. In these Portals or “archaeological windows” as they are referred to, you can discover relics like the remains of a Roman fort, ancient pile dwellings, and the Ehgraben sewer, each site, a magical insight in how medieval towns handled waste.

Most sites are open to the public for free, including those in the Parkhaus Opéra and Thermengasse. However, a key is needed to access the Ehgraben, Lindenhof-Keller, Stadtmauerkeller, and Brunngasse and you can obtain this key from the Stadthaus (City Hall) at Stadthausquai 17, Counter S, Monday to Saturday (check for hours). You will need to deposit your own ID as security deposit so bring that along. You will also get a map of all the sights for this magical quest.

2. Best viewpoint in Zurich: Hike unto Uetliburg

Popular with locals, hikers and bikers looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, Uetliberg is the perfect escape. Towering 2850 feet above sea level, Zurich’s very own mountain, offers one of the best panoramic views of the city. If you are lucky on a clear day, you get not only stunning views of the city but also of the Alps.

Uetliberg gets busier in late Autumn when thick fog blankets the entire city and also in winter when the hiking trails leading from the summit become popular for sledding.

You have the choice of hiking upto to the summit or if you are not feeling top energetic, there is a short train ride from the main train station and then it is a short hike up to the viewpoint. There is a cafe and bar at the viewpoint if you want a coffee or drink while enjoying those beautiful views.

3. Museums in Zurich you can visit for free

Before we talk about the art, as an architecture nerd I have to tell you, like the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, 1.Kunsthaus Zürich has to be one of THE most beautiful museums in the world. In 2021, David Chipperfield built a light-filled, cuboid extension that is just as much a highlight as the art presented within. Now to the art. The museum houses one of the grandest collections of contemporary art, from the largest collection of Munch paintings outside Norway plus works by Alberto Giacometti, then you will find famous names such as Picasso, van Gogh, and Chagall, Pop Art pieces by Warhol and Hamilton and other artists such as Rothko, Twombly, Beuys and Baselitz.

All this plus a design store, a bar and a “Garden of Art”, makes this museum unmissable.On Wednesdays you can get free admission to the entire collection (except to exhibitions), which also stands for children under the age of 14.

The 2.Kunsthalle Zurich can be visiting for free on Thursdays, from 5pm and if you have the Zurich Card, you get a 20% discount.

The Swiss National Museum in Zurich , also known as the 3.Landesmuseum Zürich is another museum you can visit for free with the Zurich card. It is one of the most important cultural and historical museums in Switzerland. It showcases the country’s rich heritage through extensive collections of artefacts, art, and historical objects, ranging from prehistoric times to the present day. The museum features exhibitions on Swiss culture, archaeology, and art, offering insight into the nation’s diverse history. Its iconic building, a blend of historic and modern architecture is a dream to photograph.

4. Where to eat and drink in Zurich on a budget

a) Cheapest and coolest place for a Drink in Zurich-Edis Weinstube

This bar might be the cheapest place in Switzerland to have a glass of wine at 4CHF. However Edi’s is so much more than that, it is an institution attracting a diverse crowd of older regulars mingling with students and tourists creating this melting pot of ages and cultures. It also functions as a porn art museum where new artists display their work. You will find some playful imagery across the bar so this might not be for everyone. There is also a wine shop, where you can grab a bottle of wine for 9.90 CHF (takeaway available until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays). 

b) Ass-bar

On your travels, you often come across a concept, so simple and brilliant and you wonder, how the hell does this not exist everywhere in the world- Let me get you into a little secret that is the Ass-Bar ( (the name is a play on words and in Swiss-German means “edible”), a bakery with a difference. The concept of the Äss-Bar is simple. It is like any bakery but here you will find here day-old and discounted pastries, sandwiches, pastries and beverages that have been collected from bakeries and food shops across Zurich. Everything is sold at 50% discount of the original price so in terms of value, this is the best value deal in town. Not only is this an affordable source of food for locals and tourists, it is the owner’s way to contribute to the community while reducing food waste. If you see one in Zurich or anywhere in Switzerland, step inside and do your part.

c) Bar Basso

A slice of Italy on the Schanzengraben with their beautiful outdoor terrace, Bar Basso is a relaxed restaurant bar where you can have a nice glass of wine. They serve some of the best pizza in town and it’s also worth trying their shared plates Tavolata from the menu. 

d) Dine at Haus Hiltl, the worlds oldest vegetarian restaurant dating back to 1898!

With over 100 dishes to choose from, pesto pasta, crispy greens, spicy daal to tofu curries, to Thai green curry – every imaginable vegetarian dish is on the menu and can be found at the buffet counter of what many may argue to be the greatest vegetarian restaurant in the world, Haus Hiltl. The mind boggling choice of dishes, salads and desserts on top make this a veritable feast. The food is weighed here by weight so in true Swiss style, food waste is kept to a minimum, a lesson that many buffet restaurants across the world could take a leaf from. Prices are not cheap but average by local standards but the quality of the food, ambience make this unmissable. Plus, did I mention that this is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world, dating back to 1898. There are several locations in Zurich. We chose the restaurant on Dachterrasse, which benefits from a beautiful outdoor terrace, which is the perfect place to be on a sunny day. Also, they have a range of refreshing homemade fruit juices and lemonades (I tried the passionfruit -lemonade) that complements the food nicely.

Day Trips : Exploring beyond Zurich

5. Visit Rapperswill

Looking for ideas for a day trip from Zurich? Alpine Garden hotel manager, Sue, a native from the beautiful Rapperswill recommends you visit her home town on the southern tip of Lake Zurich.

A medieval town with mediterranean vibes and a pretty castle towering on a hill that offers panoramic views of the Glarus Alps all the way to the Zurich Oberland, Rapperswill is a dreamy town. Packed with picture postcard alleyways, lots of boutique shopping options, with a great variety of places to eat and drink on their outdoor terraces if the weather is nice. The town is the known as the City of Roses thanks to the 16,000 roses that flower in the rose gardens of the Capuchin monastery bordering the lake and on the “Schanz”.

One of the coolest features of the town is the half-mile-long, 8.2-foot-wide wooden bridge that connects Rapperswill across the narrowest point of the lake to the neighbouring town of Hurden. If you are taking the train from Zurich, I would suggest changing at Rapperswill onto the train to Hurden, so you can walk back along the bridge, following in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims that would walk the very same route on their way to Santiago del Compostela. 

Good to know: The trip to Rapperswill is free with the Swiss Travel Pass and Zurich Card users will need to buy a 4-zone extra ticket that allows you to travel within the entire Zurich transport network.

Tip: For good coffee and cakes, I highly recommend Gioia de Vita (Klugstrasse 10). The Hotel & Restaurant Jakob also comes recommended by native Sue for a drink or bite to eat at their jazzy brasserie.

6. Visit Chur

Another excellent day trip from Zurich is Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, for its unique blend of historical charm and breathtaking natural beauty. As the gateway to the Alps, Chur serves as a bridge between Germany and Italy, and the starting point of the renowned Bernina Express. The city is adorned with lush vineyards, stunning heritage buildings, and is surrounded by picturesque mountains. Here, life moves at a tranquil pace, encapsulated by the local word ‘Patgific,’ which means calm and relaxed. Chur also has a fascinating, albeit dark, history. It was home to the famous artist HR Giger, known for creating the iconic Alien, and housed Switzerland’s most notorious prison, now transformed into the modern and stylish Bogentrakt Hostel. This hostel, run by Marco, is a sustainable haven perfect for remote workers. Additionally, Chur offers fantastic local cuisine and vibrant bars, catering to a wide range of interests. Whether you’re an avid hiker, a fan of Giger, a train enthusiast, or simply seeking a taste of the ‘patgific’ life, Chur has something to offer every traveler. Piqued your curiosity? Here is my guide to the best things to do in Chur

7. Further day trips from Zurich

Other excellent day trips from Zurich include Basel and Lucerne. They also are great cities to visit in their own right so do checkout my guide to Basel on a budget and Lucerne on a budget.

8. Top tip: Invest in the Zurich Card to save money on public transport plus free access to museums

Zürich has one of the best public transport systems in the world that includes  trams, buses, trains, and boats. Everything runs like a clockwork, making it easy to hop anywhere within the city or make a day trip to places like Uetliburg. If you are looking to save money, I highly recommend investing in the Zürich Card.

The Zürich Card offers tourists and locals convenient access to many of Zürich’s attractions. It provides unlimited travel by tram, bus, train, boat, and cableway within the city and surrounding regions. This includes free travel between Zürich  Airport and the city centre, making it a convenient option for those arriving by plane. It also includes the trip up the Uetliberg and mini lake cruises across Lake Zürich. Additionally, cardholders receive free or discounted admission to museums (such as the Kunsthaus Zürich and the Swiss National Museum) access to a variety of leisure activities, and discounts at selected restaurants and shops. The card is available for either 24 or 72 hours, making it a flexible option for exploring Zürich with ease. You can find more details at Zürich Card.

If you are a train geek and planning a big trip to Switzerland, you may want to checkout my guide to Switzerland on a budget.

9. FAQ: Zürich Budget Travel

Q: Is Zürich expensive? 

A: While Switzerland is known for high costs, our guide proves budget travel is possible with smart planning. Stay at the Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden ( don’t forget to use this discount code CAPSULE15 to get  15% off your stay at the Capsule Hotel Alpine Garden and at any of their other locations , which currently include Lucerne and Basel, ) take advantage of the free opening hours of museums, hike up Uetliburg, go tubing down the river in the summer- best things in Zurich can be enjoyed without breaking the bank.

Q: How can I save money on food in Zurich? 

A: Try places like Äss-Bar, Haus Hiltl, and take advantage of buffet-style restaurants.

Q: What’s the best way to get around? 

A: The Zürich Card offers unlimited public transport and additional discounts and is the best thing you can invest in to save money when visiting Zurich.

Disclaimer: Prices and availability may vary. Always check current information before traveling.

1. Use Notes and Reminders to get your packing and planning tasks sorted

Apple’s built-in Notes app is the perfect place to store all those snippets of info you accumulate when planning something like a vacation. You can create packing checklists, ( like the one I have created below for my upcoming trip to Porto )  collect web pages which you want to bookmark for the trip plus even you can even scan important documents like your passport and have them saved on the app. You can share that note with any number of people and all read and update it. The other plus point is that if you have an iPad or MacBook , notes and reminders both sync seamlessly on all of your device.

2. Discover new places, or do even more in-depth planning by using the amazing Guides in the Maps app

I’m a huge fan of Google Maps but recently the recently updated Apple Maps has some cool features up their sleeve like their brand new Apple Maps Guides. These curated travel guides which have recommendations for the best places to see, eat and drink have been created in partnership with leading publishers like Culture Trip, Time Out etc.

Let’s say you are planning a trip to Barcelona.

After launching the Maps app, in the search field at the bottom of the screen, enter “Barcelona”.

This will pull up a list of curated travel guides to Barcelona. I’m a huge fan of Culinary Backstreets tours and their blog content so I definitely want to read their guide to the best neighbourhood tapas bars. After reading the guide you save it to you personal list of favourite guides, or share it with a friend.

Apple Maps now also allows you create and curate travel guides which you can then share with the people you’re traveling with.

3. Load up all your favourite content in prep for a long journey: download them all in advance on the Apple TV and Netflix App

I was on a long flight recently from Berlin to Singapore via Scoot Airlines. With no inflight entertainment system onboard, I had almost 12 hours to kill onboard so I am really grateful that I had downloaded some movies and episodes of ‘Better Call Saul’ on the Netflix app. It is feature that also you can get via Apple TV where you download shows and movies, to watch offline later when you travel.

Worth noting here that when you buy a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’ll qualify for a three-month free subscription. To get the free trial period, you have to redeem the offer within 90 days of purchase.

4. Never lose your bag or any other item by using AirTag and Find My Phone

If you ever had the misfortune like me of losing your luggage after a flight, had your wallet stolen or simply lost something like your keys while on holiday, thanks to Apple’s brand new AirTags you can avoid yourself a lot of hassle and track them down. AirTag uses ultra-wideband technology and Apple’s existing network of devices to help track down the AirTag. Compatible iPhones and iPads can use the Find My Phone app to identify the approximate location of a missing, AirTag-equipped item. Plus, the AirTag battery lasts one year before it needs replacing. It uses a basic CR2032 battery, which can be purchased at most electronic stores, online and local.

Find my Phone is also an incredible feature which came incredibly handy for me a few years ago when I lost my iPhone on my way back from a boozy night out in Bangkok. You can track all your apple devices you own from any other apple device you own  -in this case, I was able to track my iPhone from my laptop. The feature will then give your the approximate GPS location which you can then find directions to using Apple or Google Maps feature. My iPhone was found in the back of a taxi I had hired on my way back home. My driver didn’t seem to be aware that there was an iPhone stuck on the backseat so after waking him up from his sleep, we opened the backseat of his car and there it was…

Please note, the find my iPhone feature needs to be turned on for this to work. The other cool feature of this app, is that if your iPhone has been stolen or lost you can remotely via the app, mark your device as lost by turning on the ‘Lost Mode’ for your item. This allows all your personal information, data to be protected.

5. Already at your destination? Translate text, voice, and conversations on iPhone or iPad with the Translate app

Apple now have their very own in-built translate app where you can get real-time translation – it currently supports 11 languages. I love the look and feel of the app- far better than Google Translate App. Latter works with 43 languages so Apple app has some way to go but if your needs are met with Apple ( 11 languages include- Arabic, mainland Chinese, English (US and UK), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish ) then this is a great app to use on your travels.

6. Share holiday picture with iCloud Photos

Another very handy feature of the iPhone or iPad is the ability to share your photos using the iCloud. So instead of wasting your data to send multiple images and videos from your trip via email with friends and family, you can simply select the pictures you want to share on the photos app and then copy the iCloud link from which anyone with the link can download the photos-simple as that.

7. Got no data roaming and need your iPad to access to data everywhere in your destination? No need for a physical SIM. Just set up your cellular plan with eSIM

iPad has a very cool feature which allows you purchase cellular data from the . This is a really handy when you arrive in your destination , haven’t yet got yourself a local sim and you don’t want to waste money on ridiculous roaming charges and….. you’re trying to navigate your way to your hotel or hostel. You can use this feature in over 180 destinations plus you have the flexibility of choose as little as 1GB or choose data plan that cover a day, a week or a month. You can choose from local networks and get upto 5G speeds.

To give you an idea of cost, if you choose via GigSky, you can get 5GB on the world plan which works across 180 countries for €59.99 – Not cheap by any means but if you are in an emergency situation when travelling and need a quick fix, this is a great feature to have.

If you travelling to Europe, using your cellular iPad you can choose 1GB of data for €4.99 or 5GB for €19,99 which compares very well to local providers.

8. Actually have good roaming on your iPhone? Use Instant Hotspot to seamlessly share the data connection with iPad

Another very useful feature of the iPhone is the Personal Hotspot feature where you can share your data connection with friends or family when travelling. Simply go to Settings > Personal Hotspot > Allows other to join and they can connect using your wifi password.

9. Use Low data mode on your devices if you’re roaming and conscious of your data allowance, or if you’re on a metered WiFi network

Another very handy feature of the iPhone is the ability to switch to ‘low data’ mode when your data is about to run or you’re on a very pricy data tariff when travelling.

Just go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > Low Data Mode switch on.

Disclaimer: Apple kindly offered me the iPhone Pro Max 13 and iPad Air to try but all the opinions expressed here are my own.

1. Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the most ideal destinations if you are looking for value for your money. The currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) and is currently 24,505 VND to 1 euro. While you can pay with card in higher end establishments and stores, the local street food and shops will most likely be a cash exchange. 

Vietnamese coffee is always a treat, and depending on the region, it can be served in different ways, sometimes poured over ice, sweetened, and with condensed milk. Some parts of the country serve it in a pour over method and warm, but it is always delicious. Ordering sidewalk coffee will be around 0.50 EUR/0.43 GBP, and a coffee in a restaurant will be a bit closer to the average price in Europe, but still very reasonable (2.25 EUR/1.93 GBP).

As for food, the street food culture in Vietnam is outstanding, and a freshly made dish will cost you as little as 0.45 EUR/0.40 GBP. The average price for most dishes ranges from about 0.50 to 1.50 EUR./.43 – 1.75 GBP. An average 3-course restaurant meal will cost about 20 EUR/ 17 GBP.

A stay in a homestay or Hostel will come out to about 12 euro per night, and a mid-range hotel will be about 25- 30 EUR/ 21 – 25 GBP a night.

The Vietnam visa is currently available in electronic form, and this version is valid for 30 days. With the Vietnam visa, you can stay for a maximum of 30 days. The Vietnam visa is a bit strict in terms of travel dates. You must fill in the date you plan to arrive in Vietnam. Once approved, that date can’t be changed. You can’t arrive before that date, and if you arrive after, you still have to leave by the date indicated on the visa.  This type of Vietnam e-visa is a single-entry visa, so if you intend to travel across the borders, you should apply for a multiple entry visa. 

Further reading

10 ways to save money in Vietnam

2. Cambodia

The currency in Cambodia is a Cambodian Riel (KHR). Right now 4275 KHR is around 1 EUR, and 1 GBP is 4979 KHR.

Surrounded by countries much more famous for their cuisine, like Vietnam and Thailand, Cambodian food is woefully not as well-known, but like its neighbours, the food in Cambodia is fresh and amazing. And similarly, the street food is affordable, and possibly the best way to experience the country’s food culture. You can find lots of local dishes that are affordable, such as Lort Cha, which is a fried noodle staple dish. There is also plenty of street barbecue that cannot be missed, especially barbecue seafood, which is much more of a local delicacy. 

For a special night out, it is also incredibly affordable to have a high-quality meal in a restaurant. A 3-course meal for 2 people at a restaurant will cost you around 20 EUR/  17 GBP. A half litre glass of domestic draught beer will cost 0.95 EUR/ 0.80 GBP, and even an imported beer will cost approximately 1.90 EUR/1.63 GBP. A cappuccino is actually more of a relatively average price in Cambodia and will cost around 2.10 EUR/ 1.80 GB , and an espresso will cost around 1.5 EUR/ 1.30 GBP. 

The price of a hostel in Cambodia will be around 10 EUR/ 8.50 GBP  per night, and an average to high quality 3-4 star hotel will cost 35 EUR/ 30 GBP. For a big splurge a 5-star hotel will cost around 160 EUR / 140 GBP a night. 

If you want to travel to Cambodia, you need to apply for a visa. The Cambodia e-visa costs around £59.99 and is valid for 30 days. There are a few requirements for the Cambodia visa that should be remembered. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 more months from your arrival date in Cambodia. Although there might be new changes due to the recent border reopening, it is important to have printed copies of the visa because you need to hand one in to authorities upon arrival, and you need to hand over the second copy when you leave.

Further reading

Cambodia on a shoestring tour– What I loved and did not love about my G Adventures tour.

3. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is both a backpackers dream, and an ideal spot to spend good money on unique experiences like wild elephant safaris, or visiting one of the many Unesco World Heritage sites. The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee, and it is sometimes abbreviated as SLR, the international currency code refers to it as LKR. Currently, 1 EUR is 378 LKR and 1 GBP is 441 LKR.

Sri Lanka is also small, so travelling throughout the country is easy by bike, car hire, or by train. If travelling with a group of friends, it might actually become cheaper to get around by hiring a driver. The cost comes out to about 35 – 45 GBP per day. Ironically, this is roughly similar to the price of renting a car. It is therefore not a bad idea to hire a driver, which is also a nice way to get to know a local more personally and experience
tourism in a way that is different from everywhere else.

An average meal in a  2-person meal in a nice restaurant will cost anywhere between 10 – 20 EUR/ 8 – 17 GBP depending on the type of restaurant.  The price of a simple street food meal costs on average a bit under 1 EUR/ 0.90 GBP.  Coffee is relatively reasonably priced, as you can expect to pay the equivalent of 1 EUR for a cappuccino, and around 0.75 EUR/  0.64 GBP for an espresso. The price of a hostel comes out to about 10 EUR/ 8.5 GBP a night. And the average 3 – 4-star hotel will be around 25 – 35 EUR/ 21 – 30 GBP  and a 5 star luxury hotel will be about  90 EUR/ 77 GBP.

It is also very common to travel by train in Sri Lanka, and many travellers consider it to be an experience you shouldn’t miss. An average train ticket will cost around 2.60 – 3.95 EUR or 2.27 – 3.40 GBP.

The Sri Lanka visa is effortless to apply for. This type of Sri Lanka visa is also referred to as an ETA and is valid for 30 days. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 more months upon the moment of arrival. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your Sri Lanka visa for 90 days once you are there by arranging it with the Immigration Service Centre in Colombo. It is usually recommended to apply well in advance for the Sri Lanka visa because it can take quite some time to be approved.
 

4. Turkey

There are many ways to travel around Turkey without spending too much. The currency is the Turkish Lira (TLR), and the current rate is 18.23 TLR to 1 EUR or 21.30 TLR to 1 GBP. Most backpackers agree that you can easily enjoy yourself in Turkey for around 35 EUR /  30 GBP per day

One of the ways that Turkey is a very great value is that food is supremely delicious and quite cheap. Obviously street food is always the cheapest option, but it is absolutely possible to have a delicious Turkish meal for around 5 – 6 EUR/ 4.30 – 5.15 GBP  a person. A cappuccino will likely cost around 2 EUR. And of course, it is a great idea to stop in a Turkish coffee house and try a Turkish coffee, which is usually between 0.90 – 1.5 EUR/ 0.75 – 1.30 GBP. 

Hostels are actually quite affordable in Turkey, and you can most likely find a place to stay around 12 EUR/ 10.30 GBP per night. A comfortable 2-person accommodation will cost around 20 EUR/ 17 GBP  per night. And even the higher end, 5-star accommodations that feel luxurious and downright fancy can be well under 100 EUR / 85 GBP. Taxi services are also quite reasonable, and you can get an average ride for around 3 EUR/ 2.50 GBP. 

One extra nice way you can save money is with the Turkey visa. As of 2020, most countries in the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, no longer have to apply for a visa if they are staying up to 90 days. However, most countries outside of the EU and the UK still need to apply for a visa. If you do apply for a Turkey visa, it will be valid for 180 days, and it is a multiple entry visa, so you can easily cross borders and head back into Turkey with the same visa. Each stay in Turkey, visa or no, can only last for a minimum of 90 days.

5. Nicaragua

Nicaragua is currently one of the cheapest places to visit in Central America. It usually isn’t the first spot on people’s minds when they think of Latin American countries to visit, which is precisely why it is so ideal. The currency is the Córdoba (NIO) is currently 37.70 NIO for 1 EUR or 43.93 NIO for 1 GBP.

With travelling, you can save quite a bit by using the local microbuses, which can take you to different parts of the country. As long as you aren’t on any tight schedules, you can enjoy these trips and they can be beyond affordable. A 30 KM trip can cost as little as .50 EUR / .45 GBP, and a 75 KM trip can cost around 1.85 EUR/ 1.59 GBP.

Accommodations are reasonable in Nicaragua. A hostel stay will cost from around 5 – 15 EUR/ 4.5 – 12.5 GBP per night. Expect to pay for an average 2-person room around 26 EUR / 22 GBP a night. A more luxurious stay can still be found for around 60 EUR a night.

As for food, you can have delicious meals for astonishingly low prices. A typical breakfast with eggs, rice and beans, plantains, cheese and tortillas will literally cost under 2 EUR/ 1.75 GBP. A dinner of grilled meats like beef or chicken, with tortillas and gallo pinto(beans and rice) will cost around 6.50 EUR/5.50 GBP  per person. You will not go hungry in Nicaragua. 

Most UK and European citizens can travel to Nicaragua for up to 3 months without a visa. Make sure you can provide an onward ticket out of Nicaragua, or they might refuse you upon entry. Your passport should be valid for 6 more months upon entry to Nicaragua. If you do not have a direct flight into the country, make sure that the country you will be transiting through does not require a visa or another type of travel authorization.

Also checkout my guide to the best budget places to stay in Rome and my cheap eats guide to Rome.

Where to eat in Rome on a budget

There are loads of resources out there both in print and online of what to eat in Rome: where to find the best Carbonara or enjoy great artisan gelato.  While pizza and pasta are always top on the menu there are often many local Roman dishes that visitors overlook or don’t know about. 

The Roman classic, Cacio e Pepe is a must. A good place to try this is its namesake trattoria: 1.Cacio e Pepe, an old trattoria located in Prati district (Via Giuseppe Avezzana, 11). It is composed of a small place inside and another space outside. Being a very busy place please book in advance. Another typical roman delicacy to sample is Trapizzino, a type of pizza pocket stuffed with your choice of a variety of Roman delicacies like eggplant/aubergine parmigiana. For more Roman classics is 2.Flavio Velavevodetto , especially if you are in a group and want somewhere easy to get to. Definitely visit 3.Emma near Largo Torre Argentina for their thin pizza (alla Romana) and their great suppli. ‘Alla Romana’ Yup. The Romans have their “local version” of pizza. Let me explain to you. It’s thinner and more crispy than the classic one. Lorenzo from the RomeHello is a fan of Pizzeria “Il Buchetto” in Via Flaminia.

‘If you go there you’ll find yourself immersed in a simple and authentic environment, and you’ll feel like being in the past. The business is run by a family and the service is quick and simple. If you’re a fan of fancy furniture don’t go there, but if you’d love a local experience it’s the right place for you. Ah last but not least, they don’t take reservations but usually the queue is never too long, just grab a beer while waiting…’

Lorenzo Busi, The RomeHello

For pizza ‘alla Romana’ Linda from the Beehive however prefers going to 4.Pizzeria Ostiense for a typical, bustling, noisy pizzeria; paper tablecloths; fast, friendly, casual service and thin, crispy Roman-style pizza from their woodburning oven.

Plus if you are looking to get off the beaten path , hop to the not so well known neighbourhood trattoria called 5.Da Emilio on Via Alessandria in the neighbourhood north of Termini called Porta Pia. It is family run, wood panelled place,with no tourists and great food.

PS Also checkout our updated guide to the best cheap eats in Rome

Where to drink and party in Rome

From red wine and chocolate bars to cocktail joints with mystical vibes, let go on a crawl of Rome’s best drinking spots. If you are looking to kick of your evening in style on a budget, I recommend you look for an Aperitivo bar. Aperitivo concept, which was born in Milan is pretty simple: just buy a drink from the bar and you can help yourself to a pretty sweet buffet of food that varies from bar to bar but may include some pasta, slices of pizza, sometimes mini sandwiches or some slices of salami, mortadella or cheeses. One place to sample this tradition is 6.Enoteca il Covino in the heart of Rome (Via Ostia 21) It’s basically a wine shop where not only you can get some wine to bring home with you, but you can also enjoy a nice “aperitivo” (which is just another excuse for Italians to drink more wine) for a good price. 7.Il Vinaietto across from Emma near Largo Torre Argentina is another Roman favourite for a pre-dinner drink (before going to Emma for pizza and suppli) If wine and chocolate make sense to you, pop into a converted chocolate shop in the student quarter of San Lorenzo called 8.SAID where you can get a nice glass of red wine and dark chocolate and sit on the comfy couches.

Linda from Beehive recommends 9.Al Vino Al Vino, a wine bar in the Monti neighborhood with a lot of great wine choices as well as a caponata that is to die for. 

‘Freni e Frizioni is a bar in the Trastevere neighborhood that was created from a former clutch & brakes auto shop.  Lots of creative cocktails on one of the funkiest menus I’ve ever seen and an excellent mostly vegetarian all you can eat buffet in the back room. Salotto 42 not too far from the Pantheon is an elegant option for a cocktails night out. ‘

Linda, The Beehive

If cocktails is your thing, escape hustle and bustle of the city and head to the 10.Sanctuary Exotic Bar (Via Delle Terme di Traiano, 4A). between Colosseum and Monti district. Surrounded by nature, soft illumination from torches and neon lights along with exotic and different flavors, this place has a spiritual and mystic vibe,  where you can enjoy excellent cocktails and really lose yourself to the groove of electro house beats.

‘If you are not yet tired and feel like continuing your evening on the dance floor try 11.Lanicifio (via di Pietralata, 159A) a multifunctional space that represents the creativity of the Roman designers. A space dedicated to art and new artistic musical forms. At Lanificio Roma you can find an informal and peaceful environment, a place dedicated to people who know how to have fun.’

Pia Lauro, The Yellowsquare

After party. If you are a fan of “dive bar” then head to 12.Bar Fondi for an after dinner glass of wine or negroni where you will meet Alessandro the bartender and a bunch of other local neighbourhood characters. For partying late at night, without the hassle of the crowds and idiots, San Lorenzo is a safe choice with lots of live music (like the clubs, Le Mura or Wishlist) which are perfect for hanging around outside, drinking and chatting.  There are other great live music venues throughout Rome depending on your musical tastes such as 13.Black Market in the Monti neighborhood and Quirinetta near the Trevi Fountain to name a very few. Plus if you want to party and meet fun people, definitely afield to head over to the 14.Yellow Bar of one of our featured luxury hostels, The Yellowsquare where you can sample live music, dancing, and inexpensive drinks.

15.Best walks in Rome

As I mentioned, walking in Rome, day or night for me is a pretty magical experience. That feeling of twenty centuries of history, art and beauty gazing down on you-few cities in the world can beat it. Go for a walk along Fori Imperiali on a Sunday or around Monti, one of the oldest, most picturesque neighbourhoods of Rome. Or how about a walk in the big pedestrian area downtown, not only because it has some of most beautiful monuments of the city such as St Peter Square, Colosseum, Imperial Forum, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps or the Pantheon, but also because this way it is possible to immerse yourself in the real essence of Rome.

16.The best way to get around town

Rome has the most registered number of scooters in the world. However given the congested traffic, lack of respect for traffic rules, unless you are local, is it a crazy idea to hire a Vespa? Just ask Gregory Peck , Audrey Hepburn or one of Roman locals.

‘Rome is not a city for bike lovers’ Pia argues but in the historic centre of the Eternal City, I know some well marked pedestrian areas where it is very easy to ride a bike and discover the city’s alluring alleyways. On the other hand if you love to get around town on scooter try scooter sharing company Zigzag or the electric scooters by ecooltra.  All you have to do is sign up on their app but you can do it with a foreign driver’s license too and the app is in English.

‘If you’re looking for more than the bare minimum, and have experience driving a scooter, this is probably worth looking into.’

Steven Brenner, The Beehive

Tip: If you are planning to visit Rome and other cities around Italy, highly recommend 12Go to help book trains, buses or plane for all your intercity travel.

17.The best places to relax

Bursting with art galleries, century old ruins, old historic churches, Rome can be quite an overwhelming city and sometimes you might need a break to relax, rewind.

You can find your tranquility at Villa Doria Pamphilj, a historic residence that includes the largest urban public park in Rome. It is located on the Gianicolo hill (between via Aurelia Antica and via Vitellia). What is now a public park, in the past was the country residence of the Roman noble family Doria Pamphilj. This charming place offers the perfect environment if you are trying to disconnect from the chaotic life of the 21st century.

If you really need to tune out try Ryoga or Zem Yoga. Otherwise, if you feel like escaping the chaos of the city, there is a little caffe in Colle Oppio near the Colosseum or the Limonaia in the Villa Torlonia park : both are great places.

There are a number of beautiful green spots around Rome to sit in and relax. The very central Villa Borghese which overlooks one of  Rome’s most overlooked museums, the Villa Giulia National Etruscan museum is an excellent spot. The Villa Celimontana near the Colosseum and the Villa Torlonia about 20 minutes walk north of Rome’s central train station Termini.

18.What is the best viewpoint in the city?

Rome with a view? My favourite view is the  terrace of Viale del Belvedere of Villa Borghese. For Lorenzo, from his adolescence, the best viewpoint in the city has to be “Lo Zodiaco” at Monte Mario. Going there on a clear night with all those city lights and the stars shining in the sky was something really magical for him.

Linda and Steve on the other hand think the best viewpoint in the city is the Pincio, above Piazza del Popolo, or from the top of St. Peter’s dome. I also recommend grabbing a drink at one of the rooftop terraces of many of Rome’s 5-star hotels. The views are breathtaking and you don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to enjoy them.

19.Unusual things to do in Rome

A city as ancient as human civilisation, you would think this city would hardly have any secrets to bear but this city still has the ability to surprise. The Acquario Romano is a building which houses the Casa dell’Architettura and is situated in a lovely green and quiet small park with lots of benches. It is about a 5-minute walk from Termini train station. At the busy, bustling roundabout that is Piazza Venezia is the Palazzo Venezia.  It has an inner courtyard which blocks out all the sound of the traffic and where you simply hear the water from the fountain and birds. It is a lovely “secret spot” in the middle of the city.  The Chiostro del Bramante is a building tucked away near Piazza Navona and is a beautiful, calm spot to get a coffee or other kind of drink or something to eat as they have a cafe and although they host a lot of popular exhibits there now so it’s less “secret” during those times.  Another ‘secret place’ is actually one of the most crowded and central places in Rome: Piazza della Rotonda. Hundreds of people pass every day and stand before the majestic facade of the Pantheon. This crowded place is where Pia used to spend most of my days in the first period after I moved to Rome. If you stop to look at the details of the Pantheon you get trapped by its beauty making the lazing and the noise around suddenly disappears, transforming such a busy place into an intimate and peaceful one.

Steve has no secret spots he argues since he shares all with his guests. However there are some that he likes to surprise people with.  For example, he likes to go into the neighbourhood of Monti and then take people up a set of stairs through an ivy covered wall to Saint Peter’s in Chains and show them Michelangelo’s Moses.  He also likes to duck into Santa Maria degli Angeli at Piazza della Repubblica which has a gorgeous, enormous interior that you’d never expect from the unassuming facade.  He also loves showing people the 2,000 year old trash dump of the Monte dei Cocci from the glass windows inside Flavio Velavevodetto in Testaccio.  There’s also restaurants that have ancient Rome underneath them, such as in Piazza del Teatro di Pompeo where you can ask them to turn on the lights and go see how their wine cellar is thousands of years old. 

I’d say there isn’t any one secret destination but loads of secret, or easily overlooked curiosities along the way if you know the city well.

Steven Brenner, The Beehive

Bonus tip

Finally, do visit the tip of Tiberina Island. You just have to go down to river level and walk to the end of the island (be careful, it’s a tight passage). If you sit there with a beer and close your eyes you’ll feel like you’re on the prow of a ship, with the water flowing right beneath your feet. That’s why they call this place “le Polene” which were the vessel’s figureheads in the past.

The FRS Portugal sunset cruise experience

The weather was perfect for the sunset cruise. Clear skies and light was perfect. The cruise boat departed from Terracio do Paco, right next to the majestic square, Praca Do Comercio. We were advised to come early to board, 20 minutes before departure and already found a sizeable number of people queuing up. Tip: If you want to guarantee yourselves a nice seat, try and come a wee bit earlier. The boat itself, was a modern convertible boat with a roof that closes in case of bad weather. It is a nice size and roughly accommodates 70-80 people so it didn’t feel overcrowded, even at full capacity. The cruise had a nice mix of people from all parts of the world. Behind was a family from Philippines who were celebrating the last night of their Portugal trip on the boat. Beside was a stag group from Bergamo- well behaved and nice guys, not your usual stag group type. Thank lord. The cruise lasted 1.30 hours and takes you to some of the most prominent landmarks visible from the river that include Ponte 25 de Abril, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the Belém lighthouse, the Belém Tower and finally the Santuário de Cristo Rei. The cruise goes at a slow pace so you can really admire all the landmarks really close and upfront. One of my favourite parts of the cruise is when it dips beneath the broad, majestic expanse of the red rouge Ponte 25 de Abril. You can hear the hum of cars and trains passing above and then to the left of the bridge, the classic view of the Cristo Mei statue- really something special. Another magical moment is when the sunsets and it slowly turns dark, the ship does another spin and repositions itself slowly in front of the Cristo Mei statue. With the moon glowing behind it, wow, it really looked magical. Altogether, the time on the boat seemed to fly by quickly. Maybe it was the wine but it is a really nice way to wind down after a long day of sightseeing or maybe it marks the beginning of an epic night out in Lisbon.

Complimentary wine and snacks included

The €29 ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine or beer or soft drink plus some snacks including the popular local favourite I love- tremoços. If you want to treat yourself to an additional glass of wine, prices for a small bottle of wine ( 0.375. I went for a Vinho Verde, Muralhas- really nice wine) was around €8. There’s also ice cream on offer so a nice variety of choice of snacks and drinks. There’s a slow hum of music in the background which at times I wish was a little bit more louder but then again, you don’t want to strain your voice when talking. Toilets are onboard-nice and clean. Staff who served us were friendly and helpful.

Verdict

For €29, the cruise, including the glass of wine and snacks, is really good value and an experience worth investing in on your next trip to Lisbon. The other value for money alternative to the sunset cruise, is the 40 minute Tagus river cruise from Praca do Comercio to Belem. At €12, is great value. If you are looking for something more flexible, they also offer a hop on and hop off ticket which is €24 and allows you to hop back by boat, if you are planning to take in some of the sights in Belem and spend some time there.

Hope the brief review covers everything you needed to know-if you have any questions, please drop me a line kash AT budgettraveller.org

Further resources

If you are planning a trip to Lisbon, also checkout my guide of the best things to do in Lisbon 

and my guide to best budget places to stay in Lisbon.

Disclaimer

The cruise was provided kindly by FRS Portugal but all the opinions, good and bad, are entirely mine.

There’s a certain blissful calm of arriving at your destination by sea on a ferry. There are fewer, grander perspectives in travel than arriving in a new destination, your eyes feasting on the broad expanse of the harbour, being serenaded by a whirl of seagulls, with a crisp breeze in your hair. It is a world away from the stress of modern day flying – no stress of airport security, being jammed tightly into your minuscule seat with no social distancing possible, the hassle of packing all your holiday items into one cabin sized friendly bag. For me it is finding the sweet spot between comfort, experience and good value that makes it so much easier to choose a ferry over the plane. Then there is the added benefit of choice – keep in mind the vast array of amazing day trips and longer breaks you can enjoy living in Britain. From Bilbao to The Isle of Wight, Guernsey to Amsterdam, there is such an incredible number of places you can visit by ferry. In the following guide, I’ve tried to pack in some general tips on how to get the best value from ferry travel. I’ve pulled together a wee guide to the best ferry holidays from the UK with the help of Discover Ferries, an industry body that represents 13 ferry operators in the UK, Ireland and the British islands.

Ferry good advice: 8 tips for making the most of your ferry holiday

Here are some general tips on how you can make the most of travelling by ferry

1. Flexible tickets

If your travel plans are uncertain, then booking a great value flexible ticket is the best option. You can change your travel plans at short notice at no extra cost.

2. Book in advance

To get the best possible value tickets, always book in advance. This is also important if you are travelling during peak season, when you have fixed travel dates, or when special events and festivals are taking place.

3. Travel Off Peak

Travel off-peak and in the shoulder season to get the best deals. You will also have the best choice of cabins (if applicable) and sailing times. Opt for travelling midweek over weekends and daytime rather than overnight crossings.

4. Luggage included as standard

Travelling with your car means you can fill your boot without having to worry about baggage weight or cabin-bag size. N.B. some services charge more for bike racks and roof racks based on vehicle dimensions and some services, such as crossings to the Isles of Scilly, charge additional for transporting bulky items including surfboards and kayaks – pricing here.

5. Save with duty-free shopping

On-board duty-free shopping where you can get a whopping 50% discount on RRP for spirits, gifts, perfumes is available on routes to Europe, the Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland.. Return day-trip offers for example with Condor Ferries, DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line enable travellers to enjoy a day out and great value shopping.

6. Book ferry/travel or attraction tickets to make your holiday money go further

Many ferry operators offer joint ferry/rail or bus, ferry/attraction tickets to give visitors even better value travel. For example when travelling to Isle of Wight with Hovertravel, book the Hover Rover Bus ticket (£34 for adults, £16.50 for children 5-15. Note that these tickets can be booked online via Hovertravel ) which includes a Day Return on the hovercraft and unlimited use of the Southern Vectis buses on the island which includes the Open Top Tour Breezer buses.

7. Travel with pets, stress free

Pet-friendly travel means no member of the family needs to miss out – some services have pet-friendly cabins, onboard kennels and pet lounges.

8. Upgrade your experience

Many ferry services offer first class lounges, a la carte restaurants, kids’ play areas and even nightclubs – Stena Line and Brittany Ferries both have an on board spa on selected services.

Top 9 best value ferry holidays from the UK

1.Head to the Isle of Wight – from under £20 return

Isle of Wight is serviced by three ferry operators: Hovertravel, Red Funnel and Wightlink. To choose the most appropriate service you’ll need to consider where you want to leave from (Portsmouth or Southsea, Southampton or Lymington) and where you want to arrive on the island (Ryde, Fishbourne, Cowes or Yarmouth) and whether you want to travel by foot, with a bicycle or vehicle with –Wightlink’s service from Portsmouth you can visit Fishbourne, Isle of Wight as a foot passenger for the day from £18.60 return. Journey time for this route is 45 minutes. There is also the FastCat route for foot passengers only to Ryde Pier that takes 22 mins with a journey time of 25 mins on the RedJet fast service or 55 mins on the ferry. By ferry, day return prices for a foot passenger are from  £20.20.

If you want a really unique experience Hovertravel offer the only scheduled passenger hovercraft service running in Europe, from Southsea-Ryde. The journey time to the Isle of Wight is just 10 minutes. Choose the off peak day return from £25.70 and £34.20 (90 day return) or Family ticket which costs £78 (2 adults and 3 children).

Tips for Isle of Wight

Stay in self-catering accommodation to save money on eating out and you can still enjoy a taste of luxury for less.  Create your own tasting menu using local Island produce bought from Farmer Jack’s Farm Shop – you’ll find a mouth-watering selection of local and speciality foods here. Pick from seasonal fruit and vegetables grown just minutes away, meat from their in-house butcher and pick from the deli’s vast array of local and hand-selected delights- have a look at https://farmerjacks.co.uk/  

2. Pleasure island- Visit the Isle of Man from just £31.50 return

Go for a hike up the island’s tallest mountain, Snaefell Mountain or pop into the Manx Museum (free entry) to brush up on your knowledge of the island, from its modern love of motorbike racing, back to the time when the Vikings ruled the island.

You can visit the Isle of Man for £31.50 return on a day-trip ticket as a foot passenger with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company or you might consider a short break-Isle of Man Steam Packet Holidays  is currently offering a fantastic offer of £115 return, per person for a 2 night short break on the Isle of Man. The price includes your stay at the 4 star Empress Hotel (minimum of 2 night stay on a bed and breakfast basis for 2 people sharing a standard twin/double room. No single occupancy available) return ferry travel, a full Manx breakfast to start your day, plus a complimentary bottle of wine on arrival. The offer is valid till the 31st March 2022.

3. Day trip to the Isles of Scilly from £35 return

Another pleasant day trip with a difference in the UK is a trip to the Isles of Scilly that lie just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall. Blessed with white sandy beaches and azure blue water, a great mix of trails to explore by bike or foot, the famous subtropical gardens of Tresco and the unspoilt, rugged St Agnes – there’s plenty to see and explore on a day trip to this island.

The Scillonian III sails from Penzance to St Mary’s from March to November, up to seven days a week, from just £35 for a day return ticket booked via Isles of Scilly Travel website.

4. Travel from Tate to Tate for £7.30 with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

One of the most unique ways to travel through central London and beat the traffic is the high speed ferry service run by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. The service stops at 23 piers along the Thames between Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) Pier in the East and Putney Pier in the West.

If you are visiting London to soak up the culture, then I recommend hopping on the River Bus from Millbank (for the Tate Britain) to Bankside (for the Tate Modern), which allows you to go from Tate to Tate in just under 20 minutes. While on the boat you can tick off all the key London landmarks – Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and St Paul’s Cathedral. The fare costs £7.30 for adults or £3.65 for children. Alternatively, you can buy the River Roamer and you can hop-on and hop-off the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services all day.: £18.40 for adults, £36.70 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3 children. Best value tickets can be bought online or via the Uber App

Visiting the Tate Galleries

London’s Tate galleries house part of the UK’s national art collection and were founded under the belief that access to art should be free for everyone. Tate Britain houses some of the most influential works of British artists, including a vast collection of Turner’s most famous works, while Tate Modern displays some of the most renowned works from international modern artists.

It is free to visit both the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern but you will require to book your ticket and time slot in advance to visit. More details are here.

5. Ferries to Holland: Sail to Holland from as little as £56 return

DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line all offer ferry services from the UK to Holland with a choice of different UK departure ports. All services offer on board entertainment, a range of lounges, bars, restaurants and cinemas, with DFDS and P&O Ferries ships featuring nightclubs for the night owls amongst us.

Based on 4 people sharing a standard inside 4-bunk cabin you can travel on the DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam for £56 return as foot passengers.

I’ve done the Newcastle to Amsterdam crossing a few times when I lived in Scotland and it is always a great way to visit Europe, for a few days or if you are starting your Europe trip by car, van or Interrail. The ferry leaves Newcastle at 5pm and reaches IJmuiden, the ferry terminal at 9.45am. There is a whole range of things to do on board – from cinema, live music, a casino to a bar with nightclub, where you can dance until the early hours of the night. The 4 bed standard cabins are functional and decent enough for a night’s sleep.

From IJmuiden take bus 74 from the Oranjestraat stop to the centre of IJmuiden and subsequently, hop on the bus 82 to take you into Amsterdam.

Alternatively, you can take the Hull to Rotterdam service with P&O Ferries where 4 people can also share a 4-bunk standard cabin for £75 each return, travelling as a foot passenger. If you are living in the south of England, you can hop on the Stena Line service from Harwich to Hook of Holland for as little £78 return for a foot passenger.

Tips for Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the city of canals and serene waterways. What better way to relax, than to take in the city’s architectural glory from the water. I would recommend Pure Boats, whose cosy vessels offer a welcome change from the big tourist boats. They cater to small groups only, so you can have a much more intimate experience of riding the canals. Book their highlights of Amsterdam cruise (1 hour, includes a welcome drink) from as little as €23.50 

Also, when in Amsterdam, you have to try herring, the Dutch version of sushi. Scattered across Amsterdam you will find numerous herring stands. My go to place is Vishuisje on Herengracht (For more about where to eat in Amsterdam, checkout my Cheap Eats Amsterdam guide.

6. Go on a short break from Poole to Guernsey for as little as £70 per person with Condor Ferries

Just 9 miles long and 6 miles wide, the island of Guernsey with its pristine beaches and relaxed lifestyle is a great choice for a day trip or a weekend short break – you can leave on the Condor Ferries service from Poole on a Friday or Saturday and then return on a Sunday or Monday. Return fares are as little as £70 per person. The crossing takes roughly 3 hours and has great views of Sandbanks and the cliffs when sailing out across the Channel

Tips for Guernsey

Soak up the beautiful white sands and crystal blue waters of Como Bay, get an insight into what life on the island was like under German occupation during World War II at the Occupation Museum (Adults £6, Children £3) and relax in the picture postcard setting of Beaucette Marina, framed by the stunning St Martin Cliffs and beautiful boats.

Checkout this excellent blog post by Condor Ferries for things to do in Guernsey.

7. Rail and Sail from London to Dublin

You can rail and sail to Dublin with Irish Ferries and Stena Line  from any station in the UK. The Rail & Sail ticket starts from £34-£50 one way depending on where you are starting your journey from and takes you all the way to Dublin from your nearest train station. Take the train to Holyhead station and from there, you can catch a ferry to Dublin. 

Tips for Dublin

All art galleries are free to enter, so immerse yourself in the national art collections. The National Gallery, IMMA and Hugh Lane are three that are worth highlighting. Poetry is the new rock and roll. If you want to experience a night with a difference, hop over to the Underground Beat (€Free night of music and poetry. The International Bar, Wicklow Street every Wednesday. 8PM to midnight) or the Circle Sessions (Monday night. €Free Doors open at 7pm. First act: 8pm) to listen to Dublin’s most talented poets. I love Cornucopia (19/20 Wicklow Street Dublin, 2) for their whole food and vegetarian fare. Mains with salads are around €12. I highly recommend their burritos.

8. How about a trip to France?

Have you been to Calais? Another idea for an easy day trip is to visit Calais. DFDS, and P&O Ferries offer day return fares from just £45 ( and /). There are lots of restaurants in Calais, bars and brasseries, specialist French food and goods stores, a lovely sandy beach, monuments, churches, museums and galleries. Checkout this excellent guide for things to do in Calais.

Or alternatively, you can take a 3 day break in Northern France with Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries as well as DFDS offering services from the UK. Another great trip idea is to visit the city of William the Conqueror, Caen with Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth to Caen. Caen is a lively university town with a fantastic market on Friday which takes over the city centre. Enjoy sample superb seafood at places like La Casiniere (10 rue aux Namps, 14000 Caen France) where you can enjoy 3-course menu for as little as €29.  Located in the vicinity of the D-Day Landing beaches, Caen Memorial Museum is another essential place to visit. One of the best WW2 museums in France focusing on the Battle of Normandy and the tragic impact the war had on the city.

Tips for your trip to Northern France

Besides exploring the coast of Normandy in Caen, Cherbourg, Étretat, Honfleur and Mont St Michel, you can obviously visit Paris (here’s my guides to Paris, including my 50 free things to do in Paris) and also consider nearby Rouen.

In terms of accommodation, consider booking a stay at a gîte, french equivalent of a bed and breakfast. Have a look here at the Gîtes de France website for more inspiration and ideas for your trip  .

Also look at Bienvenue à la Ferme , a programme supported by the French government that allows travellers to stay at farms. This is also a great option for food lovers. You will be able to have a homemade meal with fresh ingredients from their own farms.

Another simple but important tip:  When dining out in France, look out for great value set menus which, especially at lunchtime offer great savings over a la carte menus.

9. Sail to Isle of Arran from just £12 per person with Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries

They call Arran ‘Scotland in miniature’ and it really sums up the beauty of Scotland – castles, beautiful beaches, delicious cheeses, distilleries and mountains -it has it all. You can visit Arran from just £12 per person with Rail & Sail tickets from Glasgow or just £8.20 return from Ardrossan with Caledonian MacBrayne ferries. 

Tips for Isle of Arran

Scale Goatfell, the largest mountain on Arran, go whisky tasting at Lochranza Distillery, visit Arran Aromatics for their heavenly scented soaps and shower gels, cheese tasting at the Isle of Arran Cheese shop next door (Smokey Garlic Cheddar and the Chilli flavoured cheddar is the stuff of dreams) and if you’re passing through the village of Corrie, a visit to the Mara Fish Bar & Deli shop (Opening in Spring this year) for their range of seafood specialities like Loch Fyne Kippers or Goan Fish Curry.

Please note prices quoted are correct at blog publication, and are subject to availability.

Disclaimer: This article was produced in partnership with Discover Ferries ( www.discoverferries.com) a ferry industry body, that represents 13 ferry operators in the UK, Ireland and the British islands. All opinions expressed here, good and bad, are entirely my own. Thanks for reading and your support.

1.Eurostar New Year Sale: Europe from 25€

You can explore some of Europe’s iconic cities with Eurostar’s flash sale which is running January 3-9, 2025. Book now for travel between January 14 – April 3, 2025, with Standard fares starting at just 25€!

Whether it’s Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam, your next adventure awaits.

Book by January 9 to secure these cheap Eurostar tickets!

2. Use the stopover feature on Deutsche Bahn’s international tickets to travel from Berlin to Prague with stopover in Dresden for €18.90

Plan a stopover at no extra cost thanks to this incredible feature from Deutsche Bahn!

If you are visiting Berlin for example with plans to continue to Prague, via the Deutsche Bahn website, you can add a 24 hour stopover in Dresden at no extra price.

For example, searching in March 2022, you can buy a ticket from Berlin to Prague for as little as €18.90 with a 24 hour stopover in Dresden.

Or if you are planning to visit Budapest, you can book a ticket from Berlin to Budapest for €46.90 with a 24 hour stopover in Prague.

PS: If you are planning a trip to Prague, checkout my guide to the best budget places to stay in Prague,  Prague on a budget and also my guide to the best things to do in Prague

These are Deutsche Bahn’s Sparpreis advance-purchase cheap fares.

For an extra €19.90 you can also upgrade your ticket to 1st class where you’ll get a slightly better seat and legspace but honestly in my opinion, there is not really a big difference between travelling 1st and 2nd class on these trains.

3. Prague to Budapest- €16 and Vienna to Budapest- €9 with Regiojet

One of the best value cheap train Europe deals- tick off three classic Europe destinations with one incredible fare

Formerly the Student Travel Agency which started out offering low-cost luxury bus services within Czech Republic, the agency has now rebranded as Regiojet offering incredible value low-cost train services within Czech Republic and beyond.

The best value deal of the lot, was launched last summer when Regiojet started a new train service that linked up three key European capitals that are a staple of every Eurotrip- Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Currently there are 2 trains servicing the route daily. Tickets start from as little as €16 between Prague and Budapest and just €9 from Vienna to Budapest.

A quick search pulled up a few of the €16 Prague and Budapest fares in March 2022. The basic fare includes seat reservations and WiFi. For an extra €2.30 you get a better seat, free newspaper water and access to their built-in LCD screens.

4. Prague to Budapest with Czech Railways for €21 in advance

Another slightly more expensive and alternative option is to book Eurocity train from Prague to Budapest for as little as €21 or 514 CZK. You can only book this ticket in advance only via the

Czech Railways website.

5. Prague to Munich for €15 via Czech Railways

Czech Railways, portal for Czech trains can sometimes offer some great deals on train travel….

If you are travelling from Czech Republic to Germany, I would also strongly urge you to look up fares on Czech Railways website where they can be often a third cheaper than when booking via Deutsche Bahn website.

For example on 30th March, travelling from Prague to Munich on the direct train, ( 11.38am ) the fare shows up as €42 one way via bahn.de website but if you look at the Czech Railways website, same train and fare shows up as 360 CZK which is €14.76 which is a massive saving.

6. Paris to Nice €19 with the French low cost train service Ouigo

A low-cost, high-speed train service operated by SNCF 

Visiting France soon? While many are familiar with their amazing TGV trains, Voyages SNCF also has a low-cost train service called Ouigo which offers fares as cheap as €10 between Paris Marné la Vallée and Lyon or Bordeaux & €19 from Paris to Nice. These super cheap fares open 9 months in advance so you should book early to get these fares.

For example, a quick search on en.oui.sncf, I can see a bunch of fares for €10 from Paris to Bordeaux in June 2022. It is worth noting that this fare is valid from Marné la Vallée which is the TGV outpost for Disneyland Paris and is a 12 minute , €15 ride from Paris CDG airport. Or you can take the underground to Châtelet-Les-Halles from where you take the RER-line A to Marne-la-Vallée. Journey time is 35 minutes and costs €7.50.

If you are planning to travel to Paris and Nice, Ouigo also operate a low-cost service on this popular route. In June 2022, I can see fares for as little as €19. Trains leave from the more central Gare de Lyon to Nice.

Ouigo also has a few extras to keep in mind. If you want a seat with electric sockets for an extra €2 and if you want to be in the quiet carriage, there is an extra €5 fee.

PS: Another brilliant value train deal to also keep in mind is the Milan to Paris route. Being offseason, there is a bunch of their cheap €29 fares on sale now on the route ( Trainline’s excellent low fare calendar is a very handy tool )  Journey time is 7 hours. Extra €10 snags you a seat on 1st class.

7. Barcelona to Madrid by €9 with Ouigo Spain

Low-cost, high speed rail service revolution comes to Spain

Last summer ( 2021) Ouigo brought their unique low-cost train services to Spain. From May 2021, Ouigo started offering a 5 times a day, daily return service between Barcelona and Madrid. The service also serves the cities of Zaragoza and Tarragona.

Simple search on Ouigo website, reveals a bunch of the bargain €9 fares on the Barcelona to Madrid route for dates in June and July 2021. Ouigo applies low cost airline dynamic pricing so the sooner you book, the better the fares so keep that in mind.

Worth noting that for the basic €9 fare, passengers can bring a small bag/ handbag and a carry on cabin sized luggage. If you have a rucksack or suitcase, there is an extra €5 fee.

8. Stockholm to Gothenburg with Flixtrain for €12.99

If Sweden is on your itinerary and you are planning to travel between the two main cities, Stockholm and Gothenburg, have a look at Flixtrain who offer fares for as little as €12.99/135 kronor between Stockholm and Gothenburg. To give you a comparison, main operator in Sweden SJ offer fares of 194 kronor/ €18.60 so you make a big saving.

9. Berlin to Frankfurt for €9.99 with Flixtrain Germany

Flixtrain also operates on a number of routes in Germany and is the main competitor to Deutsche Bahn. Frequency is less and they operate on a handful of routes but their fares are much cheaper.

To give you an idea, fares with Flixtrain cost as little as €4.99 from Hamburg to Berlin ( Journey time 2 hours 39 minutes ) €9.99 Berlin to Stuttgart ( Journey time 5.56 hours ) and €9.99-Berlin to Frankfurt ( 4.09 hours )

10. Deutsche Bahn Länder ticket/ Regional day tickets

Unlimited train travel across any of Germany’s 16 federal states for as little as €22

If you are visiting Germany, especially with your partner or a group of friends, another brilliant deal is the Lander regional tickets which offer you unlimited travel within the state for as little as €22. This ticket is valid only on local and regional trains and excludes the faster ICE/IC trains. You can travel with up to four fellow passengers per ticket for as little as EUR 3 per additional passenger.

The tickets are valid from Monday to Friday from 09:00 until 03:00 on the following day.

We used this ticket when visiting Munich last year for a day trip to Zugspitze, beautiful Lake Eibsee and Garmisch Partenkirchen.

The other great thing worth remembering is that you can buy these tickets on the day from any Deutsche Bahn ticket machine in the train station.

11. Paris to Vienna for €60 with Nightjet train service

Night trains in Europe a great way to save money on accommodation plus time if you are on tight itinerary

If you are on a tight budget and travelling between countries, I would highly recommend looking into booking an overnight sleeper train to help you save money on 1 nights accommodation and also you are not wasting the whole day in a train.

For example you can travel from Paris to Vienna on the Nightjet service. It leaves Gare de l’Est at 6.58pm and reaches Vienna at 10.12am in the morning.

The basic fare for a seat in a 6 seat compartment carriage is €60. From the picture above, as you can see, not the most comfortable seat to be cooped up and try and sleep.

If you are on a tight budget, it will get you from A to B. If you splurge on a couchette , you pay an extra €20 which might be worth the investment if it means getting a decent night sleep.

I’ve taken the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh and also the Helsinki to Kolari ( Prices start from €49 for private cabin and with shower, €69 ) overnight train on my way to the 7 Fells Hostel in Finnish Lapland- ( Read more about my trip to Finnish Lapland here ) great way to travel and the journey itself is an experience that will remember.

Other great services on Nightjet train worth keeping an eye include the Munich to Zagreb service ( leaves Munich at 23.20pm and reaches Zagreb at 8.32am) -booking in advance, you get a seat in the compartment for as little as €29.90 or for an extra €45 on top, you can get a sleeper bed.

12. Buy a Eurail pass

13.Buy the Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass gives you free unlimited use of trains, trams, boats and buses, from 3 to 15 days with purchase of the pass. Tip: Choose the Swiss Travel Flex where you travel unlimited for 3 days in a month (267 CHF). The pass also provides unlimited use of public transport and access for free to 500 museums across Switzerland.Aside from regional transport, public transport in cities is inclusive too – like buses, trams and funiculars. Another wonderful aspect of purchasing the pass includes 50% off mountain railway tickets. There are a number of different options for buying a specific pass and it’s well worth doing your research and buying a pass that caters to your specific needs. Itineraries for travel on consecutive days are available or the flexible pass option. Passes for 3,4,6, 8 or 15 consecutive days can be bought. One of the main bonuses of having the pass is not having to queue up to buy tickets. This feels very luxurious and certainly lifts the stress of travelling in a new country. People under 26 years get a 30 percent discount on travel.Some of the advantages of the travel pass include not being tied down to a rigid itinerary. With the flexibility to travel far and wide, this certainly enlarges the scope for travel. Switzerland with its wealth of clear mountain lakes and rugged peaks is the ideal place to explore by boat and mountain railway. With the additional option to visit over 500 museums with the pass, buying a Swiss Travel Pass ensures that visiting Switzerland is an affordable and rich travelling experience.

14. Explore Germany by trains for Only €49 a Month 

Take advantage of the incredible Deutschland €49 ticket that offers unlimited travel across Germany on local and regional trains for a whole month. With this ticket, you can use all forms of public transportation in Germany, including buses, trams, subways, light rail, regional, and regional express trains. Some ferry connections in Berlin and Hamburg are included, as well as a few international connections, such as the Bavarian regional train (BRB) service to Salzburg and Kufstein in Austria.

Remember that the ticket does not include the faster, long-distance trains such as ICE, Intercity and Eurocity or night trains. You can buy the Deutschland Ticket online via the the Deutsche Bahn website.

It is worth remembering that the Deutschland-Ticket is a subscription which will automatically renews at the end of each month. Whether you purchase it on the 1st June or 14th June , it will be only valid till the end of June. It still works out as a very good deal, even if you are travelling across Germany for a fortnight. Remember, you have to cancel on the 10th of the previous month, otherwise it renews for the next month.

Bonus tip: Great value train themed hostel?

If you are a real train nerd , then I would recommend staying at the Train Lodge Hostel Amsterdam ,a refurbished train carriage situated right next to Amsterdam Sloterdijk Train Station.

The hostel itself is cozy and well-equipped with private and shared compartments that come with heating and air-conditioning. There’s also a fantastic terrace to catch some sun, an on-site bar-bistro for when you’re peckish, and free Wi-Fi to keep you connected. The icing on top? It’s just a quick train ride away from iconic sites like the Anne Frank House, Vondelpark, and Schiphol Airport. With affordable rates, it’s ideal for solo travelers and groups alike.

When I first started researching how to backpack for cheap, I found a lot of helpful tips on how to save money, but has it ever crossed your mind to work for accommodation?  I’m sure you’ve heard the same advice: plan in advance, use certain websites to find cheap flights, cook meals yourself instead of eating at restaurants three times a day, etc. These tips are useful, but when I was planning my backpacking budget, it quickly became clear that the largest expense I was facing was accommodations. 

Accommodations can be prohibitively expensive when you need to backpack for cheap. Even hostels can be pricey, depending on your destination and the length of your trip. But you have to sleep somewhere so what’s a budget traveler to do?  For a while, it felt impossible to experience all the places I wanted to see on the budget that was available to me. But then I discovered Worldpackers and the concept of work for accommodation, or work exchange, and it’s a total game-changer when it comes to keeping backpacking trips cheap. The idea of working for accommodation is simple. You trade your skills and some of your time in exchange for free accommodations. That simple.

So how exactly does Worldpackers work? Where can you go, and what skills do you need to score free accommodations? How can you be sure that work exchange will be a good fit for you? Instead of listing out all the available opportunities, to help get a better understanding of the platform and what it offers, I’ve shared with you a few Worldpackers experiences- we start with Gabby Boucher.

Volunteering in Ecuador and Peru with Worldpackers

Gabby (@gabbyboucher), a 26-year-old traveler from the United States volunteered with Worldpackers twice in South America:

‘’I volunteered with Worldpackers in Ecuador and Peru. It was my first time visiting South America, and Worldpackers allowed me to have a real, authentic experience. I was also fresh out of college so I didn’t have much money. Working in exchange for accommodation was such a cool and easy way to travel without spending a lot. I was able to improve my Spanish, explore gorgeous places and meet lots of incredible locals and other travelers.

In Ecuador, I volunteered with a local family and also did some writing for a local business. In Peru, I bartended in a hostel. Now, years later, writing, hospitality, and bartending are valuable skills that I still use in my career to this day. Worldpackers was an accessible, affordable, and fun way to gain work experience in an international environment. It was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!’’

Teaching English in Genoa

Olivia (@livlet) is a 28-year-old traveler who lived her first volunteering opportunity with Worldpackers while teaching English for an Italian family in Genoa.

‘’After completing my university degree and deciding to go backpacking solo, I was eager to immerse myself in different cultures and develop new perspectives about the world and living in it. I had studied for some years, but I realized I didn’t want to work in the field I was educated in, so I had to get out there and try new things and step outside of my comfort zone. I felt as though experiencing first-hand what it was like to be a part of an Italian family would help me to feel closer to my Italian heritage, and I considered this as an amazing opportunity. I exchanged a few hours of help per day and I was granted a private dorm, typical Italian food and a got to know the surrounding areas really well, walking peacefully with my host family.

Furthermore, with my love for language, I was interested in trying to teach English abroad whilst hoping to learn some Italian along the way too! The most important lesson I learned was with regard to communication; it wasn’t just me helping the couple with their English, but they helped me with my English too. When I first arrived, I was overwhelmed by their openness, kindness, and generosity, so I felt a strong desire to express my appreciation for all they were doing for me. This was difficult for me, but they were very accepting and open from the beginning, so learning how to open up to them brought us closer together”

Volunteering in Vietnam and Cambodia

Christopher (@christophertabet) is a 30 years old traveler from Australia, who lived in both Vietnam and Cambodia as a Worldpackers volunteer:



‘’I was seated at a bar across from a British girl who was telling me about her travel plans through Southeast Asia when she pulled out a piece of paper that mapped out everywhere she was going and what she was doing there. “I use this platform called Worldpackers”, she said. “I am traveling long term and use Worldpackers to break up time and spending.”

I was on my first solo trip overseas and followed a long series of events going all the way back to my days at university. It had taken me six years to complete a three-year degree in business and finance. I recall wanting to travel overseas during this time, but my student wage held me back from being able to afford the expensive volunteering opportunities I found online. I estimate that I sent about 20 applications before one host in particular stood out to me — a digital marketing role for a hospitality company in Siem Reap, Cambodia.



The company was a family business founded by a 36-year old Khmer man, his wife and siblings who grew up around the region of the Angkor Wat and its surrounding jungle. 

There were around 70 employees, three of which were expats. For many years, the family struggled with poverty, each having to adopt their own set of entrepreneurial and social skills from an extremely young age in order to survive through the tough and trying times of Cambodia’s all-too-recent dark past.

I volunteered with the company for 10 months before leaving Siem Reap for a more rural experience in the Cambodian countryside. Ultimately, the highlights of my journey were the connections I was able to make. I never expected that I’d make as many close friends as I did. I now feel like Cambodia is a home away from home. Since I was traveling alone, it meant a lot to have local people be there for me and offer me a place as part of their own family. I can’t show enough gratitude towards those people for that. 

My experiences with Worldpackers in Vietnam and Cambodia changed the trajectory of my life. I went on a spiritual journey, an entrepreneurial journey, and a personal growth journey — all in one. Travel changed me for the better.

What is Worldpackers?

First and foremost, Worldpackers is a traveler community. In comparison to other work exchange platforms, Worldpackers stands out because it is run by travelers, for travelers. With just a quick visit to their website, you can find tons of other community members just like you. You can ask experienced Worldpackers travelers questions about their experiences or read about other travelers’ experiences with work exchange. All the resources and information that you need to have a successful (and cheap!) backpacking trip are there. 

But practically speaking, Worldpackers is a company that facilitates work exchange by connecting travelers with potential hosts from all over the world. The Worldpackers team does all the behind-the-scenes work to make it easy and safe for you to find a host you’ll be compatible with, and they are there to support you, even while you’re traveling.

How do I get started with Worldpackers?

The Worldpackers website is very easy to navigate. You’ll pay a yearly membership fee of about US$ 49 to get started, which is less than what you’d likely pay for a single night in a hotel. There is no limit to how many work exchange trips you can schedule within the membership period.

If you want to save some money, create your account with this link and you’ll get US$10 off your annual plan!

Once you’ve become a member, you will fill out your profile, where you’ll have a chance to tell potential hosts more about you, your interests, and your skills. There are even video tutorials and blog articles to help you make your profile shine!

From there, the next step is to find a host. I remember the excitement of scrolling through the hundreds of potential hosts. The hardest part is choosing just one (to get started, at least!). You can filter hosts based on a number of factors, such as where you’d like to go and what type of work you’ll be doing during your stay. 

Hosts will list what skills you’ll need to have to volunteer with them, which tasks you’ll be expected to complete, the number of hours you’ll be volunteering for them each week, and what exactly they’re offering in return for your help. Some hosts offer other incentives other than working for accommodations, such as free breakfast each day, language lessons, etc. You’ll also be able to chat directly with your potential host, which I especially loved, because it helped me get a good feel for their personalities and how we’d get along before I committed.

Once you’ve found the right host match for you, you’re all set to begin backpacking for cheaper than you ever could if you were paying for a place to sleep each night. It’s really that easy!

What are the types of work exchange with Worldpackers?

There’s a huge variety of skills that Worldpackers hosts are looking for, anything from teaching yoga to farming to photography and more. 

• Live and work in an Italian bed & breakfast owned by an American!
• Help us in a children’s home in Transylvania, Romania
• Help us grow mushrooms in our innovative project!

Worried that you don’t have the right skills to find a host? Don’t be! Many hosts only require a good attitude and are willing to teach the rest. 

Where can I go working for accommodation?

Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and Latin America are all available destinations for Worldpackers travelers. Again, I go back to that overwhelming feeling of possibility when I was first scrolling through the seemingly endless number of potential hosts. Worldpackers has hosts all over the world, and you’re sure to find one in a destination that interests you.

With Worldpackers, you’ll be able to spend an entire month really getting to know the city and sharing your home country with other people who are traveling through. It’s completely up to you how far away from home you’d like to go!

Is work for accommodation with Worldpackers safe?

So sure, Worldpackers is a great way to go backpacking for cheap, but is it safe? In my opinion, this is the area where Worldpackers stands out the most among other work exchange platforms. The Worldpackers team verifies all of their hosts beforehand. But in addition to that, you’ll be able to read reviews from other travelers who have volunteered with each host.

And if you’re still uncertain, your Worldpackers membership includes Worldpackers Insurance. If you arrive at your destination and conditions are not as they were advertised by the host, Worldpackers will find you a new host in the area to stay with. If they’re not able to find you a new host, they will pay for you to stay in a shared room at a nearby hostel for up to three nights.  Love this feature.

Is Worldpackers and work exchange right for you?

Well, that depends. If you prefer luxury travel, would have an issue sharing space with other volunteers, or generally have an unpleasant attitude about work, then you should probably stick to paying for your own accommodations. But if you’d like to backpack for cheap, love meeting new people, and want to fully immerse yourself in local culture, Worldpackers will be a great fit for you.

Look, I know I’ve been very positive about Worldpackers in this article, but I truly believe that traveling makes us more empathetic, compassionate human beings, and so the Worldpackers mission of “democratizing meaningful travel experiences through a collaborative mindset,” really speaks to me. 

Because of Worldpackers, thousands of people have been able to travel longer and further than they could have ever possibly traveled otherwise. Meet people who will become some of your closest friends, build practical skills that will help your career in the future, discover hobbies that you never would’ve tried if it hadn’t been for Worldpackers.

Traveling with Worldpackers could change your life. Go sign up to become a member of this amazing community. 

Started planning your trips for 2025? I am excited to share with you my best travel hacks and tips to save money in 2025. My aim with the blog has always been helping you to find creative ways of how you travel better in style on a budget so in keeping with my mission, I thought his post is timely. Travelling can at times seem unobtainable and difficult, especially in times like this but the truth is if you’re frugal, smart with destinations you choose wise and pick the right places to stay, it doesn’t need to cost half as much. So without, further delay, I share with you my 52 travel hacks & tips for 2022.

1. Get a Curve Card

There are no transaction fees when using your Curve card abroad. How much you can withdraw, fee free depends on which card you use. The free classic Curve card version offers upto £200 free while Curve Black (£9.99 a month) gives you £400.00 while Curve Metal ( £14.99) gives you £600.00 a month which is a fantastic and helpful amount. If you are a Curve Metal user, you also benefit from access to 1000+ airport lounges across the globe with LoungeKey at a great price of £20 per day- this benefit is great if you have a long layover and need access to a hot shower, food, drinks and a place to work from. Another major feature of Curve is the ‘Go Back in Time’ option. If you’ve paid for something on the wrong card, Curve allows you to switch the payment to the correct account up to 30 days after making the payment.

However the key benefit for me personally are the security features- you can consolidate all of your debit cards, credit cards, and loyalty cards in one app and card- Curve Mastercard. This means on a night out in town, you don’t need to carry multiple cards on your person, just one. This is huge plus for me, especially when you are travelling abroad. Plus paying with Curve card means you don’t have to disclose your bank and primary card details to anyone, making all your transactions safer. Plus you have protection upto £100000 on transactions and you have the option of locking and unlocking your Curve card through the mobile app at any point- handy if you can’t find your card.

Sign up for Curve here via this link and get a £5 reward when you use it for your first transaction.

2. Always fly on a Tuesday

When booking flights, Tuesday is almost always the cheapest priced day of the week to travel, due to the low demand for flights on this day. If you’re willing and able to travel out and/or back on a Tuesday, this will save you some money. 

PS Travelling midweek by train or plane makes a huge difference.

I have created an itinerary for you where you can see 15 cities in Europe for less than $250 or £182

3. Always check the foreign website of your airline for prices

When booking flights, you should always check the foreign website of the airline you’re booking to compare prices. For example, when I was flying with Tiger Airlines one year from Perth (Australia) to Singapore, there was more than a $100AU saving for booking with the flight via the Singapore version of the website than from the Australian version of the website. I recommend signing upto a VPN and then accordingly setting your location.

4. Clear your website cookies after every flight search

If you’re making a number of flight searches for the same destination, it gets stored in your web history. Airline websites read this and up the price to the destination you’re looking for. Delete your web browsing history after every search to make sure you’re getting the cheapest price possible.

5. Be flexible where you sit and avoid seat charges

If you remain open to where you sit (which is especially easy if you’re travelling solo) then you can quite easily save on seat charges for reserving your seat. I’ve often bagged a window or aisle seat 8 times out of 10 this way.

6. Consider an indirect flight or stopover

Whilst it may be a pain to not fly direct, with more time spent in transit, it is usually cheaper if you’re willing to fly indirect. Just take a quick search on search engine comparison sites like Skyscanner and Momondo and you’ll see indirect routes are (usually) a lot cheaper. Or consider a stopover flight- like to see two destination for the price of one? Have a look at Airwander

7. Check flights from other nearby airports

You can sometimes save hundreds by merely choosing a different airport. For example, we saved over £150 per head by simply flying from Munich instead of Berlin on a pre pandemic flight to Bangkok. This more than covered the cost of getting to/from Munich by train and some sightseeing. On Skyscanner, you’ll find the feature ‘Add nearby airports’ just below the main search box.

8. Join frequent flyer programmes

Joining a frequent flyer programme and racking up airlines miles (particularly on long haul flights) can earn you free flights or a nice upgrade when flying long haul. It’s a no brainer. I am member of TAP Portugal’s Miles and Go frequent flyer programme and with my miles, I’ve enjoyed flight upgrade, tickets and also other benefits like lounge access when flying with TAP Portugal.

9. Sign up for travel credit cards

Another way to accumulate airlines miles (and in turn free flights) is to buy a travel credit card and earn points for every penny that you spend. I have an American Express card where I get frequent flyer miles for everything I purchase with the card – flights, hotels and even household bills. Many cards have large sign-up bonuses and allow you to gain more points by spending money at partner shops and restaurants.

10. Use a free fee card on overseas purchases and when withdrawing money

Curve card we mentioned before allows you gain cashback on your purchases ( 1%, limits apply) It also allows you to withdraw upto £200 free a month ( with the Curve Blue ‘free’ card) and fee free overseas purchases upto £500 a month, unlimited with Curve Black and Metal cards.

Sign up for Curve here via this link and get a £5 reward when you use it for your first transaction.

11. Bring your own food and water on-board

Why pay premium prices for not-so-good airline food when you can just bring your own packed lunch onboard? I always travel with a reusable bottle , tupperware box and reusable wooden cutlery to save leftover food or for carrying a sandwich. I would recommend Flying Tiger Copenhagen– their reusable bottle starts from €2 and lunch boxes from just €5.

12. Travel with only carry-on luggage

Save more money while flying by taking carry-on luggage only and avoid hold luggage fees. Here’s a handy guide I’ve written to best carry on luggage options while flying with low cost airlines.

13. Weigh and measure your luggage beforehand

Make sure you weigh and measure you luggage before you go to make sure you’re not paying excess baggage fees. Or buy a digital portable electronic scale like this one, the FREETOO which for $11 is a great buy.

14.Take the night train/bus

Save a night’s money on accommodation and take the night bus or train. Particularly in Europe, you’ll find the night trains can be quite comfortable. In countries like Argentina, the night buses often offer 180 degree reclining seats. Here’s a guide to my 5 best travel hacks for travelling by train in France and the best budget bus companies in Europe 

15. Research your destination before you go

Research. Research. Research. I can’t emphasise this enough. There’s only one way to know you’re not getting ripped off by a vendor or a taxi driver and that’s to have a rough idea of what things cost before you go. A quick google search before you go or a guidebook will usually tell you.

16. Take a Free Walking Tour

In almost every major tourist city in the western world, there’s a free walking tour available nowadays. For example, Sandeman’s New Europe offer free 2.5 hour walking tours in many cities and all you’ll have to do is offer a tip if you wish to the guide.

17. Explore parks and public spaces

Exploring parks and public spaces is also another free activity you can indulge in whilst travelling. It’s also a great place to people watch and mix with the locals.

18. Free Festivals/Concerts

Most cities around the world have free festivals, concerts or outdoor events at some point throughout the year. Find out when they are held and time your visit accordingly. For example, the Edinburgh Festival has many free shows throughout the month of August. Here’s a guide I wrote on how you can find free music concerts in Europe.

19. Visits Museums & Art Galleries for Free

Almost every museum or gallery around the world has a free-entry day either once a week, once a month or once a year. A little research could save a fortune. Here is my guide to the best free museums in the world.

20. Spend a day taking photos

Looking for something to do that doesn’t cost money? Spend a day taking pictures of outdoor sites, people and sunsets- photographs are the best souvenirs no? ( Or if you are in Berlin or Dresden, get your photos taken at the classic Photoautomat- costs just €2 for 4 photos )

21. Sign up for a bank card / foreign currency card with no ATM fees.

One way you can lose a lot of money abroad is in ATM fees while using your debit or credit card at the cash machine. Sign up for a bank card like Curve that doesn’t charge ATM fees and you could quite easily save between £1.50 – £5 per withdrawal.  Remember to signup for Curve via this link and get a £5 reward when you use it for your first transaction.

22. Check exchange rates well in advance before you go

Exchange rates at airports are the worst so keep an eye on the exchange rate before you travel and order your money online where the rate is better.

23. Stay in a luxury hostel!

Staying in a large dorm room at a hostel is much cheaper than staying alone in a hotel room. And these days with many luxury hostels popping up there’s no need to sacrifice comfort either whilst travelling on a budget. For a guide to the best hostels in the world, look no further than my guidebook, ‘The Grand Hostels, Luxury Hostels of the World’

24. Work in hostels

Save even more money on accommodation by working in them too. Most hostels need cleaners and reception workers and many offer work exchange programmes where you work a few hours per day in exchange for free accommodation. Worldpackers are a great resource for finding work exchange programmes. Annual membership fee is $49 but if you signup via my link, you will save $10 off your joining fee.

25. Choose cities with cheaper hostel prices

Where you choose to travel can also determine how long you can afford to travel, as some destinations are a lot cheaper than others. There are many cities in Eastern Europe like Budapest or Belgrade where hostel dorm beds are much cheaper than London or Barcelona, starting from as little £5 – £10 per night.

26. Travel Asia & South America

Where hostel accommodation is really cheap though, is in Asia and South America. Both have well woven backpacker routes and many backpacker hostels to choose from. Check the Covid-19 situation before you go but South America is definitely a safer bet for winter travel this year. Asia will probably be in a better situation in mid to late 2022.

27. Choose countries where you don’t need to pay for a visa

Save some more money by choosing countries where you don’t need to pay for a visa. Pegasus Airlines has an excellent tool for finding countries where you don’t have to pay for a visa/

28. Bring a hammock

In my experience, some overbooked hostels will let you set up a hammock (and for a cheaper fee than a dorm bed).

29. Eat in hostel kitchens

Most hostels have hostel kitchens. By eating in, you can save an absolute fortune on meals.

30. Buy food in local markets

It’s a lot cheaper to eat local and buy fresh produce from local markets. It’s also an excellent way to experience life like a local.

31. Eat street food

When you do eat out, don’t be afraid to try street food. It’s the cheapest form of food out there and it also gets cooked in front of you – so you can check the cleanliness and standards. Checkout my cheap eats guides on the blog.

32. Haggle/negotiate prices in local shops/markets

Whenever you’re shopping in local street markets or anywhere that isn’t a chain store, be sure to haggle and get the best deal you can.

33. Make your biggest meal lunch – it’s usually cheaper when eating out

If you do decide to eat out in more expensive restaurants, eat out at lunch instead of dinner. In most places a lunch deal is a lot cheaper, almost half the price of what they charge at dinner

34. Choose local brands of beer and wine+ find happy hours

When drinking in or out, be sure to buy local brands of beer and wine. It’s usually a lot cheaper than the more well known international brands. Plus also keep an eye for happy hour deals in the hostel and other bars- you can have a very cheap night out this way and probably a rotten hangover the next day. Also, definitely out my cheap beer index to findout the cheapest beer in Europe.

35. Order draft beer

Drink from draft instead of by the bottle too. Again, over time it will save you quite a bit of money.

36. Stand at the bar while drinking coffee in continental Europe – it’s usually cheaper

In continental Europe, simply standing at the bar to drink your coffee instead of taking a seat, will usually save around 2 Euros off the cost of your drink.

37. Make friends – get group discounts on tours

Making friends while you travel also pays as you can negotiate group discounts on tours. This is particularly easy in hostels as you’ll be meeting so many other travellers in dorm rooms and common rooms.

38. Take public transport from the airport

Taking public transport from the airport to your hostel is always cheaper than taking a taxi. For example, taking public transport from Prague Airport to my hostel cost me the equivalent of £1. Compared to a taxi which would have cost around £18 – that is a huge saving.

39. Walk wherever you can

Whenever the distance isn’t too far, avoid any kind of transport and just walk! It’s the cheapest way of getting around and allows you to see parts of a city you just wouldn’t be able to by any other means.

40. Rent a bicycle

When you need to travel that bit further, rent a bicycle! Not only does it allow you to get around on the cheap but it also keeps you fit!

41. Go local! Check out the suburbs , the prices are usually lower

When you’re heading out to experience the local bars and restaurants of a new destination, make sure you don’t miss out the suburbs! They’re usually a lot cheaper for eating/drinking out than the city centre and allow you to see a destination through the eyes of a local.

42. Ask the locals where the cheapest bars/restaurants are

Make friends with the locals and ask them where the cheapest bars/restaurants are. There is no guide book better than a local when it comes to destination knowledge!

43. Speak in the local language – you’ll sometimes get charged less

If you can converse in the local language – make sure you do! In some destinations such as Tenerife and Delhi, there’s a locals rate in the shops and a tourists rate. Sometimes just by speaking the local language when you go into the shop, they charge you the local r

44. Bring your student ID card

Just like you can get student discounts at home, you can get student discounts abroad too! So if you have a student ID card – make sure you bring it! You’d be surprised how many attractions offer a discounted rate for students…

45. Get an ISIC card

Get an official International Student Identity Card and you could get thousands of extra discounts in up to 45 different countries. There is also a youth card available for those under 30 but not in full-time education.

Musee de louvre ( Photo by Michael Fousert on Unsplash )

46. Play the age card – get into attractions for free or at discount rates if you’re over 65 or under 26

People under 26 and those over 65 are often entitled to discounted or even free entry to attractions ( Like the Musee Louvre in picture which is free to people under 26 ) provided they can prove their age.  It’s therefore important you bring some photographic proof of age with you.

47. Earn money as you travel on a working holiday visa

Don’t have enough money to travel? Don’t worry! In many countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand, you can apply for a working holiday visa. This typically gives you a 1 or 2 year visa, part or all of which (depending on the country) is valid for work. It’s one of the best ways to pay for a long term trip without having to save up huge amounts of cash.

48. Use a mobile phone provider that doesn’t charge for calls abroad

When you go abroad make sure you don’t get caught with nasty call charges and make sure you choose a provider that allows free or affordable calls abroad. Three Mobile for example were offering free calls in many countries and especially Europe but post Brexit will be reversing that and applying roaming charges. That currently leaves O2 as the only mobile provider that will offer free roaming in Europe ( o2 will charge an extra “fair use” charge if customers use more than 25GB of data in a month ) Alternatively, make sure your phone is unlocked before you go and use a local sim card.

49. Buy a prepaid internet simcard in destination

The best solution if you’re planning to spend a few weeks in a country or travelling Europe, is definitely  to buy a simcard in destination. Even if you switch simcards, you can still keep your old phone number for Whatsapp so it works out pretty well. Prepaid simcard with a decent amount of data, 10GB will cost you from €15-€20. Checkout my guides to getting prepaid internet data cards in Portugal, Italy and Germany on the blog.

50. Don’t use the sun loungers – find a quieter beach further along

Sun loungers can quite often cost up to £20 per day depending upon where you are in the world. Save money on this, walk further up the beach and just lie on a towel. It’s much cheaper and in most cases you’ll probably find walking a bit further along gives you a more secluded spot.

51. Find free Wi-Fi in libraries

Most bars and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi – which is great – but you can save even more money on having to buy a drink/something to eat by simply going to the local library wherever you are. Most will allow you to use a visitors login provided you have identification with you.

52. Have Travel Insurance

This is strictly not a budget hack but don’t plan any trip without having any adequate travel insurance. Travel insurance will cover you for a few important things like cancellation of flights, theft of personal items and medical expenses and any accidents you may have when on the road to name a few. Luckily if you are a Curve Black or Metal customer, you get travel insurance from AXA within your membership.

Remember to signup for Curve here via this link and get a £5 reward when you use it for your first transaction.

Disclaimer- This post was produced in partnership with Curve Card but all the views, opinions-good and bad are entirely my own. Thanks for reading