Rookie Traveler Budget Mistakes - Best Budget Travel Advice Ever 

Good advice Mark! But I will add one on plane travel: Don’t hesitate to pay a little bit more for direct flight. The super deal with a long layover may seem great but there is two caveats: 1. You lose time for visiting 2. You will likely spend money during that layover, even a sandwich is expensive in a airport and more likely you will go to a sit down restaurant and have a drink to help spend that time. You could easily spend 100$ just there.

I think the best budget thing I've been doing this year is rebooking hotel rooms. Book the hotel room you want with free cancellation. Then when you see a better deal, or promo code, book it again and cancel the original booking. You get the same hotel, but for less money.

Part of a fun learning experience is going to a foreign supermarket. It was money saving, but such a unique way to see the every day life of another country.

my best tip is to book a hotel that allows you to do most sightseeing by foot instead of being stuck in the metro without seeing anything. Even if the hotel is more expensive then a hotel far from the center, what you save in transport and in stress of figuring out bus/metro routes in a place you go for the first time makes it worth it.

Love these tips: One thing I did during lunch was to watch where the construction workers were heading to eat in Germany and found a great little sausage stand.

I would add a caveat for buying a plane ticket from site other than the airline directly. It might save you 5-10 dollars, but if something goes wrong with the flight, you will have to fix it through the site you bought it from and that can take forever. You can get assistance more quickly directly from the airline if you buy direct.

I can recommend a budget friendly destination - Budapest, Hungary. Budapest reminds me a lot of Paris - the same look of the 5 story apartment buildings - the Danube going through the center rather than the Seine - beautiful Cathedrals - great food - excellent public transportation. In addition Budapest has thermal pools. But it's a fraction of the cost.

For International travel, I book through an Agency. When the airline decides to change your flight without your consent (or even knowledge), the Agency will have more clout to fix the situation.

Great video! I'll add one more - when booking hotels/airbnbs, don't look at just the price of the room, but also the location. If you book a cheaper hotel that's outside the main area you want to explore, you'll have to pay to get there and back each day, and that might wind up costing more than if you'd booked a more expensive hotel/airbnb in the main area you want to explore; plus you'll spend time traveling there and back!

Hey Mark! So the incognito trick might not really be worth it because the point of sale (PoS in revenue mgmt terms) remains the same; it doesn't think you're in a different location. So afaik, prices don't inflate because you keep seeing them. They are always controlled by us in revenue management where we handle inventory. A VPN could perhaps help to buy from a different PoS. I work in a BA short-haul where there are just two points of sale (UK and the Rest of Europe) so there's not much difference between the two in terms of fares as the willingness to pay is roughly the same, but it can differ in the rest of world scenario. The faster the lower fares sell (always look out for the selling class when you book a ticket; this is just a single letter such as K, L, etc., and is different from your cabin, which is economy, business, etc). Each of these classes is stacked in the form of a ladder (increasing classes at the top of the ladder, the topmost being fully flexible), and we just open and close classes to reduce/increase fares. In the inventory, the system jumps to the higher classes by closing the lower ones depending on how much demand we've forecasted in each fare class (the lowest open class at the time is the fare you see on the website). This is what eventually inflates the fares. We could always intervene and open a lower class if the demand for a flight slows down (these last-minute deals are due to this), closer to departure, and reduce the fare. A full flight, or a 90-100% load factor for the routes we manage is almost as important as maximizing revenue for us. Demand and supply. :) Low-cost carriers are only low-cost when it's low season haha. Trust me, we have easyjet and Wizz Air as our competitors lol. Also, 1 pound fares dont include carrier-imposed fees and taxes, which make up the major component of what you pay anyways. Hope you are well!

FamilyMart and 7-11 convenience stores were a lifesaver when I traveled to Japan. Not only affordable but you can find some really tasty and healthy snacks.

Traveling off peak time is a great tip. I traveled to Spain in October and indeed the weather was great and no lines to museums and other attractions. Thank you Mark for another great video.

For the phone plan issue, I would recommend getting a local SIM card. In Italy I was able to purchase an Italian SIM Card for $30 for 15gb of data and that meant we had a local number to be able to contact local businesses. It was very convenient and then I was able to turn on my hotspot so my husband could just piggy back off my cellular data. It was cheaper than adding the international plan.

I love how you keep it real. You’re speaking to the people ! Thank you

Just to add to data plan tip-be careful about having your data on when you haven’t done yet arrived in your destination. I was on a ferry from England to The Netherlands (at the time both in the EU) and so I left my data roaming on as it was included in my plan for the EU. Went to sleep and woke up to quite a big bill because somehow I’d picked up signal in international waters.

I always get a local sim card for my cell phone from the first stop in Europe I go. For like 10-20 Euros you can have a local number and enough data for a 3 week trip using Google maps every day and I use wifi in accommodations at night. It also usually works fine without roaming fees in most every country you may go through.

SO happy to see you back in my favorite city! Spot-on tips as always! I always go (on the first morning) to a store of some international celphone company and buy a SIM CARD for that country, (in Lisbon it was only 20 Euros and good for a month) and then have them insert it in my phone (their eyesight is better than mine! ), keeping my chip taped to the inside of my case for back home, and then I have phone service for anything, anywhere, not just where there is Free WiFi. Being able to call an Uber anywhere, anytime is a big plus, especially in Lisbon where Uber is super cheap, and good for chatting with the driver and getting local tips and recommendations for food and activities. We travel a lot (at least 3 international trips per year) especially as we get older and know we won't always be able to walk as much as before, and we bought a ONE YEAR travel insurance policy. It covers all our travel to wherever for any trip up to 30 days. About $400 per person.

Great advice...when we travel as a family, we always go for self contained accommodation. Then we do some grocery shopping to make sure we always have breakfast in. then alternate between - lunch out and dinner in, or flip that, make a packed lunch and dinner out.

As a retired travel planner and hotelier, I find your content well researched and expertly presented. I had to smile the other day when you said Switzerland was the least friendly country, and on this video when you mention Switzerland as potentially breaking your budget. Why? After skiing in Davos back in the 80s when I was in my 20s, we booked a trip to the Alps for this June. It is expensive, but as you said in one video, knowing that going in will keep it fun. Thanks always for the great advice.

If you don't require high end hotels, hostels are a great option. They are less expensive and there are many seasoned, budget conscious travelers at them who are usually more than happy to share "hacks" and advice. I've gotten so much valuable information and advice from fellow travelers at hostels, which isn't as easy to get at hotels. Also, many hostels organize group activities, which are fun. For those who don't care for staying in dorms or are travelling with a spouse or family, many hostels offer private rooms, similar to what you get in a hotel.

Lots of good advice! If you’re over 60 also look for senior discounts. They’re not as common in Europe as in the USA but they exist and can save you a lot. For example, trains in both France and Italy offer senior fares. In France it’s a minimum of 10% off as long as you book at least 1 day in advance. I’ve gotten as much as 50% off for senior tickets.

The grocery stores are one of my most favorite parts of travel! Seeing the different brands, food types, and not knowing what half of what im getting is. Its the best! Not to mention a HUGE money savor! and you're really are eating like a true local! Most locals aren't eating at $30 a plate every day. They have the $3 box meal from the supermarket. Do the same. It adds so much to the experience!

I'm a solo traveler I will stay in hostel in Europe and highly recommend it for people who travel alone and want to meet fellow travelers to explore the local area but also allow you to explore alone. Review the reviews of the hostels before booking, and some have cheaper solo rooms compared to hotels. I'm going to Japan in March and plan to use railroads and bicycles as transportation.

My advise on the transportation stuff: If you travel by car in the Netherlands always use the P+R sites at the outskirts of cities. For example in Utrecht a day ticket for parking at one costs about €6 which includes a free local public transport day pass for 5 people. One hour of street parking in the city center will cost you €6.46 (Or € 46,55 for a day).

I couchsurf and yes it can save a ton of money. That said be a good guest. Me and a friend stayed in Denver 5 days. Our host was up to see if we got back we were so quiet he didn't realize we were home. We also treated him to a baseball game. If it wasn't for him just coming back from being out of town we would have gone whitewater rafting. Tip if you stay with family or friends do something unique with them. Staycation is always fun from a couchsurfer and one of the main reasons why.

For meals.. we research supermarkets and purchase items for breakfast and make sandwiches in our hotel room. We also look for cooked meals in the supermarkets. At the hotel we boil water and let it cool by morning and bottle for the day. We also make our coffee and tea in the room and walk with.

*Accommodation* : Don't discount staying hostels. I stayed in many, many YHA hostels around the globe. Many now have private rooms. They were all very clean, and a great way to get ideas for things to do. If you're a solo traveller, it's a great way to meet people to do activities with. Even if you are choosing to stay in a hotel/ apartment, visiting a hostel is a great way of getting information of things to do. They are always very plugged in to what is going on. Also a great place to organise tours as they do this all the time.

Traveling off season is our thing!!!! Went to Amsterdam in January 2020 and it was sooooo affordable and we got lucky the weather was amazing the whole time!!! We rarely travel June-Aug.

For the public transportation it's always a good idea to see if there's a (multi)day pass. Most cities have those. It's cheaper than buying separate tickets for every ride and saves you time. Booking asap isn't always cheaper. Sometimes it's better to wait. Flight prices often fluctuate depending on popular demand. Booking on a saturday afternoon is probably going to be a bit pricier than on a monday morning.

Excellent travel tips mostly for beginner travelers, but also as a reminder to expert travelers. Thanks Mark for making this video. It summarizes many tips all in one place. Now we can share it with friends and family, to help them save money and avoid disappointment.

Another thing that saves money, and maybe this is obvious, is not buying souvenirs. If I do it's something I can use, it's small for space, and is under a dollar amount depending on my budget. Especially in touristy areas it can be ridiculously expensive. Thanks for these budget tips. I'm hoping to start traveling international in the next year or so.

Happy to learn I'm an expert budget traveller, I use pretty much all these tips. Another I'd add is that if you are planning to shop at supermarkets most nowadays have websites so you can do research before.

Glad I'm not the only one who got burned on the "no trains on Sunday morning London" thing. Seriously? Still can't believe that's a thing. All good advice per usual - thanks Mark!

Great tips! I watched twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything! Travel takes homework and patience! A flight tip I’ve discovered is to always check round trip and one-way tickets. I just booked NY to Athens and back with two one way tickets and it was a huge savings! Another thing I found was to check multiple airports. I leave from a small commuter airport anyway so it’s always a hassle (connections/flight changes/cancelled flights), so sometimes it’s worth it to check multiple airports and ways to get somewhere. One year I flew NY to Chicago to Athens. Absurd? Half the cost!

These are GREAT tips!

We live in France and whenever we travel to England we go to the Tesco or Sainsbury etc. website a week or two ahead of time and order some food to be delivered the day we arrive so we can just crash out after our long drive. Plus on the website you can rank things by price so you save the most money - for example, in the store itself, cashews might be near the veg, and also in the world foods section, and also in the bio / organic section but on the website you can choose the best cheapest cashews because they are sitting next to each other on the page. Then we have cheap basic foods where we are staying without having to go anywhere. And the delivery price is super reasonable and lots of times your first order is free.

Good tips! May I add, when letting your phone provider know of your travel plans also let your bank/cc's be aware of your itinerary or you may not be able to access your funds for your budget. If they suspect fraud they may put a hold on your cards and create a needless hassle for you. Safe travels!!

Excellent video as always, Mark! 😃 I also have a travel tip: team up! I've travelled much more than my wife, yet I'm always amazed at her ability to quickly find out where and how to use public transportation when we travel!

For my first trip to Europe (mostly Germany) in late September 2007, a friend told my to drive from village to village and find a guest house / B&B / pensionne. I did that and it worked out well. I paid 35-55 euros per night for a basic room with my own bathroom and shower, and breakfast was typically included. I was usually the only non-native tourist there, so it was a great opportunity to meet the locals. The language barrier was a bit of a problem, but we always worked through it.

Great video! Going on my first trip abroad soon, so this will be very helpful.

I recommend double checking your plane seats periodically before the trip. Sometimes the carrier changes the type of aircraft and those wonderful seats you purchased are now in a different location.

Great info, Mark. Safe travels.

Good info, thanks for the video!

Great things to consider, thanks so much 😊

Great tips, as always. LOVED the tip on "not oversleeping" and then showing your kid "passed out" outside. so cute LOVE your videos! i'm a fan for more than 6 years already

Great video of tips. I would add, some hotels have free cancellation up until even just 24 hours before you arrive. If the one you're eyeing does, go for a reservation. Even if you're not completely sure yet. Just don't forget to cancel if you end up not going. Also, check for municipality discounts for attractions. Turin, for example, offers 1, 2 and 3 day passes to museums and other attractions at a fixed/reduced price that can save you maybe even 50% compared to buying individual tickets. An extra general tip: consider you're trip to the airport and then trip to the hotel (or wherever you're staying) when trying to manage your phone battery life. Budget airplanes and sometimes buses, trains and metros don't have a way to charge your phone. A power bank is worth it. Giving my experience going to Turin again, a 3.5-4 hour flight was an 11 hour trip when considering going to the airport and getting from Milan's airport to my hotel in Turin.

Thank you very much, Mark. I think the museum passes are worth it because they, in many cases, jump you to the front of the line, or no line.

VERY helpful tips thank you so much!

Thanks for the video Wolter!

Thanks for the reminders.!!

Thank you! I really enjoy and appreciate your tips!

You're great! Cheers!

Scandinavia in late Nov - early Dec you can see the Christmas markets. Yes it's cold, but not brutal (at least not if you are from NH), and the darkness is a quick adjust, really. And there's glugg. Old once-very-elegant hotels near the city centers can be quite reasonable. I would emphasise your general lessson that nothing is going to be more expensive than bad decisions, so worry less about the few bucks and worry more about what your temptations are likely to be.

This was so helpful! Thank you

Excellent video!

Thank you!

Good tips as always! Thank you

Thanks heaps for this :) I'm a veteran traveller but (due to being spoiled rotten) my mum has done most of the planning. Super happy to get tips from the legend himself and his awesome family.

Thanks for information ❤🌹

Thanks Mark, great advice. Stay blessed! ✈️

Thanks for some great tips.

Excellent tips. Thank you.

The best travel tips always! Thanks Wolters World.

Great Video. Thank you for posting.

Awesome video! I appreciate the tips! Thank you!

Great video Mark, love you channel, greatings from Costa Rica

great general advice

all great advice, good Sir. Cheers !

Your videos are always useful but this is one of the best. A ton of excellent advice! Thanks

Very informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Excellent video with lots of good information. Thank you 😊

Thanks Walter that was beautiful

Great job Mark! Some good advice for the rookie and experienced traveler.

Thank you for this video. Great information 👍👍

Really good tips to follow. I got burned just traveling to the US for a weekend from Canada with my cell provider, so lesson learned and now when I travel the first thing I do is make sure I am on a travel plan with my mobile provider. Great tip about not exchanging money at airports, they are a trap!

Great video Great reminder for even season travelers.

Thank you for making this video😊

You are awesome, thanks for all those amazing tips

Thanks for this video! So many things I would’ve never even thought of.

Great video, so much travel wisdom. A great start here video for travelers.

Mark, thanks for the great information you share! Other people’s experiences are so helpful. Keep up the great videos!

Great video, great info! Not a minute wasted, thank you so much!

Great tips

Thanks again, and again, and again for all your wonderful infos and inspos you posted on RU-vid. It seems like I can never have enough of these, especially when I haven't been traveling for quite some time now despite all the destinations I've been eyeing for years.

I love this type of content, Mark, which is applicable to different destinations! Thanks for this one

Thanks, Mark, for all your great tips. I love shopping at local grocery stores for little food items and snacks near my hotel. I was in Portugal in August, 2022 and will return in April, 2023.

great video and advice as always 👍🏻

I am a seasoned traveller and I think you have nailed it. Congratulations.

One good thing is checking up supermarkets that the locals use as there are so many traps with supermarkets that have awful prices.

Great tips always!

Your vids are my favorite go-to vids now. Keep up the great work & keep them coming, please!

As always, I loved the video! I am usually a solo traveler and I almost always look for a B&B or an apartment abroad, rather than a hotel. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, I always like to have a refrigerator in the room to keep water, sodas, beer or wine cold. The cost savings of having these things in the room vs paying for them externally (unless you're visiting a club or restaurant, of course) is significant! Also, having a washing machine available drastically reduces the amount of clothes you need to bring, which can save money on checked baggage on an airline, or just being able to move about on the streets easily from the airport or station to the residence with less luggage. In Europe, especially Italy and Spain, the quality of the place is usually superior anyway, unless you need a restaurant or bar in the place you're staying. Keep up the good work!

Such great advice! I've learnt some of this through my years of traveling, but the rest of it after we followed your advice on other videos. Keep it up, Mark! I love watching your videos and how you incorporate your family into it. Thanks for keeping it real and spreading the wealth of knowledge.

Wow really great tips, thanks so much

Always a joy. Surprisingly learned several tips I'd never thought of before. Thank you

I haven't watched anything from you in a while but here I am today and boy your subs number has blown up! I can't believe you're running towards a million 😁 so happy for y'all! I think you were one of my first channels and way back in the scratchy video days. Thank you for doing what you love and sharing it with us. You've been one of my biggest inspirations for developing my own channel. 🙏💖

Love your videos! They always make me happy and excited to go somewhere. Still too nervous to bring our little one on trips with us, but your family videos give us confidence to seriously consider it.

Almost at one million subs thumbs up great tips

You are amazing sir, thank you for your tips and videos. Always good advice and very down to earth.

Great advice all around