How to Travel on a Budget in 2025: My Best Low-Cost Travel Tips

Travel on a Budget in 2025 – Dreaming of seeing the world without draining your bank account? I’ve been travelling for the last four years, often for next to nothing! From cheap flights and house-sitting stays to budget-friendly hacks that save me hundreds every trip, I’ve learned how to make travel affordable, flexible and fun.

In this guide, I’ll share the websites, apps and insider tips I use to explore the world on a budget, including how I sometimes stay places for free (and even get paid for it!).

✈️ Book the Cheapest Flights Possible

Skyscanner is my absolute go-to for finding cheap flights. You can search from your location to “Everywhere” to discover which destinations are the cheapest right now, a great way to plan spontaneous, affordable adventures.

💡 Money-saving tip: Set up price alerts on Skyscanner for destinations you’re interested in. You’ll get notified when fares drop so you can grab the best deals fast.

💸 Jack’s Flight Club

Jack’s Flight Club is one of my best-kept secrets for finding ridiculously low-priced flights. They alert you to error fares, flash deals and hidden discounts that can save you £400+ per return ticket. I’ve personally found flights to Europe for under £20!

You can join for free and get regular cheap flight alerts by email, or go Premium for 4x more deals, weekend-trip alerts and extra perks.

🧭 Join Jack’s Flight Club for free here

🏡 Stay for Free While Travelling

Accommodation can be the biggest expense when travelling, unless you get creative! My favourite way to stay for free (and sometimes even get paid) is through house and pet sitting.

🐾 Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is an amazing global community that connects travellers with homeowners who need pet care while they’re away. I’ve used it for stays in Paris, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, and New York — all completely free!

As a sitter, you look after pets in exchange for free accommodation; no money changes hands. Everything is insured, the site is safe, and you can find listings updated daily from all over the world.

🎟️ Use my referral link for 25% off your yearly membership – it works out to roughly £90/year, which you’ll make back after your first trip.

It’s perfect for solo travellers who want a homey environment, love animals, and prefer authentic experiences to hotels. You’ll feel like a local while saving hundreds on accommodation costs.

🐕 Learn more about my experience in my full cat-sitting adventures blog post.

🚆 Travel Smart: Use Comparison Sites

Flights aren’t the only thing you can save on; use comparison tools for buses, trains and even car shares.

• Rome2Rio — Shows the cheapest and fastest ways to get anywhere, from flights to buses and trains.
• Omio — Great for comparing train and coach prices across Europe in one place.
• BlaBlaCar — Save money with safe, verified carpooling rides around the UK and Europe.

💡 Budget tip: Travel midweek or during off-peak hours — prices can be 30–50% cheaper than weekend fares!

🧳 Extra Travel Hacks to Save More in 2025

• Pack light to avoid baggage fees — a cabin bag is enough for most city breaks.
• Use Google Flights Explore to find cheap spontaneous destinations.
• Earn cashback on bookings using apps like TopCashback and Quidco.
• Join travel Facebook groups like “Travel Hackers UK” or “Cheap Flights & Travel Deals” for community-shared deals.
• Sign up for loyalty programs (e.g. Booking.com Genius or Airbnb Rewards) to get discounts on repeat stays.

Travelling doesn’t have to be expensive; with the right tools and mindset, you can see the world on any budget. I’ve managed to visit dozens of cities across Europe and the US while spending less than most people do on one short holiday!

🌍 Wherever you go, remember: flexibility and creativity are your biggest money-saving tools. Now go explore, affordably!