Reading Time: 3 minutes Travel The United States On A Budget
Many people think that they need a big budget in order to travel around the United States. That really isn’t the case, though, and traveling across the states is a great vacation idea for any kind of traveler, especially those who are on a tight budget.
Sure, it is possible to totally blow your budget while you are away but there really is no need to do so if you don’t want to. Want to try and spend as little as possible? Here are some great budget travel tips for when you want to hit the States.
Rent A Car
When it comes to getting from A to B, the cheapest option available to you will be car rentals. Even if you look for cheap train and bus tickets, and try to book them well in advance, you will still find that renting a car works out cheaper, especially over long periods of time. That’s because most rental firms will be able to offer you some great discounts if you take a car out for a long trip.
Use Local Accommodation Firms
You don’t have to fork out loads to stay in fancy hotels. There are now lots of cheaper accommodation options available, thanks to sites like Airbnb and Wimdu. However, you should try to help local businesses by staying in vacation rentals that are independently run or run by families. Not only will you be helping local businesses stay afloat, but you will also find that these offer some of the best prices in the market.
Eat At Markets
To make sure you don’t overspend at each mealtime, try and always eat at street-food markets or food trucks. This can even boost your street cred as many of these markets and outdoor eateries are considered quite a hipster! Even though they are particularly trendy, they are still extremely competitively priced. When you are in towns such as Portland, Oregon, you will even find that they are a big attraction!
Use Guide Apps
If you are totally new to a city and don’t really know your way around, you might be tempted to buy some guide books. However, there is a much cheaper option – you should instead download some free guide apps. This gives you all the information that you would find in traditional guidebooks, but at a much cheaper price. In fact, some apps cost nothing at all!
Stick To Free Attractions
Of course, just because you want to see a city’s best sights and attractions, there is no reason why you need to pay for them. There are lots of free things to do in cities throughout the states. For instance, most galleries and museums offer free entry into their general exhibitions. There are also lots of gardens and parks that you won’t have to pay to get into.
You shouldn’t let your lack of money hold you back when you are exploring the United States. There is plenty for you to see and do no matter the size of your budget!
Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.