Vacations can look like a luxury when your bank account is barely hanging on. But being broke doesn’t mean you have to skip out on taking a break—you just need to get clever with your plans. The trick is to stop worrying about what a holiday "should" look like and focus instead on what you can actually pull off with the cash (or coins) you have.

Start by swapping out the idea of pricey resorts or far-off hotspots. There are hidden gems much closer to home that cost way less and offer the same chill vibes. Most people miss places a few hours away because they're fixated on big-name destinations. Instead, try plugging a two-hour drive radius into Google Maps, then see what nature trails, quirky towns, or local beaches pop up. Not only do you save on flights, but you also cut out all those hidden travel fees that pile up before you even pack your bag.

• Ditching Expensive Destinations
• Getting There for Less
• Sleeping Cheap (or Free)
• Eating Without Emptying Your Wallet
• Getting Creative with Activities

Ditching Expensive Destinations

If you’re truly broke, you need to ditch the dream of Paris in spring or Bali’s beach resorts—at least for now. The secret sauce to a cheap holiday is picking places that almost nobody else is thinking about. The big-name spots make money by charging a premium because everyone wants to go there. That’s why booking a flight to Hawaii in July will wreck your budget, but road-tripping to an underrated state park or small town barely makes a dent.

Here’s a tough pill: the U.S. National Park Service says that spots like the Grand Canyon pull in around 4.7 million visitors a year, but nearby parks see a fraction of that traffic and cost way less. Less famous doesn’t mean less fun. Hidden lakes, state forests, or even weird roadside attractions can have just as much wow-factor, minus the price tag.

• Pick travel dates outside of school vacations or holiday weekends. You’ll dodge crowds and high prices. The difference for hotel rates in popular cities between peak and off-peak can be over 30%.
• Swap hot destinations for similar but cheaper alternatives. Instead of Miami Beach, consider Gulf Shores, Alabama. Paris out of reach? European cities like Bratislava or Porto are way more affordable.
• Use platforms like Reddit’s r/travel or the Atlas Obscura site to find off-the-wall experiences that few tourists know about.

To help you see the savings, check this cost comparison table for a weekend trip (prices based on spring 2024 averages):

That’s a massive drop—especially if you go the camping or hostel route. So if you’re hunting for affordable vacations, forget the bucket list and look for the under-the-radar spots. Your wallet will thank you.

Getting There for Less

Travel costs can wreck a budget faster than you can say "vacation." But there are real tricks to paying way less for cheap holidays. The first thing to check is whether you actually need to fly. If your trip is just a state or two away, buses like Greyhound or FlixBus often run tickets for under $20. Road trips with friends? Split gas and tolls. Suddenly, it’s affordable—and you have someone to DJ.

If flying is the only real option, start with budget airlines. Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair (if you’re hopping around Europe) and others offer fares that can be ridiculously low—sometimes under $50 for one-way tickets. The catch: they charge extra for everything, even a carry-on. Bring only the basics, pack smart, and skip seat upgrades. Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to track prices, and don’t forget to use the “cheapest month” search.

Traveling mid-week instead of weekends often drops prices, sometimes by 40%. Red-eye or super-early flights are usually the cheapest, too. Flexibility saves real money, so use it if you can.

• Sneaky tip: Set up flight alerts on apps like Hopper to get notifications when fares drop for the routes you want.
• Check if your destination has decent public transportation. No need for pricey taxis or rental cars if trains or buses can get you everywhere for a few bucks a ride.
• If you’re really broke, consider carpool sites like BlaBlaCar (popular in Europe) or look for rideshares on Reddit or local Facebook groups.

Every dollar saved getting there means more cash to enjoy once you arrive. People sometimes get stuck on "the best way," but the real move is just to use whatever budget travel trick fits your own situation. Don’t overthink it—cheap holidays are about flexibility and a bit of hustle.

Sleeping Cheap (or Free)

Getting a place to crash is usually the priciest part of a cheap holiday. But you’ve got options outside of hotels that don’t bleed your wallet dry. First up: hostels. They aren’t just for backpackers or gap-year students. Many offer private rooms for half the price of a budget hotel, plus they toss in free perks like breakfast, Wi-Fi, and community kitchens.

If you’re feeling social (and safe), check out Couchsurfing.com, where locals let you stay on their couch or spare bed—totally free. In 2024, more than 14 million travelers worldwide used Couchsurfing, according to their site. Hosts often love to swap stories and give guides to their hometown, which is way better than any brochure.

"The biggest savings for most budget travelers comes from ditching hotels, not travel deals," says Pauline Frommer, co-president of Frommer's travel guides.

If even hostels sound too steep, try house-sitting. Sites like TrustedHousesitters connect you with folks who need someone to watch their pets or water their plants while they’re away. You get a full home, sometimes for weeks, just for being responsible.

• Budget travel tip: Camping doesn’t need to mean roughing it. Public campgrounds are everywhere, and most let you reserve in advance. Some national parks even have sites under $20 a night. If you don’t have gear, check local Facebook groups for loaners.
• Look for university dorms in the summer. When students clear out, universities often rent rooms at super low rates. You get a clean bed, basic amenities, and it’s way less than nearby hotels.
• Don’t skip overnight transportation. An overnight bus or train saves you a night’s lodging, and you wake up in a new city. Not comfy, but you’re traveling for cheap.

If you want to stretch your budget, think outside usual accommodations. When you combine smart options, that so-called “broke” holiday suddenly feels less like scraping by and more like living smart.

Eating Without Emptying Your Wallet

Food is one of the fastest ways to blow your cheap holidays budget. But you don’t need to survive on instant noodles the whole trip. The goal: eat well and keep your wallet happy.

First up, avoid eating every meal at restaurants, especially in touristy areas where prices soar. Hit up local grocery stores or neighborhood markets—real travelers know they’re treasure troves. Most European cities, for example, have fantastic bakeries and fresh markets where you’ll get a fresh sandwich or fruit for way less than a sit-down meal. And when you’re chilling in the U.S., places like Trader Joe’s and Aldi can fill your cooler for cheap.

If your lodging has a kitchen or even just a fridge and microwave, plan for simple meals like sandwiches, salads, or breakfast burritos. Even hostels usually have shared kitchens, and most U.S. motels will let you borrow a microwave if you ask.

But don’t skip local food. Street food is the broke traveler’s best friend—think tacos in Mexico, banh mi in Vietnam, or even food trucks and farmer’s market snacks in random small towns. You get a taste of the culture for under five bucks. According to a 2023 travel survey, around 68% of budget travelers said eating street food was their best money-saving move on trips.

Also, check if your hotel or hostel does free breakfast. If yes, go all in. Make a sandwich to-go or grab a piece of fruit for later. Some hotel chains in the U.S. and Europe have free or pay-what-you-can meal options—don’t skip asking at check-in.

For true budget travel, apps like Too Good To Go (Europe/US) hook you up with leftover restaurant food for next to nothing. Some cities also have soup kitchens or community meals that welcome travelers—worth checking listings online or on Couchsurfing forums if you’re really tight on cash.

Saving money on food is a game of planning ahead and saying yes to experiences that don’t break the bank. Every dollar you don’t spend on overpriced meals is a dollar you can spend on something way more fun during your affordable vacations.

Getting Creative with Activities

Don’t assume you need tickets, tours, or reservation fees to have fun on a cheap holiday. Most cities and towns have free stuff going on all the time—think outdoor concerts, festivals, hiking trails, or farmer’s markets. Local Facebook groups and the official city website are goldmines for these kinds of events. You’d be surprised how much is out there if you just poke around online one afternoon before your trip.

Public parks almost always have something cool to offer, whether it’s a walking tour, a scavenger hunt, or free fitness classes. In fact, according to the National Recreation and Park Association, over 60% of public parks in the U.S. host free or low-cost events every month. Why pay for a pricey gym or yoga retreat when you can try a park bootcamp for nothing?

While you’re at it, try geocaching. It’s basically a modern treasure hunt where you use your phone to find hidden objects in public places. Super budget-friendly and, depending on your location, you might find dozens of hidden spots right where you’re staying.

"The best moments on any trip tend to be the unplanned ones. Walking a new neighborhood or stumbling onto a local festival—the price tag is often zero, and the memories are priceless." — The Points Guy

Visiting local museums on their free admission days is another hack a lot of broke travelers swear by. Just Google "free museum days" for your destination. And if you do end up at a spot with an entrance fee, see if there’s a student or resident discount—even temporary tourist cards can score you deals in some cities.

• Check for public art (murals are everywhere these days and perfect for insta photos).
• Grab a picnic and people-watch in a busy square—it’s cheap and usually entertaining.
• Volunteer for a local event; sometimes you’ll get free food or swag just for helping out.
• See if your travel dates line up with a street fair or flea market. The browsing is free, and you’ll feel like part of the community even if you don’t buy a thing.

If you want to track savings, here’s how some free stuff stacks up versus paid activities:

The best memories never come with a price tag. Don’t let a tight budget hold you back—there’s always something fun, free, or nearly free waiting just around the corner.