how to travel cheap - the rundown.
Affordable LODGING
Flight Hacks & Rental Car Deals
Flight Hacks & Rental Car Deals
Lodging is arguably the most important thing when it comes to traveling affordably. Hotels & lodging can be insanely overpriced.
My ideal price range is $40-150 a night. I'm able to achieve this in most places through VRBO, camping, hotel deals, and more.
Keeping it under $100 a night will knock a ton of money off your expenses.
Flight Hacks & Rental Car Deals
Flight Hacks & Rental Car Deals
Flight Hacks & Rental Car Deals
Everyone has heard of ways to find cheaper flights, and it's such a good thing to keep in mind. Flexibility with your days, looking at all different airlines & companies, checking Expedia, and using different airports and transportation methods can all save you big bucks!
If you can master the cheap-flight game, you're winning.
Savings & Budgeting
Flight Hacks & Rental Car Deals
Savings & Budgeting
When I've traveled in the past, it's been completely off of savings and budgeting. I lived off of $3500-4000 for 7 months, which took a lot of budget planning. Making sure to keep expenses low and keeping track of your savings is huge!
Finding jobs that can make you money while you're traveling can also be lifesavers too!
Travel Guides vs. Cheap Lodging Posts
Budget Travel Guides
'How to Find Cheap Lodging in.."
'How to Find Cheap Lodging in.."
Our Budget Travel Guides highlight ways to make every last piece of your trip as cheap as possible. We provide links to Expedia flights & cars, the cheapest lodging options we found in the area, and the best activities (ranked on affordability)!
'How to Find Cheap Lodging in.."
'How to Find Cheap Lodging in.."
'How to Find Cheap Lodging in.."
Our posts on cheap lodging are primarily focused on the biggest expense of travel: where you stay! In these posts we go over all of the different kinds of cheap lodging, and how you can make them happen!
BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMÁ- A Nomad’s Travel Guide
Intro:)
Bocas del Toro, Panama happens to be the most unique travel destination I’ve ever been to. The area is made up of many different coastal islands along the Caribbean. Every island has a different set of gorgeous beaches, culture, restaurants, and attractions! The only way to get around (if going to locations on all islands) is by water taxi, making it a very interesting trip. The beaches in Bocas del Toro are all world class, and I’ve never seen prettier. It was a very eye-opening and unique vacation, and I think it should be on everyone’s bucket list! Let’s get into it.
This travel guide is curated for you to be able to find every last piece of your trip in ONE place with the best deals I could track down. The goal for me is to make trip planning easy and affordable for you! I specialize in creating cool and memorable experiences for LESS so that you can travel MORE.
Flights & Transportation
Flights
The key to affordable flights is the days you book. Sometimes if you book a day later, you’ll save hundreds! Because I don’t know your schedule or where you’d be flying in from, I can’t give you exact price points on flights, but I can give you ways to find the cheapest ones!
I book all of my flights through Expedia, here’s why:
They give you the best deals and they’re able to compare and contrast all of the flight prices and dates to fly for you. If you have a flexible schedule when you’re going to Bocas del Toro, they will show you the cheapest dates and cheapest airlines to fly with.
Shuttles
This is the first post where I say this, but you genuinely do NOT need a rental car in Bocas del Toro. They are islands and boats are the main form of transportation. You can also take buses on Isla Colon. The only time I’d recommend you use rental transportation is if you’re staying on Isla Colon and are staying mostly on that island. Then you should rent a scooter, bike, or ATV!
Now I can give you the rundown of how I got to Bocas del Toro, and why I chose that option. I flew into San Jose, Costa Rica and took a shuttle to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. This shuttle ride was about 5 hours long, and it was super easy and nice. It even had Wifi! The shuttle company was Caribe Shuttles.
Affordable Lodging in Bocas del Toro
Here we are at the most important part of budgeting; the lodging! If we can find you an affordable sleeping arrangement, then your trip will be affordable overall. The goal is to find the cheapest option that will still make you feel like you’re on vacation! These are the 10 spots that I tracked down to best fit this criteria!
The list is made using affordability, location, and distance to the attractions (activities, landmarks).
Must Do’s, Eats, and Sees in Bocas del Toro
Luis’ Private Tour
This is something I’ve never done before, but I just have to talk about Luis! Daniel and I took a private tour with Luis for our anniversary (and happened to get engaged while on it:), and it was the best day of our lives for every reason.
We came across Luis while near our VRBO in Old Bank, and he told us he does private tours and never rushes you. This means a LOT in Panama, as things are very fast paced and money-oriented. We decided to take him up on it, and he was incredibly friendly and got everything set up for us. He even brought fruits and cacao from his farm for us to try! You can find Luis on Instagram at basti.rasti, or on Whatsapp at +507 6888 2590. He lives in Old Bank on Bastimentos, which is a $5pp water taxi from Bocas Town. The tour was around 3-4 hours, and we stopped at all of the hard to reach locations around the island of Bastimentos.
This included Zapatilla Islands, Polo Beach, Dolphin Bay, and some other amazing snorkeling spots (bring your own snorkel if snorkeling!). He also caught a fish and grilled it for us on the beach. He created the grill out of sticks and it was incredible to watch! Luis is a very inspirational person and we’re so lucky to have that experience with him. Now I can’t help but do my best to get his name out there, because it really is his passion and it was the coolest day ever! Definitely check Luis out! I’ll link his Instagram below.
Here’s the link to Luis’ Instagram!
Affordability: 7/10 - Between $130-200
Boca del Drago & Starfish Beach Day
This definitely isn’t a tour, but I think it almost classifies as one. Starfish Beach and Boca del Drago are two of the most stunning spots on Isla Colon (same island as Bocas Town). You can take a taxi to them, but they charge insane rates for private rides. If you have time to spare (a lot), I’d recommend taking the bus.
The bus stop can be kind of hard to find, but it is near the Valencia Dock in Bocas Town. You walk to the right from the dock, and you will come across buses near a park area. You can also ask a local where the Boca del Drago bus is, they will know! The buses will say it on the outside. When I was there in August 2024, the bus was $2.50pp each way. They will wait for a long time until the buses fill up, though, which can be super annoying. It saved us a lot of money, and got us to the prettiest beaches ever! I will include photos below, but they really were the prettiest beaches I’d ever seen. There is a bit of hiking through the jungle, which I thought made the day even better. I’d highly recommend making a day trip out of it! I’m pretty sure the last bus out of Boca del Drago is around 7pm, but it’s always best to ask the driver to make sure!
Affordability: 9/10 - Free to visit, but water taxis & buses may add money
Tips for Visiting Bocas del Toro Affordably
There are other things that you can do to keep costs down while on your trip, here’s the best things you can do and how to do them!
Grocery Shopping
The best way to stay in-budget in Bocas del Toro is to go grocery shopping for some of your meals! The best grocery store we found in Bocas Town was called Mini Super Bocas or La Estrella and they had everything you could possibly need at great prices! There are other small grocery stores, too!
Free Activities
Because the water taxis add up, doing free activities while in Bocas can help you to make some of the money back. Check out the beaches and swim around in the ocean without breaking the bank
Buses>Taxis
There is also the option to catch a taxi to the beaches on Isla Colon (Starfish, Boca del Drago, & Bluff Beach), but I would highly recommend taking the buses instead. You'll save a lot of money (not time, though lol), and get a more authentic Panamanian experience!
Overview
I hope that I was able to provide you with everything you need for your trip to Bocas del Toro! It is my passion to make sure everyone can create affordable and memorable trips. The goal is to keep costs low enough to go on excursions more often!
The companies I use for my trips have allowed me to keep costs low and have the most incredible experiences ever! Everything is so expensive nowadays, so I want to help everyone keep the ability to travel and bypass the ridiculous prices for everything!
I will be continuously making these guides for places all over the world, so if you ever need another, they will be on my site under ‘Travel and Vacation Guides.’ Let me know if there’s somewhere you’d like me to look into next time! So much love, I hope your trip is everything you could’ve imagined!
-Cali :)
KAUAI, HAWAI'I- How to Affordably Visit the Garden Isle
Intro:)
How can you visit Kauai, Hawai'i on a budget?
The island is covered in natural beauty, from the Na Pali Coast to the beautiful beaches in Poipu. There is something for everyone on beautiful Kauai, and everyone needs to add it to their bucket list! In this post, I will help you find every piece of your trip in one spot, and also keep you under budget! This post is organized into the basics;
- Flights & Transportation
- Affordable Lodging
- The Best Things to Do in Kauai
- Tips for Traveling to Kauai on a Budget
This travel guide is curated for you to be able to find every last piece of your trip in ONE place with the best deals I could track down. The goal for me is to make trip planning easy and affordable for you! I specialize in creating cool and memorable experiences for LESS so that you can travel MORE.
Flights & Transportation
Flights
Your plane tickets are a very important piece in your trip to Kauai, and there are a few tips to getting the prices down! The three things to keep in mind are booking on the cheapest days, booking in the off-season (potentially), and making sure to pick the cheapest airlines for those specific days.
The biggest key to affordable flights is the days you book. Sometimes if you book a day later, you’ll save hundreds!
I book all of my flights through Expedia, here’s why:
They give you the best deals and they’re able to compare and contrast all of the flight prices and dates to fly for you. If you have a flexible schedule when you’re going to Kaua, they will show you the cheapest dates and cheapest airlines to fly with.
Transportation
While in Kauai, you will absolutely need a rental car! There are so many things to see and do on the island, and one thing can be across the island from the other! It’s an island bursting with attractions spread all over! A car is definitely a must, bonus points for a Jeep or Bronco for off roading.
It’s very easy to use Expedia for your rental car as well.
Affordable Lodging in Kauai
Here we are at the most important part of budgeting; the lodging! If we can find you an affordable sleeping arrangement, then your trip will be affordable overall. The goal is to find the cheapest option that will still make you feel like you’re on vacation! These are the 7 spots that I tracked down to best fit this criteria!
The list is made using affordability, location, and distance to the attractions (activities, landmarks).
Must Do’s, Eats, and Sees in Kauai
Surfing at Hanalei Bay - Hanalei
Kauai happens to have some of the best surf in the world, particularly on the North Shore. Hanalei Bay is a very popular surf spot, attracting thousands a year. It is a beach break, and very popular with beginners. A great spot to rent surfboards in Hanalei Surf Company, they were so helpful and had incredible customer service! I would highly recommend going through them and getting in a surf session while on the island.
Here’s the link to the Hanalei Surf Company Website!
Affordability: 8.5/10 - $25-40/day
Na Pali Coast Rafting Tour by Na Pali Experience - Waimea
If you want to have the best day of your life, it’s time to book a rafting tour on the Na Pali Coast! I will link the exact tour we did below, because Na Pali Experience was the best company ever! The guides were awesome and they made it even more memorable. On this tour, they will take you past the famous Na Pali coast by raft-boat, past sea caves, Hawaiian coastal cliffs, dolphins, and waterfalls.
The raft was specifically cool to me because it was much more adventurous and adrenaline boosting than sitting in a chair on a boat. In the summer (with low swell), the rafts can also go into the sea caves! It was an incredible day that I will never forget.
Here’s the link to this the Na Pali Experience Website!
Affordability: 5/10 - $189/person
Tips for Visiting Kauai Affordably
There are other things that you can do to keep costs down while on your trip, here’s the best things you can do and how to do them!
Grocery Shopping
The best way to stay in-budget in Kauai is to go grocery shopping for most of your meals! The best grocery store we found on the island was Walmart in Lihue and they had everything you could possibly need at great prices! The smaller stores tend to be a little more expensive! They also have cheap poke bowls at the grocery stores.
Free Activities
While I absolutely recommend doing at least one Na Pali Coast tour while in Kauai, the rest of your activities can be free! Keeping your activity cost down will drastically decrease your spending and keep you in-budget.
Doing Shopping & Gas in Lihue
The smaller towns of Kauai (Hanalei, Princeville, Kapaa, Poipu, Koloa, Waimea) tend to have more pricey stores. If you can do your main grocery shopping in the city, you'll save a lot of money. The gas is also usually a bit cheaper in Lihue.
Overview
I hope that I was able to provide you with everything you need for your trip to Kauai, Hawai’i! It is my passion to make sure everyone can create affordable and memorable trips. The goal is to keep costs low enough to go on excursions more often!
The companies I use for my trips have allowed me to keep costs low and have the most incredible experiences ever! Everything is so expensive nowadays, so I want to help everyone keep the ability to travel and bypass the ridiculous prices for everything!
I will be continuously making these guides for places all over the world, so if you ever need another, they will be on my site under ‘Travel and Vacation Guides.’ Let me know if there’s somewhere you’d like me to look into next time! So much love, I hope your trip is everything you could’ve imagined!
-Cali :)