c/budget-travel-hacks

Hostel vs Airbnb in Lisbon - the hostel won by a mile

Last month I stayed at a hostel in Lisbon for 8 euros a night and then tried a cheap Airbnb for 35. The hostel had free walking tours, a kitchen with free pasta, and I met 3 people to split a tuk-tuk tour with. The Airbnb was a damp basement room with no AC and the host charged me for a towel. Has anyone else found hostels way better value than budget Airbnbs in Europe?

That train station in Rome made me ditch the guidebooks

I was at Termini Station in Rome last summer trying to figure out a bus route and some random local just grabbed my map, crossed out half the stops, and drew his own. He was right about a faster cheaper way to get to Trastevere for 1.50 euros instead of 15. Made me realize I waste too much time following other people's itineraries instead of just asking locals. Anyone else had a stranger totally rework their travel plans on the spot?

Had a chat with a hostel owner in Prague last month that kinda changed my whole approach

He told me he books his own family's flights through incognito mode and clears cookies every single time, claims it saves them at least 30 bucks per ticket on average. Made me wonder how many other quiet tricks like that I've been missing out on, anyone else got a simple one that actually works?

Am I the only one who gets gouged by Airbnb cleaning fees that are more than the room itself?

Was booking a two-night stay in Austin last month and the cleaning fee came out to $85 on a $120 room, like what exactly are they cleaning, my wallet?

The year I stopped booking hotels and started renting apartments on the edge of town

Used to pay $140 a night for a mediocre motel in downtown Nashville, then I spent $55 a night for a whole apartment 15 minutes out and cooked my own breakfast. Has anyone else found that staying just outside the tourist zone saves more than just cash?

Appreciation post: That hostel worker in Prague who saved me $80

I was at this little hostel near the Old Town Square in Prague last fall and this guy working the front desk name Tomas saw me about to buy a day pass for the tram system. He pulled me aside and said 'don't do that, just get a single ride ticket because everything you want to see is within a 15 minute walk.' I was dead set on getting the pass because I thought it would save time. He spent like 10 minutes showing me a map with walking routes circled to the castle and Charles Bridge and the Jewish Quarter. Saved me like $80 over the week because I would have bought multiple passes not realizing I could just walk. Has anyone else had a local just totally change your plans for the better?

TIL most people pack their carry-on bags completely wrong for budget airlines

I flew Ryanair from Dublin to Barcelona last weekend and watched about 20 people get charged at the gate for bags that were too big. They all had these big roller suitcases that technically fit the size limits but bulged out because they stuffed them full. I just use a soft duffel bag that I can squish down, and I only pack about 5 days worth of clothes and roll them tight. It saved me 60 euros just on that one flight. Why do people insist on bringing half their wardrobe? Has anyone else figured out a good system for avoiding those fees?

Told me to ditch my hostel booking site and I'm glad I listened

Some guy on a travel forum ripped into me for using Hostelworld for a trip to Prague last month. He said I was overpaying by at least 30% and should book direct with the hostels instead. I tried it for a 3-night stay at The Roadhouse and saved $18 right off the bat. Plus they gave me a free breakfast and let me check in early without that booking fee. Now I only use the aggregator sites to find places, then call or email the hostel directly to lock in the price. Anyone else have luck cutting out the middleman?

Am I the only one who booked a hostel in Paris and ended up paying more than a hotel?

I was in Paris two months ago and thought I was being smart by booking a 10-bed dorm for 35 euros a night. But they charged me 5 euros for a towel, 3 for locker rental, and breakfast was another 8. I did the math on day three and realized I could have gotten a private room at a budget hotel for barely more. Has anyone else been hit with surprise hostel fees that made it not worth it?

My cousin swore I was overpaying for flights - she was right

I used to always book flights through Expedia because it felt easier. My cousin Jenna kept telling me to check Google Flights first and use the explore function. Last month I needed to fly from Chicago to Portland and her way saved me $85 on a round trip. Has anyone else noticed a big difference between these booking tools?

Hostel dorm vs private room - I keep picking wrong

Everyone in this sub swears by hostel dorms for saving money. But last trip to Barcelona I spent 3 nights in a 10-bed dorm and got zero sleep because of snoring and people packing at 5 AM for flights. I caved and switched to a private room at a different hostel for 45 euros a night. Double the price but I actually saw the Sagrada Familia without falling asleep standing up. Has anyone else just decided the savings aren't worth it for certain trips?

A hostel in Lisbon changed my mind about booking dorms vs private rooms

I stayed at this place called Home Lisbon Hostel last month and got placed in a 12-bed dorm. After 2 nights of someone snoring like a chainsaw and another person packing at 5am, I walked to the reception and upgraded to a private room for 35 euros more per night. The peace of sleep made my whole trip better and now I always check private room prices first. Has anyone else had a hostel experience that made you switch from dorms?

I finally cracked the code on cheap flights to Boston

People keep booking flights on Tuesdays thinking that's the magic cheap day but I saved $65 by flying out on a Saturday morning instead. Has anyone else noticed that the 'hack' advice online is usually outdated by like 2 years?

Tried Airbnb vs hostel in Bangkok on the same trip last month and the cost difference was wild

I paid $12 a night at a decent hostel in Khao San Road but the Airbnb halfway across the city cost $38 plus a $7 tuk tuk ride each way, so how do you guys balance saving money with wanting your own space?

Used to book hostels the night before, now I plan 3 weeks ahead

Back in 2015 I would just show up in a new city and find a bed for $15 a night. Now with everything booked solid since 2022, I locked in a spot in Lisbon last month 23 days early and still paid $45. Anyone else miss the days of spontaneous budget trips?

TIL booking flights 3 months out is actually a myth for most routes

I tracked 20 flights to Denver over 4 months and the cheapest prices popped up 2 weeks before departure, not 3 months. Has anyone else found the 'book early' advice totally backfires for domestic trips?

Bought a $30 camping stove from the gas station. Big mistake.

I was heading out to Shenandoah last Friday and realized I forgot my stove. Stopped at a Shell station and grabbed this little butane burner for thirty bucks. First night it worked okay, second night the valve started sticking and the flame went all wonky. Third night it just wouldn't light at all. Stuck eating cold beans for breakfast. Has anyone else had luck with those cheap emergency stoves or am I better off just spending the money on a real camp stove next time?

I used to book flights 6 months ahead, now I wait 6 weeks

Everyone in travel groups says book early for the best deals. I did that for years and kept overpaying. Last year I tested waiting till 45 days out for a trip to Austin and saved $120 on the round trip. Now I check Google Flights and set alerts instead of booking blind. It's not perfect but I've saved around $400 total since switching. Has anyone else had better luck with last minute bookings than the early bird method?

Hostels vs hostels used to be my hill to die on, but a cheap private room in Lisbon changed my mind last month

That night in a Bangkok hostel changed how I pack forever

I was in this cheap place near Khao San Road back in 2018 and my bag got stolen from under my bunk while I was asleep. Lost my laptop, my good shoes, everything except the shorts I was wearing. After that I started wearing a money belt under my clothes and keeping my passport and phone on me at all times, even in the shower (well, in a dry bag). Has anyone else had something stolen while traveling and changed their whole routine because of it?

The hostel receptionist in Lisbon who said 'just ask the locals'

I was stressing over a $50 train ticket to Porto until the guy behind the desk told me to walk two blocks and catch the local bus for $8. Has anyone else had travel plans flipped by a random person working the front desk?

Airbnb prices in Barcelona dropped 40% after I changed one thing on my booking

I went to Barcelona back in March and paid $120 a night for a tiny room. Then I talked to a local guy at a bar who told me to search by month instead of just a few days. I tried it for a trip last week and got the same type of place for $70 a night. The difference was I booked a full 28 day stay and then just left after 10 days. The host still got paid for the month but I only paid for what I used. Has anyone else tried this trick and had it work in other cities?

Finally cracked the code on cheap European trains

I used to book individual tickets and pay a fortune, but last month I tried a 7-day Eurail pass for a trip through Germany and Austria. It saved me about $120 compared to buying singles for the same route. Anyone else find a specific pass that worked better for their itinerary?

That one Tuesday in Paris where I spent only 18 euros and had the best day ever

I was in Paris last October for a week and one day just clicked perfectly. I woke up early and walked to a little bakery near my hostel where the croissant cost 1.20 euros and it was still warm. Then I hit the free museums on the first Sunday of the month, which saved me about 15 euros right there. For lunch I grabbed a baguette sandwich from a corner market for 4 euros and ate it sitting on the steps of Sacre Coeur. In the afternoon I found a free walking tour that ended at a park where a street musician played for an hour. Dinner was a crepe from a stand for 3 euros and I walked back to the hostel along the Seine. Total spend for the whole day was under 20 euros and I felt like I saw more than I did on days I dropped 100 euros. Anyone else have a random day where the cheap stuff lined up perfectly?

Went to Bangkok and saw why hostel dorms are overrated

I stayed in a 8-bed dorm in Bangkok for $12 a night last month. But there was a guy snoring like a chainsaw and someone came back at 3 AM with a full street food feast. The next night I paid $18 for a private room at a guesthouse down the street and actually got sleep. Why do we act like dorms are the only budget option when a few bucks more gets you peace and quiet? Has anyone else ditched hostels for cheap private rooms in developing countries?