How to Travel Solo on a Budget

To help you achieve solo travel on a budget, we've come up with some ways to help you cut costs when planning your next trip. To get started, it's important to identify your budget and stick to it. Do your research and look to break down your budget for accommodation, transport and food as much as possible. You don't need to pinpoint exactly what you'll spend of course, but a rough idea diminishes the risk for costly surprises during the trip itself. That way, you can make sure you have a target to work towards.

When you look for a holiday, you'll often decide on the destination first. It's the same with solo travel too, especially if you're looking for somewhere affordable. It goes without saying, certain destinations around the world are cheaper than others (we cover this in greater detail below). It's not just the choice of destinations for solo travellers that can make a difference, either - opt to travel in shoulder season as well and you'll likely unlock cheaper holiday deals.

A great way of navigating the single supplement issue is seeking out solo group trips, where you'll join a group of like-minded solo travellers on an organised tour. As these tours are specifically built with solo travellers in mind, there often won't be a single supplement added to the costs. However, solo travel packages are also available, that allow for independent travel and the chance to travel at your own pace.

There are lots of money-saving tips you can adopt to make your trip cheaper. 

Booking flights at the right time can save you a chunk of cash before you even travel, but finding out when that right time is often the trickier task. There's no hard and fast rule to when the best deals for flights pop up, but generally anywhere between one and four months before the flight departure is a good bet - and it's often further in advance for long-haul flights. The only rule to really stick by is to avoid booking last-minute, as they often aren't as cheap as you'd think them to be. Booking flights that depart on a weekday (Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often best), rather than weekends, are usually more affordable too.

When you're on the ground, there's also a raft of simple choices you can make to stick to your budget. Opt for public transport over ride-sharing services such as Uber or Bolt, as it's often an easy way to keep costs down. Many cities also offer free walking tours, which can be great ways to explore and get a sense of your bearings without any need to stretch the budget. Places and activities with free entry, such as museums or nature reserves, mean you can really feel like you're discovering the bones of a place without spending big.

Food is often one of the biggest outlays on trips, so steer away from tourist hotspots and find hidden gems elsewhere to find better-value food. Street food offers cheaper meal alternatives, while if you're staying in accommodation with self-catering facilities then take advantage of those to save on meals out.

Thankfully, there are plenty of places you can visit on a budget solo travel adventure. We've outlined some options below for you to consider that offer a cost-effective way to travel without short-changing you on the experience:

Southeast Asia: This part of the world is historically associated with backpacking and gap year adventures and its capacity for budget travel remains, no matter what kind of solo adventure you're after. With their popular street-food scenes, reasonable accommodation and lively atmospheres, both Thailand and Vietnam are your best bets.

Eastern Europe: For a relatively expensive continent, eastern Europe offers really good bang for your buck. Budapest in Hungary is walkable, saving you on transport costs, and its great nightlife offers the chance to meet like-minded travellers. While gaining in popularity, Albania remains one of Europe's best low-cost destinations - not to mention one of its least touristy!

South America: For a true solo adventure, few corners of the world fire the imagination quite like South America. It's great for budget-conscious travellers, with countries like Bolivia and Peru offering very affordable accommodation that act as springboards for epic experiences, like Machu Picchu and the Uyuni Salt Flats.

Travelling solo can be very liberating and life-changing, but it's not for everyone. Below we list the pros and cons of solo travel so you can decide whether it's right for you:

Independence and freedom: Solo travel offers the ultimate freedom on the road, allowing you to be fully flexible and spontaneous during your trip. Initially, travelling solo can be daunting but navigating unfamiliar destinations can instil huge levels of confidence that will serve as a key lifelong skill.

Capacity to meet like-minded people: As a solo traveller, you're often more approachable than if you were travelling as part of a group so, in that sense, it's easier to make friends when you're on the road. You'll likely meet other solo travellers along the way too.

Deeper immersion: Being on your own means you're forced to throw yourself into the destination's culture far quicker, as there isn't the safety net of travelling companions or friends. You'll find you get to the heart of a country faster and even pick up the language more quickly too.

Loneliness: Solo travel is a great way to grow your independence but there might be periods of loneliness too, especially during days where you don't have a lot planned or during longer travel days where you have more time to think.

Logistical issues: Travelling alone means simple things that we often take for granted on holiday, like having someone watch your bags while you pop to the loo or having someone to chat to over dinner, can make things slightly trickier to manage on your own.

(Sometimes) higher expenses: While this article aims to help you minimise costs on a budget, solo travel can sometimes feel more expensive as there's no one to split costs with, such as transport and accommodation, even if you don't have an additional single supplement to factor in.

Solo travel packages and group travel deals are two great ways to embark on a solo adventure. But what's the difference between them?

Solo travel packages, like those sold by Flight Centre, allow you to embrace the complete freedom of travelling by yourself, so you can be spontaneous in the way you want on your trip. On the other hand, group travel deals offer more structured touring, as well as the opportunity to travel with like-minded individuals. They can often be cheaper as, by travelling in a group, the costs can be shared.

So, if you prefer ultimate flexibility, then choose a solo travel package. Or, if you prefer stress-free travel and the safety net of an organised tour, then plump for a group travel deal.