Tips on Travelling on a Budget

From students to working professionals to parents, there are always reasons as to why people can't make their globetrotting dreams come true, and it's usually because of the price tag.

Even if you are working as an air-steward/stewardess, you don't necessarily get to explore a new place because you're just doing your job.

While travel does involve costs, the experience you take home with you is totally worth it.

I've been travelling on budgets since the beginning of the year. The truth is, whatever your budget is, you can make it work.

Here are some of my tips on travelling on a budget:


1) Destination

• Pick a place that you know you can afford. Yes, I want to go to Switzerland, and yes, I am saving up for that but in the meantime, if I want to travel, I look into countries closer to me i.e. Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines... 

• I would always set 20% of my budget on flight tickets. So, the cheaper and the earlier you can get your tickets, the better. Also look out for any airline sales

2) Accommodation 

• Pick a place that is in the middle of everywhere you want to visit. That's where research comes in. Do some research on places you want to visit and find an accommodation (hotel, AirBnB, homestay...) that meets in the middle

• I would always allocate 40% of my budget on accommodation. Again, if you can get deals, it's a plus point

3) Transportation

• Again, location is everything. You don't want to be staying miles away from the places you want to visit and spend on transportation. Here's a tip: always allow yourself to spend more on accommodation than on transportation because walking is ALWAYS an option 

• I would allocate 5% of my budget on transportation. Mostly, to and from airport and only when absolutely necessary

4) Activities 

• Steer clear of tours because that's always a rip off 
• Try to ask for reasonable discounts
• Check everything online for special deals first before you go
• Try looking for activities and places that are free of charge

• 10% is my budget for activities because I tend to do touristy things sometimes but other than that, it's mostly beaches and places that are free of charge 

5) Food 

• Here's a tip: Always book hotels or stays that provide breakfast because you save so much on that already. Try hitting local stores and getting yourself some snacks from there. Experience local food stalls
• I would always avoid fine dining unless I have loads more budget on the final night

• 20% would definitely go to eating. At the end of the day, how much can you really eat? Do you really want to force yourself to eat everything you've read online? Pick one and go with it

6) Miscellaneous 

• Here's a tip: Skip the souvenirs. Take pictures of some of the amazing places you've visited, print them out and DIY something out of it 

• Shop at local stores instead of big department stores 

• My final 5% would always be on miscellaneous items - mostly spas, massages 

Hope this gives you a bit of idea on how I normally travel on a budget. Did I miss out anything? Please let me know in the comments :) 

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4 Days in Krabi for RM1,000

Is it possible to enjoy Krabi under a tight budget? 

The answer is YES! 

The truth is, my friend and I went to Krabi with a total of THB 8,051 each, which is roughly RM1,000 per person. In my opinion, that is quite reasonable. So, let me break it down for you. 

Flight ticket: RM188

- book your flights 3-4 weeks beforehand 

- if possible, weekday trips will be more worth it as flights tend to be cheaper on Mondays and Tuesdays

- I booked my tickets via AirAsia 

Accommodation: RM500 (RM250 each) 

- again, book your accommodation 3-4 weeks in advance 

- there are plenty of AirBnBs, hotels and resorts in Krabi, so it's just a matter of how luxurious/budgeted you want your stay to be

- We booked a very nice resort called Baan Ban Dalay via Booking.com and the place is just amazing. Location was great. 

Transportation: RM95 (RM47.50 each for 3 days)

- rent a scooter for THB250/day

- Tuk Tuks will try to rip you off real bad but of course it's for their businesses

- renting a bike/scooter is so much easier and more convenient but if you are confident with a car, it will still be cheaper than taking the Tuk Tuks

Island: RM50 (RM25 each for 2 islands)

- this is your choice. We didn't want to do island hopping so we picked 2 islands that we really liked and paid THB200 for a long-tail boat to each island

- island hopping packages can go up to at least THB1,200 and it will be from 8am-4pm 

- so this option is completely up to you

Up till this point, the total is RM510.50

The rest of the money was spent on food, souvenirs and massage. 

So, RM1,000 for 4 days in Krabi is totally do-able. You get the luxury side as well as the budget side. 

Hope this helps any of you who are interested in visiting Krabi and gives you a little idea on how much you can take with you. 

Here's a video from the trip: 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO IN KRABI, THAILAND