10 Ways to Save On Your Next Trip

This article was graciously contributed by one of our favorite websites, LearnVest.com. 

When traveling, money has a way of evaporating into cushy lodging and themed souvenirs, but ... it doesn't have to to. And you can still have a great getaway without breaking the bank.

We went on a mission to track down creative travel "hacks," or ways to save money without sparing adventure.

And the guru of travel hacks happens to be ... none other than Betsy Talbot of Married With Luggage.

You may remember Betsy's story on LearnVest about selling nearly everything she owned and quitting her job to take a five-year trip around the world, without going into debt or anything. (Update: She and her husband Warren just returned from a trek around central Mongolia!)

Now, we’re back for more.

We’ve compiled a slide show of Betsy’s top ten travel hacks, complete with first-person accounts of her travels in Thailand, Amsterdam and Ecuador. She’s got you covered with haven't-heard-that-before ways to save on every travel front: sleeping, eating, getting around and more. She even has tips on how to make buddies with your fellow travelers!

1. Use Public Transportation

You'll save money and time traveling this way; this is how the locals get to work! We took a public bus from Beijing to see the Great Wall (total cost: $9 each) instead of a tour (total cost: $50 each) while also avoiding the mandatory "shopping" trip these tours include. We've found this trick to work all over the world. Buses in Ecuador are about $1 per hour. Subways in Beijing and London are often cheaper and faster than cabs. 

Tip: Many transportation systems offer a convenient card you can preload with money and swipe as you go.

2. Stay in Guesthouses or Hostels Instead of Hotels

Most people don't realize that hostels have private rooms and baths available in addition to dorms, which means you can get a near-hotel experience for a hostel price. The bonus is meeting other travelers in the common areas for breakfast or happy hour. We stayed in a suite at a really nice guesthouse in Thailand for $20 a night, including breakfast, while a similar quality room in a hotel would have been more than $75 a night. 

Tip: Check reviews on TripAdvisor to avoid dumps.

3. Eat on the Street

When you can see the food cooked right in front of you, you can better determine the quality and cleanliness than in a restaurant. We've had some of the best food of our travels from tiny little stalls at night markets in Thailand for just a dollar or two, and we've had similar luck for lunch at markets in South America and for breakfast at carts in China. The food is cheap and tasty, and most vendors set up in the same place every day. 

Tip: Eat where the locals are and you won't go wrong or overpay. We've always been safe eating cooked food--it's the uncooked stuff you have to watch out for. We don't eat veggies or fruits unless we can peel them or wash them ourselves first. Lettuce is far more deadly than pork!

4. Book Overnight Trains or Buses

If you have to travel a great distance, do it in your sleep to eliminate your lodging cost for the night. We've been all over China by train and traveled much of South America in the comfy "full-cama" buses, which have reclining seats you can actually sleep on. They're specifically made for long overnight trips. Passengers arrive in the evening, sometimes get meals just like on planes and sleep the journey away. 

Tip: Don't totally cheap out and get the hard seat or you'll be miserable and want to go to bed when you arrive. Book a reclining seat or bed and you'll be ready for your destination by morning.

5. Try Housesitting

Watching someone's home while they travel is a great way to see the world. In return for watering the plants and walking the dog you get to experience your vacation destination like a local. We've had great housesitting gigs, including a houseboat in Amsterdam and a manor house in the English countryside, both free in countries that are otherwise very expensive to visit. 

Tip: Sign up for a reputable service likeTrustedHousesitters.com for only $60 a year (save 25% by using our discount code: married).

6. Look for Repositioning Cruises

When a ship relocates for a new tourist season, you can save money and still enjoy the amenities onboard these one-way cruises. We used a repositioning cruise to travel from Antarctica all the way to England last spring. We're currently eyeing a 13-day transatlantic cruise this fall for $700, including a few ports of call. A flight from London to Miami is about the same price and your only amenity is a bag of peanuts. If you have time, this is a great way to travel. 

Tip: LearnVest has covered repositioning cruises in the past. Here's what you need to know to nab one.

7. Sterilize Your Water Instead of Buying It

In a country where the water isn't safe to drink, get a bottle and refill it from the tap, water fountains and streams for pennies and sterilize as needed. We use a Steri-Pen (a gadget about the size of a mini flashlight that can be inserted into containers up to one liter to sterilize water with UV light) for drinkable water in any situation. We like it because it both keeps the planet clean by eliminating much of our need for bottled water, and also saves us a trip to the doctor for infections when bottled water is not available. You can buy a small Steri-Pen for $42 or purification tablets for about $0.20 each. 

Tip: You can Google "Is the water safe in [destination]" to find reliable sources on drinking water safety (CDC, WHO and national governmental agencies). Note that this can change based on current events like flooding or natural disaster. For example, we sterilized our water in Thailand after the flooding even though the water was previously deemed safe.

8. Pack Light and Plan to do Laundry

In most countries, laundromats or laundry services are much cheaper than paying the overage fees on your luggage for bringing too many clothes. In most cases, you can get your laundry back the same day, or at least within 24 hours. We paid about $1 per kg (2.2 lbs) in Thailand and $1-2 per kg in Ecuador for laundry service. 

Tip: You will pay more if you send out your laundry via your hotel instead of taking it yourself. Most hostels have a laundry service or nearby provider.

9. Share Costs With Other Travelers

We made friends at our hostel in Peru, and then shared transportation costs for a day of sightseeing with a driver. In Argentina, we pooled resources at our hostel to organize a group camping trip by splitting cost of food and some supplies. You can also enjoy nicer meals this way, like Chinese hot pot with a variety of ingredients for a big table plus a round of beers for only $5 a person. 

Tip: Be sure you calculate prices ahead of time and make sure everyone is okay with the amount being spent.

10. Join Free Online Groups for Your Destination

You'll find out the best and cheapest ways to do things in the area, plus meet locals and other travelers. We joined a private Facebook group for our six-month stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand and made great friends. We also learned where to find the best food, a good doctor and dentist, and how to get our visas renewed for less. That said, don't give away your private information, including your hostel, to people you have not yet met in person and deem trustworthy. 

Tip: A good place to start is by Googling, "Facebook group [destination]" or "forum [destination]," or checking out the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forums.

This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.