Most people spend more time dreaming of adventures and thinking they are unreachable because of inflated expectations rather than finding a way to make them happen. I’m no different, at times. If you want to make the most of the time you have and stretch your budget further without being financially irresponsible, here are 5 tips guaranteed to travel more efficiently.

1- Identify a primary desire for the trip (be specific): This might seem like an obvious one on the surface but I think it deserves extra thought. Think about the primary reason for your trip and place that at the top of your budget flow chart, with the cost associated. This is the bucket that gets prioritized because it’s the whole reason for the trip, and will drive the way you allocate money to the remainder of the buckets. For us adventure lovers it might be a couple of days of skiing, a backpacking trip, a guided tour, or getting your scuba-diving certification. You’ll spend your time and money here.

2- Consider ALL Methods of Transit: Because the travel to the “adventure spot” is not something you can eliminate, consider it a second priority. Sometimes the options are limited, sometimes they are many. If driving is the cheapest way and getting your gear there will be easiest, then calculate the mileage cost. The IRS mileage rate can be a simple & standardized number to use if you want to account for the wear and tear of your vehicle and other associated costs like depreciation. Fuel is not your only cost, even if your car is paid off. 

Flying may be cheaper than driving, depending on your timeline and schedule rigidity. Being flexible certainly helps you reduce the cost. Also, consider public transit if it’s a viable option in your area. This is often the biggest expense on a trip, so researching the location options for whatever experience you want can certainly impact this category greatly. 

3- Choose your lodging: This is the one that crushes most people. If you think that a vacation can only be enjoyed if you stay at an all-inclusive resort or a 5-star hotel, you’ll find yourself enjoying very few days away from home. If you have a limited amount, consider just camping, staying at a hostel, or sleeping in your vehicle. While I’ve stayed at a wide variety of these options from sleeping under a picnic table in a city park to 5-star hotels with a pool (in Thailand for $38/night with breakfast!), it is rarely the biggest priority for me. We usually find ourselves camping in a tent/car or staying in hostels which are generally significantly cheaper, especially if you are solo. If you can realize (decide) that lodging is just a way to recharge for the next day and not the purpose of the trip you can save a ridiculous amount of money.

$150 a night at a hotel costs $1050 per week. $36 a night in a hostel costs $252 per week. For the cost of the hotel, you could spend almost a month in a hostel. This is exactly how Sadie and I have managed to do multiple 2+ week-long trips internationally while spending less than the average person does in one week. Check out Hostel World to see what they are all about + see options if you’re new to the idea.

4- Food: this is a big one. Everyone loves good food, but the variation can be exponential. Since everyone knows how to spend a lot on food, here are a couple of tips for spending less. 

-Pack food. Bring fresh food for the first day or two, and snacks to bridge gaps. TSA loves to investigate my 10lb bag of burritos, granola bars, and apples. Locate a grocery store at or near your destination and load up on cheap & good food early in your trip. Nothing inspires a poor financial choice like hunger and a restaurant menu. 

-Freeze-dried/dehydrated meals can be an awesome option for any or all of your meals, especially on travel days. A dehydrated meal seems expensive until you’re in an airport staring at the menu of terrible $20 burgers. You can find hot water nearly anywhere for free (or nearly free) and if you’ve tried meals like those from Peak Refuel it doesn’t even seem like a sacrifice. I’ve eaten these meals around the world and they are a great way to get tasty calories and protein in when the options are limited or expensive. Just don’t forget a spoon! 

5- Rent things: sometimes renting is a better option than buying. Going on a road trip but have a vehicle with poor gas mileage or insufficient room for your gear? Rent an economy car or borrow from a friend. While fuel savings alone might not make it worth it, the auxiliary expenses might. Again, wear and tear, depreciation, and other costs need to be accounted for. If you pick right you can even find one that works well to sleep in. Boom, hotel, and transit costs in one. (Pro tip- pay with a credit card that has automatic rental insurance coverage!) 

Also, rent gear. I know that rental gear is rarely as high-tech or sexy as your own but it certainly can be cost effective. Sometimes the cost of hauling/shipping/flying your gear is higher than it would be to rent once you arrive. Especially if you don’t already have the equipment! Avoid needing to research, buy, maintain, and store the equipment, and take advantage of the logistical ease of renting if it makes sense. The rental company can also be an excellent resource for getting local intel on your adventure. 

4- Find ways to reduce fixed expenses via trades or creative solutions: Sadie and I are both photographers which has served us extremely well in the realm. We’ve been able to trade our services for gear, adventures and much more over the years. Every business needs marketing and if you can offer a valuable trade for photo, writing, or other creative services it can be a great way to reduce your costs. “But I don’t want to work on vacation!” people say…. well, then you can just stay home and work since you can’t afford it otherwise. 

You could also do some form of housing trade. Sadie and I have set our home up as an Airbnb in the past and when we were away it would generate a little money to help offset the cost of our trip. “You let someone else sleep in your bed!?” Yeah….. we do. Have you ever slept in a hotel? Same same. No? Once again, maybe you should just stay home and work.

Decouple your vacation spending expectations and realize that focusing on one priority (usually the experience of the place) can mean the budget isn’t blown and neither is your financial trajectory. Pick the thing that is most important and spend in that category, and adjust the level of the others. If you are going on a ski trip, budget for the skiing and then pack a lunch and shop at grocery stores, not restaurants, and don’t feel like you are “not vacationing”. It’s not sacrificing, it’s living with priorities. If you can’t do that, then put off your adventure dreams and stay home like the rest, it’s way easier. 

Want more adventure finance content or have other suggestions? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message!