How We Afford to Travel for Months at a Time

Quitting our jobs and traveling long term was one of our dreams for the longest time. We eventually built our businesses to the point where it was a possibility. However, there were many other things we had to do in order to be able to afford to travel long term. 

Traveling for a week-long vacation here and there is the norm. However, we learned that this was actually more expensive. Long term travel known as slow travel was actually cheaper and more reasonable for us. 

Slow travel is when you spend a longer time in one place before traveling to another. So instead of spending a week in each city as you travel across Europe, you may spend a month in each city. 

When we travel, we generally spend a month and a half in each major destination. This allows us to take advantage of the financial benefits and experience more of the local culture. 

Plan for discounts

If you plan your travel for discounts, you can save a significant amount of money.

Staying in a hotel can add up fast. But, if you stay in an Airbnb or similar rental, you can get a cheaper rate. Plus, a longer stay usually also means additional discounts. Most hosts offer discounts of 20-50% off if you stay for at least a month.

It’s tempting to automatically go to a location during the high season. After all, people are going there at that time for a reason. 

Traveling in the off-season can save you a significant amount of money. Many rentals (and hotels) are cheaper. If you want to take weekend trips, you can save money on the hotels. Local attractions, restaurants, and other places may also offer discounts. 

Find cheap places to live (homes & locations)

Some places are naturally cheaper to live in than others. Traveling to a low cost of living destination can help you spend less money while still having a great travel experience.

In many low cost of living cities, the cost of lodging, food, and entertainment is cheaper than in a high cost of living city. You can experience a lot of culture  while still saving money. If you have a remote job, you can compound a lower cost of living with a higher wage to save even more. 

We were able to do this in Warsaw. Our income did not change, but living in Warsaw is cheaper than living in our hometown is. We were able to go to restaurants a lot more and see a lot of attractions and museums. The great thing was that we didn’t feel like we had to give up experiences to save money-they just cost less.

Live like a local

Living like a local can help save a lot of money while traveling. This really helped make it easier to travel long term.

You can go to the local grocery store or market and pick up local foods. It can be a lot of fun to try to prepare a local dish at home. Plus, the grocery store will probably carry food that you wouldn’t necessarily buy at a restaurant.

Now, this isn’t to say you should never go to restaurants when you travel. You definitely should. Restaurants allow you to try dishes the way they are meant to taste.

But you can save money by eating where the locals eat. Restaurants that city residents actually eat at tend to have delicious food. Plus, it can be cheaper and more authentic than a more touristy place. 

When choosing restaurants, be sure to be on the lookout for specials. In some countries, lunch or weekday specials are popular. They make it easy to find great food at great prices.

When we were in Prague, we lived for the lunch specials. You could get a filling, delicious meal for under $7 per person. Even better were the jidelnas. These are cafeteria-like restaurants that serve traditional Czech food. The food was homemade and you could order exactly what you want. It was a great way to eat like a local. 

Local happenings and events

While traveling, you’ll want to see all of the main attractions. But be sure to look out for local happenings and events. You might be surprised by what you’ll find. 

Vienna has a monthly free museum day that we were able to take advantage of. And we found out that you can see an opera for 4 Euro. We saw a free philharmonic concert in Prague. There is sure to be an event that can help you experience another side of your destination.

Use loyalty points and other rewards

We use credit card and airline points to save money on trips. Many times, we even have free flights (which adds up on trans-Atlantic flights). 

Using a rewards credit card can help you earn money or points on things you’re already buying. Many credit cards offer welcome bonuses that can easily earn you a free round trip flight. We have saved multiple thousands of dollars by using the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Airlines Citi credit cards.

We use points to purchase high cost flights. If we find a cheap flight somewhere, we generally pay for that. You can combine reward purchases and cash-flights to get the most bang for your buck. 

For instance, on our last trip, we paid $400 (each) to get to Vienna. But, we used airline points to book a flight home from Warsaw. Without the points, that same flight would cost $2,000 each. The cities and airline carriers available can dramatically change the cost of flights.

Be flexible in your bookings

A few days can change the prices of your bookings dramatically. We were able to save $500 because we left for Vienna one day later than we originally planned. 

Look at flights and lodging in your destinations. See if you changing the timing or order of your destinations affects your prices.

Plan travel according to location

Since the flights are usually the most expensive part of a trip, seeing multiple destinations on each trip can help you afford to see more. 

Group close locations together when traveling. You can take trains and buses between your destinations. If you are going to Spain, maybe you want to visit Portugal while you are nearby.

You can also go on day or weekend trips to nearby attractions. When my dad visited us in Vienna, we took a day trip to Saltzburg. This allowed us to see another city without spending a lot of extra money.  

Work full time

If you are traveling full time, you still need an income (unless you’re retired or traveling on savings). Although it might be hard, you need to take time to work.

Set a schedule that works for you and your work situation. You can still sightsee in your free time. And when you work, actually work. Make it a priority and be productive about it. 

Traveling full time can seem like a pipe dream until you actually do it. But, if you change the way you travel, you can afford to travel for months at a time.