There are number of ways that solo travel can be expensive. More importantly, there are many ways to make it affordable. There are also cheap and free solo travel experiences to be found. With the help of our readers and my personal experience, I'm pleased to share the top tips for how to solo travel on a budget.
Cutting travel costs doesn't have to be complicated. It's more about having the right attitude. By seeing the experience of local culture (street food, grocery stores, public transit) as more important than luxuries, travel becomes more affordable. If both are important, you can use the money-saving techniques below so you can afford the more expensive travel treats on your list.
You might also want to consider earning money as you travel. Read How To Make Money As You Travel: Tips for People Who Don’t Blog.
Save on Solo Tours and Cruises
The single supplement is what every solo traveler hates. If I mention that I have a blog about solo travel people will pipe up with, “You know what I don't like about solo travel?” I always know the answer. Here are some tips on how to avoid the single supplement.
1. Source Trips with No/Low Single Supplements.
Tour companies leverage their buying power to get more value for less money. This means that taking a tour can be very cost-effective–unless there is a high single supplement. For tours with no single supplements (or a maximum of 20%), make sure you check our Solo Travel Deals page that lists our advertisers and the trips they're currently offering that meet our standard. Alternatively, you can go to our Searchable Trips page which allows you to filter the trips based on your needs. Read No Single Supplement: How to Find Trips without a Solo Penalty.
2. Sign up for Tracey's List
Tracey is our meticulous editor and researcher. She puts out a special “shortlist of trips for solo travelers” on the last day of every month. Some are from our advertisers, but not all. She searches far and wide for tours and cruises that meet her exacting standards to introduce some exciting solo travel opportunities to you.
3. Know the shoulder season for your destination.
The shoulder season strategy for saving on travel is not as easily found as in the past. Yet, there are still some opportunities available. The shoulder seasons are typically the spring and fall. However, now you're more likely to find deals earlier in the spring than before and later in the fall. Choosing the shoulder season will also likely mean fewer crowds.
How to Save on More Solo Travel Expenses
1. Choose a budget destination and lower your travel costs.
I've never met a destination I didn't like. Whether it's down the road or around the world, I always find travel fascinating. So, if money is tight and you just have to get away, explore our post on the Best Budget Destinations for Solo Travelers. We update this list every year and it includes everything from the cost to get there to the cost on the ground and safety considerations. That last issue is what makes Solo Traveler's list of budget destinations unique.
2. Book your flights the smart way.
The cost of flights have finally settled somewhat after a spike post-pandemic. To save on flights, it's important to use the right tools for booking. I love the research that Frommer's does. Here are their 10 Best Airfare Search Sites for 2025. Expedia is not on the list. Also, be aware that when you book your flights can make a difference. Last month, I researched my flights to Panama on a Sunday. I booked on Tuesday night and saved $150.
3. Find free accommodation and make solo travel on a budget really possible.
Hotels and other accommodations are often the greatest expense for a trip. Why not try one of these free accommodation options for cheap solo travel?
- Home exchange – don't let the name fool you. I have enjoyed saving a lot of money on Home Exchange on trips to Bordeaux, New York City, and, more locally, cottage country in Ontario. You have the option of doing an exchange or using points and not having someone stay in your home. You earn points just for signing up. Read Home Exchange for Free Accommodation Around the World.
- House sitting. House sitting is a free exchange of services. The house sitter gets a place to stay and the house owner has someone to take care of their home, the mail, the garden, and even pets while they’re away. Taking care of animals is often a key factor for house sitting so, if that's not your thing, you may want to try Home Exchange instead. Here are house sitting details.
4. Connect with locals for free.
Why just look at a destination? Why not dig a little deeper and get a real sense of what it is like to live there, the politics, social customs, and more?
- Book a free local greeter. I've used local greeters in New York, Paris, Chicago, Tokyo, and other cities. To find a greeter, you can use the International Greeter Association site. Book the greeter online and in advance as it is often volunteers who have to make the arrangements for you. If you are going to a large city, search the city name and “free greeter” to find their local network.
- Use Meetup.com to find people who have similar interests. Meetup.com is a website that is organized by city and by interests. There are meetups in cities all over the world on as many topics as you could possibly imagine. I joined a hiking meetup in Hong Kong. I enjoyed the company of locals and they seemed to enjoy having a new face in the group. Meetup.com Got Me Hiking in Hong Kong – It Was #$@&ing Hard!
- Join a local running, walking, or cycling group. These clubs will often welcome guests from out of town to join them for a walk, run, or cycle for free. It's a great way to hang out with locals for a while. Solo Travel, Running and Run Crews.
5. Enjoy the world's top cities with these tips for cheap solo travel
- Take a free guided walking tour. Most major cities have free walking tours. Some, like Paris, offer a number of free walking tours. Sandeman’s has free tours in many European cities. Simply Google “free walking tour” and your city of choice. A tip for the guide is important.
- Dine with TheFork in Europe. TheFork is a free restaurant booking platform that allows you to save up to 50% on meals. With thousands of participating restaurants, whether it's a quick burger or a Michelin experience you're after, you can shave a substantial amount off your travel food budget with this app. You collect points for further discounts as you use it. Use this link to create an account and get an additional €20 worth of points free.
- Join a weekly parkrun. Parkrun is a free, weekly, 5k and 2k community event held in open spaces around the world. The are parkruns in 23 different countries.
- Book your experiences where the deals are. Many attractions offer discounts for booking online and in advance. You can also look at sites like Groupon for deals on food and drink, attractions, and more by destination. Just search for your city and see what comes up.
- Use city passes. If you're interested in museums and local bus tours, a city pass may make sense for you. These are available in major cities like London, Paris, New York, Toronto, Chicago, Rome, and San Francisco. Click any of those links and search for your destination to see if there is a discount city pass for you.
6. Try these free solo travel experiences that are hard to beat.
- Get an app for free self-guided tours. There are many free travel apps that offer self-guided tours of cities. GPSmycity.com has self-guided walking tours for over 1,000 cities. Interested in history? Check out Historypin.org. If you're driving rather than walking, try RoadSideAmerica.com.
- Go to the museums when they're free. Paying museum admissions can really add up but most museums have times when their doors open to all for free. A simple Google search will find a list of free museum times for your destination.
- Find the calendar of free events. Every city has a calendar of free events online or in their local arts paper. Google it and you'll likely find lots of options for activities. TimeOut is an excellent resource for cheap solo travel.
7. Stay in touch as you travel for free.
- Find great information, quiet time, and free Wi-Fi in libraries. Libraries, even ones in countries where English is not the primary language, are great sources of information. They always have information about what's free in the city, free computers, and Wi-Fi.
- Stay in touch with home for free. As long as you have access to Wi-Fi, you can use apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Signal to contact home at no cost.
8. Use your memberships to access free solo travel experiences.
Consider the memberships you have at home. Now, research to find out whether they have partners in other cities with reciprocal arrangements for members. It's a great way to stay within your budget as you travel solo.
- Sports Clubs. What better way to meet locals than participating in your favorite sport? If you have a membership at a ski, golf, sailing, or other club, you can ask your home club if there is a list of reciprocating clubs at your destination.
- Museums and Art Galleries. ROAM – Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums has a list of museums that offer reciprocal free admission to museum members. If you're a member at one of the museums or galleries on the list you can get free or discounted entry to any of the others, making art and culture part of cheap solo travel.
- Gardens. Join the American Horticultural Society and get free admission to over 330 gardens throughout the United States, Canada, and the Cayman Islands.
- Service Clubs. I know a family who traveled the world and, in many places, used their Rotary Club membership to make local contacts and save some money. I can't pretend to know the ins and outs of this program but, according to their website, the “ITHF (International Travel and Hosting Service) exists to promote and facilitate regional, national and international ‘connections' between its members.” If you're a member of a service group it's worth checking on the international benefits.
- University Clubs. Your university alumni association will likely give you access to clubs around the world with restaurants, bars, fitness facilities, and even golf clubs and guest rooms. The club of my alma mater, the University Club of Toronto, has been running since 1906 and is affiliated with over 300 other clubs around the world.
- Science Centers. You can join the Association of Science and Technology Centers. Become a member of one and your membership will likely include entry to centers in 16 different countries through their ASTC Travel Passport Program.
Cheap Solo Travel Is Both Possible and Enjoyable
Cheap solo travel does not have to be any less of an experience than a more expensive trip. It's all about being clever in how you spend your money and having the right mindset. Go for great experiences. Return home with great stories and money in your pocket for your next trip.
Solo travel on a budget so you can travel more.
