How to Travel Around the World on a Budget

Let your budget determine your itinerary. One country may have a higher estimated cost of living than another. For example, Turkey is cheaper than England. Thailand is cheaper than Japan. For a more restrictive budget, consider fewer stops.

Buy an around the world airline ticket. Purchase a flight package that combines flights to multiple locations around the world. You can usually use the tickets for up to one year as long as you arrange the itinerary in advance and travel in only one direction.

Travel light. Limit yourself to one carry-on bag. Many airlines charge an extra fee to check luggage. Take seven days worth of clothes and wash dirty laundry at your hotel.

Use public transportation. Figure out the public transportation system immediately upon arrival. It will be a cultural experience and a lot cheaper than taxis. Use a train or bus to travel from the airport to your hotel.

Make plans for lodging. Reserve an inexpensive hotel or hostel online. You can also find lodging upon arrival, using a good budget travel book such as "Lonely Planet" or "Let's Go". Seek recommendations from other travelers.

Eat cheap. You don't have to go to a sit down restaurant to dine well and enjoy the local cuisine. You can find authentic food at take-away stands. Watch where the locals go and give it a try.

Tour the free stuff. Just being in a foreign city is a cultural experience in and of itself. Visit the main square to people watch. Walk around and window shop. Ride around on public transportation. Opt for inexpensive or free museums and avoid tourist traps.

Take pictures as souvenirs. Resist the temptation to buy each shiny trinket that catches your eye. Buying too many things will very quickly eat a hole in your budget as well as weigh down your luggage. In fact, if you buy a souvenir in the first country you visit, you will have to carry it the rest of the trip. Instead, take pictures as souvenirs.