In a world of never-ending expenses, don’t let your budget be the reason you miss out on seeing the planet.

As an avid traveler, I have spent a good amount of my income on travel. For most people, travel seems unattainable because of the cost. No matter what my budget is, I will not let cost prevent me from visiting bucket list destinations! I have traveled to a tropical paradise in the Pacific, hiked an active volcano, visited European Christmas Markets, and camped in the Grand Canyon. The one thing in common between every trip are the steps I take to ensure I am getting the best deals everywhere I go. Keep reading to discover my favorite travel planning tools to save money.

In this post I will share with you my favorite travel planning tools, websites, and apps to save money while traveling the world. Travel is a choice, and I choose travel over many material things other people frequently buy. I rarely get my hair cut or my nails done, I usually stick to coffee at home, and sometimes I donate plasma to make extra money for traveling.

Here are three takeaways:

Travel Planning Tools

Skyscanner

This is the number one site I use when planning my travels. I search Skyscanner often to see what deals they may have on flights. These deals frequently lead to determining where I travel next. My favorite part of using Skyscanner is being able to search “everywhere” as a destination. It is also a great place to find deals on hotels and car rentals! It is truly a one-stop-shop for finding every travel deal.

YeSIM

I have tried multiple eSIMs during my international travels, as well as just paying extra to my phone company for international service. I have found YeSIM to be one of the most reliable and affordable eSIM options. But I don’t ever settle until I find the cheapest (but still reliable) option, so I also check…

Airlo

Another popular and reliable eSIM option. It is not always as cheap as YeSIM, so I check both to determine who has the best deal for my destination. They not only offer options for countries, but regional and global options as well. This is a great feature for those who may have a one-way ticket and are traveling the world.

Airline Points

ALWAYS sign up for mileage points with every airline you fly. Even if it is once, those points may be useful in the future if you ever fly with them again! Using points transferred from a credit card to the airline has scored me some unbelievable prices on tickets around the world. Some also have reward programs to earn points from non-flight expenses. AirFrance partners with Booking.com, so you can score extra miles from your hotel booking as well.

Free Activities

Look for free activities when you travel. Exploring the city on foot, hiking a public trail, or visiting a free museum are options to consider. Travel is expensive, so cutting costs on activities is a way to save money without cutting the adventure. A great site to check for affordable activities is..

GetYourGuide and Viator

Both of these sites list many tours around the globe. I have found tours for under $15 that were incredible experiences. Be sure to research your options before booking to ensure you are supporting a business local to the area you are visiting. This leads to more sustainable and ethical travel.

Google Maps

Trust me when I tell you, ALWAYS download the map of the area you are traveling. You never know what the phone reception will be like when you arrive. The last thing you want is to get lost in a foreign country if your phone isn’t working, not like I would know that from experience. (Or maybe I know all too well..)

Google Translate

It is also a wise plan to download the native language of the country you are visiting if you do not speak that language fluently. This will ensure you can speak with others, even if you have no phone service. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the basic phrases in the local language as well.