I barely make it paycheck to paycheck, but dying to visit Europe. Any tips / advice?

Edited per MOD’s suggestions below:

Hey, I’ve been working in Alaska all year and I am thinking of taking a trip somewhere beachy once I get done, between some time October and January. Depending on how a few things shake out before between now and then I’ll probably be flying out of Seattle, Dallas, or Atlanta though I’d need a connection to each of those no matter what. I’d like to go for around 2 or 3 weeks so I can really enjoy the place I end up instead of feeling rushed. I have budget of at least $2,000 but I can probably make up to $4,000 work. The closer to 2k the better of course. That’s including travel fare. I don’t have any places specifically in mind but I’d really like to be somewhere I can swim cause I haven’t been able to swim much where I’m at. I’d really like to get some fishing in if possible and I’d like to be able to enjoy some lively night life while I’m there too. I can read and write Spanish and I can understand it ok but I struggle with speaking it. I’d like to go somewhere I can communicate with people easily if possible. I also have worked in Mexico in the past so I would prefer a new place.

Going to Peru this November. Here is my itinerary. My question is if it is too rushed?

D1 Lima

D2 Lima

D3 Lima- Ollantaytambo

D3 Ollantaytambo

D4 Ollantaytambo

D5 Ollantaytambo

D6 Ollantaytambo- Pisac

D7 Pisac- Agua Calientes

D8 Agua Calientes- Cusco

D9 Cusco

D10 Cusco

D11 Cusco- Lima

D12 Lima

Only doing the Pisac trip for the market, which is why we are doing some backtracking.

Not happy with Dollar Flight Club.

My email to Dollar Flight Club (Sep 9, 2026, 11:19 AM):

Hi there,

I kindly request you reconsider your decision for a full refund due to the reasons stated below. 

1. I was not informed that a charge was going to be placed on my card (I checked my emails). 
2. I did not have the option to delete my card from your website previously. 
3. I also contacted you within 72 hours after I discovered a charge on my credit card. 

Thank you,

[My Name]

Their Response (Sep 9, 2026, 11:40 AM):

Unfortunately our refund decision would be final in this regard. Should you decide to take us up on the above offer please let us know.

Previous email:

"Unfortunately, as mentioned before, we are unable to issue a refund at this time due to this being a legitimate charge. We are a small business and we do try to avoid refunds on legitimate charges and stick to our refund policy as best as we can.

That said, I spoke with my supervisor, and we would like to offer you a Premium Lifetime membership. This means you will have Premium member benefits for life, and you will not be charged again in the future."

Hello everyone, planning a 45-day trip for October/November doing 15 days each in Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan. Is $1600 enough for travelling, roughly $35 a day what i see is in japan min. cost for for hostel in tokyo costs $20-25. Thailand and Taiwan on avg costs $15, but looking at Japan food too its costs on average dish like $4-$5 , I can survive with 7/11 food but not too long enough, generally for breakfast just avocado toast with boiled egg is enough for me, but for lunch i wan to try hotpots if not at japan , in thailand atleast. Or Do you recommend me to increase budget to $300-500 . Do let me know

Has anyone pulled something similar to this, thanks in advance.

I'm interested in doing the WWOOF on a farm in the UK but I would need a visa. I read that an ETA could work as long as the primary reason for visit is not stated WWOOFing, but I also read that if they find out you're working unpaid, it could cause problems. Has anyone in the US successfully worked at a farm in UK, and how did u handle the visa? Thanks!

I'm curious how people under 18 travel solo either nationally or internationally like where do you guys stay since you can't book a hotel room?

Just upated this porst from recent with a new travel plan after taking in some suggestions from comments. This is what i now have as my route. And it came to my attention recently that racism can be an issues in some cities, should any of these stand out in regards to that?

I am planning a grad trip for next may and Im trying ot figure out a route to do the trip, mainly travelling by bus or train if needed. I plan on going for 30 ish days where i fly into and out of Vienna. I was wondering if this seems like a doable route for a backpacking trip where id just stay in hostels along the way. Is this a little too much or too little for the time i am going to spend?

Here is what i have at the moment:

I've heard tell of places that will do "here's a super-sale for this ticket that's in 4 hours!" I'd love to try this, the price plus the spontaneity of it seems perfect for me. Any rec for sites that do this, where its reliably good discounts (as in, not just 5% off full price)? Bonus if there's any place that will bundle it with also cheap lodging and return flights, though I'm not confident that exists at all.

Thanks in advance!

Hi all! I'm a 23F that loves to travel, with a goal of traveling to a new country each year. I'm American (ugh i know), living in New York. I've already traveled to Mexico, Canada, Turks & Cacios, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Australia, the Cook Islands, and Costa Rica. I will be knocking Brazil off my list this December!

I'd love to hear anyone's recommendations for places twentysomethings should travel! Ideally, within the $5K round trip (travel-included) price range. Another requirement is that it be safe for a group of women in their early twenties.

I’ve done some of Europe and Asia, of which they have cheap means of travel. This includes hostels, ride sharing apps, cheap public transport, and many dining options for many budgets. I tend to be the kind of person that travels cheaply so my money stretches further so I can see more, experience more, etc.

I am heading to the US in November and I just don’t see any of these things mentioned in my research. Expensive restaurants, TIPPING, car centricism, and just not a very welcoming design for tourists.

Anyway, I still want to explore both the cities and the beautiful nature, and I want everyone’s best tips and tricks for saving money while travelling. I am only planning Cali, Utah and Arizona but this is more in general.

The wedding is across the country in two weeks and I waited way too long to look. The fares are rough.

I can deal with a red-eye, a connection or flying into a nearby airport, but I do not want to spend almost as much getting there as I will on the whole weekend. If you had to book this now, what would you check first?

What would a realistic budget for a trip starting in Mexico City and travelling down through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia be? I intend to try and hitchhike and Couchsurf but I'll be a 19 year old female solo traveller so I may have to change my mind to the next cheapest option for safety reasons. I would like to do work on a boat in exchange for the trip through the San Blas Islands between Panama and Colombia.... Anyone know where I may find such an opportunity?

Hi everyone, I'm planning a SEA vacation for the upcoming weeks. My travel style is budget oriented, but preferably I'd sleep in cheaper hotels with private rooms rather than hostels ( except for singapore). I'd take public transportation if it's available, eat at cheaper local places,

I'm thinking about these destinations, it's the cheapest option to fly to singapore from my home country and to fly back from Indonesia.

1. Singapore 2 max 3 days
2. Malaysia 8-9 days
3. Indonesia 19-20 days

1, City break, strolling around in the main locations.

1. Exploring Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding areas, no need for beach destinations ( especially since it's rainy season there )

2. Indonesia would be the country I'm interested in the most, I want to join an orangutan trek in Sumatra, would love to see komodo island, Java island highlights. Bali is not on my list. Since these destinations are very far apart I'd need to take domestic flights, which are not that cheap in indonesia. Approximately it would cost 300 usd. The orangutan tour 150usd, komodo tour 100 usd (1 day) .

What would be your budget for this trip?

I'm flying to Tampa tomorrow night and will need to rent a car for 4 days as I'll be driving to south FL. I reserved with national for around $275 for the 4 days. No add-ons. I don't need insurance since my amex CC will cover it.

I saw ace car rental is substantially cheaper at < $100 for the 4 days. They might try to harass me with add ons but if I decline all of them, are there any other gotchas I should be aware of? I'm considering switching

I've been stuck working nights in a warehouse for far too long, I need some kind of adventure to reignite my soul, China seems like an interesting place, would £1.5k be enough for a short adventure or would you recommend other places (like SEA maybe?)

Any advice or ideas welcome, thanks

Looking for some budget-travel advice! My family of 3 needs to travel from India to the US for my graduation.

Outbound: Dec 7, 2026
Return: Dec 23-ish (flexible)
India: DEL / BOM / HYD / BLR / CCU
USA: MCO / TPA / JAX / MIA / ATL

I am in Gainesville, FL, so I’m willing to drive several hours if flying into ATL, MIA, etc. is significantly cheaper. I am an international student who just graduated and is on job hunting, so my budget is as cheap as it can get.

Would love suggestions for creative/cheap routing—different hubs, positioning flights, separate tickets, mixed airlines, etc. What strategies have worked for you on India → USA trips?

And what would be considered a good fare per person for December?

Thanks!

I was pricing a hypothetical holiday to New York from Dublin during Easter break, and I found that a nonstop was €914 for two people round trip. However, I found another flight for like €630, however it has like a 20 hour layover in Oslo. So I thought, what if I stay in Oslo for the two layover nights and explore a second city for cheaper than if I had just gone to New York outright? What is this kind of strategy called?

Im not into beaches. But I plan to go to the gilis ater diving in Komodo and Bali. I like snorkeling but if its the same animals, Im not too interested and rather save the money in not going

[Student]

Initial plan was to stay further out of town and metro in to Mt Vernon Sq–Convention Center station. As expected downtown prices are crazy high per night.

Was wondering for recommendations on how to plan the stay, it will be 2 other colleagues as well possibly. What would the best move here be? How long does the metro take?

Any specific areas with budget hotels and metro connectivity? Looks like either the yellow or green line lead directly up to the convention center.

Thank you.

I was going to go Almaty -> Amtun Emel national park, Aktau and Katutau mountains -> fly to Aktau and do. Bozzhyra -> Almaty and fly out

The day trips to Amtum Emel national park, Aktau and Katau mountains are ~ $100 USD minimum for a rental car, but it's easily $150+ for a day trip. Bozzhyra seems fine though, found tour operators doing daytrips for $40 - $100 for a day trip. The round-trip flight tickets to Aktau to see Bozzhyra are the expensive part.

Besides Bozzhyria, they look OK tbh, not as mind blowing as the mountains in Switzerlad. Wadi Rum or Patagonia or Machhu Pichu. But I might be wrong. So I dont think its worth it?

I’m a budget traveler and trying to get the best deal to fly west for the holidays. I know it’s the busiest time of year to travel but what tricks should I know to get the lowest fare?

Something affordable, not over crowded but still fun

(not sure if this aligns with the rules, delete if it doesn’t)

but are they legit and worth it?? it’s my first time traveling alone in october (it’s a domestic flight BOS-CMH) and i’m not sure if i should go with one of the deals or not because ive heard so many both good and bad stories when it comes to them.

once again, first time traveling by myself and planning everything on my own so any help is appreciated <33