Know before you go

Three things to figure out before you book anything

In this order. Do not skip ahead.

1. 1.

   How are you getting there

   Use Google Flights. Turn on flexible dates. The cheapest day to fly is rarely the day you planned. Off season exists for a reason: prices drop, crowds disappear, locals are actually around.

2. 2.

   How are you getting around once you land

   Research public transit before you go. Google Maps and Apple Maps handle this better than most people expect: buses, metros, trams, walking directions. You do not need a tour package to figure out a city.

3. 3.

   Where are you sleeping

   Find a hostel on Hostelworld. Look at the social atmosphere score, not just the overall rating. Make sure it has a kitchen. That kitchen will save you real money every day.

The stuff nobody tells you

• →Foreign transaction fees are a thing. Your debit card may be charging you 1-3% on every purchase abroad without telling you. Check what each of your cards charges for purchases abroad before you go.
• →Get an eSIM before you land. Unless your phone plan includes international data, roaming can get expensive fast. Holafly and Airalo both work. See the eSIM options I use.
• →Download Google Translate language packs offline before your flight. You will not always have signal. You want the translation app to work when you are standing in front of someone who does not speak English.
• →Get a universal travel adapter. Countries do not use the same outlets. This is not optional. The one I use, on Amazon (opens in a new tab) (Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
• →Pack less than you think you need. Hostels have laundry. You do not need a checked bag for most trips. A heavy bag slows everything down and adds fees on budget carriers.
• →Read recent hostel reviews, not just the overall score. A place can have a 9.2 and the last five reviews mention bedbugs. Look at what real people said in the last few weeks specifically.

Getting around once you're there

• →Uber works in a lot of countries, but not everywhere. Check before you land.
• →In much of Europe, Bolt (opens in a new tab) is a popular rideshare app. Lyft covers the US and Canada, and it now owns FreeNow in parts of Europe. Everywhere else, don't count on it.
• →For trains and buses across Europe, try Omio (opens in a new tab). One search covers a lot of the continent.
• →Overnight buses and trains between countries save you a full night of accommodation. Just do not miss your bus. I did in Madrid. Missed the last bus, the next one was at 7 AM, and I slept on a park bench. It was fine. But do not miss your bus.
• →Google Maps and Apple Maps handle public transit routing in most major cities surprisingly well. Bus lines, metro stops and walking directions are all there. Download the offline map for your destination before you fly.

Saving money on food

• →Grocery stores are your best friend. Street food is second. Sit-down restaurants are for once in a while, not every meal.
• →Book a hostel with a kitchen and you can cook. Eggs and bread in most countries cost almost nothing. Just put your name on your food or it will disappear.

Travel insurance

Honest answer: I don't always get travel insurance. On a tight budget, I often skip it.

But when I'm doing something sketchy, like riding motorbikes in Vietnam or cliff jumping in Mallorca, I pick up a cheap medical-only travel plan through IMG (opens in a new tab) (affiliate link: I earn a commission if you buy a plan). That's just what I do.

My card's travel protections

I also read the fine print on my Capital One Venture X (checked September 2026). Capital One's benefits guide lists these protections when you pay for the trip with the card (limits and exclusions apply, read the guide):

• →Delays of more than 6 hours or overnight: up to $500 per ticket for meals and a room, when weather, a strike or a broken plane, train, bus or ferry causes it.
• →Cancelling or cutting a trip short: up to $2,000 per person, only for non-refundable transport tickets paid in full with the card or its miles, and only if you or a close family member gets sick, gets hurt or dies, or the carrier goes bankrupt.
• →Lost or stolen bags: up to $3,000 per trip on top of what the airline pays. Cameras, phones and laptops are excluded.
• →Rental cars: damage and theft, if you put the whole rental on the card and decline the counter's collision waiver. Not liability, not scooters or motorbikes, and not in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Israel or Jamaica.