Last updated on January 3, 2026
Do you want to solo travel but think it is too expensive? Has it been taking you months to save up for a well-deserved trip to a beautiful destination you’ve been dreaming about? Well, you have come to the right page! I will share my hacks for traveling without ruining your finances! I have been to some amazing places in my life. If you are like me and you like to travel solo, or you want the freedom to do whatever you want without coordinating with friends or family, read on and let me help you plan your next budget-friendly trip abroad!
All of these tips are noted from my experiences traveling around Asia.
Hack #1: Use a VPN
As a solo traveler, you have all the responsibilities of thinking by yourself. Protecting my data digitally around the world with a VPN gives me more peace of mind. A virtual private network (VPN) is not only good for protecting your information when you are using public Wi-Fi, but also for connecting to websites in other countries. Your data and IP addresses are hidden for privacy. One VPN that I like to use is NordVPN. It does a great job of staying connected across different countries when I want to search for how much tickets cost for local transportation, attractions, hotels, and flights. I always recommend doing your research on the country you’re traveling to, especially if it is your first time there. Keep in mind that local search rankings for the same keyword can vary by country. Therefore, what you see on the first page of Google can vary.
Hot tip: if I plan to visit Universal Studios Hong Kong, I would set the country to Hong Kong to pay in local currency, since that’s always cheaper. Not all websites are in English; in that case, you can use Google Translate to automatically translate the webpage to get the best deals.
NordVPN is supported in networks in a wide range of countries. You don’t have to worry about your information getting hacked. You can keep your identity safe whether you are at the airport, a cafe, or the beach. And just your luck, NordVPN is offering 74% off + 3 extra months right now! Don’t miss out on this amazing deal!
Hack #2: Hide your web browsing activity
Alright, you may have heard some other solo travelers, or travelers in general, say that going incognito in your browser doesn’t help you save money. I, on the other hand, have noticed a difference when I search in the regular and private browsers.
When you are searching for anything on the web, your search history, cookies, and other data are recorded in the browser and on the websites. So, when you are searching for flights and hotels, make sure your browsing history is not stored. You can do so by opening a new incognito window on Chrome. For Safari, open a “New Private Window”. On Firefox, open a “New Private Window”. On other browsers, check under File, or the respective menu to open a new private window.
Hack #3: Depart when local people are usually working or sleeping
I honestly think this one is perfect for solo travelers because you get to decide how much sleep you can get in before you need to be at the airport. The majority of working people start their day at 9 AM. I find that the best and cheapest time to fly is early morning or late night, when the time zone I am in is quieter. I noticed that flying out of a city before the crack of dawn lessens the stress of going to the airport. Choose to depart either on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, and you’ll notice more personal space around you at the airport. There are fewer people on the road, which makes going to the airport breezier. The lines at the airport are shorter and move faster. To get the best flight deals, plan ahead and purchase at least 1 to 3 months in advance. The best time to purchase flights is in the early mornings too.
Hack #4: Join a miles or cashback program
Solo travelers, this is the hack that you should memorize to ALWAYS follow! If you frequent an airline, make sure you sign up for their miles program for members-only discounts and deals. Don’t miss out on sales and other announcements from their email subscription! Two of my favorite airlines that I frequent and have amazing value are Delta and Qatar Airways. Learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Loyalty Program and Qatar’s Privilege Club. (Not sponsored).
I don’t know about you, but I am always on the lookout for how I can get my money’s worth. Another great way to do that is by looking out for a cashback rewards program. Do you ever wonder how you can get more cashback on your flights besides using a credit card? Get cashback on your flights and hotels with WayAway Plus! You can get the best deal with my code “amyWayAway10” (or click on the code) to get 10% off your cashback membership. GREAT NEWS! WayAwayPlus is now offering 7 days free to experience the benefits of earning your money back when you book a flight or hotel.
Hack #5: Book activities from travel deal apps
One of my favorite apps is called Klook. When I am visiting cities with many popular tourist attractions, such as Disney World or Victoria Peak, I would check whether they are discounted on Klook first. Klook is also great for getting ideas of what you could do in the city you are visiting, and it saves you time on planning. It is very easy to find attractions in the app. You can even join group tours as a solo traveler and meet fellow travelers. Klook is definitely one of my go-to apps when traveling.
I like to compare flight prices on Google Flights, Skyscanner, Trip.com, and official airline websites to see which sites offer the best-value flights.
Final Thoughts on Budgetting as a Solo Traveler
Of course, you should do deeper research into the place that you plan to visit. It’s utmost important to plan ahead when solo traveling. This helpful guide is perfect if you are adventurous, not afraid to explore new things, and enjoy meeting new friends along the way. Enjoy planning and taking your next vacation with peace of mind.
Sincerely,
Amy♡
