Introduction
It’s no secret that Spain is a beautiful country filled with amazing people and incredible food. There are also a lot of things to see and do, which means your budget can get blown very quickly if you’re not careful. But don’t let this deter you from traveling to this beautiful country! Just follow my tips for traveling on a budget in Spain and you’ll be living like royalty (well, at least like royalty who can afford a good meal now and then).
1. Know the expenses of staying and traveling in Spain
When planning a budget for your trip to Spain, it’s important to consider the cost of living in Spain. Spain is not an inexpensive country, and you need to keep this in mind when budgeting for your travels. If you want to stay in hostels or Airbnb, you should expect to pay upwards of 25€ per night (and sometimes more). You can find cheaper options if you look hard enough—but these tend not to be as nice as their more expensive equivalents.
You should also plan on eating out at least twice a day while traveling through Spain. Expect meals at restaurants and cafes (including snacks like churros) will cost anywhere from 8€-15€ per person depending on where you go and what time of day it is!
Transportation costs can vary depending on whether or not you choose trains over flights; however, most travelers seem happy with taking trains because they are faster than flying but still cost less than driving yourself around Europe! Bus tickets are also available if train travel isn’t an option due primarily to safety concerns such as terrorism threats due terrorist attacks occurring frequently throughout Europe recently…
2. Travel from October to December or January-April during the off-peak season
Traveling to Spain in the off-peak season is not only cheaper, but it’s also less crowded and better for the environment. The off-peak season is generally October to December or January-April. This can be a great time of year if you want to experience Europe during its off-season and save some money on flights, hotels, attractions, and activities.
3. Fly into Madrid using a Service to look for a cheaper price on flights
- Use a service to find a cheaper flight.
- Find the best time to fly into Madrid and out of Madrid.
- You can get even cheaper flights by flying midweek and booking your car rental in Spain, but if that sounds like too much work, then go with a travel agent who will do it all for you at once.
4. Book flights on Tuesdays to save money
According to a recent study, Tuesdays are the best day of the week to book flights. The study found that booking on Tuesdays gives you the most bang for your buck, as it’s when airlines tend to lower their prices and offer more deals. If you’re able to plan, this is also a great time because most people are still working Monday-Thursday so there’s less competition when it comes down to making reservations on Friday through Sunday.
This tip also applies if you want flexibility with your travel plans; if you have no idea where or when you want to go (or even if), try looking for cheap tickets in January and February so that way if something comes up later in life and your trip needs an adjustment without having wasted money on something more expensive earlier down the line!
5. Take public transportation instead of taxis whenever possible
Public transportation is a great way to save money when traveling abroad. It’s fast and convenient, and you’ll never get lost! While public transportation can be intimidating for those of us who aren’t used to it, if you take the time to learn about what’s available and how it works, you’ll find that traveling around town by bus, train, or metro will make all your travels much more enjoyable.
I highly recommend researching each city’s public transportation system before your trip so that you know exactly how the trains run (or buses), where they stop along the routes (metros), and which lines are fastest for your itinerary (metros), etc. Be sure to check out prices ahead of time as well so that when it comes time for paying fares at ticket windows or kiosks during checkout counters—and even online—you don’t have any surprises!
6. Stay in less expensive areas of the city
If you’re going to be spending considerable time in a city, you’ll likely want to stay with someone rather than book an impersonal hotel room. That said, there are plenty of good reasons for choosing to live somewhere less central.
Places like New York City and London tend to get expensive as soon as you leave their downtown cores (think Manhattan and central London), so consider staying in one of these areas if you’re looking for a more affordable option. Similarly, staying close to tourist attractions can also help keep costs down—you don’t want to pay top dollar just because it’s close by! Staying further away from these hotspots will make things cheaper overall but still allow easy access when needed (and often allows for more authentic experiences).
7. Eat lunch instead of dinner because it’s cheaper and you get the same full meal portions
Do you know what’s great about Spanish culture? Lunch is served from 1-3 pm! And it’s usually just as delicious as dinner, if not more so. Plus, you’ll save money because dinner tends to be more expensive than lunch. 8. Try the tapas and raciones—they’re all you can eat! Tapas are small portions of food served in a variety of ways at restaurants throughout Spain.
8. Get food from local markets instead of restaurants
Another good way to try new food is by visiting local markets in Spain. Markets are all over the country and can be found in every city, town, or village. You can buy fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, as well as meats and cheeses. There’s also usually a variety of baked goods available such as bread (pan), pastries (pastel), cakes, cookies, etc! If you need something quick for lunch on the go then stop by one of these places instead of eating at an expensive restaurant.
Also, keep in mind that these markets aren’t just for tourists — most Spaniards shop at them too! So when you walk into one during your travels through Spain you’ll likely meet some locals who might even invite themselves over for some tapas after work 🙂
Conclusion
We hope that you have found this information useful. The next time you plan on traveling to Spain, make sure to keep these tips in mind so that you can save money while still having a great time.