We all want to travel the world, but let’s face it, we’re also trying to do it on a budget. NEWSFLASH: there’s never been a more affordable time to travel than right now. I use the tips below to ball out on a budget around the globe.

Get to know the best discount websites

People ask me all the time how I can afford to travel so often. I’m far from rich and everyone who knows me knows that. My answer: I basically ONLY book travel around flight deals. Why pay full price when you can get the same flight on the low if you’re plugged in and plan accordingly? These websites share flight deals every single day:

NOTE: these flight deals go quickly! If you see a sale, it might not be there in an hour. This is an instance where impulse shopping is OK!

Get into Google Flights

If you’re more specific about the destinations you want to visit, you better get into Google Flights. Here you can search from destination to destination with a calendar tool that shows you the cheapest option for all flights, by airline, date and more. Don’t be intimidated by the system, it’s really super easy once you get the hang of it. Plug in your destinations and potential dates, and voila!

Google Flights can show you in calendar view the difference in cost if you shifted your flight schedule a day, a week, or a few weeks before or after you had originally planned. You might find that if you go to your destination a week after you originally planned, you could save hundreds of dollars. That’s efficiency at its best. Also, Google Flights includes some international airlines that don’t appear in some of the go-to flight search engines, giving you even more options.

Hotels and resorts are cool but…

Home and apartment rental sites such as Airbnb and Home Away have changed the way we book travel. Whether you like the countryside or want to be in the heart of the city, there are options for home rentals that will allow you to experience your destination like a local. If you’re nervous about it, start off by renting your house domestically. You’ll realize the benefits right away, especially if you’re traveling with a large group. Most recently, I rented a home in Martha’s Vineyard. The family and I were able to cut costs, have a pool party and even barbecue in the back.

What are some of your budget travel tips? Let them in the comments below!

Loving Blavity’s content? Sign up for our daily newsletter!

travel deals

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week