United States: 7 tips for travelling without breaking the bank

Do you dream of going to the States, but don’t have the money or the inclination to break the bank? Well, we’ve asked the best travel bloggers to share their tips and tricks for saving money on your trip to the USA.

Brush up on your geography!

Let’s start with the obvious: America is a huge country with a fairly complex geography. It makes sense to plan your trip in advance, but impeccable organisation is essential if you want to save money. The north-east, for example, contains many large cities such as New York, Boston, Washington DC, etc. in a small geographical area, which means you can get around by inexpensive public transport. However, the West of the USA is incredibly vast, and public transport is very expensive. A well-prepared itinerary will save you headaches and logistical problems.

Travel in a group

Hire a car (if you’re 25 or over, it’s cheaper) or share a taxi/Uber with other travellers to save money on transport costs, especially in a country as vast as the USA! If you hire a car, insurance is a must if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises. Avoid taking out insurance through the hire company, which is often more expensive. Most credit cards offer insurance, and you can buy additional insurance from American Express for around $25.

Greyhound buses

GreyHound is a bus company. Their buses are clean, comfortable and safe (reassuring for girls travelling alone). And best of all, it’s really, REALLY cheap! Our bloggers paid $22 to travel from Las Vegas to LA. So think bus instead of plane!

Breakfast included

Try to book into a hostel where breakfast is included. „I always try to find a hostel where breakfast is included in the price of the room. I even stayed in a hostel in New York that offered pizza every night – there are no small savings!

Health insurance

As you probably know, there is no „social security” in the United States. So don’t forget to take out health insurance. In the event of a minor problem, you’ll be glad you took this precaution!

Take detours

As with your itinerary, remember to research your flights thoroughly. There are always ways of saving a little money, by opting for flights with several stopovers, for example. These flights often don’t appear in a simple Google search. Icelandair, for example, has a reputation for offering flights from London to New York with a short stopover in Reykjavik that defy all competition!

Trust the locals

Don’t let your trip drain your pockets! The staff in the hostels are full of good advice, and often offer free tours. So make the most of the locals’ experience and legendary American hospitality!

What are you waiting for? Book now !

Many thanks to Katie McKnoulty (thetravellinglight.com), Jo Whitaker (visionsofjohanna.org) and Fabienne Loher (ichreiseumdiewelt.com) for their professional advice.

Photos by Katie McKnoulty & Fabienne Loher