How to see the world without selling your handbag collection or marrying rich (again)
So, you want to travel the world but your bank account says, “Let’s just do a nice walk around the garden”. Sound familiar?
Fear not, fellow fabulous over-50s. Whether you’re newly single, gloriously divorced, happily retired, or just tired of waiting for someone else to book the bloody holiday—this guide is for you. And no, we won’t be recommending bunk beds or two-for-one cocktails served in plastic buckets.
Grab your best sensible shoes, a large tote full of snacks, and let’s get you globe-trotting without torching your pension pot.
Flights So Cheap You’ll Swear It’s Witchcraft
Rule number one: Be flexible. And not in the yoga way (unless you’re into that, in which case, namaste). The more open you are with your dates and destination, the cheaper the deals.
Check these flight-finding wizards:
- Skyscanner – Use the “Everywhere” destination and “Cheapest month” options. Magic.
- Google Flights – Brilliant for visualising prices across a calendar.
- Kiwi.com – Excellent for creative route combos (Bristol to Barcelona via Budapest? Sure!).
Sneaky Tip: Use incognito mode or clear your cookies. Airlines remember you like your ex remembers your birthday – just enough to mess with you.
Accommodation That Doesn’t Smell Like Feet
Listen. You’ve done your time. You’ve raised kids, shared bathrooms, possibly even survived caravan holidays in the 80s. You deserve better. But we’re still keeping it budget.
Try these grown-up gems:
- Booking.com – Use filters like “single room” and “fabulous breakfast” (priorities!).
- Airbnb – Private rooms with en-suite options, often cheaper and cheerier than hotels.
- TrustedHousesitters – Look after pets in exchange for a lovely home to stay in. Bonus: a cuddly cat won’t try to talk politics at breakfast.
Safety First: Read reviews. If the last guest mentions “dodgy locks” or “an odd smell in the night,” run faster than you did from that Zumba class.
Getting Around Without Selling a Kidney
Taxis are comfy, yes—but unless you’re besties with Elon Musk, they’re also budget kryptonite.
Here’s how to move like a local:
- Public transport – Often half the fun (and a third of the price). Buses, trams and metros are safe and cheap in most cities. Also a fabulous opportunity to eavesdrop.
- Train passes – Interrail (for EU residents) or Eurail (for non-EU) if you’re bouncing around Europe.
- Walking – Free, healthy, and you can stop for pastries whenever you like.
Download Citymapper or Rome2Rio to avoid ending up in a sheep field when you meant to go to the beach.
Eating on the Cheap Without Starving
You don’t have to live on crisps and regret to save money on food. You can dine well and afford souvenirs for the grandkids.
Here’s how:
- Lunch > Dinner – Many fancy restaurants offer a posh lunch menu for half the price. Eat like a queen at 1pm, and snack like a peasant at 7.
- Street food & markets – Not only cheap and tasty, but excellent for nosy people-watching. Win-win.
- Self-cater – A quick supermarket run and voilà! Cheese, crackers, and wine on your balcony. Delia would be proud.
Red Flag: Avoid places with menus in 14 languages and photos of food that looks like clip art. If in doubt, follow the locals. Or the smell of garlic.
Free Things to Do That Aren’t Boring (or Illegal)
Museums, cathedrals, beaches, and free walking tours are your new best friends. There’s no shame in budgeting for culture—especially when it’s this good.
Top Tips:
- Check local tourist boards and apps like Spotted by Locals for free events, concerts, and hidden gems.
- Sandeman’s New Europe runs excellent free walking tours in major cities. Pay what you feel.
- Most major museums have free entry days – including the fabulous British Museum (free always – though avoid Tuesdays unless you like elbows in your ribs).
Parks, markets and old churches offer unbeatable people-watching opportunities. And you can do it all with an ice cream. Bliss.
Travel Insurance: Boring but Brilliant
I know. Nothing says “holiday fun” like talking about insurance. But trust me, this is one budget item not to skip.
Whether it’s a stolen handbag, a sprained ankle from chasing a runaway croissant, or volcanic ash grounding your flight, you’ll be glad you were covered.
Use:
- Compare the Market
- MoneySuperMarket
Look for solo-friendly policies that cover pre-existing conditions and don’t charge you like you’re planning to trek Everest in stilettos.
Apps That Help You Spend Less and Do More
Let’s make your smartphone your travel assistant—without needing to tip it at the end of the trip.
Download these budget beauties:
- XE Currency – So you’ll know instantly if that €8 glass of wine is a bargain or daylight robbery.
- Trail Wallet – Budget tracking made easy (and fun, with graphs!).
- Splitwise – If you’re travelling with others, this stops arguments over who paid for the chips in Toulouse.
Solo Travel: It’s Cheaper Than Therapy
Travelling alone? Welcome to the club. The wine’s chilled, and you don’t have to pretend to like museums or wait for someone to decide what they feel like doing.
Solo Travel Budget Perks:
- You control the purse strings. (And the purse. And the snacks.)
- Easier to snag last-minute deals on flights and single rooms.
- No awkward splitting of bills or debates over whether you really need a third gelato.
Join online communities like:
They’re great for inspiration, advice, and emergency “Is it just me or is this Airbnb host slightly unhinged?” support.
Budget Travel Doesn’t Mean Budget Joy
Let’s get one thing straight. Budget doesn’t mean boring. It doesn’t mean eating dry crackers on a hostel bunk while a backpacker plays the didgeridoo.
It means smart choices. And frankly, you’ve made plenty of those in your life – including not dating your colleague from HR (again).
Budget travel means:
- Gelato and gallery entry.
- Street food that tastes like heaven.
- A room with a view, not a roommate with a snore.
You’ve got the wisdom, the independence, and now the know-how. There’s a world out there that’s well within reach—and you don’t need to remortgage the house to see it.
Final Words from One Frugal Female to Another
You’ve earned this, love. Whether it’s a quiet solo break in Lisbon, a culture-packed week in Kraków, or a road trip through Cornwall with a thermos and a playlist of ABBA and power ballads—you can do it on a budget and do it fabulously.
And if anyone asks how you manage it?
Just smile, raise your glass of €3 rosé, and say, “Darling, it’s all in the planning.”
