Winners of TV show Race Across the World Alfie Watts and Owen Wood say you can travel on a budget – if you stick to a few basic rules. The boys who raced from Japan to Indonesia with just the value of a plane ticket in their pocket for the BBC show, said ‘living like a local’ is the one of the best ways to save cash when travelling.
And ‘locals know far more than the internet’, leading to more authentic and cost-effective experiences than anything you can find on the web. The pair also encourage holidaymakers to seek out homestays – which are not only a great way to immerse in the culture and get off the beaten track, but also cost a fraction of a hotel.
Transport also offers a great chance to make big savings – with the duo swearing by night buses and trains to keep costs down, but travellers need to have a ‘cost over comfort’ mindset. Alfie and Owen have teamed up with global money app Zing.
The Race Across the World pals also advised travellers to embrace street food more when exploring cities across the world – both for the taste and saving potential. Alfie reminisced about the ‘incredible’ street sellers in Kuala Lumpur serving up the ‘best’ fried noodles he’s ever had at ‘amazing’ prices.
Owen said: “If you are going to be staying in one place for a little while then consider finding a temporary job for a quick money boost for your onward travels. Alfie and I were constantly looking at potential jobs we could do along the way such as the cleaning at a campsite in Japan and the extra money we gained from this gave us a lot more freedom and peace of mind throughout the race.”
James Allan, CEO of the Zing, said: “International travel is a bucket list item for many in the UK, but a quarter say they’re too cautious with their finances to head overseas.”
ALFIE AND OWEN’S SAVVY TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS ON A BUDGET
1. Live like a local
2. Try a home stay
3. Embrace some street eats
4. Work where you can
5. Cost over comfort when it comes to transportation