Anyone who has traveled knows that seeing the world on a budget can be tricky – but with a little bit of planning and a lot of passion, it’s easy to find ways to explore America on a dime. From hunting down the best student discounts, to researching cheap hotel options, to keeping an eye out for the lowest possible flight prices, there are plenty of options to help you adventure through a new country without breaking the bank.
Check out some of the best budget travel tips from au pairs, who spend their days living, traveling and studying in the USA.
1. Compare flight prices
Once you’re in America, driving from state to state is pretty easy. But for those cross-country trips, you’re going to need to fly. Make sure that when buying flights, you use comparison websites like Expedia, Travelocity or Kayak in order to get the best possible deal. Au pairs also suggest buying flights as far in advance as possible – the sooner you and your friends snag those tickets, the cheaper they will be! It’s important to remember that the cheapest flight prices will often be very early in the morning or very late at night and will most likely include at least one or two layovers. If you have flexibility in your schedule, then au pairs suggest being open to this! Layovers can give you a chance to see a new city in the USA you wouldn’t have seen otherwise – and in the end, the money you’re saving on the flight plan can go towards the adventures you’re having in your final destination.
2. Go grocery shopping
One of the easiest ways to blow your budget while traveling is by eating out too much. Don’t fall victim to restaurant prices – instead, make regular trips to the supermarket! Not only will you be avoiding over-priced meals (and the 18-20% tip, on top of that!), you’ll be perfecting the art of creating delicious, inexpensive food for yourself – and in the case of au pairs, for host families and friends as well. Cooking for loved ones is a bonding activity, and one of the oldest forms of cultural exchange. Not to mention, when you choose to go grocery shopping instead of always dining out, you’ll have more time to spend on experiencing other aspects of American culture and geography. Vacations are an especially important time to use this trick, because food in popular cities around the USA can be quite expensive!
3. Stay at hostels
Staying at a local hostel – or at an Airbnb – is a simple way to save money while exploring a new country. Au pairs traveling in America find that most of the time, hotels can be double or even triple the price of sharing a private room or apartment with friends. Better yet, staying in a shared room at a hostel gives you the unique opportunity to meet people and make new friends from all around the world – especially if you’re traveling by yourself! Of course, there are some cheap hotel options out there – you just need to know where to look! Again, travel websites like Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak all have search engines for hotels specifically. Booking.com is another great resource for au pairs looking to travel for cheap. Ultimately, when you’re traveling in the USA, you’re going to want to spend the majority of your time out in the cities you’re visiting, exploring every possible inch you can! It’s wise to choose cheaper accommodations and instead, spend your hard-earned money on special experiences. 
4. Take public transport
In most American cities, travelers have Uber as a fallback option for getting around – but with a little bit of know-how, you can get yourself anywhere by taking public transportation. Between trains, busses and subways, au pairs have plenty of options to get from point A to point B. Do a little research online and familiarize yourself with local schedules and routes – it can save you a lot of time and money in the end! Plus, if you take public transportation, chances are you’ll stumble upon new corners of the cities that you didn’t know existed. Public transportation allows you to live like the locals do, especially in major cities with good transportation options like Boston, Washington D.C. and New York City. There’s also a sense of pride you’ll develop when you master a new public transport system. It’s proof that you can tackle any challenge and figure out any puzzle in front of you – in a foreign city, no less! 
5. Carry your student ID
All au pairs in the USA take classes at American universities and are given student IDs as an extra form of identification. Having a student ID in America can open countless doors. A student ID can give travelers student discounts on everything from admission to a movie theater, museum or art gallery to retail locations and even restaurants! American culture places a great emphasis on the importance of educating oneself and being a dedicated student. Many places in the USA are more than happy to provide student discounts because it’s a way of rewarding a new generation for being well-educated and contributing to the world. Be sure to carry this card with you everywhere you go – and don’t be shy to ask upfront if establishments offer any markdowns for students. Of course, having a student ID on you will also make it easy to make friends with other students in America! It’s a conversation-starter, and a good way to meet new people from across America and around the world.