Luxury travel on a budget is one of the cornerstones of flashpacking. And the good news is that you can have five-star experiences without a five-star bank balance, even as a solo traveller.
I’m not talking about ultra-luxury travel with its million-dollar villa rentals, helicopter transfers and private jets. This is about premium travel, valuing comfort over saving money, , and knowing that a good meal or a comfortable room can make a trip better.
I have been travelling for more than 30 years and visited over 70 countries, mostly alone. These are my tried and tested tips for making luxury travel affordable.
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General Tips
1. Do your research
Research is the first step towards affordable luxury travel. From picking a destination to booking flights and hotels, the legwork pays off.
You can use a travel agent and that can work in your favour. Or you can cut out the middleman and do it yourself.
For ideas, browse guidebooks and travel articles. I often look at itineraries from small group tour companies to see what is possible.
2. Book ahead
Booking early has its advantages. If you can plan ahead, the travel industry will often give you discounts or other incentives.
This particularly applies to booking a cruise, and it also means you get first pick of cruise cabins. That said, prices can drop closer to departure too.
Flight prices tend to rise as the departure date gets closer.
Booking accommodation early gives you the pick of the exact place you want, rather than your second or third choice.
3. Or bag a last-minute travel deal
Conversely, it’s hard to beat the satisfaction of bagging a great last-minute deal. This is a riskier strategy, but it works if you are flexible on where you go and when.
4. Consider using a travel agency
It is only in recent years that I have cottoned on to the advantages of booking luxury travel through a specialist agent. They can often offer perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades, hotel credit and late checkout.
5. Sign up for a cashback site
Did you know that you can claw back hundreds of pounds by booking elements of your luxury holiday via a cashback website? I use TopCashback and Quidco, two established sites.
Sign up, then use the site as a portal to the retailer of your choice. Once the sale goes through, a percentage comes back to you.
6. Choose your credit card wisely
Savvy luxury travellers keep at least one travel rewards credit card in their wallet. Airline credit cards let you earn frequent flyer points as you spend, plus bonuses just for signing up.
I have built up tens of thousands of Avios on my British Airways Amex card at no extra cost. Those points have paid for BA flights and upgrades more than once. I now use the card for everyday spending to make the most of it.
Just make sure you repay what you have spent in full each month (the interest cost will dwarf any gain you get). Some of these cards are free; others incur an annual fee.
For more detail, take a look at this helpful review.
Pick the Right Destination
7. Travel where your money goes further
Two things decide how far your money stretches: the exchange rate and the cost of living.
Keep an eye on which currencies are weak against the pound before you book. Thanks to the weak yen, Japan has been an unexpected bargain for British travellers in recent years.
The cost of living matters just as much. Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and Poland all make five-star hotels and fine dining more affordable.
In Europe, your money goes further the further east you travel. Think Pristina instead of Paris, or Ljubljana instead of London.
8. Avoid the busiest destinations
Skip the Cayman Islands for Cuba. If you want lakes and mountains, visit Slovenia’s Lake Bled instead of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva.
Popular places cost more. Look for emerging or less obvious destinations instead. Hotel prices and the cost of living tend to be lower, and you will find fewer crowds.
Travelling somewhere less visited also tends to mean warmer, less jaded locals.
9. Travel out of season
Flexibility helps here too. Travel outside peak season and you will save money and skip the crowds. If you have visited the Italian Lakes in the summer, you will understand what I am saying.
The trade-off is less predictable weather, and some restaurants and attractions may be closed.
Getting There & Getting Around
10. Find the cheapest flights
Price is not the sole consideration when flying in a premium cabin.
Not all business class seats are equal, so check the service, seat and catering before you book. But price still matters.
Skyscanner is my go-to platform to search for flights. I like to filter results by cabin class and compare the price of flights across an entire month. Skyscanner also supports multi-city options when searching for open-jaw flights.
I also use Google Flights to explore flight routings, schedules and fares.
11. Take advantage of flight sales
Over the years, I have saved a packet on business class flights during sale periods. Airlines often hold these at the end of the summer holidays, around Black Friday and in January. It is worth joining a few airline mailing lists to keep track.
12. Join a frequent flyer program
Most airlines run loyalty schemes that let you earn points towards flights and upgrades. Every flyer should join at least one.
Earning and using points is a bit of an art. To get up to speed, check out The Points Guy or Head for Points.
But don’t let a loyalty scheme dictate your travel plans. I found myself choosing a destination based on points and tier status rather than where I wanted to go. Do not fall into that trap.
13. Buy a train pass
Of course, flying is not the only way to get from A to B. I am a massive fan of train travel.
It is a greener way to move around, less stressful than flying, and you usually arrive right in the centre of town. That is before factoring in scenic routes such as the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Flam Railway.
Point-to-point train tickets can be pricey, especially bought last minute. This is where a rail pass can save real money, particularly Interrail or Eurail. You just need to do your homework. to get the best deal.
Picking a Place to Stay
14. Mix and match your accommodation
Alternating luxury hotels with budget ones is a great way to save money (and to make swanky hotels affordable). . If a budget hotel turns out grim, I can put up with it knowing a better one is waiting at the next stop.
15. Book directly with the hotel
When I want to stay somewhere specific, I start by checking the cheapest room rate online.
I usually put the hotel and dates into Google Hotels, which pulls prices from its partner sites. This gives me a feel for where hotels cluster and what price bracket to expect.
I use Booking.com for 80% of my hotel bookings. Many of their room rates allow free cancellation, which I prefer for flexibility, and the Genius scheme offers attractive discounts on selected properties.
But I will always check if booking direct with the hotel works out better. They may have a better rate, a free upgrade or a package deal. Always ensure that quoted rates include tax and other charges.
16. Join a hotel loyalty scheme
Most hotel chains run loyalty schemes. Members often get discounts or other perks, plus points to redeem on future stays.
17. Think about staying in a new hotel
A new hotel is a bit of a gamble and can have teething problems, but you may land a good deal through introductory opening rates.
18. Stay in a boutique hotel
I am a big fan of boutique hotels.
They have fewer amenities, but the intimacy and service often make up for it. They tend to have more character than a big chain hotel and can cost less.
The same goes for guesthouses and bed and breakfasts.
19. Rent an apartment
Apartments are usually cheaper than hotels and make sense if you are staying somewhere for more than a few days. I have had good experiences renting apartments, from Tenerife to Normandy
Airbnb is well known for this, but sites such as Booking.com now list a growing range of rental properties too.
Staying a little outside the centre of town can bring the price down further. Just check that transport is cheap and easy, especially if you are travelling solo. It can also give you a better feel for how people live.
20. Go all-inclusive
I will be honest, all-inclusive hotels make me a little uneasy. There is a risk you miss out on local culture, and the local economy sees less of your money.
That said, they can be good value, and it helps to know most costs are settled before you arrive.
Eating Out
21. Make lunch your main meal
This tip is for the food lovers. If you want to eat at a top restaurant but dinner is out of budget, book lunch instead.
Many restaurants run a fixed-price lunch menu at a fraction of the dinner price. The choice may be smaller, but the quality should not be.
Eating at the bar is another option. Some restaurants have a cheaper bar menu without cutting corners on food quality.
22. Avoid tourist-oriented restaurants
Location matters also. Unless a local has recommended it, I steer clear of restaurants on the main square. The food is usually overpriced and average.
You will eat better a few streets away from the main tourist area. Head further out to where locals eat and rents are lower, and it gets even better.
And Finally …
23. Splurge in the right places
Luxury travel on a budget comes down to knowing where to spend.
I will always try to fly business class long-haul, but I cannot justify the cost on a two-hour flight. Put that money towards a better hotel room or experience instead.
If your trip centres on relaxing on an island, a beach-facing room is money well spent. If you are running between sights on a city break and your room is just somewhere to sleep, a premium room matters less.
I always think splurging on once-in-a-lifetime experiences pays off. I baulked at paying over 90 USD for the Gornergrat railway in Zermatt, but seeing the Matterhorn reflected in Riffelsee was a moment I will never forget.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.