12 Budget Travel Hacks Under £10 (But Save You Much More)

These are the budget-friendly travel hacks that genuinely make trips cheaper, easier and far less stressful – all without spending more than £20.

There are so many travel hacks all over TikTok and Instagram, but if they cost loads, they’re not going to suit us budget minded travellers. After over 20 years of extensive travel, here are the budget travel hacks that really make a difference when we travel, and for minimal cost.

1. Buy an eSIM before you fly

Cost: From £3–£7

One of the easiest ways to save money abroad is to sort your phone data before you leave. Instead of paying expensive roaming charges or hunting for airport SIM cards, install an eSIM in advance.

Airalo have eSIMs for over 200 destinations and they’re easy to use. The eSIM is built into a device’s hardware and works 100% digitally. Just purchase an eSIM package for your destination, install it before you travel, and instantly connect to a mobile network upon arrival.

This means you’ll land with internet ready to go, making it much easier to:

• Order an Uber
• Find your hotel
• Translate menus
• Access boarding passes
• Contact family

Airalo eSIMs start from just £3.50 and could save you an absolute fortune in high roaming bills. Take a look at the Airalo website and use the code FLIPFLOP for 10% off sitewide.

2. Download offline maps

Cost: Free

Google Maps lets you download entire cities or regions before you travel.

This means you can still:

• Navigate without mobile data
• Find restaurants
• Locate your accommodation
• Walk around confidently

It also saves your phone battery because it isn’t constantly searching for a signal.

3. Pack a reusable water bottle

Cost: £5–£15

Buying bottled water and drinks several times a day soon adds up. On my recent European adventures to Innsbruck, Croatia and Portugal I’ve been shocked at how much just soft drinks are at meal times (like €5!) – it definitely adds up with kids. I’m all about the refillable water bottle. Mine was £8 from TKMaxx (rrp £20) and has a super lock on to prevent leaking.

Many airports now have free refill stations, and plenty of destinations across Europe have safe drinking water. A lightweight bottle quickly pays for itself after just a few refills. If you don’t like water you can always buy those strong flavour drops to add in.

4. Use packing cubes

Cost: £10–£18

Packing cubes aren’t just for organised travellers. They:

• Fit more into your suitcase
• Keep dirty clothes separate
• Make finding things much easier
• Help you avoid unpacking everything every morning

They’re especially useful if you’re travelling with children. My packing cubes were around £25 from Amazon, but you can get them much cheaper. Buy these and you can reuse them forever – they’re so useful!

5. Pack a foldable shopping bag

Cost: £2–£10

A reusable tote or foldable backpack is surprisingly useful.

Use it for:

• Beach trips
• Supermarket shopping
• Dirty laundry
• Extra snacks
• Carrying souvenirs home

It folds into almost nothing but can save you money on having to buy bags in the shop. If you have the backpack you can also wear it under your coat getting on the plane to allow for more cabin bag allowance. Mine has ended up saving me a fortune!

6. Take your own airport packed lunch and snacks

Cost: Under £10

Eating at the airport can get very expensive, especially for families. It costs more, you have the holiday mentality and it’s just there, ready to eat with nothing else to do.

If you take your own packed lunch and snacks you can:

• Avoid overpriced food
• Spend your holiday money on experiences instead
• Keep hungry children happy during delays

Just remember that liquids still need to comply with airport security rules which seem to be different depending on the airport and the day of the week.

7. Carry a small power bank

Cost: £15–£20

Running out of battery when you’re away from your charger is incredibly annoying, and can end up costing you too. If you can’t access the maps, tickets or hotel bookings you need, you could end up having to pay someone to use a computer, or even missing an important flight or connection.

I always travel with a compact power bank to be able to recharge my phone during long sightseeing days, train journeys or flight delays. It’s sad, but I can’t do life without my phone – especially not travel life!

Here are the top external chargers to try, whether you need them for holidays or festivals!

8. Pack a laundry pod

Cost: 50p-ish

This little-known travel hack is brilliant for saving money on laundry, and it means you can wash your stuff halfway through your trip so you won’t need to pack as much stuff. So, saves on laundry and luggage allowance – winner.

Obviously works best if you’re staying in an apartment or villa and have access to a washing machine!

9. Download entertainment before you leave

Cost: Free

Download films, podcasts, playlists and TV shows while you’re on Wi-Fi.

You’ll avoid expensive airport Wi-Fi, save mobile data and always have something to watch if your flight is delayed.

10. Bring a multi-port USB charger, or a power strip

Cost: £10–£18

Instead of packing several plugs, take one charger with multiple USB ports or a power strip. I normally take a few cheapo adaptors, and then a power bar. It also helps me to keep all of my electricals together so I don’t lose them.

11. Freeze a bottle of water for the flight

Cost: Free

Airport security allows frozen water through because it’s a solid.

As it slowly melts after security, you’ll have cold drinking water without paying airport prices. Just make sure it’s completely frozen when you arrive at security – drink the water round it.

12. Use a dry bag for beach holidays

Cost: Around £8

If you’re heading somewhere coastal, a dry bag keeps your essentials safe and dry. I remember when I first started using these and didn’t quite trust them so I took them out with paper in first. That way, if the paper survived the swim, we were all good. Of course they did. This gave me the confidence to put my phone, purse and keys in.

Dry bags are really handy for boat trips, kayaking and paddleboarding.

Budget travel hacks worth the money

Spending a tenner before you leave can easily save you many times that amount once you’re away, whether that’s avoiding baggage fees, skipping roaming charges or steering clear of overpriced airport essentials.

The best travel hacks aren’t about buying lots of gadgets. They’re about making small, practical choices that save money, reduce stress and help you enjoy your holiday from the moment you leave home.