Social media is filled with beautiful people and even more beautiful destinations, and most people scroll through their feed and wish they were there. They daydream about all the places they want to see and the adventures they want to have, while silently cursing the lucky ones who are already there, living their best lives (and annoyingly posting about it).

Travel is one of the most rewarding experiences, but it’s also costly, which is why most people can’t do it every weekend. That said, there are ways to travel, even without having won the lottery recently, or saving for five years while living on a diet of instant noodles. Travel is an opportunity for everyone, and all it takes is some flexibility with schedules, being smart about the destination, a handful of really great sites to compare prices and the ability to budget.

Knowing insider tips and hacks, like choosing to fly earlier in the week, clearing browser history, and finding out when the offseason is, can drastically reduce costs and make travel accessible to those who would not normally have thought it possible. Below are 20 ways to travel the globe on a shoestring budget, so that those photos on Instagram could also be yours.

20 Clearing Your Browser History Can Create More Competitive Prices

Before we even get into traveling on a budget, there is something you should be aware of, and that’s removing your browser history when you visit a website. Either that or using the Incognito window. The reason for this, as HostelWorld points out, is websites can track what prices have been quoted in the past, so to make things more competitive, and potentially cheaper, this is a smart move.

But the publication also points out that booking from different destinations has different costs, and you could benefit from using a VPN to help you find the best deals.

19 Don't Stress About Cooler Temps Or Rain And Travel At Off-Peak Times

It may seem pretty obvious, but traveling during the off-peak times of the year is one of the easiest ways to cut costs. Maybe the weather will be a few degrees cooler, or there will be more rainfall, but does that really matter?

EF notes that the times to avoid include school holidays, a time when the travel industry raises prices as this is the only time many people can travel. For those who aren’t restricted with dates, do your research beforehand and plan a trip either before, or after, these times.

18 When Traveling You Can Expect To Work Hard, And Play Harder

More and more people end up working odd jobs during their travels to help fund their trip. According to Thrillist, one of the ways to travel on a budget is to consider getting a local job, or work as a volunteer in return for food and lodging -- it’s always best to make sure you get the right visa to work though.

The publication notes that you can use websites like HelpX and Work Away to help find options that best suit your needs. Or consider house sitting where you can get paid and get free accommodation to take care of someone’s home, and possibly their pets.

17 Visit Countries With A Lower Cost Of Living

The growing appeal of countries in Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe are, in part due, to the fact that for many tourists they are more affordable. Traveling to some of the most expensive cities in the world, like Paris of New York, typically takes more saving and planning, but there are other countries that are ideal for a budget -- check out Forbes’ list of the cheapest countries to travel in 2018.

Thrillist also notes that you should not be picky about the destination, and it helps if your schedule is flexible so you can fly at the cheapest times.

16 Price Comparison Sites Can Make Or Break A Trip

Staying in hostels is a great option when you’re trying to cut costs, it’s also an opportunity to make friends when you’re traveling solo, but not all of us want to go on holiday and stay in a hostel. And while it’s great when you’re young, it may become less appealing later in life. So, for this reason, a top tip is to use price comparison sites to check out accommodation and ensure you’re choosing the lowest possible rate.

Also look for companies that price match.

15 The Cheapest Day Of The Week To Travel Is Obviously Not The Weekend

This point and the above point really go hand-in-hand, and it’s not always when you book but also the time. Booking in advance is often cheaper than booking only a month or a few weeks before (although you can sometimes get last minute deals). It’s also logical to book return flights when you’re booking your trip, as EF notes you could find yourself running out of money, and flights becoming drastically more expensive.

And the best time to travel is early in the week, as there is usually a higher demand for the weekends, which in turn drives up the prices.

14 Leave Your Checked Bag At Home If You Can Manage It

Depending on where you’re traveling and for how long, you may want to consider ditching the checked luggage. If you’re traveling long haul, the chances are good that the cost of a checked bag is included in your fair price, but when traveling on budget airlines this is an added cost and one that can drive up your travel expenses if you plan on taking multiple flights.

And it’s not just the price, but also the annoyance of having to lug a suitcase around with you on all your travels.

13 Sleeping Overnight On Buses And Trains Is A Budget-Saver's Dream

Something you may not have considered when on a vacation, and moving from one destination to the next, is taking overnight trains or buses to cut down on accommodation costs.

Travel Nation points out that this is a logical way to get to your next destination and a fantastic opportunity for you to sleep while traveling. Also, a bus or a train is typically a lot cheaper than a flight would be, and you can get a more authentic travel experience by using local transport.

12 Ditch The Fancy Restaurants And Eat Local Cuisine

This is probably a no-brainer when you’re on a serious budget, but eating out does not come cheap. Instead, shop at local supermarkets for your food or eat local cuisine from markets or street vendors, which not only cuts costs but also gives you the chance to eat foods you may not usually opt for -- or have ever heard of.

Travel Nation notes that you can also grab quick and easy meals like sandwiches and yogurts, and take them with you to a picturesque location. But don’t be afraid to treat yourself every now and then, if the budget allows.

11 No One Needs 10 Pairs Of Shoes On Holiday, So Pack Smart

Having 10 pairs of shoes when you’re traveling may make you look super cute, but let’s be honest, it’s totally unnecessary. When you’re traveling on a budget, you want to drive down costs, so it’s important to pack all the essential things you’re going to need on a trip. According to EF, this should include clothing, like a pair of jeans and a waterproof jacket, in unpredictable weather conditions.

Having the right clothing will ensure you don’t have to rush to the shops to buy something because you’re cold!

10 Review Sites Can Help You Ditch Awful Excursions And Places

When planning a trip, it’s important to know about the destination you have chosen. Not only is this smart so that you can be sensitive to the local customs and beliefs, but also logical because you can decide what excursions are worth doing, and which you can miss based on previous traveler reviews.

Reroute Lifestyle suggests using TripAdvisor to see popular activities and see what other travelers had to say about them. This could save you from doing something disappointing and wasting your hard-earned cash.

9 Experience The Beauty Of The Great Outdoors (Which Is Also Free)

Depending on the safety and the accessibility of your destination, you could take a tent and sleep in the great outdoors. Not only does this give you the opportunity to drastically reduce costs, and activity prices (you can go hiking, swimming, or fishing instead), but you also get to be at one with nature and turn off technology and everyday distractions.

This may also push you to your limits and take you out of your comfort zone, so always be sure to have weather-appropriate gear, and know your surroundings.

8 Plan And Book Your Must-See Excursions Ahead Of Time

If there’s a specific reason why you chose the country you plan to explore and doing this thing, say, diving on the Great Barrier Reef, is going to cost you money, then be sure you plan ahead and budget this into your travels. According to Travel Nation, if you book things ahead of time, or build it into your costs, then you can get that cost out of the way and there is no added expense when you’re on your own holiday (and possibly running out of money).

7 Don't Be Surprised With International Transaction Fees

It’s not just how you’re going to pay for things, but the method you choose to do so that you should consider.

Reroute Lifestyle makes a great point about the international transaction fees that using your card could cost you, and this is something you should be aware of. The publication suggests using The Charles Schwab High Yield Investors Checking Account debit card to avoid added fees.

Also, while having a small amount of cash on you is smart, especially in more rural destinations, you should be wary of traveling with large sums as this can be a safety issue.

6 Being Budget Savvy Can Get You Far (And Cause Less Travel Stress)

It may seem as though the fun will be sucked out of your trip if you make a budget beforehand, but this is a smart, informed way to ensure you are traveling with enough money. WikiHow notes that you can do your research online by examining menus or local restaurants to get an estimate on food costs, check out excursion prices, and possibly book them in advance, and research public transport and the cost of gas if you intend to hire a car or a motorcycle.

Then estimate the days you plan on traveling, and the amount of cash you will need for each day.

5 Drinking Water Is A Luxury In Some Countries And Could Drive Up Costs

This may seem like an odd subheadline, but knowing whether you can drink the tap water in your destination of choice is important because you may have to end up buying multiple plastic bottles of water -- which will cost even more in tourist areas. Two Wandering Soles notes that this practice is wasteful, and also something you need to add into your budget, so, depending on the length of your travel, it may benefit you to buy a Steripen to sterilize your water.

4 Be Smart About Your Data And Buy A Local Sim

One of the most important things for any traveler, especially when going for extended periods of time, is to be able to stay in touch with loved ones. Depending on the country, data costs can be extremely expensive, which is why it is helpful to buy a local sim -- this could also provide better coverage.

Where travelers do point out that if you want to make calls, then wait until you connect to free Wifi and make calls over the internet using Skype or Facetime.

3 Who Doesn't Love A Bargain? This Is Why You Should Use Discount Websites

Skyscanner is a great site to use if you’re searching for cheap flights to your destination of choice. It also has a fantastic option where users can choose their destination as “everywhere,” and then returns the cheapest options to all cities and countries for your dates. But Skyscanner also makes a great point about looking for discounts on sites like LivingSocial and Groupon.

Although these sites are not for everyone (and you really need to read the fine print), you may be able to find things to do, or places to eat, for a reduced rate.

2 The Right Free Activites Can Be Educational And Interesting

Of course, the easiest way to cut costs is to do something that’s free. Some things are

incredibly obvious things, like going on hikes, visits to local parks, and days on the beach, but researching your destination ahead of time could also help you find interesting, educational things to do for free. For example, some places offer free walking tours, other cities have free entrance to museums on certain days or midweek discounts. And if you’re a student or a pensioner, you could qualify for even more reductions in price.

1 Package Deals Are Often Too Good To Be True

Choosing a break that is all-inclusive may seem like a fantastic way to travel, but it doesn’t give you much flexibility, and you’re also going to be paying for the convenience of not having to plan anything on your own.

According to The Planet D, this also won’t give you an opportunity to experience the local culture. The publication suggests eating at local restaurants and shopping at local markets (as we mentioned before), but the best argument they make for booking independently is how it can cut down costs.

References: Hostel World, EF, Thrillist, Forbes, Travel Nation