All About Budget Travel with Esther Susag

I have always been interested in budget travel (though I consider myself an “almost budget” traveller since I like a dose of luxury every now and then). But what I really love is how budget travel is becoming more and more subjective these days. It used to be that you couldn’t call yourself a budget traveller unless you were sleeping in 30-person hostel bunk rooms, only eating street food and wearing clothing until it was threadbare.

But nowadays, budget travel is in the eye of the beholder (or, the traveller!). And one traveller’s definition of budget travel that I really love is Esther Susag’s (check out her definition below). Not only is Esther an accomplished world traveller but she does it all on a budget and manages to take some stunning photos along the way.

Learn more about Esther and her travels, check out her tips for how to travel on a budget, and swoon over her dreamy travel photos in this guest interview below!

All photos in this post courtesy of Esther Susag.

Hi Esther, please introduce yourself!

I’m Esther and I am a travel photographer and content creator. I am originally from Minnesota but have been living in Germany for the past 4 years.

I didn’t grow up travelling so I knew that I wanted to jump on the first opportunity that came my way which ended up being a study abroad program in college. My sophomore year of college, I came across a program to study in Bora Bora and Tahiti for a month and, of course, who wouldn’t want to do that?! So obviously, I applied for that program. But due to popularity and being a sophomore, I didn’t get in. Instead, I ended up going to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and that changed my life. I had no idea what to expect but it absolutely started my love and passion for experiencing other cultures and exploring the world.

The following year, I went on a semester-long study abroad on a ship visiting 12 countries around the world. And once I graduated, I knew I couldn’t stop so I moved to Guam for a year and now I’ve been in Europe ever since!

When I’m not traveling, you’ll find me doing anything that I can do to be active or outside. From hiking to skiing or just exploring new areas with my camera, I love it all. I am constantly wanting to improve my photography skills and so I love to just get out there and practice whenever I can. I also am a travel content creator (@esthersusag) and so I spend any additional free time working on content, learning new techniques and strategies, and content planning.

What makes someone a budget traveller?

I think that someone who is conscious about how and where they are spending their money and prioritising it is a budget traveller. I think that when you are having to sacrifice a little luxury to accommodate your finances, that’s also another way to think about a budget traveller.

Do you always identify as a budget traveller?

I am definitely not the opposite of a budget traveller but I do sometimes spend more than I should… So I would say that I aim to be one but I’m not always successful!

How do you save up for a big trip? How do you set your budget for a trip?

Using budget apps really helps me save for a big trip. I also will hold off on small weekend trips leading up to the big one because those can really add up. As long as I save accordingly, I make sure that I find affordable accommodation that fits in my budget and track flights to get the best deal. Then from there, I just make sure that I leave enough room for any extra excursions and day to day expenses while travelling and that’s what works for me.

What do people get wrong about budget travel?

I think that there is a common misconception that budget travel means boring or less exciting. That’s not it at all. Budget travel simply means prioritising your spending. You can still have an adventure-filled trip while sticking to a budget. But you have to sacrifice some things to be able to do others if you are trying to stick to a budget.

What are your top 5 tips for travelling on a budget?

1. Go to the grocery store and get some basic supplies for snacks, sandwiches or whatever is easy for you to carry around. That way you can save money on going out to eat for every meal. Also I love picnics and sometimes grabbing a bottle of wine and some little snacks at the store and enjoying a gorgeous view is way more fun anyways!
2. Staying at hostels or couch surfing is a great way to save money!
3. Buying drinks is the quickest way to rack up a bill. So grab a bottle of wine from the store and enjoy that while looking at a gorgeous view.
4. Bike or walk around instead of paying for taxis. And you will see so much more this way too!
5. Go with a friend so you can split up some of the costs of travelling. Whether that’s food or accommodation, it can make a tremendous difference.

What is the most budget-friendly place you’ve travelled? What is the least?

Cambodia was a VERY affordable and budget-friendly place to go. Many places in Southeast Asia are affordable, but I specifically remember being shocked by the low prices in Cambodia. You could get a beer during happy hour for 50 cents. It was cheaper than water! I would say Japan or Switzerland are two of the more expensive places I have been. There is just no getting around spending money there.

What can you save on and what should you splurge on while travelling?

I mentioned it earlier but I am a big proponent of saving money on food or at restaurants. I think there are so many ways to still have such a fun and enjoyable experience without spending $100 for dinner. I do, however, think that splurging on experiences is always worth it – big or small. Whether that’s going to that beautiful rooftop and buying the one required beverage to be there or spending a little more to go on that boat tour.

What’s your best travel memory from the last five years?

That is so hard to say. There’s no way that I could just pick one so I will say probably moving to Germany as a whole has been one of the best travel memories. I’ve learned so much over these past few years and that’s a memory I will keep with me forever.

What is still on your travel bucket list?

I am going to make it to Antarctica one day. That has always been on my bucket list and I cannot wait for the day it happens. I also would love to take a helicopter ride in a gorgeous location one day.

What’s something you do, pack or eat on every trip?

I always bring some kind of healthy snack because I am always hungry! It’s so easy to spend money on snacks that aren’t going to fill me up and are way too overpriced, so this is a staple for me. Another thing I do is the night before a trip, I make sure that I fully charge all of my photography gear and portable batteries so they are good to go for my travels.

What destination would you go back to over and over again?

I could go back to Greece, Japan, South Africa, and New Zealand for the rest of my life and be so content. These are some of my favorite places because there is so much to see and I always discover something new every time I do go back.

What destination would you never go back to?

I don’t think that I would need to go back to Liechtenstein again. It’s an extremely small country and you pretty much can see the whole thing in about two hours.

What food instantly transports you back to a favourite travel memory?

Onigiri from Japan!! They are these rice balls that are shaped in a triangle and then wrapped in nori and filled with various things. I live off of these every time I go to Japan and so when I randomly see one, it just brings me back instantly to one of my favorite places.

Thanks so much, Esther! Where can we keep up with you online?

@esthersusag on all social media channels!