How to organize a budget trip to the USA

There is nothing less compatible in the world than the concepts of “vacation in the USA” and “savings”. The country, which itself is accustomed to living in grand style, seems to absolutely not accept modest guests. Since we’ve fallen into the snare of capitalism, we’ll have to spend money,” the majority of those who reached the United States meekly agree.

But we will still try to break the trend. And we’ll share tips on how to organize a budget vacation in the USA. Disclaimer: these tips only work if you have enough willpower!

Saving hacks

Chain hotel VS hostel

Hollywood has accustomed us to the romance of roadside motels. Let's leave these thoughts to the conscience of American directors. After all, there is nothing attractive about motels - neither price, nor quality, nor cleanliness.

Accommodation in the USA is quite expensive, but with the right skill you can stay not only on a budget, but also in style. Be sure to register in the loyalty programs of large chain hotels (we have collected the most famous ones here ). Dynamic pricing depending on the influx of tourists is a no-no, and allows you to find inexpensive rooms even at Hilton.

If hotels turn out to be expensive, feel free to take a hostel. It even has its own plus: the presence of a kitchen, the ability to cook on your own and, accordingly, save money.

TravelHub allows you to search for cheap hotel rooms around the world. Visit our platform and book a hotel room in any US city for a comfortable stay during your trip.

Bus VS plane
Immediately reject the option of the train as a method of transportation. In the States, their network is undeveloped, and tickets are often expensive.

The most economical way to travel is by bus. Compare prices from three low-cost carriers: Megabus, Greyhound and Flixbus. And keep an eye on their social networks - attractive promotions often appear there. And Megabus is completely guilty of distributing free tickets for $1.

When it comes to domestic flights, the cheapest airlines in the US, according to statistics, are Frontier Airlines, Spirit and Allegiant.

Restaurant VS street food

So that you immediately understand the scale of the disaster, we note: the average bill for dinner in a far from outstanding restaurant in the States is $50 per person without alcohol. And also mandatory tips. As a result, if you want to save money, it is better to avoid restaurants.

Please note that you will not lose anything. There is no such thing as American cuisine. At best, these will be dubious copies of French or Italian gastronomy. And you can try such dishes in “old Europe” for several times cheaper.

Try to select your accommodations so that they have their own kitchen. This is a common occurrence even in regular American hotels. Cooking on your own will steal some of your time, but not your money.

In addition, the States are famous for their satisfying and fairly cheap street food. Donuts, hamburgers and pizzas will become reliable companions for walks in the city.

Smart shopping

It’s interesting: Americans do not spare money for three cars in a family, but at the same time they are not averse to saving on ordinary everyday shopping. Hard discounters are gaining increasing popularity in the country. And citizens read information about discounts and promotions in stores more carefully than the weather forecast.

The cheapest stores are Aldi, Lidl and Costco. The widespread mega-retailer Walmart is also inexpensive. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the possibilities of obtaining discount cards from stores and promotions in them, they are very frequent.

Users are especially fond of Costco because it sells pre-made half-meter pizzas for $9.99 and hot dogs for $1.50. So we solved the food issue.

And mindful shopping

A surprise that awaits a tourist who finds himself in the USA for the first time is the discrepancy between the amount on the price tag and the amount they will tell you at the checkout. The fact is that the price initially does not include tax, VAT, which differs from state to state.

Research the VAT rates in the states you plan to visit. This will help not so much to save money as to avoid shock.

Ticket VS travel card

Staying in a metropolis requires a lot of movement. Tickets for public transport quietly but surely take $2-3 out of your wallet per trip. And by the end of the day, the tourist is faced with an unpleasant discovery: the cost of renting a hotel has been spent on buses and the metro alone.

The best solution would be to purchase a day pass. Or a week. A striking example: one subway trip in New York costs $2.9. A seven-day pass costs $34.

Looking for open days in museums

Every month, most American museums hold open days when cultural institutions can be visited for free. Research these options in advance. This, however, is not relevant for Washington state museums. After all, the Smithsonian museums are free to visit all year round!

In general, a cultural tourist has a lot of opportunities to get it without overpaying. A number of the country's national parks are free. For many cultural events, even of the first magnitude, it is possible to buy tickets at a big discount. For example, look for discounted tickets for concerts and musicals in New York in the TodayTix apps. New York Show Tickets, BroadwayBox, Playbill, TheaterMania and GoldStar.

Citypass

In large tourist centers such as New York or Boston, an additional saving option is available - obtaining a local citypass. For several days, such a city ticket gives access to major entertainment and cultural centers without additional tickets. And, in addition, citypass holders usually skip the line.

Answers to other frequently asked questions

When is the cheapest time to fly to the USA?

The cheapest months for flights across the Atlantic are February-March and September-October. Tickets are most likely to be expensive in the summer months and December. On national holidays (US Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and others), Americans themselves love to travel, demand and prices increase, accordingly.

Regardless of the time you choose to fly, try to purchase tickets six months in advance. And also do not set travel days on weekends and Fridays - this is almost guaranteed to increase the cost of the flight by a third.

TravelHub offers the ability to search for cheap flights on all airlines. Visit our platform and track US flight prices to find the best deal for your trip.

How much money does it take to go to America?

You will feel relatively comfortable with $150 for a day of travel. The figure can vary both up and down. With a strict economy regime and staying in one place without moving, even $50 is enough. But in pursuit of such savings, it is important not to forget about the main thing - emotions and pleasure.

How much money do you need per month in the USA?

As much as only a very rare Belarusian earns. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has calculated that a typical American family (household) spends an average of $6,081 per month. This includes maintaining a home, cars, paying off loans, food, training and other expenses.

Of course, a tourist, even one who stays in the USA for a long time, does not need so much. But the anchor for assessing the necessary resources can be the American minimum wage, set at $1,218 in 2023.

How much does a US visa cost?

Beginning in July 2023, the application fee for nonimmigrant U.S. visas, including tourist visas, increased from $160 to $185. But that’s not even the problem. The complex and nerve-wracking process of obtaining a visa to the USA (you can read about the procedure here ) now has to be carried out far from your homeland: the consideration of non-immigrant visas for Belarusians has been moved to Poland, Kazakhstan, Turkey and other countries (check the possibility of applying for non-citizens). A trip to Poland for an American visa means the need to obtain a Schengen visa, additional costs for transport and accommodation on site.

Want to make your life easier? Then you should trust visa processing specialists . They will assess the chances and fill out the basic paperwork for you.

Organizing a budget trip to the USA can be easy and affordable if you follow the tips in the article. And remember that the TravelHub tour operator is ready to take on all the hassle of organizing your trip so that you can enjoy every moment of your trip without unnecessary worries.