She Strengthens

Solo Travel on a Budget: Lessons Learned from Budapest

Setting the Stage

I’ve always dreamed of taking a solo trip, and finally, I decided to make it happen. After booking a trip to Budapest, I began planning every detail, using Travefy to track my expenses and stay on budget. But, as soon as I arrived, the excitement of exploring a new city took over, and my budgeting resolve began to waver.

Getting There

Flights to and from Budapest were the most expensive part of my trip, totaling $545.69. If I had booked earlier or avoided last-minute flights, I could have saved around $35-100. Additionally, purchasing flight insurance added to the cost, but it gave me peace of mind in case I needed to cancel.

Accommodations

Budapest’s famous Ritz-Carlton was out of my budget, so I opted for Hostel One Basilica, which offered a great location and moderate room size for around $24 per night. While I could have saved money by choosing a cheaper hostel or larger room, I was happy with my choice.

Food

Luckily, Budapest is an affordable city, and my hostel provided dinner each night. I still spent around $60.50 on food, mostly on local treats and coffee shop snacks. If I had been more disciplined, I could have saved around $20.

Entertainment & Activities

I splurged on a few activities, like visiting the Szechenyi thermal bath, but skipped paid tours to save money. In hindsight, I could have skipped the funicular ride to Buda Castle and saved around $7.20.

ATM Withdrawals

Since many local vendors only accepted cash, I withdrew money for my airport transfer and extra spending cash. I took out too much at the Great Market Hall, but it came in handy for my airport transfer. In total, I withdrew $160, and could have saved around $50 if I had been more mindful.

Extra Investments

Before my trip, I invested in underlayer clothing for the cold weather and an anti-theft travel bag, totaling $116.69. While these purchases were nice to have, I could have skipped them and saved money.

Total Cost and Savings

My trip to Budapest cost $1,000.69, more than I had intended to spend. However, I was able to save money on food and entertainment due to the city’s affordability. If I had been more disciplined, I could have saved around $182 by skipping flight insurance, extra food purchases, and unnecessary clothing and accessories.

In the end, my solo trip to Budapest was a valuable learning experience, teaching me to prioritize my spending and make more intentional choices for future travels.