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Budget Friendly Itineraries

Looking for affordable travel itineraries? We’ve created detailed, budget friendly itineraries for cities like Lisbon, Oxford, Mexico City, and beyond – designed for slow travelers, digital nomads, and cost-conscious explorers. Each itinerary includes daily activity suggestions, transit options, and real prices based on our own full-time travels.

Every budget friendly itinerary on this page comes directly from our firsthand experience, staying in neighborhoods we could afford and exploring cities by foot, public transit, and the occasional splurge.

You’ll find realistic, day-by-day travel plans – with walking times, meal tips, and budget estimates – to help you make the most of each destination without overspending.

Whether you’re planning a short visit or scouting a potential long-term stay, our guides are made to help you feel at home and stretch your travel dollars further.

Quick Links:

  • 3 Days in Mexico City: A Budget-Friendly Itinerary
  • Mexico City 5-Day Itinerary: Culture, Cuisine & Local Charm on a Budget
  • An Itinerary for Lisbon: The Perfect Self-Guided Day in BelĂ©m
  • An Itinerary for Oxford England
  • An Itinerary for One Day in Guanajuato
  • The #1 Reason You Should visit San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 3 Day Itinerary for San Jose, Costa Rica
  • 40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”
  • 11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica on foot!
  • Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide
Mexico City 3 day itinerary
Budget Friendly Itineraries | Central America | Mexico | Mexico City | North America

3 Days in Mexico City: A Budget-Friendly Itinerary

Three days in Mexico City is just enough to fall in love with its vibrant energy, world-class cuisine, and rich history. Whether you’re squeezing in a long weekend, planning a stopover, or simply want to experience the city’s highlights on a tight schedule, this 3-day itinerary is designed for curious, budget-conscious travelers who crave authentic…

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Mexico City 5-Day Itinerary: Culture, Cuisine & Local Charm on a Budget
Budget Friendly Itineraries | Central America | Mexico | Mexico City | North America

Mexico City 5-Day Itinerary: Culture, Cuisine & Local Charm on a Budget

You were planning a layover — but Mexico City had other plans. Whether you’re a budget-conscious nomad, curious traveler, or culture chaser, this Mexico City 5-Day Itinerary hits the sweet spot: affordable, walkable, packed with history, flavor, and heart. Day 1: Welcome to CDMX – Historic Core & Rooftop Views For more options on where…

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Belem Walking Tour Itinerary: Discover 15 of Lisbon's Historic Gems in One Day
Budget Friendly Itineraries | Europe | Lisbon | Portugal | Trip Planning

An Itinerary for Lisbon: The Perfect Self-Guided Day in Belém

Why BelĂ©m? If you’re searching for an itinerary for Lisbon that hits all the historical highlights, start with BelĂ©m. This walkable district is a perfect introduction to Lisbon’s rich culture, iconic architecture, and scenic riverfront. BelĂ©m is more than just a historic district—it’s a showcase of Portugal’s maritime heritage, stunning architecture, and delicious pastries. We…

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An Itinerary for Oxford England
Budget Friendly Itineraries | England | Europe | Oxford

An Itinerary for Oxford England

An Itinerary for Oxford England Itinerary Quick Guide Time Needed: Full day or split across two days (see details below)Total Walking Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles between all locationsCost: Free for all three main museums (donations welcome)Optional Activities: Botanic Garden (ÂŁ7.20 advance booking) or Oxford CastleTerrain: Mostly flat, urban walking on sidewalksAccessibility: Some tight spaces in…

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An Itinerary for One Day in Guanajuato
Budget Friendly Itineraries | Guanajuato | Mexico

An Itinerary for One Day in Guanajuato

Whether it’s a day trip from San Miguel de Allende or you’re just passing through on your way to the BJX airport, if you only have one day to experience the magic of Guanajuato city, don’t worry-you can still soak in the city’s vibrant colors, rich history, and unforgettable atmosphere. Here’s how to make the…

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a picture we took at the National Museum of Costa Rica
San Jose | Budget Friendly Itineraries | Central America | Costa Rica

The #1 Reason You Should visit San Jose, Costa Rica

Our initial plan was to spend a month relaxing at the beaches of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, but we soon realized that laying on a beach fulltime wasn’t right for us, so we cut our beachside stay short and headed inland to San Jose, Costa Rica, a little earlier than originally planned. We are so…

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picture of someone planning a san jose costa rica itinerary
Budget Friendly Itineraries | Central America | Costa Rica | San Jose

3 Day Itinerary for San Jose, Costa Rica

3 Day Itinerary for San Jose, Costa Rica We didn’t have huge expectations for San JosĂ©. Let’s be honest—most people pass through this city on their way to beaches, volcanoes, or jungles. But we found plenty to keep us busy while we were there, and even a few surprises that made us glad we stuck…

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view of Southampton Piers
Budget Friendly Itineraries | American Expat Life | Cruising | England | Europe | Reader's Favorites | Travel Guides | Travel Resources

40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring”

40 Things That Made Us Say, “Southampton’s Worth Exploring” When we started planning our travel itinerary for the four months we’d be in England, Southampton popped up on our radar. Not only is it a major cruise port, but you can also hop on a ferry to/from France or Spain (which is what we did)…

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View of garden through the railing at the museum
Budget Friendly Itineraries | Central America | Costa Rica | Reader's Favorites | San Jose | Travel Guides

11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica on foot!

11 Budget-Friendly Things to do in San Jose Costa Rica on foot! Travel rarely goes exactly according to plan, and that’s certainly the case for us. Our Costa Rica itinerary got a little shuffled around , leaving us with some unplanned downtime in downtown San Jose. No worries though, that’s just part of the nomadic…

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View of Crater Lake from the rim
Oregon | Budget Friendly Itineraries | North America | Travel Guides

Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide

As we approach the launch date of our new nomadic life we have been discussing all the things we haven’t seen/done in and around our hometown of Redmond, Oregon. I have very vague recollections of visiting Crater Lake National Park as a small child and Sandra thinks she may have seen it but wouldn’t swear…

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Traveling Soon?

Checkout these helpful resources!

  • Looking for Budget-Friendly Accommodations? – We suggest Booking.com and Expedia
  • Need help finding the best deals on flights? – We suggest Skyscanner and DailyDropPro
  • Want to rent a car? – We suggest DiscoverCars.com
  • Traveling by bus? – We suggest Busbuds!
  • Need Travel Insurance? – We suggest Visitors Coverage
  • Need international data? – We suggest Airalo or Gigsky
  • Scan our resource page for recs we personally use and LOVE

👉Don’t forget to grab your Free Itinerary Checklist

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About Us

US

We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expat and senior nomads, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment.

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support independent travel content providers

Love our travel stories? Be part of our journey! Help us brew up more travel tales and support independent content creators like us, Buy Us A Coffee. We’ll give you a shout out in one of our videos! Click the cup to show your support!

Budget‑Friendly Itineraries

3 Day Itinerary for Mexico City

5 Day Mexico City Itinerary

A Day Itinerary for Lisbon

An Itinerary for Oxford England

One Day Itinerary for Guanajuato

3 Day Itinerary for San Jose, Costa Rica

Budget Travel Guides

Mexico City Travel Guide

Guanajuato Travel Guide

Costa Rica on a Budget Travel Guide

Portugal Travel Guide

England Travel Guide

Buenos Aires Travel Guide

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