Alfie Watts and Owen Wood, who won the BBC Two show Race Across the World, have shared their top tips after racing from Japan to Indonesia with just the value of a plane ticket in their pocket
Race Across the World winners Alfie Watts and Owen Wood have shared their top tips for budget travel.
The pair, who journeyed from Japan to Indonesia with only the value of a plane ticket in their pocket for the BBC show, recommend ‘living like a local’ as one of the best ways to save money when travelling.
They also suggest that ‘locals know far more than the internet’, leading to more authentic and cost-effective experiences than anything you can find online.
Alfie and Owen also encourage holidaymakers to consider homestays, which they say are not only a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and get off the beaten track, but also cost a fraction of a hotel stay.
Transport is another area where significant savings can be made, with the duo recommending night buses and trains to keep costs down, although travellers need to adopt a ‘cost over comfort’ mindset.
The pair have teamed up with global money app Zing, following research that revealed international travel is the number one thing on Brits’ bucket lists – even above buying a home and getting married. However, 24% of those who haven’t yet embraced global travel claim it’s because they’re too cautious with their finances.
The Race Across the World friends also advised travellers to embrace street food more when exploring cities across the world – both for the taste and the potential savings. Alfie fondly recalled the ‘incredible’ street sellers in Kuala Lumpur serving up the ‘best’ fried noodles he’s ever had at ‘amazing’ prices.
Owen’s final piece of advice for those embarking on extended travels is to ‘work where you can’. He explained: “If you are going to be staying in one place for a little while then consider finding a temporary job for a quick money boost for your onward travels.”
“Alfie and I were constantly looking at potential jobs we could do along the way such as the cleaning at a campsite in Japan and the extra money we gained from this gave us a lot more freedom and peace of mind throughout the race.”
A study of 2,000 adults conducted via OnePoll.com revealed that travel can enhance confidence for 73% of Brits. Almost seven in 10 (69%) believe it can increase happiness, and 68% view it as an opportunity to spark creativity. Meanwhile, 60% think that travel can be done affordably.
James Allan, CEO of Zing, which offers a free currency conversion allowance of £500, or equivalent currency, every month until the end of 2024, commented: “International travel is a bucket list item for many in the UK, but a quarter say they’re too cautious with their finances to head overseas.”
“We can reduce the barriers and concerns that come with foreign currencies and spending overseas to make international spending worry-free.”
ALFIE AND OWEN’S SAVVY TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS ON A BUDGET
- Live like a local
- Try a home stay
- Embrace some street eats
- Work where you can
- Cost over comfort when it comes to transportation
