If you have always dreamed of travelling to some of the world’s most magical cities, be it a solo trip to New York or a family holiday to Orlando, our quick guide to travelling the US on a budget will help. Here you’ll find the cheapest flights, tips on how to get around and all the best sightseeing and budget accommodation advice.
There has never been a better time to fly stateside, you just need to pick where to go!
Getting to the United States on a budget
Cheap flights to AmericaThe biggest chunk of your holiday budget will no doubt be spent on flights. This is also what puts a lot of people off travelling to America. The key to finding cheap flights the US is to be flexible with your travel dates and use Skyscanner’s "whole month" tool to find the dates with the cheapest flights. If you want to go to the US but have not decided what city to fly into, pick your dates and then click "United States" instead of a specific city. Our tool will then tell you which cities are the cheapest to fly to. You can also fly into one city and out of another if you plan to visit more than one city.
Read: How to find last minute flights like a pro
The more flexible you are, the cheaper your flights will be. Try to avoid school holidays, public holidays or flying into cities during a big festival or event. Flights from Dublin to New York next January start from just €346 return, while flights from Dublin to Orlando start at just €364 return. You can also sign up for Skyscanner price alerts on your chosen routes to be alerted the minute there is a change in price.
Travel tip
Irish citizens do not require a visa to travel to the United States on holiday as long as you have a valid machine readable passport and you have acquired Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval before departure. You can apply for your ESTA here. To speed up the immigration and customs procedure on arrival in the United States, there is a US Preclearance facility at both Dublin and Shannon airports. What this means is that upon arrival in the United States you will simply be treated like a domestic arrival if you have already passed through Preclearance and will be able to exit the airport and be on your way extra fast.
Getting around the United States on a budget
Renting a carBy far the easiest way to travel in and around the United States is by renting a car. The price of gas (petrol to us Irish) is incredibly cheap compared to Ireland and you’ll be amazed at how far one tank of gas will get you. You can search the price of car hire here and decide which car hire company suits best. Just be sure to read all the fine print as there are always many added extras you won’t spot at first. Most car hire companies will charge you more to have a second driver, if you want to pick up in one place and drop off in another and there are also all sorts of hidden insurance charges to be aware of.
Buying a carIf you are planning to travel around the United States for more than a few weeks (for example if you plan to stay for an entire summer), then buying a car might be a better option. You can search for used cars on Craigslist , but one thing to note is that you will need a US address to get documents sent to after purchase. These documents can easily be sent to a friend, relation or even the hotel or hostel you are staying in.
Travelling by bus
While both the bus and train network in the USA are very underdeveloped compared to most other western nations, using intercity buses to get from A to B is still a good alternative to renting a car, especially if you are travelling solo. The big bus companies often have very cheap deals online, with some routes going for as little as two dollars for a 10 hour bus journey. Check out the Greyhound, Megabus and Intercity websites for the best online rates. If you plan to travel all over the country by bus, you can buy an unlimited bus pass for anything between one week and two months of travel.
Read: 20 travel hacks and money saving tips
Internal flights
If you want to see more than one or two cities during your holiday, flying is a great way to see more of the country. While you won’t find flights as cheap as Europe’s main budget airlines, you can get lucky if you book far enough in advance. For example, you can find flights for as little as €42 one way from New York to Orlando, Boston or Washington. If you are looking for cheap domestic flights within the US, check out budget airlines such as JetBlue, Spirit Airlines or Southwest Airlines for great deals.
Budget accommodation in the United States
Budget hotelsSadly the US isn’t known for its huge selection of budget hotels so you will have to get creative when looking for accommodation for your trip. You will be surprised and find some insanely good 4 and 5 star hotel deals, even in cities like Las Vegas and New York. You can browse for hotels here to see the range of prices you are normally expected to pay, and then figure out if these types of hotels are within your budget. If not, you can try some of our other more quirky suggestions below.
HostelsJust because Americans are slightly scared of the hostel culture sweeping the rest of the world off its feet, this does not mean that the country is not home to some incredible hostels of its own. Cities like Miami, New York and even Detroit have started to embrace the hostel and backpacking movement and the selection and quality of accommodation is improving year on year. Hostels are a great choice if you are travelling solo and want to meet people, or even if you are travelling with a few friends and are keen to hang out with other people your age. If you can’t find any traditional backpackers hostels, you can always stay at the real-life YMCA for super cheap!
Camping
If you have already rented a car, buying a tent and camping your way across the United States is a great way to save money. This obviously won’t be as easy if you are just planning to hop from big city to big city, but in the more rural areas it’s a great way to see more of the country. There are over 480 official camping sites (called KOAs) around the country, and you can even camp in the wild or in people’s gardens if you contact them in advance using the Hot Showers website.
Eating on the cheap in the United States
The United States is famous for both its fast food culture and its plethora of gas stations offering all sorts of goodies to the road tripper on the move. While definitely not the healthiest option, filling up on Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts or a selection of other fast food restaurants is one way to watch the budget.
Alternatively, you can make the most of the street food and food truck culture taking over cities like New York and get your food to go. If you are really keen to try out the top restaurants everywhere you go, try to go earlier in the day to avail of cheaper menu prices or just try soak up the atmosphere over a drink instead of a full sit down meal.
If you are camping, staying at a hostel or have booked and Airbnb, buying groceries in the supermarket and cooking for yourself is definitely the cheapest and heaviest option.
Sightseeing on a budget in the United States
National Parks PassThere are lots of ways to save money on entrance tickets and sightseeing tours by thinking and planning ahead. Buying a National Parks Pass, for example, will allow you to enter all 59 National Parks across the country. The pass costs just $80 so if you are planning to visit 4 parks or more it will save you a lot of money. The pass also lets you bring up to 3 friends with you on the same pass, allowing you to save even more precious dollars.
Free activitiesIf you’re really on a shoestring budget, make the most of all the free activities and attractions cities have to offer. Spend a few hours walking around Central Park or across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York or take a free tour of Hershey’s Chocolate World if you’re in Vegas. You can also apply for free TV show tickets, an amazing experience if you’re lucky enough to get them! In Orlando you can do a free tour of the Orlando Brewing company every day at 6pm – but you probably won’t be able to resist sticking around afterwards to try more of their delicious beer!
City Tourism PassIf you are planning to go sightseeing for a few days at a time in any city that you visit, investing in a City Pass could save you lots of money on transport and entrance fees. The passes usually cost about $30 and allow you free access to many museums and attractions as well as reduced rates into more expensive attractions and key sites.
Our top 4 US budget travel destinations
While there are endless options when it comes to travelling to the US, from road tripping from east to west to city hopping down the west coast, here’s our pick of the top 4 cities to visit.
1. New York City
Nothing will ever beat a visit to New York. Considered the "greatest city on earth" by anyone who has visited or lives there, there’s something special about spending time in a city that really does never sleep. When booking your flights, remember there are actually three airports that serve New York City, so check for deals flying into all three. As one of the most expensive cities in the country, however, you will need to be careful not to blow your budget on day one. if you can’t find any great hotel deals within your budget, we recommend checking Hostelworld for some cheap hostel options. If you’re looking to see New York on a budget, try doing as many free activities as possible such as taking the Staten Island ferry, doing a free walking tour, or even going kayaking for free at the Downtown Boathouse if you get in touch well in advance. Many of the museums and zoos let you in free on certain days or at certain times of the week, so be sure to check in advance and plan your week accordingly. For cheap eats check out some of NYC’s great little Asian eateries such as Bar Chuko, Beyond Sushi or Bunker.
Book cheap flights to New York
2. Orlando, Florida
Known as one of the most fun cities on earth, and a playground for both adults and kids, there is no end to the activities on offer in this part of Florida. You can find amazing flight deals from Ireland to Orlando anytime of year, but the cheapest deals are during low season so try to avoid the Irish summer holidays! Theme parks also offer added discounts after the summer holidays have ended, so that’s when you will find cheaper ticket prices. If you have not rented a car, you can take the number 42 bus direct from the airport to International Drive for just $2. If you’re keen to go shopping on a budget, stop by the Orlando Premium Outlets where you will find big name brands for tiny prices. Desperate to eat on the cheap? Why not stop off at the world’s largest McDonald’s restaurant, situated on International Drive.
Read: 7 things to do in Orlando that aren’t theme parks
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
If Orlando is a playground for children then Las Vegas is most definitely the equivalent for adults. Even if you plan to stay for away from the endless lines of casinos, there is still plenty to do in this bright city in the middle of the desert! Be sure to check out the wackiest hotels in Vegas, and spend a night or two at one if your wallet can afford it. Even if you’re not into gambling, one free thing to take advantage of is actually free gaming lessons at the big casinos. Both The Luxor and Circus Circus do free daily lessons throughout the week. To eat great food along the strip on a small budget, make the most of the Vega "Reverse Happy Hour" tradition where many restaurants offer reduced food after 10pm, just before the kitchen closes. You will also find many all-you-can-eat or all-you-can-drink brunches around the city, the perfect way to get the most bang for your buck. For free drinks, head to the casinos as the drinks will flow as long as you’re playing!
Book cheap flights to Las Vegas
Looking to party? Top 7 places to party in the USA
4. San Francisco, California
Whether you plan to simply chill out in San Francisco for a week or explore the rest of California, this part of the USA is in a world of its own. Home to Silicon Valley, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and more movie locations than you can shake a stick at, there’s never a dull day in San Fran. Finding cheap hotel deals here can be tricky, with prices that seem to continue to rise with no end in sight. It’s a popular destination with young travellers and backpackers, however, which means there are some great hostels opening up around the city starting from just $25 – $35 per night. You can take a train from the airport to the city centre and use the BART to get to most of the cities main attractions if you’re not renting a car (or don’t want to pay for parking!). Make the most of the free daily walking tours and be sure to do a free tour of Alcatraz – although you do need to pay for the ferry to get there.
Book cheap flights to San Fran
*Published December 2016. Flight prices quoted are for return journeys from Ireland. Prices correct at time of publication. Prices indicative and subject to availability.
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