Travelling has always been the best way to connect, share and collaborate with as many people as possible throughout the world. Millions of people travel from one place to another for business, vacation and study purposes. For budget travelers, managing finance and accommodation could be a tough job. It’s never easy to find an affordable place and connect with locals and experience the pace of local life. Nepal has been a dream vacation for thousands of people around the world. If you are traveling to Nepal from any place in the world, here are a few tips that will help you save money and connect with locals.

1) Hostels over Hotels
The major concern for every traveler is budget management. Nepal is a country where you can save a lot of money if you choose the right accommodation and food. Hostels are getting popular day by day attracting thousands of group travelers or solo travelers. Solo travelers might end up making new friends, exchanging culture and enjoying their travel more than they had hoped for. Hostels are getting popular in cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. If you are looking for a cozy and affordable place to stay at Kathmandu, Bodhi Tree Hostel might be perfect for you.

2) Eat at Local restaurant  
There are hundreds of local restaurants around Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan and other cities providing exceptional food at a reasonable price. The local restaurants are hidden in the corners of the cities. The local foods are delicious and give you a whole range of different flavors than you’re used to. Instead of eating at a fancy restaurant while traveling to Kathmandu, you can try Newari or Thakali food.

3) Skip Taxis
In many countries of the world, taxis are incredibly expensive and Nepal is no exception. As a budget traveler, you likely avoid taking them as much as possible. However, there might be a few exceptional cases where we all need one. Instead of going to the nearest station, use “Tootle” or “Pathao” cellphone apps to save your money. Both services are professional motorcycle and car rentals and will save you a ton of money. Public transportation is way cheaper and easily available.

4) Volunteering/Work Exchange
If you’re looking to travel for a long period of time but you don’t have enough budget, consider a work exchange program. Volunteering can involve hostels, schools, NGOs, INGOs, and teaching in villages in exchange for free accommodation and food. The position can last for a couple of months or longer. You can find opportunities in pretty much every corner of the country.
 
5) Spend on Experiences, Not Things
Personally speaking, I find souvenirs quite overrated. Thousands of people bring back a suitcase full of touristy stuff. Instead of collecting souvenir mementos, why not focus on collecting memories and experiences. It makes your travel so much fun, makes your bag lighter and wallet so much fatter. Nepal is a beautiful count1ry full of natural and cultural heritage. It’s not unusual that you might want to get your hands on every beautiful cultural or religious art but it’s not possible. I am not discouraging people to buy beautiful art, but instead, do it less so that your budget fits your travel expenses and lets you collect experiences instead which are much more precious.