r/Shoestring

r/Shoestring is a subreddit that is perfect for travellers looking for ideas and tips on how to get around on a budget. With a following of more than 640,000 subscribers, it has become one of the best resources around for the frugal travellers amongst us, where people can ask questions, post photos and let others know their thoughts on how to travel on a shoestring.

One of my favourite parts of r/Shoestring is the first hand accounts of trips abroad, usually accompanied by a series of photos taken whilst there. These often provide more useful and up-to-date information than you’d find in a guidebook, particularly if searching for a cheap getaway.

Also, unlike a guidebook, if you have a question then you can simply ask on the page. Although everyday hundreds of people share their alternatives to pricey destinations and where to find the best deals, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can post a question and you can be sure that someone will be on hand to answer it. This is perfect for planning a trip since you can take the advice of someone who has been there to help budget for when you arrive.

One of the downsides that I encountered when using r/Shoestring was that it lacks any external content in the top menu, such as suggestions for the best places to book flights, reserve a room, book a train or rent a car. A few links to their recommended websites would make the subreddit even more comprehensive, as there is no really easy way to find out the information without posing the question yourself or scrolling through to see if someone has already posted about it.

David Jones

I am a professional travel writer and travel enthusiast who traveled the world twice, so I am sharing my firsthand knowledge about everything related to travel and spending time abroad.