Race Across the World winners Alfie Watts and Owen Wood reveal five hacks for travelling on the cheap

WE WON Race Across the World – and these are our savvy tips to travel on a budget.

Alfie Watts and Owen Wood, who raced from Japan to Indonesia with just the value of a plane ticket in their pocket for the BBC show, said ‘living like a local’ is the one of the best ways to save cash when travelling.

And ‘locals know far more than the internet’, leading to more authentic and cost-effective experiences than anything you can find on the web.

The pair also encourage holidaymakers to seek out homestays – which are not only a great way to immerse in the culture and get off the beaten track, but also cost a fraction of a hotel.

Transport also offers a great chance to make big savings – with the duo swearing by night buses and trains to keep costs down, but travellers need to have a ‘cost over comfort’ mindset.

Alfie and Owen have teamed up with global money app Zing, as research reveals that international travel is the number one thing on Brits’ bucket lists – above buying a home and marriage.

However, 24 per cent of those who haven’t embraced global travel yet claim it’s because they’re too cautious with their finances.

The Race Across the World pals also advised travellers to embrace street food more when exploring cities across the world – both for the taste and saving potential.

Alfie reminisced about the ‘incredible’ street sellers in Kuala Lumpur serving up the ‘best’ fried noodles he’s ever had at ‘amazing’ prices.

And lastly, Owen’s next tip for jetsetters on a longer traveling experience 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.”

The research, of 2,000 adults, conducted via OnePoll.com, also found travel can boost confidence for 73 per cent of Brits.

Nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) think it can make you happier and 68 per cent even see it as an opportunity to unleash creativity.

While 60 per cent believe that travel can be done affordably.

James Allan, CEO of the Zing, which offers free currency conversion allowance of £500 or equivalent currency every month until the end of 2024, said: “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.”