Understanding the Needs of Modern Budget Travelers: 5 Takeaways from the Skift Podcast

We looked at budget travel for a recent episode of the Skift Podcast, which explored the challenges of traveling cheaply in the midst of ever-changing technology and economic trends.

Our experts were Dan Saltzstein, a travel editor at the New York Times who edits the Frugal Traveler column, and Tom Meyers, founder and editor-in-chief of the booking and advice site EuroCheapo.com.

Here are five takeaways from the conversation:

Airlines and hotels are going basic.

Low-cost airlines like Spirit and Ryanair cater to increasing numbers of budget travelers by having them forfeit certain comforts and pay only for essentials.

Hotels are following the trend as well with no-frills accommodation.

“EasyJet for example has opened maybe 10 years ago already a chain of hotels called the EasyHotels,” says Meyers. “It has absolutely the cheapest rates… you get the essentials, air conditioning and a shower and the sink