Spend 10 minutes talking to Abi Pena and you'll be smiling for the rest of the day.

That's the level of joy she brings to everything she does.

Abi is a plant-based athlete, foodie, daily Complement Plus user, and Empowered Team ambassador currently based out of New York City.

But most of all, with her strong desire to explore and unmatched ability to jump on any opportunity that comes her way, she's a world traveler. And she proudly does it on a budget.

During a recent conversation, I asked Abi to share her best tips for traveling on a budget, which allow her to experience new foods, cultures, and lifestyles so frequently.

Here are her 3 big tips for plant-based travelers:

1. Flights

I scrape the internet for flights. Not just one flight search tool, but every travel website I can find to see who is offering the best deal. And when I can, I lean on miles from credit cards.

But most importantly, I try to travel during the off-season. For example, I've found the cheapest time to go to Europe is in October and March, so that's when I plan those trips.

2. Accommodations

Accommodations are where a lot of money gets blown ... especially when you aren't doing anything there but sleeping!

If you're going somewhere where you want to see sights, meet people, or hang out at the beach all day, finding accommodations that fit your needs but aren't excessively nice is a good way to reduce the budget.

Maybe that's a hostel — I've stayed in some rough ones — or a less expensive hotel. Think of accommodations as a place to sleep, then go live at the beach or sights all day.

3. Food

I am a foodie. A huge foodie. But that doesn't mean I need to eat at a Michelin star restaurant every day.

For most of the day when I'm traveling, I go very cheap with vegan staples — a banana, Plant Bites or Plant Protein Bites, and a snack from a coffee shop.

If I have a blender, I use Complement Protein, which I love because it's flavorless and I can use whatever fresh fruit I have on hand. Plus that added protein helps when I'm running around all day.

Then at dinner, I go for something more exciting...

Only instead of leaning on the touristy restaurants which are often overpriced, I make a point to get to know the local neighbors and see which restaurants they recommend.

Usually, it's somewhere not in a guidebook and turns out to be more authentic and cheaper.  

My most important travel tip?

Be open to whatever comes your way.

Meet people, have fun, and see where the trip takes you.

That's where the real magic happens.