Budget Travel Tips
Financial Strategies and Budgeting for a vacation or
trip
Most people mistakenly think that you need a lot of money to travel, or that
vacations are simply too expensive and lavish. This is a good example of a wrongful assumption. Traveling 'light'
so to speak, with limited cash, combined with a positive attitude and a deep personal commitment, persistence and
resourcefulness is possible.
Simply put, planning pays and travel budgets save money.
Taking the extra time to review sources at your disposal prior to, during and after your trip encourages a
hands-on, pro-active approach to traveling and vacationing in general.
Most of us want to focus on having a good time and ensuring that a couple of the
smaller details are taken care of. Taking advantage of saving opportunities and discounts, limited offers and
utilizing tips and tricks from frequent travelers seem to be the keys to travel success.
Lessons learned will serve us all well when taking our next trip, whether to the
campgrounds, some exotic tropical paradise or both!
There are various useful information and travel sources to assist you in this
money-saving undertaking for traveling on a budget:
- web-pages and online providers who specialize in hot deals for vacation
package bargains.
- travel websites brokerages and discount fare operators, airline carriers and
websites with last minute fares and seat sales.
- travel specialist portals like priceline.com where taking advantage of
overnight flight flights, empty seats and multiple connections and other ways to save money while traveling the
globe, is a mastered art of comparison-shopping and the budget travelers paradise so to
speak.
- Printed material, budget travel magazines (like Arthur Frommer's Budget
Travel Magazine and Bestfares magazine, free with membership to Bestfares (www.bestfares.com) and books, other e-zines online,
offering industry and insider travel tips, student and backpacking tips, and even specific destination guidebooks.
- Other specific budget-travel, industry-related publications and resources
like: "First-Time: Around the World," by Doug Lansky (published by "Rough Guides") or "The Travel Detective:
How to Get the Best Service and the Best Deals from Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Ships, and Car Rental Agencies,"
by Peter Greenberg (Random House)or the ever-handy: "The Traveler's Handbook," published by Globe Pequot
Press.
- Various customized, targeted guidebooks like, "Let's Go," guidebooks by and
for students, are ideal for backpacking and exploring Europe for example. "Lonely Planet," guidebooks to remote
and or popular destinations of choice, with lots of valuable information for both upscale and budget
travelers.
- Travel Word-of-mouth from regular travelers, colleagues, family and friends
who travel frequently often share great insights. We cannot discount these value-adding
insights.
- Coupons and special vouchers, Family discounts and
specials, online, limited-time internet-bargains.
- Condominium or developers, resort, time-share Promotions. Sales-pitch pop-up
windows, Camping (sites and cabins, bring own linens and towels), tourist boards and information
centers,
and many more...
Setting up a quick quote or cost-analysis for your planned journey, a rough travel
expense account or budgeting outline to get started, is always a good idea to give your dreams some
wings.
At the very least, you will have an idea and some kind of baseline and starting
point. Initially though, forget all about expensive restaurants, business class flights and luxury car rentals and
all you might have to sacrifice or cannot have on your budget, at least for now.
Hotel Savings
Here are some hotel coupons or room savers (online).
- Check with the hotel if they have a frequent guest plan.
- If attending a conference, ask for the delegate rate.
- Explore other options than hotels - homes, apartments, guest rooms and
houses, B&B's , sub-let or short-term 'lease'-like agreements for example: rent a Florida house for a
month, staying with family or friends, relatives or business contacts, farmhouses, self-catering
apartments, Monasteries and convents in Europe are also cheaper options
- Avoid big Hotel bills, try AAA memberships, family-friendly hotels, ask for a
first floor room, as most have pools (if you are fearful for little children wandering around and falling
in).
- Continental breakfasts are a great money-saver for large
families.
- Ask about any reduced fares at hotels, consider last-minute check-ins -
hotels are rarely really fully booked.
- Eating in a supermarket deli-like counter proves to be much cheaper than
fast-food locations or expensive restaurants.
Airline Savings
- Explore offerings online, comparison shop and booking with discount airlines
are all smart strategies. Remember flexibility on your part regarding dates and times will translate into
savings.
- Enroll in an air miles, reward or frequent flyer plan that often includes
discounts on hotels and car rentals.
- Timing is everything. Avoid peak periods for example, holidays, spring break,
and peak business hour time's makes for more travelers en route and supply and demand will dictate pricing and
cost - usually higher. Take advantage of shoulder and low season travel periods.
- Best airfare rates often involve a Saturday night stay.
- Book flights at least two weeks in advance. The closer the booking to the
flight date, the more expensive it will be.
- Log on to the airline's website and check out unadvertised flight
specials.
- Booking on-line usually saves a few dollars too.
- Use a park-and-fly service and park your own vehicle at the airport. Driving
your car there and back is much cheaper than a taxi if you live far from the airport. There are also airport
bus services or shuttles that are cheaper than taxis.
- When boarding the plane, bring your own water. Airplanes are dry and flight
attendants do not have time to keep refilling your glass.
- Never eat at the airport. Airport food is twice the price of food anywhere
else. Try to eat before arriving at the airport or pack a few snacks to tie you over until you reach your
destination.
- Once on the ground, ask the information desk about free shuttles to your
hotel or use public transit.
- Save time and headaches by traveling with a bag, you can carry on the plane.
Some airlines have express check-in counters for passengers traveling with carry-on luggage
only.
Transportation
Tips
- Travel passes for public or mass transportation offers a good deal and can
save you some money.
- Shuttles or trains are often cheaper than flights, sharing cab-fares if
traveling alone
- Taxis are convenient but rarely worth the price. If you do hire a taxi,
consider asking someone to split the fare with you.
On the next few pages we will cover more essential travel tips, including
important Road Trip Savers and
Luggage
Lessons.
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