You’re working hard, you’re saving and paying off your debts- maybe
it’s time for a holiday. A bit of sun, some new horizons, an opportunity
for time with your loved ones free of the everyday niggles and
anxieties. A chance to sit by the waterside and re-read War and Peace,
or catch up on the gossip mags. But is it possible to take a trip
without totally throwing all your savings into jeopardy?
Travel is an expense. There’s no way you can save money by
travelling. That said, it is also a wonderful experience, and worth
investing some of your savings in if it appeals to you. There are two
approaches to travelling- it can be done ad hoc and without much
thought, which might cost you more money than you were anticipating. Or
you can do your research, think it through and exercise a bit of
frugality, and you might be able to stay longer or come back sooner
because you’ve done it cheaply.
Here are some tips from readers of Yahoo! Travel on how to do it cheaply, and in style.
Before you go on your travels
Convert your money
Print out money conversion charts before you head overseas, as anyone
for whom maths was a long time ago will understand, it’s not easy to do
conversions on the spot. That way you know how much you are spending
and can avoid accidentally spending a lot of money on more expensive
items or meals.
Blogosphere – Read up about traveling and its costs
While websites are great, nothing is more up-to-date than the
blogosphere. Threads on the Lonely Planet are always good for finding
out the latest cheap deal, and reading the reviews on sites like
Hostelworld.com will reveal pretty quickly whether it’s a rip off or a
great deal.
Deposit before hand to be organsed
Pay for some things before you go, and others while you’re in the
area. For instance, some things, like big tours would be better arranged
from Australia. Other things, like some accommodation, local eateries
and local tours, might be cheaper once you’re there and can ask around.
Get insured – travel insurance is vital!
I don’t care what people say, I have always ended up getting my money
back on my travel insurance and I haven’t even managed to injure myself
yet. It’s not worth the risk you’ll have to pay for treatment in an
American hospital. Get insured, and you’re making a smart money
decision.
Once you’re there…
Ask around
Ask other travelers about the best spots, ask for a discount if
you’ve got a concession or pension card, ask locals where the best place
to eat is (it’ll often end up being the cheapest).
Go public
Public transport may seem hazardous, depending where you’re
travelling, but it’ll be unbelievably cheap compared to the costs of
more luxurious transport. Think about using public transport as much as
possible. Or walk, the cheapest from of transport of all.
Eat in
You’re in the most beautiful place- that doesn’t mean you need to eat
in the most expensive restaurant because of it. Pack yourself a lunch,
and sit in a Parisian park,, or on the shores of a Slovenian lake.
You’ll look a lot more like a local that way.
Spend wisely
It can be tempting to buy all those ‘unique’ handicrafts that people
sell you throughout the tourist traps, but they’re likely to be more
expensive and less well made. Walk through the back streets, and look at
the little stalls there. Visit small markets. You’ll get a better deal
from it.
What are your cheap travel tips?
Why not have a look at our budget planner especially made for people looking to save money quickly?
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