Budget Busters-five Easy Ways To Save Money When Traveling
December 1st, 2008

Traveling can be expensive, it’s true, but once you’ve got the travel bug, there’s no way you’ll be happy staying home in order to save money. Savvy travel addicts know that there are bargains to be found if you do your research and follow a few simple guidelines on how to reach your destination in the least expensive way possible.

First, don’t go somewhere when everyone else is going there. You’ll just end up paying much more for everything, including airfare and accommodation, as well as battling the crowds. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to see India in monsoon season or Scotland in the winter? Now is the time to let your adventurous spirit soar. Don’t forget that the southern hemisphere is experiencing winter during the northern hemisphere’s summer. Perhaps you can save your skiing vacation for your next summer vacation.

Even if you can’t travel off-season, do everything you can to lower the cost of transportation. Air travel, for example, can consume a hefty portion of your budget, and bargain seekers are always looking for a way to fly cheap. Search the internet for airline consolidators or auction sites. Sometimes fares go down after midnight on these sights, so look for a good price at different times of the day. Fly in the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday), in the middle of the day, and on holidays when less people are likely to be flying. Also, research bargain budget airlines instead of commercial carriers or out-of-the-way airports for discount fares. Finally, some people even find ways to travel free by allowing airplanes to bump them off of overbooked flights, by using a credit card to earn frequent flier miles, or by acting as an international courier.

While airplanes can be fast, convenient, and almost a necessity for international travel, it’s time to get creative when traveling on a budget and consider airplane alternatives. Cruise ships and cargo ships offer one method of getting across the sea and some exciting deals can be found online and through travel agents for water journeys. When traveling within the United States, taking a Greyhound bus is a surprisingly inexpensive, if time-consuming, way to travel, and you’re sure to meet a lot of interesting people on your journey. Finally, rail passes in Europe and North America can also be purchased before your trip to save money if you plan to stop in multiple locations.

Many people also turn to airlines because of the skyrocketing fuel prices, but automobiles can still be an inexpensive way to travel within the United States if you learn about different ways to save money. First, carefully figure out when and where you will need to fill up your gas tanks. Different states have different fuel prices. Georgia, for example, is typically much cheaper than Tennessee, so stop and refuel before or after you cross state lines. Also, never let yourself get trapped into price-gouging in rural areas where a gas station will try to charge as much as 50 cents per gallon extra because it’s the only place around for fifty miles. Other expenses incurred by driving involve emergency repairs. Have your car serviced before going on a road trip, including an oil change. Have someone look at your tires, belts, hoses, and fluid levels. Make sure that your windshield wipers are working properly, as poor weather conditions coupled with improper maintenance could cause a safety hazard on the highways.

Finally, once you’ve flown, driven, or sailed to your destination, you’ll need a place to stay. Extended stays at hotels at weekly rates are one affordable option. Even if you’re staying for only one night, however, don’t be afraid to bargain with hotels for cheaper rates. Empty rooms aren’t making hotels any money at all, so they are looking to fill their rooms, even if it’s at a much cheaper price. Pricy business hotels, for example, will often offer deals on the weekend when they are more likely to have vacancies. In expensive cities, a Bed and Breakfast is likely to be less expensive and more charming than a hotel. Other cheap accommodation alternatives for adventurous souls include timeshares, home exchanges, house sitting, dormitories at universities (when school is out), retreat centers and monasteries, national parks, RV campgrounds, and hostels. Every alternative has its own specific advantages and disadvantages, so choose based on your own needs and budget requirements. Just remember that traveling doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive if you do your research and are willing to be flexible and creative

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