| Tip #1 How to travel cheaply | | | | mid-summer. Prices are always jacked up on hotel |
| When one thinks about the concept of cheap | | | | rooms, restaurants, and tourist attractions at |
| travel it often conjures up nightmares of unreliable | | | | most major cities. Instead, travel during the fall, |
| tour packages and cowboy hoteliers. For the | | | | when school starts again, or early winter, when |
| unwary, nightmares can indeed become reality, | | | | prices will be back to normal, if not cheaper than |
| but for the smarter traveller this really needn't be | | | | usual. |
| the case. | | | | 2) Take along your own food and drinks. Pack a |
| The truth of the matter is that with a little | | | | large cooler with sandwiches, fruit, drinks, |
| forward planning, you'll find that less can indeed be | | | | vegetable sticks, and so on. Also bring many |
| more in the world of cheap travel and an extra | | | | types of food that won't go bad if you don't eat |
| few bucks in your pocket can mean an extra | | | | them within the first few days. Crackers, cookies, |
| week or two on tour. | | | | dried fruit, trail mixes, and nuts are always good |
| The no.1 rule for cheap travel is to do your | | | | to snack on. |
| homework and plan ahead. The biggest costs | | | | 3) Check the local online newspaper of the place |
| incurred to the traveller will probably be those of | | | | you are visiting, and search for special |
| transport and accommodation, and here is where | | | | money-saving coupons, discounts, and any special |
| the biggest savings can be made. Booking ahead | | | | offers that you can find, and take advantage of. |
| with budget airlines can save you huge amounts, | | | | 4) Bring plenty of extra clothes. You don't want |
| and be sure to check which days around your | | | | to have to buy new clothes, just because you |
| time of travel are the cheapest - airlines can | | | | don't have anything else to wear. |
| adjust prices due to demand and those willing to | | | | 5) If you are traveling with small children, take a |
| be flexible with their schedule can reap the | | | | small bag packed with travel games, activity pads, |
| rewards. | | | | tiny stuffed animals, crayons, and a coloring book |
| Accommodation prices can be subject to huge | | | | to keep them busy. Even if you want the children |
| variation too and your first consideration here | | | | to look around instead of playing in the backseat, |
| should always be with who you buy from. | | | | it's much better to have them, "just in case". |
| Hostelbookers has some of the best options for | | | | 6) Jot down every expense you make during this |
| those after cheap travel and doesn't charge | | | | trip, and be sure to save those receipts. By |
| booking fees. Using the service also means you | | | | keeping track of how much you spent on this |
| can compare many hostel prices quickly. | | | | vacation, it will be easier to make an estimate on |
| Remember that hostels and hotels can change | | | | how much you need for the next vacation, and |
| their advertised prices at any time so be a clever | | | | to keep your family motivated from buying those |
| shopper and get in early, especially for peak | | | | small un-needed purchases all throughout the year. |
| season accommodation. Conversely prices may | | | | Author : Assortment |
| drop at the last minute, but consider that price | | | | Tip #3 for inexpensive family vacations |
| drops like this usually only happen out of season. | | | | Taking the whole family on a vacation can really |
| The rule of thumb here is to grab a good price | | | | drain your wallet and when you are worried about |
| when you see it. | | | | money, it takes some of the enjoyment out of |
| For the budget diehard the challenge doesn't end | | | | your trip. One of the keys to saving money on a |
| at home and once on foreign soil you'll find you | | | | trip is to have the entire thing planned out before |
| can soon get abreast of local secrets if you ask | | | | you even leave the house. There are many things |
| around - secrets that can have a real cash value. | | | | you can do to ensure that you don't break the |
| Don't be afraid to pick the brains of other | | | | bank and get left wondering 'where did it all go?' |
| travelers and you'll soon discover the best places | | | | Try and choose a destination you can drive to. |
| to eat and drink - at a price your credit card will | | | | Car travel is still one of the most inexpensive |
| thank you for! | | | | ways to go, you can carry all your luggage with |
| Cheap travel needn't hamper your trip, rather the | | | | you, access it at any time and set your own |
| advantage can be yours. There's fun in the | | | | schedule. When you drive, you can stop |
| opportunities that living to a budget creates and | | | | anywhere you like along the way and see things |
| who knows, pay to be lazy and you might just | | | | you would have missed if you were jetting over |
| miss out on half the fun! | | | | at ten thousand feet. You can bring your own |
| Author : HostelBookers | | | | snacks and drinks with you in the car in a cooler |
| Tip #2 How to travel cheaply (2) | | | | and you don't have to worry about the food |
| How many times have you wanted to get away | | | | being gross. Mom and Dad can take turns driving |
| from it all, and visit someplace new, but couldn't | | | | so they can get some rest and the kids can play |
| afford it? Why should you have to charge your | | | | games without disturbing anyone but the family. |
| vacations now, and pay for it later? | | | | When you choose a destination, try to avoid |
| You shouldn't! Over the course of a year, many | | | | tourist traps. Trips to landmarks and natural |
| families are spending hundreds to thousands of | | | | wonders are the best kind as it usually doesn't |
| dollars on extra un-needed small "wants", instead | | | | cost anything to look at them. Things like Disney |
| of using that money wisely at a later time. | | | | World are fun but not when you are looking for |
| Let's pretend that every 2 days, you get a bottle | | | | inexpensive travel. Amusement parks and the like |
| of soda, and a candy bar at a convenience store | | | | are going to drain the money out of your wallet |
| - just a few of those many impulse buys that we | | | | like a sieve. Look for state parks, especially when |
| are all tempted to make. 55 cents for the candy | | | | going to the beach. State parks have the best |
| bar, and 99 cents for the soda comes out to | | | | deals and lowest admission prices. If you do go to |
| $1.54. Multiply that by approximately 182 days, | | | | an amusement park, bring your own lunch. |
| and you could've saved $280.28. Now $228 won't | | | | Amusement park food is usually double the cost |
| pay for the vacation itself, but it's a start. | | | | of food in the real world. Most parks allow you to |
| A tightwad vacation does not mean that you | | | | picnic and have areas designated for it as well. |
| have to be cheap. No, you don't have to go | | | | Even if you have to leave the park to drive up |
| camping in your backyard or go hiking to the local | | | | the road to a local fast food restaurant you can |
| supermarket. There are many cost-efficient ways | | | | save yourself a good deal of money and still |
| to travel, and tips to help you along the way. | | | | return to the park afterwards. |
| Don't fly, unless you can get real cheap rates, or | | | | You may want to consider camping as an |
| if you are traveling out of the country. Traveling | | | | alternative to getting a hotel room. Camping is |
| by train, or bus, can be cheap, but it depends on | | | | always cheaper than a hotel and camp grounds |
| where you are traveling. | | | | usually have many activities and attractions for |
| Driving to your destination may not be the | | | | their patrons to enjoy including swimming, fishing, |
| cheapest way to get to there though. Think of | | | | hiking and even bike rentals. There are usually |
| the impulse purchases you make along the | | | | campgrounds next to the major attractions and |
| way...snacks, drinks, souvenirs, tourist attractions, | | | | reservations are recommended. |
| etc., and gas to get there may be more than a | | | | A family vacation doesn't have to break the bank |
| train or bus pass would've cost. Make plans a few | | | | and if you give the kids a budget before you |
| months early to consider if you want to spend a | | | | leave, they will be wise with their money and |
| lot of time doing activities at your destination, or if | | | | probably spend a lot less than if you just went |
| you just want to have fun getting there. | | | | off the cuff. Planning your trip out carefully will |
| 1) Do not travel during the holidays, or | | | | save you a lot of money in the long run. |