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Hot Traveling Tips and Suggestions
5
Simple Ways To Save Money When Traveling
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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