• Budget Travel: 10 Tips to plan a Vacation-Travel on a shoestring budget

• by: Musafir  |  last updated: May 20, 2008

• Category: Budget Travel |  Tags: vacations, travel, budget travel, budget vacation, planning vacation, vacation in shoestring budget, tips on budget travelling

• Looking for a break from work...thinking of a vacation for a long time but haven’t really planned it out since planning means actually going for a vacation… And you’re stuck wondering whether you can really afford it… Well here is the good news. ‘YES, you can afford that wonderful and exotic vacation.’ Now travelling to a foreign country is not a big deal like it used to be (if you have a passport, obviously). But, of course, no vacation is complete without some grand shopping and some exquisite food hunting. Plus, accommodation and sight- seeing are intrinsic, which again means more shelling out. But do not let that change your mind, because if you look carefully, you may be able to save a few bucks. So if you’re worried that your dream vacation might turn out to be an expensive affair, here are some tips to follow which will be helpful, no matter where you travel across the globe.

• 1. Book now in advance, pay less later

• Alright, so you are actually taking the plunge to vacation. There is no turning back now. What are you waiting for… Go ahead and start booking! Pre- planned booking helps you to check out all the possible special deals on ticket fares, accommodations and sight seeing of exotic locations you want to visit. The earlier you start your search, the more you know where to save your money. Look through different package tour schemes, off season discounts, compare prices of one location to another. Get all the help and suggestions from experts, friends and colleagues about the places they have visited and recommended. Do a research of your own and gather information about various places and select the ones you want to go.

• 2. Fix a budget

• Fixing a budget before you start your travel and also during it is the most sensible thing to do. Firstly, you must decide how much money you’re willing to spend on the vacation. If travelling for the first time, you might feel obliged to buy cheap souvenirs, road side paintings and much other stuff that fascinates you. Susan Sardone, a travel expert, suggests some of the things you might want to do like saving money on Airport food and drinks, breakfast in bed, in-room phone calls, horse-drawn carriage rides, commercial photos, packaged bus tours and formal clothing you wear once. So once you are aware of this, it helps to avoid any unexpected surprises during your travelling.

• 3. Decide the kind and place of vacation you want

• Whether it is backpacking, a cruise or adventure sports, all depends on how best you want to invest in your vacation. Once you’ve decided the kind of vacation you want to take, part of your planning is done. List down those travel places which offer the best way to spend your vacation. This way you do not end up on a snow-clad mountain in Vienna, when all you want to do is hit the beach and get some sun tan in Hawaii. Interested in art and literature… Go to countries having historical relevance like France, London or Rome. If you’re a foodie, try out some of the world’s rare cuisines to pursue your passion. Visit the finest wine countries of Europe. Else if you just want to relax and get one with nature, go trekking or boating on a quiet river in Brazil, or rent a Tuscany villa by the country-sides in Italy or France. If its adventure you’re looking for, look for places where you can go bungee jumping or scuba diving take a vacation to Singapore or Australia. Take your partner’s hand and walk by the sea side at night and indulge in a fine candle-light dinner. Wherever you plan to go, you must feel that this is exactly what you wanted to do. That is the only way to get a vacation your money’s worth.

• 4. Select Mode of transportations

• Decide on how you want to travel. It also depends on where you want to go. Find out the options to travel to your destination - airplane, ships or trains. Travelling by trains and ships is a cheaper option compared to air fare. However, only air travelling is possible, look for the cheapest air fare. The best way to hunt for the cheapest fare is browsing through all online travel sites. When you travel during an offseason period, you can save between 20 to 30 percent on your travel fare. The savings can be further increased by booking your travel way in advance.

• 5. Select Travel Packages

• Selecting a travel package depends on your travel destination and the time of travel. Based on traveler’s experience, European destinations often work out cheaper when booked on your own compared to travel packages. However, if you’re traveling to Asian countries or going for an African Safari, packages are cheaper. During a festive season, travel packages offer a good discount. Look out for discounts and extra costs on special deals. Find out what are the things available with the package-inclusive and exclusive rates. Compare the prices of travel packages versus how much you might spend on your own, and opt for the cheaper option. Again, it is a personal choice. Some prefer a packaged tour especially when visiting a new place. While others enjoy the freedom from time-tables and routines and go on their own.

• 6. Important Carry-alongs

• It is good sense to be prepared for the unknown. Carry along your personal items which you use on a daily basis like medicines and toiletries. The reason being, these things may either not be available in a foreign country or can be quite costly. Take with you a good torch, seasonal clothing depending on the place you visit and a sturdy shoulder or hand bag along with the rest of the luggage. You do not want to waste money on these essential things when you travel abroad.

• 7. Decide on Accommodations for your Vacation

• Ask your friends or relatives who've already visited the same place to recommend few lodging places recommendations. Searching for a cheap lodging does not necessarily mean a small room and lousy service. Instead of booking international 5 stars, settle for a locally-run independent hotels. As the rates go high at the weekends, taking a room during the weekdays is a good bargain. A room charging anything up to 50 to 60 USD on weekends can be available between 30 to 40 USD during weeknights. Travel agents have connections with a list of hotels and can give you a good price. When booking a room, try not to use additional amenities like sauna, fitness room, laundry and check for the charges on tax, additional facilities like special room services. Avoid transportations and dining from the hotels if it isn’t within your budget. Booking on the outskirts of the city also saves up a few bucks.

• 8. Learn about the food culture of your Vacation Place

• Every place in the world has a different food culture. They specialize in their own cuisines. Learn about the food of the place you plan to visit which will give a heads up on what to expect. Be it pastas, ravioli, Mexican tortillas or different flavors rice, noodles, dumplings, sushi ,meat balls and exquisite red/white wine tasting; whether it is continental or oriental, learn a bit about their food habits and style of eating. Accordingly, you can also find out restaurants and Intercontinental cuisines within your budget. Once in a while, it’s ok to splurge on a fine dinner in a posh restaurant too. After all you need to reward yourself for your sensible spending. Check out various street food joints which will give you a taste of some ethnic food of the country and its culture. In all, keep an open heart and enjoy the food and company of a different culture.

• 9. Offseason Travelling

• Offseason is the best time of the year to travel to hot and happening travel destinations. Again, check out the lodging rates which will be quite low. That would be an apt time to book a room with a balcony and a view. Usually the offseason for any vacation would be during mid-April to mid-June. The most expensive time to travel would be during the holiday seasons, where everybody rushes to vacation getaways. However, if you’re still keen on a seasonal vacation, start booking well in advance.

• 10. Enjoy your vacation

• Hey, that’s what you’re here for, right… Don’t get so focused on savings that you forget the reason of the vacation. Relax yourself, have a calm mind and live the experience. It‘s alright to make a few mistakes, you learn from them. So whether it’s a family or romantic getaway, spend those moments with your special ones. They will the best investment you’ll make.

• Guide Comment History

• Mike said 4 months ago:
  Interesting article

• Sean said 4 months ago:
  very usefull travel tips if you can plan your trip well in advance....

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