Where is destination for travel?

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, it takes more effort to save money on the
road, but when you are a hard working gal with dreams of hoofing it across
continents, sometimes those pennies saved can mean the difference between out on
the road or broke at home. Here are a few tips to help you get the most for less
while your seeing the world.

Get that AAA membership. It may sound like something your mom would tell you to
do, but it’s worth every penny. For about $45 a year, you get free help if your car
breaks down and serious discounts on hotels, motels and museums. You even get a
discount on Amtrak. I recently took my mom to the beach, and the cash my AAA
card saved me on hotels for that one trip more than paid for the membership fee.

Bring a friend. Not only is it safer and more fun to travel with a friend, it’s cheaper.
You can split the cost of gas and hotels, making travel almost half the price of going
solo.

Food Smarts. Eating out costs a pretty penny. If you’re going to eat out, do lunch
then eat dinner in your hotel room. Lunch is always cheaper. When you go out, ask
around and find out where the locals eat, or look for mom and pop diners or ethnic
neighborhoods full of authentic and inexpensive cuisine.

Buy bottles of water and snacks at the local grocery store before heading out to
sightsee. The same stuff will cost you half as much as it will in tourist areas or
convenience stores. You may want to keep a handy dandy cooler packed with sodas,
water and fruits in your car. Fill it up with treats before you hit the road and just
refill the ice from the hotel ice machine.

The best food is often local food. Locate the farmer’s market and the local bakeries.
Stop at the bakery for some bread, then stop by the farmer’s market for fresh
veggies and cheese and soon you’ll have the fixins for a healthy, fresh lunch for
much less than the cost of eating in a restaurant.

Hotels/motels. If you can, stop by a truck stop or travel center on your way into
town. They always have racks of free coupon magazines that can save you a few on
accommodations. And they usually contain a map of the area too.

At Roomsavers.com, you can also download coupons for hotels. Of course, traveling
during the week instead of on weekends will save you on your hotel bill, too.

If you decide to stay in the locally owned, non-chain motel ( which will usually be a
better deal) ask to see the room before you pay for it. You don’t want to stay
somewhere too icky or unsafe just to save a few bucks. When you do find a place,
work that AAA discount.

Remember there’s always a hostel. Hostels are almost always the cheapest way to
go for single travelers. Sometimes it can be cheaper than a motel for two people.

Another new option is house swapping. If you live in a reasonably interesting place,
chances are pretty good you can trade apartments with someone in another city for
a week or two. Check Craigslist or one of the many house-swapping organizations
for more information and to see if it’s right for you.

And if you have tent, will travel. You can park your tent on a spot with water and
electricity for as little as $10 a night. Throw an air mattress in there and you can
camp like a queen!

There are usually state parks, private campgrounds and national parks with camp
sites near most major cities and along major highways, making them a convenient
lodging option. Many parks have cabins with kitchenettes, where you can sleep up
to eight people for as little as $20 a night.

Travel during the off times
The best way to stretch your travel dollar is to travel during off-peak times. That
means when schools are in session and not during three day holiday weekends,
when the legions of people tied to 9 to 5 jobs maximize vacation days.

You’ll always get a better deal if you travel during the week, not on weekends, or
during a city’s slow tourism season. For instance, the beach will be cheaper in May
and September than June through August. New Orleans and Las Vegas are cheaper
during the summer because their high season is winter.

Remember, hotels raise their rates on Friday and Saturday nights. Some rates nearly
double. Travel Sunday to Thursday if you can. You’ll save serious money on lodging.
You’ll also avoid long lines and crowds at local attractions, and maybe save a few
cents a gallon on gasoline.

Summer is universally the peak season, and prices for rooms, shows, gas, airfare
and just about everything else are higher from May through August. If you can travel
from September to April, you’ll save a lot more money. If you’re considering a
European trip, you’ll cut your airfare in half and will have your pick of inexpensive
lodging, entertainment and transportation.

Book early
In most cases, you can get primo rates and first pick when you book early and
you’re more likely to lock in the best airfare and hotel rates. You also may have the
option of putting down a deposit and paying your trip off in installments instead of
putting it on a credit card and paying interest.

Use the Web
Many times, booking rental cars, hotel rooms and airline flights on the Web, directly
through the hotels or airline’s Web sites will net you the best deal. Always try to
book directly first, rather than through a broker, then try Priceline , Travelocity or
Orbitz to see which has the best deal. You may also try your hand at
BiddingforTravel.com, a Priceline message board designed to help you get the best
possible deals for travel.

Denise Trowbridge is an award-winning journalist residing in Ohio. Her work has
appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States, as well as on her
site http://www.DeniseTrowbridge.com
Denise is also the editor of the women’s Web magazine,
http://www.PussycatMagazine.com.

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Just about everyone loves to travel, and travel is one of the most intriguing and fun activities one can engage in. Travel provides the remarkable ability to see the world from a whole new perspective, and I for one believe that if people traveled more outside their country there would be far less war and trouble in the world.

When asked why they do not travel, one of the most frequently cited reasons is lack of money. Lack of funds, however, does not need to be a barrier to traveling the world. Obviously if you’re flat broke you may not be able to travel as you wish, but most people have at least some disposable income, and it can be surprisingly inexpensive to travel to many places.

One of the primary considerations for any budget minded traveler is where to stay. Fortunately, there are many budget friendly options when it comes to putting a roof over your head for the night. For solo travelers, hostels can provide, clean safe accommodations and the chance to meet and interact with people from all over the world. Best of all, the prices are almost impossible to beat. For instance, most hostels in major U.S. cities range from $20 to $30 a night, when a hotel room would set you back a cool $150-$200 or even more.

In Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, hostel accommodations are even cheaper, with many charging the equivalent of $5 a night or even less. The key is to check the internet and see what is available in your destination. Many hostels even provide online booking, so you can arrive with your lodging issues already taken care of.

For couples, a budget hotel can be a great choice. There are many such hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts, located all around the world. Again, many of them are on the internet, and like hostels many can be booked online before you leave home.

Another great way to save money while still having a great vacation is to use the public transportation system. Most destinations in Europe, and many in the United States and Canada as well, have excellent, fast, reliable, and cheap public transportation systems. You can probably by a weekly bus pass for less than what you would pay to rent a car for a single day. And public transportation also frees you from the hassles of parking the car, keeping it gassed up and learning your way around.

Another important key to traveling cheap is traveling light. Trekking around Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or the Americas does not require a mountain of luggage. If you are unsure whether to pack it, chances are it is best left at home. It is best to take a couple of sturdy and versatile outfits, and a good pair of walking shoes, and leave the rest at home.

Getting the best airfare, along with finding the cheapest place to stay, is one of the essential cornerstones of successful budget travel. There are a number of strategies for getting the best deal on airfare, from using credit cards to rack up frequent flier miles, to using discount airlines, to traveling in the off or shoulder season. The strategy that is best for you depends on your individual needs, and on the location you choose.

Keeping the money you do have for travel safe and secure is always a concern when traveling. Most seasoned travelers have learned to use a hidden money belt to carry passports, plane tickets and the majority of their cash. Using an in room safe is also a good idea. It is generally best to use credit cards for major purchases, and keep only a small amount of cash on hand for incidental purchases. Not only do credit cards provide the best exchange rates, but you are not liable for fraudulent purchases as long as you report the card stolen in a timely fashion.

Travel does not have to be out of reach, even for the most budget minded traveler. The key is to shop wisely, focus on your priorities and get the most out of the money you do spend.

Travelling is a much loved past time for the author. To find out more, check out http://www.great-travel-info.com for more information.

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