Travel in Budget

Stuart S. Travel asked:


The best time to travel is in the holidays, right? Not if you want to make big savings on your traveling costs it’s not. If you travel in off peak (or low season) periods, or even in the shoulder season, you’ll find traveling costs a lot less.

 

Where are you traveling? Do you know the peak travel times for this destination? Summer and spring, no matter where you are, are generally considered the peak seasons to travel, unless you are a winter sports enthusiast. In that case, ski resorts will be having their peak season in winter. And what hemisphere are you thinking of visiting? The seasons differ depending on whether you are north or south. For example, the North America summer months are June, July, August but in Australia the summer months are December, January and February. You will need to research your destination to find out the low season times to visit.

 

First of all, what type of savings can you expect to make if you travel in the off-peak season? 

1. Air fares are much cheaper. There are less people wanting to fly so air carriers drop their prices to attract customers. Take advantage of these great savings. If you are traveling in the high season, see if you can book a flight mid-week. These flights are generally cheaper too.

2. Accommodation is cheaper and more readily available. In high season it can be difficult to find a place to stay in popular tourist destinations and when you do find somewhere it can be up to twice as much as when traveling in the off peak.

3. Eating in restaurants can be cheaper too. Owners will be trying to attract patrons so see what sort of deals you can find when eating out.

 

There are some other positives to traveling in the off peak season, other than saving money. There are fewer tourists for one, so visiting any cultural sight will be much more enjoyable. You can get more of an idea of what a destination is really like without the thousands of extra people. Experiencing the true culture is a real bonus. Did you know that opera season is in full swing in Europe in winter? Or that winter in Australia is often the best time to visit places in the north when the humidity and heat are bearable. Or how about visiting the best holiday markets in Germany in December? Do some research to find out what your chosen destination can offer in off peak, ones that you won’t experience in high season travel times.

 

So what are the negatives of traveling in the off peak? Well there are a few, but if you plan well you can overcome most drawbacks. Off peak usually means traveling in colder weather and that also means less daylight hours. Pack wisely and remember to dress in layers for the cold weather. Some tourist places close earlier or do not open at all in the off peak, so check up before you go so you are not disappointed. You will also find that in some areas the public transport system does not run as often as in peak tourist season. Find out what options you have to get to places and don’t be caught out missing the last bus home in the middle of winter, in the middle of nowhere! Some hotels and museums close down for the winter to re-furbish and get ready for the next high season influx of tourists. You can gamble and bargain your way to a great accommodation deal once you get to your destination, but all your bartering skills will be of no use if the hotels are all closed. It’s best to check what’s open before you go.

 

If traveling in the off-peak doesn’t sound attractive to you, then you might like to try the shoulder season and still get some travel price reductions. The shoulder season is considered the period leading up to and away from the high season. Usually in this time you’ll get decent weather, less crowds and lower travel costs – not the great bargains you’ll get in off peak, but lower costs nonetheless.

 

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com



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Martin Kleis asked:


Tunisia is the smallest of the North African countries but also a very popular one, with a culture and historical sights to compete with the best in North Africa. The fact that Tunisia was occupied by many of the great Mediterranean empires during its turbulent history, has given it a unique and interesting way of life which is unlike its larger neighbors.

There is plenty to see and do in this small country and in fact many European citizens do. With stunning Islamic architecture, Roman and Carthaginian ruins and amazingly friendly people it was always going to be a tourist hot spot, but add to this a beautiful sandy coastline and amazing desert landscapes in the south and you have yourself one hell of a destination.

The best time to visit Tunisia is the spring months between March and May when the temperatures are nice and warm, summer is popular with European citizens and can be stiflingly hot and the accommodation is at a premium.

Health-wise – The medical services available in Tunisia are not of a very good standard and if you are taken seriously ill, the chances are you will need to be evacuated by air to Italy. Waterborne viruses are a problem so basic water hygiene will need to be taken into consideration, such as boiling the water or even better drinking only bottled water. As is the same with any hot country, you will need to watch out for sunstroke and dehydration as well as sunburn. Drink plenty of water, take in plenty of salt and cover up! Snakes are a problem in the south, so keep your wits about you if you visit the region.

Visas and docs – Most western citizens can stay in Tunisia for up to three months without needing a visa, though Australian and New Zealand citizens can only get two weeks on arrival. Extensions are easy to obtain in Tunis, though they will take around two weeks to issue. Israeli citizens are not allowed into the country.

Cost – Tunisia is a budget travelers dream destination with plenty to see and costs which are extremely low. A budget of $15 a day will get you by easily enough, including a night in a guest house, local transport and food. If you budget a little more you will be able to have a more comfortable guest house and have the chance to visit the more out of the way places.

The Sights – For such a small country, Tunisia has a wealth of sights and activities for the visitor. Tunis the capital is a relaxed place and it is easy to stay here for a few days without wanting to escape. There are plenty of sights within day trip distance from the city including some wonderful ruins such as ancient Carthage and Utica.

The coastline is fantastic with some stunning beaches and bays and there is something for everyone ranging from the jet-setters amongst you to those looking for a more secluded place to stay. The only problem with this is the fact that in the summer it is packed out with European citizens who have discovered the beaches in the last five years.

Another highlight of a visit to Tunisia is visiting the Oasis town of Tozeur, with its spectacular scenery and vibrant market life. A great way to enjoy the scenery of the worlds greatest desert is to take a three day camel safari, a great experience and amazing value!



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Wycliffe Williams asked:


The last time I searched for budget flights online-budget travel ariline tickets I used an unbelievable strategy that saved us over $300 per ticket. Ticket prices from New York to London enabled us to save money for some extra shopping.

Vacations are meant for us to spend fun time together as a family. They’re special times for letting our hair down. Not for pulling our hair out trying to save a dollar here and there.

Have you ever been on a trip to some faraway land and gotten bumped trying to get back home? That’s extremely frustrating. Especially if your funds are running low. What do you do in a case like that?

Have you ever been stuck in an airport overnight? What are you supposed to do? What’s your next step? What about your bags? What happens when you arrive safely but your bags are winging their way to Timbuktu?

A travel expert has taken three years to put together a book, “Travel Secrets Guide.” The travel strategies in this guide will save you hundreds, and depending on the number of people traveling with you, maybe even thousands of dollars.

It even answers the previous stressful questions and so much more. Have you ever changed your travel plans? If you have then you know about the ticket penalty. Well this book shows the steps you take to avoid that ticket penalty.

Thousands of customers use this book religiously to save on each and every trip they take. Included in the book is a Power Search Tool. It allows you to do a power search of the main travel websites.

This tool allows you to investigate ticket prices at Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Cheaptickets, Expedia and Priceline. So much time, energy and money is saved using this special search tool.

The book is crammed with travel tips and techniques on saving money in almost every area of your travel. Even in areas that you thought were financially locked down areas. You’ll get tips that will free those areas up, so that you can find another way to save.

For instance, have you ever heard of Airfare consolidators? These companies purchase flights in bulk directly from the airlines. They take the tickets and resell them to travel agencies and to members of the public. You can save between 50%-70% on these tickets.

That’s just another strategy included in this fantastic book. When things in the travel industry change and you can save even more, guess what? Your updates are free for a lifetime.

If you feel that this book doesn’t deliver on its promises, just ask for a refund. You’ll get it back in 48 hours. No hoops to jump through and no questions asked.



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