Travel in Budget

David Chandler asked:


When traveling on a budget, one of the most often asked questions is whether it is best to travel independently, reserving your own airfare, hotel stay and sightseeing reservations, or choose a package tour where everything is set up for you in advance.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It is largely dependent on the location you have selected and dates of travel. For instance, travel to European destinations are often less costly to book on your own, especially when the airlines are running specials of European airfares in the off-season.

On the other hand, travel to many exotic locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand, and India, are often much less expensive when booked through a vacation package company or travel agent. That is because these tour operators often have special deals with the national airlines of these companies, and with very nice resort hotels, to provide considerable discounts in exchange for a steady flow of business.

For instance, with a little bit of shopping, you can book a vacation package from New York to Egypt for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. This is far less than you would have paid if you had booked this trip independently.

Similar deals exist for other locations, notably India, China, and Taiwan. So be sure to check on the availability of these package deals when shopping for a budget travel deal.

Of course, some great deals can be had on your own as well, and this is often a great way to go, especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers often have difficulty getting those great deals on package deals, since the required single supplement can often ruin the deal.

It is also important to find out exactly what is, and what is not included, in any package you are considering. Many package deals have optional excursions built in, and these extras can add considerable cost. Be sure to ask for a detailed daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on your own if you fail to take these optional. Also ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, including full descriptions and prices, and then carefully compare the total price to what you could find on your own.

If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start shopping early, especially if you are traveling by air. The important thing to remember is that airlines allocate only so many seats for those advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly, you may be out of luck. It is important to book the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to ensure the lowest possible prices.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a vacation package deal or independent travel is up to each individual traveler. It is important to carefully compare package prices with those for independent travel to the same location. It is also important to consider your own personal travel style. Some people are more comfortable with a packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, while others relish the freedom from schedules that independent travel provides.



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Paul Hata asked:


For many travelers dealing with a tight budget, one of the first decisions to be made is whether to book their own travel deals or take advantage of one of the many all inclusive packages that are available.

In most cases, the decision to go with an all inclusive resort will depend on the particular deal being offered. For instance, there are a great many excellent all inclusive resorts that provide considerable discounts in the off season and the shoulder season, so it is definitely worth checking out these options if you get the opportunity.

One of the best ways to decide if an all inclusive resort is really the best deal going is to create a spreadsheet listing all the various costs of a do it yourself vacation.

Be sure to include both obvious things like airfare, hotel, rental car, meals and sightseeing excursions, as well as incidentals like tips and gratuities.

Then start shopping for the best deal on all these things in the resort location you have chosen. Add it all up, and keep that number in mind as you start searching for all inclusive travel packages.

It is often possible to find all inclusive travel packages that match or beat the costs of a do it yourself vacation. That is because all inclusive tour operators are able to strike deals for substantial discounts with airlines and hotels by guaranteeing them a certain amount of business.

Of course, when booking an all inclusive vacation package, it is important to find out exactly what is and is not included in that all inclusive package.For instance, most all inclusive packages do not include alcoholic drinks, while some do include them.

If this is a concern, you may want to compare the prices of these two kinds of all inclusive and make the decision appropriate for your needs and lifestyle.

In addition, some all inclusive travel packages do not include airfare, so be sure to determine if airfare is included in order to make an intelligent and informed decision.

Sightseeing excursions are another thing that are often not included in an all inclusive travel package, so be sure to get a list of included and optional sightseeing excursions, along with a price guide for those that are not included in the basic price.

If you are traveling alone, it is also important to consider the dreaded single supplement. The single supplement for all inclusive resorts can vary quite a bit, to as little as $100 to as much as doubling the advertised price of the vacation.

If you are traveling on your own, it is vital to understand how much the single supplement is before booking the trip.

The decision of all inclusive versus do it yourself is rarely an easy one to make. It is important to compare packages carefully in order to make sure you are truly getting the best value for your money.



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Johnson Tee asked:


You want to travel and see different places but you have a tight budget? Remember you don’t have to be filthy rich to go on a domestic or international holiday. With proper research you will find that you can actually travel within your budget. Traveling is not just meant for people with a pocket full of money, it is meant for everyone!

If you have chosen a domestic destination, then it is suggested that you stay at hotels and motels on the outskirts of your travel area. You can save a lot of bucks if you decide to lodge in one of the budget hotels or motels available commonly these days. If you are planning to rent a car, then it is better if you search for a place on the periphery of your vacation location.

It is not a difficult task to go on a budget vacation. The main requirement is proper planning. You must survey and do adequate research to avail the best deals. One of the best places to look for the most current packages is the Internet. Many a times you get a discount when you book online.

You can save a lot of money by staying in a hostel instead of a hotel and you can even take a tent. This will not only allow you to stay within your budget limitations but it would also be an adventurous experience for you.

One of the important tricks that you must know to travel real cheap is traveling during the off-season. Owing to less demand, the prices of traveling fares and accommodation will be comparatively lower.

You can also consult the various travel agencies because they often offer cheap packages. This will prove to be beneficial for you. If you do not want to go the travel agent way, then you can always contact the different airline companies directly and find out the most recent offers for those companies. Do not stick with only one Airline Company. The biggest advantage of budget travel is that you are going to be totally independent and be your own person.

One important thing you must not forget is about travel insurance. In case of any mishap like losing your belongings or any medical issues, you can at least recover some expenses if you have insurance.

Be practical and inquisitive. Try to gather as much information as possible about your dream destination so that you can cope in a better way in case of any emergency. If you are involved with any travel agency, find out about any budget tours that they might have available. By doing this, you can arrange your schedule and plan your trip well ahead of time.

The budget trip will really be an adventurous experience that you will treasure throughout your life. So collect as many souvenirs of the place as possible, but don’t get lured into the duty free shops—they always charge more!

With general awareness, being cautious and with the proper strategy you are bound to have a great budget vacation!



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