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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Lizzie Scott asked:


Cruise ship vacations are one of the most affordable ways to travel almost anywhere – from the glaciers of Alaska to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

There are many types of cruises – from luxury cruises to the budget cruise that provides value for very little money. One advantage of going on a cruise is the variety of entertainment. It ranges from cinema, bowling alley, swimming pool, casino, volleyball, basketball, gymnasium, golf and many more.

Most advertised cruise prices are based on double occupancy. There are less cheap cruise deals for solo travelers, since the single supplements can add quite a bit to the price of the cruise. It is always a good idea to inquire about special single rates if you are traveling alone.

The location of the cabin is another important consideration when booking a cruise. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive. If you have never taken a cruise before, it is a good idea to get advice from those who have experienced this sort of budget travel. They can provide valuable insights on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise.

Just like its many options, the excitement and adventure on cheap cruise holidays are boundless too. Many cruise passengers love the off-ship excursions that are offered at every port. Water sports lovers will revel at the opportunity to water ski, jet-ski and scuba dive. For instance, guests on a Mediterranean cruise may enjoy a night at the opera or a day at a local soccer game, while visitors to Caribbean ports of call may enjoy diving and enjoying the local coral reefs.

These cheap cruises also offer a wide range of dining options. From buffet to fine dining, all you need to do is pick one that suits your palate. And best of all, many cruises’ buffet are open day and night. Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises may include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included, be sure to get a price list for shore excursions and drinks.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions while on a cruise by booking the tours locally at portside instead of going with the cruise line. Just be sure that the excursion you booked will get you back to the ship on time.

And when night arrives, you can select from discos and bars to casinos and theatres. Some cruise ships even offer classes such as poker or ballroom dancing. These cruises are often popular for those who are looking for a budget travel. After all, lodging, meals and entertainment costs are included on the cruise. Check the Internet or local travel agent to get the best cheap cruise available.

Getting the best deal on a cheap cruise requires time, planning, perseverance and research. Shop as early as possible especially for popular destinations like the Caribbean or Mexico in the high season.

It is always possible to save money when you travel during the off-season. This is often a great budget travel strategy. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and inviting in many tropical cruise destinations. It is important to check out the local weather and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering.

Cruise lines have been know to offer some cheap cruise deals at the last minute to move unsold cabins or avoid leaving with a less than full passenger load. There are many last minute travel newsletters with these sort of budget travel deals. So be on the lookout for it.



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Paul Hata asked:


For many people, a cruise ship can be the ultimate budget travel destination. A cruise provides a great, one price, vacation, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise is that just about everything is included in the price.

As a matter of fact, in some cases the daily cost of a cruise can be less than the daily cost of a decent hotel room. When you consider that the price of the cruise includes not only the room, but all the food and entertainment as well, it is easy to see why cruises are so popular with budget minded travelers.

Of course, there are some things that are typically not included in a cruise package, and it is important to find out what is included and what will need to be paid for as an extra.

For instance, most cruises do not include alcohol, and require passengers to pay their bar tab upon departure. In addition, most shore excursions and local sightseeing is not included, so it is important to get a detailed list of such excursions, including the price.

In addition, since advertised cruise prices are based on double occupancy, cruises are often less of a deal for solo travelers, since the single supplements can add quite a bit to the price of the cruise.

It is always a good idea to inquire about special single rates if you are traveling alone.

The location of the cabin is another important consideration when booking a cruise. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive.

If you have never taken a cruise before, it is a good idea to get advice from those who have experienced cruising.

These people can provide valuable insight on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise experience.

As with other kinds of travel, getting the best deal on a cruise will take some time, some planning, some perseverance and plenty of shopping around.

It is a good idea to shop as early as possible, particularly for popular destinations like the Caribbean or Mexico in the high season.

Of course, it is possible to save money by traveling in the off season, and this can often be a great strategy. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and inviting in many tropical cruise destinations.

It is important, however to check out the local weather, and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering. Steering clear of hurricanes, tropical downpours and other weather problems can help you get the most out of your cruise.

It is not always necessary to shop early, of course. Cruise lines have been know to offer some spectacular discounts at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid leaving with a less than full passenger load.

There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide details on these types of cruise deals, and these last minute travel deals are a big hit with retirees and others with the time to see the world.



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