Travel in Budget

Maxine Clarke asked:


As the effects of escalating oil costs continue to affect industries across the board, the credit crunch looks set to hit the consumer hardest once again.

Ryanair are the latest company to reveal the extent of its financial hardships, with annual losses expected to approach GBP50 million. In fact, in the three months to the end of June, the carrier’s net profits had fallen a staggering 85% to just 21 million euro.

With the significant increases in the price of oil over the past few months – a figure which saw it reach a peak in mid-July of nearly $150 per barrel – an announcement such as this was somewhat expected; only the extent of the losses came as a surprise.

Following the announcement from Ryanair, shares in the other exponent of budget flight – easyJet – plunged 8%, while British Airways suffered a drop of 5% in value. Those to suffer the most from the decline in fortune, however, look certain to be those travellers looking to take advantage of the great-value flights on offer.

With a view to curb losses, it is inevitable that profits will require a substantial boost from the raising of ticket prices. So is it time for the average traveller wave goodbye to those 1p fares? And if so, what will the affect be on the travel industry?

Many elitists – not too mention tourist destinations – may well greet the news of a reduction in budget flights with glee: at last the beautiful cultured streets of Europe will be free from drunken stag weekenders and hen parties, while the golden beaches of the Costa Blanca will no longer be inhabited by lobster-like British bodies.

However, tourism remains the lifeblood of many a destination, and a significant drop in visitors may lead to a host of problems caused by depleted funds. As a consequence, the need to welcome those budget travellers far outweigh the wish to keep them out.

It seems almost certain that the days when flights are sold for a penny apiece are gone. So will the immediate problems being suffered by the likes of British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair prove long-standing, or is there a glint of optimism on the horizon?

Thanks to the realisation that the over-inflated oil costs are in part due to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) reticence to export oil at a reasonable rate, and in part due to greedy traders profiting on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYME), oil has begun what many hope to be a steady downturn. Should this be the case, it it plausible that the airline prices may decrease once the price of oil steadies.

In the meantime, however, it seems likely that the next 12 months at least can see potential travellers wave goodbye to their much anticipated holiday.



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Paul Hata asked:


Travel is meant to be enlightening and broadening to the mind, and there are few things that enlighten and broaden the mind as well as stepping off the beaten path and exploring those areas of the world where few tourists have ventured.

Another important benefit of this road less traveled approach is that these un-touristy areas tend to be less expensive, often considerably so, that the same old vacation.

When it comes to finding unique travel destinations, the world is literally at your disposal. There are so many places that see little tourist traffic, and they include some of the most beautiful, and most pristine, places on earth.

Not only can your off the beaten path travels help you save money, but they will allow you to meet some wonderful, fascinating and engaging people as well.

And after all, it is the people you meet while traveling, the friends you make and the things you learn that make travel such a rewarding experience.

Long after the last souvenirs are put away, you will still remember the children you encountered while hiking in the Himalayas, or the farmer you met while backpacking through Cambodia.

Travel should be much more than just a long list of theme parks and tourist destinations; it should be a way to learn about the world and your place in it.

You may be wondering what all this has to do with budget travel, but I assure you there is a connection. That is because these very places, the unspoiled parts of the world with the fascinating people and unique cultures, are often the most affordable.

The U.S. dollar is very strong against almost all of the local currencies you will encounter off the beaten path, and that means your vacation dollars can stretch further than you ever imagined.

For instance, in many parts of Central and South America, you may be able to stay at a lovely inn or a beautiful cottage for an entire week and spend less than you would spend for a single night’s lodging at one of those mega resorts in Cancun.

In addition, you will see sights the vacationers in Cancun never dreamed of, from the cloud forests of Peru to the rain forests of Costa Rica to extinct volcanoes and breathtaking mountain ranges.

In addition to cheap lodging, traveling in non tourist areas also provides the opportunity to save lots of money on food while sampling some unique local dishes and different types of cuisines.

Local restaurants and eateries in these far off places can be sources of great fun, and some fascinating food. Of course it helps to bring along a sense of adventure any time you travel, but that is part of the fun.



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