Travel in Budget

Paul Hata asked:


Many budget travelers assume that a multi-city European vacation is beyond their means, but that is often not the case. The large number of budget airlines that have sprung up in Europe in recent years have dropped the average cost of airfare between many major European cities.

In some cases, the cost of coach airfare between major European hubs like London and Amsterdam is lower than a comparable first or even second class train ticket.

And of course flying between cities is far less time consuming than taking the train or driving yourself, and that means more time to explore the places you’ve always wanted to see, as well as more money to spend once you get there.

The key to getting the best airfares, both from the United States to destinations in Europe, and between European destinations, is to shop around and compare carefully.

Most major American air carriers have partnerships with one or more European airlines, and therefore it is often possible to shop airfares between European cities from the web sites of these airlines.

In addition, the major European only airlines all have their own web sites, and most provide for online booking and confirmation as well. This makes it easy to line up all your airfare before you leave the United States.

This is an important consideration, since it is often more difficult, and more expensive, to book airline tickets or train tickets after you have arrived in Europe.

The choice of European cities you plan to visit can also have a major impact on airfare between destinations. Many of the low cost European air carriers are based in London, so it is often considerably less costly to fly from London than to fly from many other major European cities.

Therefore, many budget travelers choose to make London their primary destination, and to take two and three day trips from there to the places they have always wanted to see.

While it is possible to get great deals from other European gateways, it is often more difficult than flying to and from London.

Just as American airlines have their own major gateways, such as New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, so too do budget European airlines.

Planning your visit around these hub cites is often the best way to get the lowest possible airfares between European cities.

Flying within Europe is surprisingly affordable for way for many budget travelers to get around.

Many first time travelers to Europe, and some seasoned travelers as well, are shocked to find just how affordable it is to fly around Europe.



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Stuart S. Travel asked:


 

Well you won’t be traveling to Monaco and staying at a five star resort on a budget, will you? Maybe so!  Mostly, traveling on a budget means finding the cheapest price for the experience you want.

 

When traveling on a budget it’s best to keep in mind the following points:

1. Travel in the off-peak seasons. You can save up to as much as fifty per cent off air flights and accommodation costs if you plan to travel in low season times.

2. Stay away from popular tourist spots (unless they are on your ‘must-see’ list). If you can go off the beaten track with your destinations, things can be cheaper to see and do and your cultural experiences will be richer.

3. Try camping. Not only is it the cheapest form of accommodation it’s a great way to get up close and personal to nature. It’s the best way to see National Parks and Heritage listed areas. 

4. Look for special travel offers (or packages). But make sure you check everything that they include – and don’t include.

5. Invest in a travel pass where you are able. Most developed countries have a rail or bus transport system where you can obtain day, week or monthly passes that will get you around cheaply.

6. Get a work permit if you aim to gain employment while traveling overseas. Working can help subsidize places that aren’t so cheap, such as Europe and Australia.

7. Look for good exchange rates on the dollar. This may help you decide which country to travel to.

8. Think about shortening your visit to destinations that are expensive and increasing your length of stay in cheaper places.

9. Where possible use your credit card. The exchange rate is better.

10. When staying in a hotel, avoid paying for ‘extras’. Don’t touch anything from the honor bar. Don’t watch the in-house movies and don’t use the hotel phone. And try not to use room service too much!

 

On the world scene there are some great places to travel on a budget for under thirty dollars a day. In Asia you can try India, Laos, China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sumatra and Burma. In Central and South America you can visit El Salvador, Bolivia and Ecuador. If you are after a budget experience in the Pacific, try Fiji or New Zealand. Over in Africa there are some great budget destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Don’t forget the Middle East where places like Iran, Syria and Turkey provide excellent value for money and wonderful experiences for the budget traveler.

 

There is no ‘best place’ to travel on a budget. Just be prepared to look around, avoid the pitfalls of unwanted costs in package deals or hotel bookings. If you want to travel and your budget doesn’t meet your expectations, be flexible and see if there is somewhere cheaper you might like to experience. You could be pleasantly surprised with your stay in India or Iran, when you thought you wanted to go to Tahiti.

 

 

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com



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Paul Hata asked:


Seeing the local sights is why most people travel, and this is the one area you should not miss, no matter how tight your travel budget.

It is possible, however, to see the local culture without busting your travel budget. This article focuses on some of our favourite tips for getting the most out of sightseeing on a budget.

Travel like the locals do

One of the cheapest, and most overlooked, ways to see the local sights is to travel like the locals travel. This means taking the bus, the subway or the train to the most popular tourist destinations.

Obviously this is not possible everywhere, as many places in the United States lack a comprehensive public transportation service. But where it is available, public transportation can be a great, and inexpensive way to get around.

It is important to note that most destinations in Europe have excellent, clean and safe public transportation, even in smaller towns and cities. Unless you absolutely must have your own wheels, it is usually quite easy to travel anywhere in Europe without the hassle and expense of renting a car.

Even in the United States, there are many places where a rental car is a liability, not an asset. That is because parking costs, fuels costs, etc. can be real budget busters.

Try to research your destination on the internet, and find out which public transportation options exist. You may be surprised at how easy, and affordable, this method of travel can be.

Take advantage of backpacker tours

Many destinations offer special backpacker tours for independent travelers. These tours can be great ways to see the sights, meet great new people, and have a great time, all while saving considerable sums of money.

Many of these tours allow you to purchase a ticket that is good for a specific amount of time, often a week or two. The company that operates the tour usually has a fleet of vans or buses that make a specific route, stopping at major tourist destinations.

During the length of your, ticket, you can generally hop on and hop off at will. This gives you the convenience of a guided tour, but allows you the freedom to spend as much or as little time as you want at each destination.

These backpacker tours can often be booked through local youth hostels, and hostels often feature flyers and information about tours that are available. This is one more reason to take advantage of these great budget accommodations.

Take the tour bus

Many large cites have a number of bus lines that operate sightseeing tours. These local bus tours often operate in a similar manner to backpacker tours, but they usually operate only in one city instead of covering a multi city route as most backpacker tours do.

The advantage of these sightseeing tours is that they allow budget minded travelers to cover a lot of ground, and see all the major sightseeing destinations in a city, in a limited amount of time.

These tours can be great for backpackers who are traveling to many different cities in a short period of time, as they provide a great overview of the city and what it has to offer.



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