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Frugal Travel can be the Best!

By Karen Devine

Wouldn’t you like to see the world, and still have some money left to enjoy life’s little pleasures at home? If this is for you…read on!

A few trips ago, I ran into a white-haired woman standing on the ship’s deck as we waited to disembark to see the penguins of the Antarctic. She didn’t look like a world traveler to me, but after speaking to her I found she had been to many of the exotic ports I would love to see. She dressed for the weather, without designer clothing, she travels inexpensively since she is on a limited retires budget, and she loves bird watching, therefore her only extravagance was a very good pair of binoculars.

After we returned to the ship from visiting with the penguins, I met her for some tea, and we had just a wonderful chat. We spoke of travel…what else do travelers take about? 

Where we have been and where we would love to visit next in our travels. But even more importantly she helped me see an entirely different approach to traveling the world over.

I have since tried this method, and find it, a much more fun and exciting approach to travel. I now spending more of my time researching the itinerary, getting excited about what I will be seeing, learning about the culture of the area, identifying the cuisine of the country, and then finally enjoying the trip more than I ever thought possible.

So, here’s how I now approaching world travel.

• Look for discounts and inexpensive trips to places you want to visit.

• If you are a single traveler, offer to have a roommate assigned to you…you may make a new friend.

• Volunteer on scientific expeditions with educational institutions. Often time these groups will need a few adult travelers to keep the “troupes” together.

• Fly economy class instead for first class.

  • Fly on the commuter airline, at off pike times.

• Research, research, research; and where else but the “internet”.

  • Use travel websites and/or books to find low cost clean hotels

  • Take the bus, or underground to get to the hotel, instead of an expensive taxi ride.

  • Travel off-season. Consider going to Mexico during the summer, and Europe during the winter.

    • Stay in the city on weekends, and head for the country during the week, to keep hotel costs down.

  • Go touring.

    • Take the train, bus, or underground if you like to explore by yourself.

    • Learn about the places you want to see, and plan your travel day around that area, using local transportation and having your general path mapped out.

      • Save transportation dollars, by visiting everything in one area on the same day.

      • Use escorted tours, they are typically 20 percent or more the less than buying comparable travel products on an individual basis.

      • Or choose a travel package that includes airfare, hotel, airport transfers, and extra.

  • For your dinning pleasure, look for local flavor restaurants.

    • Ask the hotel people what their favorite restaurants are? And ask how far it is away from the hotel, and if it’s a ways away, incorporate it into your travel for the next day.

  • Getting around:

    • Negotiate the cost of a taxi, prior to getting into the cab. Know what that taxi ride should cost, ask at the hotel for an estimated cost for whatever your destination.

    • Travel second class on trains. Most European train service is excellent, even in second class; there’s no need to pay extra for first class. But be aware your ticket does not reserve you a seat.

    • Buy transit passes for multiple days and for off-pike hours at a fraction of the cost.

  • Avoid miscellaneous costs.

    • Avoid the high cost of hotel laundries; by taking yours to the local cleaners down the street.

    • Pack lightly, not only for convenience, but it also saves on excess baggage charges. (a new charge on most US airlines)

    • Never make telephone calls from your hotel room, use your cell phone  whenever possible.

    • Don’t use the mini-bar in your room, walk around the corner to a local mini-mart.

  • Want to cruise?

    • With record numbers of new ships, cruising offers the best travel value these days. Fares for gorgeous ships with every amenity are comparable to rates of 10 years ago.

    • Be flexible on travel dates, this can keep some of those hard earned travel dollars in your control longer.

    • Cruising 7 days can be done for less that $1,000 dollars a person in today’s marketplace.

    • Avoid pricey extras aboard ship. For example, those spa treatment can zero out your travel budget quickly.

    • Select shore excursions carefully.

  • Know when to splurge.

    • Special splurges are wonderful, especially when your frugal most of the time. So treat yourself every once in awhile.

      • To a special celebration dinner, or

      • A night in a hotel room overlooking Venice’s Grand Canal.

All in all these tips are easy to follow and will save you some travel money. But no matter how you like to travel the most important things to remember are to have fun traveling, and enjoy meeting new people around this ever shrinking world of ours.

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