Summer is right around the corner and will be here before we know it. If you are planning a trip abroad . . . or even here in the USA, be sure to check out this article by Raine Parker.
Saving Money While Traveling Abroad
Once you’ve had practice living frugally at home, saving money becomes almost habitual. But when you’re boarding that plane to Paris or setting off on your dream cruise to Barbados, sometimes budgeting can be the last thing on your mind. Notwithstanding, controlling spending abroad can be even more important than budgeting at home, simply because tourist items, from entertainment to food to gifts, are several times more expensive, regardless of your destination, than similar items at home. The following are some tips for living frugally but still making the most of your vacation.
1. If possible, try to plan your vacation so that you travel during low or off season.
Opting to travel during off-season months, like September, has many benefits, and not all are money-related. For one, you’ll beat the large tourist crowds, which can make the traveling experience a bit claustrophobic. You won’t encounter as many lines at tourist attractions and you won’t have to make a reservation for every single restaurant. Airlines, hotels, and tourist services and attractions all typically slash their prices, sometimes by as much as fifty percent or more, during off-season periods to attract more clients.
When I traveled to Greece in late February last year, I stayed in a very clean, spacious hotel on the island of Paros for a laughably low price. The hotel proprietor offered my friends and I free drinks, and he even personally treated us to dinner at the restaurant next door. I suggested the same hotel to friends who would be going to Greece a couple of weeks later, during the peak spring break season. The room prices were triple the rate I received, and they got none of the freebies.
Smartertravel.com offers some great tips, including pitfalls to avoid, for traveling during off-season .
2. Use public transportation.
As most of us know, taxis are expensive, no matter where you live. As a tourist, you will probably encounter even more exorbitant taxi prices, if only because you’re a tourist, and cab drivers can detect out-of-towners in a second. If you’re visiting a country where cab prices can be negotiated, then bargain hard BEFORE hopping in. If not, then it’s best to make use of public transportation. You’ll beat traffic, save money, and meet interesting, local people along the way.
3. Don’t take your cell phone from home!
This may be a no-brainer to some, but I made this mistake, and, almost a thousand dollars later, I paid dearly for it. Even if your cell phone service provider offers specials on their international rates, there are far cheaper options to keep in touch with friends and family back home. Especially if you’re staying somewhere for more than a week, it may be worth it to purchase a cheap, pre-paid cell phone. You can keep in touch with your travel partners locally basically for free, and you can use a phone card to make calls home for just a few cents a minute.
If you have access to the Internet, then Skype may be your best bet. Skype-to-Skype phone calls are completely free, and if your computer has a camera, then you can even see your loved ones as you speak to them. VoIP-News.com offers some tips to enhance your Skype experience.
4. Hunt for student and other tourist attraction discounts.
Almost all museums around the world have student discount rates, and most allow students in for free. If you’re in school, be sure to bring your student ID with you. Even if you aren’t a student, you can still find great discounts on attractions if you do a little searching online beforehand. Last winter, when I went to Ireland, I purchased the Dublin Pass , which offers free entry to over thirty museums and attractions, additional discounts on shows and restaurants, and unlimited use of Dublin’s public transportation system. I received all of this for around $70, and I calculated that I saved around $250.
So, as you can see, traveling doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Being smart about your expenses while abroad will make for a much more enjoyable travel experience.
By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Raine Parker, who writes on the topics of accounting degree online . She welcomes your comments at her email Id: raine.parker6@gmail.com .
Be sure to check out another of her great articles entitled 100 Best Blogs For Women In Business
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