Budget Travel Webpage

If you want to travel but don’t want to pay a high price for air travel, there is always the road trip to consider. It is definitely affordable and fuss free. Consider visiting the countryside or the sea resorts or even travel interstate.

Here are money-saving ideas that allow you to travel and have a break from daily routine.

Split Travel Expenses

Split the fuel, food and accommodation expenses amongst your friend. You can’t do that with airfare or any other form of transportation.

Rent or borrow a car with great fuel mileage and a weekend road trip for four could cost less than $50 a person in fuel, depending on the destination. Overall expenditure rates will also be cheaper than you think.

No Baggage Fees

You don’t have to consider baggage excess allowance and the fees incurred. Just pack as much as the space in the boot allows. You can even bring a bicycle or a surf board that can be easily fastened on top of the car. Fishing rods can be carried around too for some fishing experience. You will never get to bring such equipment on the plane. You don’t have to wait at the baggage carousel to retrieve your luggage. That is one hassle eliminated. Your luggage travels with you and arrives the same as you.

Smaller Towns Cost Less to Visit

With a road trip, it’s possible to visit places not serviced by airlines, or even sometimes bus or train. Don’t overlook the idea of going off-the-beaten-path on a road trip and visiting small towns instead of a large city. They often have a charm all their own such as quaint houses and shops and lovely landscapes. Visit a curio shop or have scones in a quaint antique shop. Admire the clock tower at the town square, visit the local farmer’s market or have picnic at the park.

As a plus, hotels, restaurants and attractions can cost considerably less, as well. A chain hotel that costs $150 a night in a large city could cost half that per night in a mid-size or smaller city or town. A family-run diner could provide one of the best meals ever eaten for the same price as a fast food value meal.

Bring Snacks and Drinks

Pack a cooler with ice. Stick in some water, soft drinks and sandwich fixings and a group of four can easily save on dining expenses while on the road. If traveling in a larger vehicle, consider investing in a small fridge that plugs into the lighter outlet. Try preparing convenient sandwich fillings or easy meals for the first day of the trip to cut down on the food budget. Examples are egg mayonnaise, tuna, salami, shredded chicken, and corned beef.

No Need for a Rental Car

One doesn’t need to spend money on a rental car when one drives to a destination. Use your own vehicle or borrow from a friend or family member. You can save on rental cost and other hidden fees. The money saved can be spent on petrol and accommodation instead.

Of course one of the best reasons to go on a road trip is just spending more time on the journey, bond with your friends and have unforgettable memories. You cut down travel expenses by half at the same time.

Bargaining is common in markets and stalls in many parts of Asia as well as in South America and Asia. It is an advantage to have an idea of how to bargain in order to avoid being cheated as well as strike a good deal. 

Bargaining should be done with goodwill so that neither party’s integrity is undermined. It is indeed an art that has to be mastered. Use smiles and good humour.  Beware of the fact that the business of bargaining can be brutal! 

Here is how I approach a bargaining process:

A vendor starts quoting a product for, let’s say, $20.  I say ‘No, too much.’  The vendor then says, ‘OK, $15.’

I say, ‘No,no. I will take it if you sell it for $10.’

The vendor says, ‘Oh, too low. $13?’

I say ‘$11. I have to go soon because my bus is waiting. If you don’t give me I will have to go.’

The vendor says, ‘No no. $13 or I cannot break even.’ 

I say ok, I will take it for $12. I have to go now if you can’t give that to me.’ 

Voila! A deal is struck. That’s a 60% price difference!

In such cases, I get to buy two of the same items such as souvenirs by asking for $24. Doubling the items will be a win-win situation for both as the vendor gets to sell more at one go.

Shopkeepers have a healthy tourist margin built in and will always aim high, taking full advantage of a good profit from the unsuspecting shopper.  I try to say no gently but firmly and laugh with them and quote a lower price.   

In many cases, I tend to successfully strike good deals by getting a price for 60% less than the original. If I am lucky, I get to buy an item for 50% less. Bargaining can be fun and satisfying when a good price is struck. It may not work with everyone but it takes some practice to be good at it.

Overseas travel, whether for business or pleasure can sometimes be stressful without careful planning. You may end up paying a high room rate or worse still without hotel accommodation if you book too late. You may even end up with insufficient cash or get lost while trying to find your destination. Here are some tips to avoid the unpleasant surprises:

First of all, choose a reputable airline that has years of experience flying to the destination of your choice. Nowadays, several airlines have partner airlines that they do business with and so your trip overseas may comprise flying one leg of the journey in one airline and a second leg with another. In cases like this, make sure both airlines are reputable. Additionally, you want to ensure that there is sufficient time between the arriving time of the first airline and the departing time of the second airline. Consult with the airline office ahead of time regarding their policy on accommodations in case the second airline takes off before the first lands. Many reputable companies will pay for a hotel room and meals while you wait for the next connection. Missed connections are by far the biggest headaches of overseas travelers and you do not want to be arguing with the airline offices in the midst of the crisis. Pre-planning is always helpful.

Secondly, find out the correct rate of currency exchange prior to your travel and see if you can get a small amount of currency exchanged for sundry expenses as soon as you land at your destination. Get to know ahead regarding approximate taxicab fares and rates for meals at your destination so you are budgeting properly for your trip and at the same time do not get overcharged at every step of the way just because you are a tourist. Keep a list of credit card numbers for the credit cards that you plan to carry and make also a notation of the telephone number to call and cancel and get replacement cards just in case your wallet or purse gets stolen.

Thirdly, learn some of the basics of the local language of the place you are planning to go to. You do not need to become an expert, but knowing the basics of the language, especially the emergency terms such as heart pain, stomach pain, need a doctor, calling the police, needing an ambulance, etc can be of great help especially under dire circumstances. Try to see if you can give your whereabouts and local contact data to friends and family back home everyday so they know about your safety and any special needs that you may end up having. Knowing the basic local language will also help you to find directions to your destination and order food in the restaurant or café or even haggle for souvenirs. These tips are likely to make your overseas travel safe and enjoyable.

Your travel can be enjoyable and safe if you plan and prepare ahead. Always bring a small notepad and pen to write in case of emergency or in case you need to ask for directions. With the conveniences of modern technology, information can be gathered at the click of the mouse or a dial on the phone.   

The festive holidays may mean doing some travelling to take a breather from the hectic work schedule or to visit relatives or friends in a different state or across the borders. Usually, holidays are a time that tends to cost a lot of money. By following the tips below, you can save money as well as have an enjoyable holiday. 

Save on travel. Holiday season is a peak-period of travel it is hard to find cheap tickets especially when you book late. A little legwork on your part during the holidays can help you to save money on travel. Keep a budget on your travel expenses, accommodation, food and petrol if travelling overland. Search for holiday deals or super saver airline prices. 

Use the Internet. Check several travel websites and compare prices to find the best deal on airline tickets. Consider travelling with a cheaper airline or even taking the budget airplane such as Jetstar, Lion and Tiger Airways. Start looking at prices several months before the holidays. Book when the tickets fall to a price that you can afford. However, if you keep waiting and expecting the prices to fall more, you may wait too long and have to buy tickets at a higher price.

Travel at odd times or off days. If you fly on the days that are known as the busiest travel days, you’ll pay more. Be willing to fly in and out of your destination on less-traveled days such as Monday to Wednesday or at inconvenient times such as late night or early morning to save money on travel during the holidays.

Look at more than one airport. It may be worth driving to a smaller regional airport if you can get cheaper tickets.

Consider driving. If you are travelling with your family and it is close enough to drive in a day or two, consider driving to your destination instead of taking the domestic plane. This saves money and you can make it a fun family trip through beautiful countryside at the same time. The only hassle is to put up in a motel. If need be, my advice is to check out good rates and book a room for the whole family early.

You can save money by doing some legwork and planning ahead before your trip. Travelling to the countryside or to the road less travelled is a good holiday destination at this time. If you are visiting relatives or friends in a foreign town or city, consider the traffic congestion during the festive period. Plan your route well and your travel timing. Above all, budget your expenses to avoid burning a hole in your pocket. Look for alternatives and make the right choices while you travel. Happy Holidays! 

Recently, a friend of mine came back from a backpacking trip in Asia and gave me valuable backpacking tips which I’d like to share with you.

We know things  in some Asian countries are cheap in terms of commodities, food, transport and accommodation. Don’t get blinded by cheap goods. You will end up spending more than what you planned on in the first place! One of the pitfalls of backpacking, my friend commented,  is spending too much money without thinking. Plan your budget and be practical when buying things in the bazaars. Don’t be taken in by the array of products and their astonishingly cheap, negotiable prices. This will result in you being short of cash and having to cut down on your activities and having to travel back home a few weeks earlier or worse still, having someone to transfer money to your account.

Here are some simple steps on how to backpack on a budget:

Accommodation:
Choose a hostel instead of a hotel because it’s your cheapest option where you share a room with up to 6 people. Meals are often not included in the price, but that shouldn’t be a problem because buying groceries in Asia is fairly cheap. You can prepare your own sandwich or cup noodles within the hostel premises.
Hostels are very affordable, convenient and a great place to meet other travellers. Have in mind that hostels are popular among young backpackers and even families, so the rooms fill up quickly. My friend’s advice is to travel during the off-peak seasons. But if you want to backpack during the high or peak season and you’re planning to stay at tourist-packed hotspots like Koh Phi Phi in Thailand or Siem Reap in Cambodia, remember to book a room way in advance. If you don’t do this and all the budget places are fully-booked, you will likely have to crash at an expensive 5-star hotel as a last resort.

Food and Drinks:
Avoid eating at road side food stalls or buying food from food vendors if your stomach is not used to it. There are basically food stalls and cheap restaurants everywhere in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and India. But be careful when choosing a place to eat — take note of the hygiene and the way food is prepared before you make a choice.

Transport:
Ask the staff at the guesthouse or hostel where you can find cheap transport and how much it should cost. This way you will avoid being tricked by local taxi drivers.  It is a good idea like the public bus and train that charge standard fares.

Shopping:
Looking for cheap shopping? Where you shop is as important as bargaining. Shopping at the local markets is often cheaper than the huge malls. But have in mind that most of the markets are popular tourist spots, so they’re usually crowded. It’s usually harder to bargain at these places because the sellers know that if YOU don’t buy their products - someone else will.

Bargaining is the key to cheap shopping. But before you do that, I recommend that you stroll around to compare prices. If it’s your first time in a foreign country, it’s sometimes hard to know what things should cost. You can’t bargain for something when you even don’t know if it’s cheap/expensive. Bargaining is an art. You have to know how to bargain to get the best prices.

Money:
Avoid exchanging money at the airports. If you do this, you will get the lowest rate of exchange. Go to a bank instead as they can give you the best exchange rates available. My advice is to change enough for your stay before you travel. That will save you the hassle of finding a money changer or losing out on low exchange rates.
If you’re planning on travelling to several neighboring countries, avoid exchanging too much money if you’re leaving the country in just a few days. You may not have enough time to spend it.

Communication:
Instead of using your mobile phone for international calls, you should use Skype at an internet café. To save money on domestic calls, don’t use your mobile phone with your original SIM-card. I suggest you buy a local SIM-card. Have the owner from where you bought the card from help you activate the SIM-card.

Tours:
Visiting some attractions? Skip the package tours and rent a bike or taxi for a day. If you decide to rent a bike, it’s cheaper and you get to see the things you want to see in your own pace. For free information on history and sights, ask the local staff at the guesthouse or a fellow traveler. Otherwise, you can print it out from the internet. A couple of print-outs are cheaper and lightweight than a book.

My backpacker friend advises that you plan your backpacking trips carefully and check out how to get to destinations in the country. The internet is full of information at your fingertips. Happy backpacking!