When we buy air tickets, we tend to compare prices don’t we? What is the secret to  buying air tickets at low prices? The secret is the ability to be flexible. Last month, I managed to buy a one way ticket from Singapore to Sydney for just $480 inclusive of tax. That was such a good buy as other flights offered a whopping average of $600 for a one way ticket.

The best way to shop is to check out all online sites such as expedia.com, zuji.com, kayak.com, orbitz.com and trevlocity.com as well as major airline sites. Invest time to compare prices and choose the one that suits you. You can also check out this useful site that offers reviews of such online ticket-purchasing sites: http://online-travel-sites-review.toptenreviews.com/

You will notice that cheap flights involve indirect flights in the sense that you have to put up with being in transit at another airport or two before flying to your final destination. When I shopped for my ticket then, I had two concerns in mind – to buy cheap and to reach my destination on the same day. I found a cheap flight that involved a two-hour transit in Perth. In most instances, purchasing a cheap ticket comes with inconvenience. Of course there are times when tickets for direct flights can be bought cheaply on offer. Anyway, I had to be transferred to the domestic terminal in Perth that was 15 minutes away by shuttle bus and then lug my heavy luggage (a huge travel bag and an overnight bag as a hand carrier) out of the bus to the check-in counter to get through customs again. Unfortunately, there were no trolleys in sight. I then had to put up with another hour of waiting till it was time to board the Sydney bound plane. On top of that, there was a fifteen minute delay. When I retrieved my baggage at Sydney domestic airport and plopped onto the back seat of the taxi, I breathed a sigh of relief. Putting up with aches in my shoulders and arms for some days was part of the package, I guess.

So you see, you pay for what you get. If you are flexible with dates and are ready to put up with some hassle and little bit of an adventure, you can save $200 or more on plane fares. Look carefully at the flight itinerary online before committing to purchase the ticket. Be clear about your objectives and weigh out the pros and cons. Indeed, if you are travelling with your family, saving more than $200 goes a long way!  

Hello everyone! I will be back with more interesting posts. Thanks for your continual support. I will cover topics on cheap flights, budget holiday ideas, staycation spots and exotic travel destinations.

For those interested, you are welcome to contribute articles on budget travel.  Opportunities for posting articles are open to guest writers from time to time.

Watch out for new posts soon!

If you love cultural overseas tours and shun away from them because you think it will be a rip in your pocket, you are disillusioned. Such tours can actually be economical if planned carefully. I will share with you my experience on a ’four-day three-night’ cultural tour I organised for just US$549.

Firstly, let me share with you my planning strategies. The first thing to do is to check out travel agencies in the country or city you will be travelling to. This can be done online or sourced from any reputable travel magazines or brochures. Circumventing your local tour agent will save you a lot of money. You will need to plan and do your leg work way in advance. Communicate with the travel agents via email and customise your own itinerary. You will need time to do your own research on the cultural performances that are available at that time so that your preferences can be communicated. Once you have gotten feedback on the price of your tours based on your itinerary, shortlist your candidates and decide on the one that offers value for money.

My four-day three-night tour to Bangkok in November 2009 provided me with an exposure to the culture of Thailand through the array of performing arts showcased. It comprised a cultural dance show at dinner, a traditional puppet show and a visual extravaganza staged Thai dance and mime performance that spanned over time and generation.

I would recommend Siam Niramit which is a famous staged cultural show held in an auditorium that has a seating capacity of 2000. I recommend getting there early, say by 4pm. Take a tour around the cultural village where homes from the central, northern, northeastern and southern regions are displayed. There are also dessert and handicraft making demonstrations by Thais dressed in traditional attire. You can also take a boat ride on the little lake around the village. In addition, there is a cultural performance at 6pm in which traditional Thai dance and music are showcased.

The next stop is a dinner buffet that can be purchased with the ticket. I would recommend having dinner at 6pm before the crowds come in. There is a wide spread of dishes to choose from. Some examples include sushi, glass noodles, aglio olio pasta, curry, chicken soup noodles, fish in pesto sauce and pumpkin in coconut milk. Simply put, the dishes are international vegetarian including Japanese, Vietnamese, Western and of course Thai cuisine. 

The highlight is the Siam Niramit show that is 80 minutes long. It comes in 3 acts- Journey back into history, Jo.urney beyond Imagination, Journey Through Joyous Festivals. Dancers get audience engaged in the auditorium where they are encouraged to participate in the Loy Krathong Festival. A procession of elepahants at the end of the show injects an element of surprise for the audience. There is indeed so much colour and vibrance in the whole show. The sound and visual effects like thunder, rain, harvest time, boats travelling on the river are spectacular. The parts when the front of the stage is transformed into a river and when dieties appear to be flying are phenomenal. I must say, the show is a must-see if you are in Bangkok.

Tickets may vary from agent to agent. Check out and compare prices before purchasing. The following are websites that can give you a head start: Hotels2thailand, Alexholiday, Siammedee. I find that buying online from the Siam Niramit website seems to be dearer. Hence, tickets can be bought separately from a different tour agent that offers free pick-up from hotel and value-for-money ticket that includes a buffet dinner.  

The next visit I would recommend is the Joe Louise Puppet Theatre. This theatre specialises and focuses on puppet performance on the Ramayana epic. The way the puppets are manipulated is really amazing. It takes so much skill to master the right way of controlling each puppet. Each move mirrors the facial expression, the feelings, action of the puppet. 

The first and third person in a row of three use facial expressions that mirorr that of the puppet.

The body of the puppeteers move to coordinate with the movement of the puppet.  

Three cultural shows thrown in including a trip down the Chao Praya River that includes a visit to to the Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace cost only US$549. The price includes airfare (flying with the national carrier, Thai Airways) lodging and three daily meals. Of course, you can save up more if you can get a better airfare deal online, especially if you have to take connecting flights. 

So you see, you don’t have to end up missing out on a themed tour like the cultural or historical tour of your choice because of the impression that it is going to blow your budget. Plan ahead and be smart with your choice and booking strategies. Once you have your contacts at hand and have made a list of the cultural shows you want to watch, it’s time to start taking quotes from the local agents. Happy trip planning!  

Most of us may have the perception that youth hostels are strictly for youths. Indeed, we are wrong. Youth hostels are for the adventurous budget traveller regardless of age. Such accommodations are affordable alternatives to hotels and unlike hotels, you have a choice of whether to choose to share a room with up to eight people or have a room to yourself. Bear in mind that single rooms are few and cost higher than the dormitory-like rooms but nonetheless less expensive than a hotel room. Also most hostels offer only dormitory-like rooms. If you don’t mind sharing a room with strangers, this will be an opportunity for you to get to meet people from different countries.   

If you have never stayed in a hostel before and are interested in staying in one, here are some facts you need to know:

1)   Know what to expect 

As most hostels keep their single rooms at a minimum, you have to be open to sharing a room and bathroom with strangers. You will not receive any freebies like soap and towels. Sheets are not provided and you won’t have the luxury of watching the television all on your own. On the other hand, hostels may offer amenities that hotels don’t such as a common kitchen, games room, library and free internet access.

2)  Find a hostel  

Look up hostels on the internet. Simply do an internet search for hostels and the city and you will be provided with a list of hostel information. You can also click these websites that I have sourced from the internet: www.hiusa.org, http://www.hostelineurope.com, http://www.hostels.com. Most important, is to check reviews by guests to gauge the quality of the accommodation.

Try to exchange notes with other travellers at the hostel you will be staying for future reference. Check hostel sites to find out about the location, availability of lockers, single rooms or access to free internet.

3)  Compare prices before you book  

You can either book directly from the hostel website itself or through general hostel sites. In most cases, online booking is cheaper as they offer deals especially during the low peak season. 

4) Decide whether or not to join Hostelling International

Hostelling International is an organization of hostels that maintain certain standards. They’re often cleaner and more reliable. A few of these hostels will not allow non-members, but most simply charge you a non-member supplement (usually 1-5 dollars a night extra). Check to see if non-members are welcome before making a booking. If you’re going to be staying in Hostelling International hostels in Europe for more than a week in any given year, consider buying a membership card, available for Americans at hiusa.org.  

(Refer to Hostelling International’s website for other countries’ sites). A year’s membership costs $28 as of 2010, and gives other benefits, such as very basic travel insurance, discounted trips and activities in many countries, concessions on entertainment and reduced admission to museums and cultural events. It is worth it only if you travel regularly and choose to stay in ’Hostelling International’ hostels. Do thorough research on museum exhibits, cultural events and entertainment at the time of travel at that location and double check if you are eligible for such member benefits.

5) Pack appropriately.

Because hostels don’t provide the same amenities as hotels, be sure to pack a towel and bring your own toiletries. There will be no toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, etc. Bring a small combination lock for those hostels that have lockers but expect you to bring your own lock. Your mobile phone alarm will be valuable but if you are wary about placing it on the bed beside you in a room consisting of strangers, an alarm clock will be a good replacement. If you’re a light sleeper, consider earplugs. Thongs or rubber slippers are useful for trips to the bathroom or common room. 

Hostel accommodation is not for everyone. You have to have a sense of adventure and make an effort to get to know people of different cultures to learn from others and enrich your travel experience. Such an accommodation allows you to stretch your budget while at the same time widen your horizons.  

Free and easy is a concept of travel which gives vacationers the freedom to design their own itineraries. There are two ways you can make a free and easy holiday possible. The first is to hook up with a tour agent and purchase air tickets, book accommodation and arrange for airport transfers. The second is to do everything online by comparing prices. This involves a lot of research but saves you a lot of money.     

Whichever way choose, free and easy travel allows vacationers the freedom to choose the attractions or specific places they want to visit without being subjected to a schedule set by the tour agency and monitored by a tour operator. For example, during my visit to London a few years back, I had the liberty to choose a local agent that conducted tours to the historic university town of Oxford, to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of our world famous writer, William Shakespeare and to Warwick Castle. I had a short but fulfilling stay in England and did not have to succumb to the tight time limit stipulated by the tour guide just so we could move to our next destination. I have stayed away from group tours for a long time now as I didn’t want to be hassled and be part of a herded flock of sheep. No offence to those who favour group tours. Of course both kinds of tours have got their advantages.

Free and easy vacationers will not have to wait to have enough bookings on the same trip and date to start a group tour. Bookings can be made anytime of the year and at any lodging of your choice.

Vacationers can take their time to visit a particular tourist attraction in a free and easy tour. If delayed, the time to tour at the next destination can be adjusted or rescheduled if the period of stay permits. Vacationers can pick and choose their favourite tour sites and focus on sight-seeing instead of shopping which is part of the activity thrown in by tour operators in a packaged tour.

The other benefit is to discover more of the place and the food that it offers. The budget conscious vacationer is free to take a stroll to the nearest market or street from their lodgings to savour the sights, soak in the atmosphere and check out food outlets that offer affordable prices. Alternatively, the vacationer can also purchase the basic ingredients for sandwiches to cut down on food expenses and concentrate on sight-seeing. 

For those who go on free and easy tours of their own, 30-40% can be saved as they circumvent commissions paid to the tour agents. Most importantly, there is a liberty of choice based on preference. This is also way cheaper than customised tours conducted by an agent. 

Below are some tips on free and easy tours based on my experiences:

1. Plan your itinerary carefully

Spend a little more time doing online research and make a few phone calls to ensure smooth planning. Be realistic when planning your itinerary such that you do not include too many places of interest to visit per day. Three places in a day will be sufficient, taking into consideration the time taken to travel to each destination. If renting a taxi from a reputable company is cheaper for a short period of time, by all means go ahead. Alternatively, a large amount of time will have to be spent in researching on local transport such as the public bus, train or tram and transport routes. Check the operating hours of places of interests so that you can prioritise the order of places to visit. It is also advisable to check entrance fee charges and possible discounted rates for senor citizens or visa card holders.         

 2.     .  Learn the basics of the language used by the locals

Get a travel guide that contains some information of the place you are visiting and the basic words and phrases that help you ask for directions, seek medical assistance or order food. 

3.      Travel in a small group of up to four people

Assign a task to each group member prior to the trip such as hotel and flight research and bookings, research on places of interests and transport. This lifts the burden of having to research on several aspects of the tour by one or two people. Besides, accommodation charges and food expenses can be reduced by up to 50%.

4.       Be comfortable and confident of the destination

Ensure that the country of visit is safe for free and easy travel. Don’t risk taking the public transport if you know that there is a high chance you will be robbed or pick-pocketed. Otherwise, it will be safer to engage a tour guide and driver from a local reputable agent.

5.       Do not flash your valuables  

Avoid carrying backpacks when travelling as this may attract skilful pickpockets in crowded places. I had an awful experience one evening when my camera got stolen from my haversack in downtown human-packed Sydney.  Travel pouches or sling bags are safer to carry as the way such bags are carried ensures that they can be seen and felt nestled in front of you or by your side. Avoid carrying too much cash at one time.  Use the hotel safe to keep your passport or part of your cash.   

Bear in mind that there have been cases in which free and easy vacationers have to end up paying more than those who book packaged tours.  This is because the latter comes with accommodation, daily meals and entrance fees to local attractions that cost cheaper for bulk bookings. If you still have your hearts set on a free and easy holiday, ensure that you do your homework thoroughly by comparing prices and strike the best deals on offer.  

Happy Valentine’s Day to all readers and happy travelling!   

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!

 If you are in need to shop for leather products or silver jewellery, Bangkok is one of the best places in the world to get them. In Bangkok, you don’t just get quality products but also a wide variety at amazingly cheap prices. One can bargain at selected shopping malls and at the bazaars.

I just returned from a trip to Bangkok and was overwhelmed by the leather products there. Such products include wallets, shoes and bags. If you aren’t after brand names, then Bangkok is the mecca for genuine and quality locally-made leather goods. I would recommend Chatuchak Market and Suan Lum Night Bazaar for great bargains. The former is only open on the weekends, Saturday and Sunday from 7am until late while the latter functions for business from 5pm to midnight.

Here you can haggle for the best prices and shop to your heart’s content. Bags, wallets, shoes and silver jewellery of all kinds are found here and usually they are one-of-a-kind. Apart from leather products, you can find Thai handicrafts, Thai silk, tableware, clothes and paintings. Start low when you bargain and then slowly increase your asking price till you strike a deal.  There is no need t bring along a calculator to convert prices as the shop keepers will proffer you one to show the price offered for a particular product.   

If you are in the heart of the city, Mah Boon Krong (MBK) mall is a good place to shop for bargain goods of all kinds. At eight stories high and 330 metres long, with 2,500 shops using a total selling area of 89,000 square metres, this shopping mall used to be one of the biggest malls in Asia, when it was first founded in 1985. Here, you can find fashion outlets that cover everything from jeans, outsized clothing (for the ‘larger’ Western frame), trendy apparel as well as shoes, handbags, Thai silk, Polo T-shirts, accessories and jewellery. You can strike a bargain on products sold at some of the stores in the mall. After some effort at bargaining, I managed to buy two silver rings, one studded with sapphire and the other citrine, for US$68. What a good deal! Take advantage of sales in fixed-priced stores. I managed to get two genuine sting ray skin products (a key chain with coin pouch and a wallet) for US$53 after a 20% discount off the original price.

A bonus advantage that MBK Mall offers is the Tourist Discount Card. Apply for it at the information kiosks on the first and second levels. You need to produce your passport. Armed with this card you will be entitled of discounts between 5 and 30% on selected merchandise and at some restaurants. A list of participating stores will be provided when you apply for the card.

Check the internet for information on accommodation, shopping and transport. Plan your itinerary and route carefully.  It is convenient to use the Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), the underground metro system to hop from one destination to another.  Be familiar with MRT routes. Alternatively you can hire a metered cab but be prepared to get stuck in the continuous traffic congestion.  I do not recommend taking the ubiquitous motorized rickshaws called tuk-tuk if you are not familiar with the route and have no idea about the cost of the journey.         

If you need to shop for clothing, leather products or silver jewellery at great bargains, Bangkok is one place I strongly recommend. I would suggest a three to four-day shopping tour that focuses on selected shopping areas like the above-mentioned. Check out the best packaged deals for flight to and from Bangkok and accommodation in the city and plan your trip well. Bangkok is one of the cheapest destinations for the budget shopper and traveller looking for good deals.        

Vacations are important in our hectic lives as they are good platforms for forging family bonds, relieving stress, rejuvenating which in turn increases our productivity level and maintaining our mental health and sanity. If you are constrained by time or money, think of taking a vacation locally. Instead of going on a vacation, you can consider going on a staycation.  Usually taking a long weekend away from home helps us to charge our energies and return to work feeling rejuvenated. Consider the following staycation ideas:  

Staycation Idea #1:

Play “Hometown Tourist:”

You may be surprised at how much fun it is to be a tourist in your own town. Check out the websites on your hometown and plan a fun time as though you were new to your city or area. Try to avoid chain restaurants and anything you normally do, and try unique things that you’ve been meaning to try, or perhaps that you’d never heard of before. There are themed restaurants you can go to or try dining at the highest restaurant in the city and admire the stunning sunset. Visit the tourist spots by the tour bus or take a ferry down the river. Explore heritage sites and join group day or night tours. You would have never thought how fun it is to play tourist in your hometown at least once in your life.   

Staycation Idea #2:

Be A Hotel Guest:

It can be surprisingly relaxing to stay in a nearby hotel. I have the habit of doing this once in a while. I usually look for good hotel deals on the internet that comes with breakfast. It is fun to stay in a hotel and be treated like royalty. You get small luxuries like having access to Cable TV, sleeping in a comfortable king-sized bed, soaking in the bathtub, swimming in the hotel pool and using the gym facilities. Also you get to enjoy buffet breakfast and eat to your heart’s content. The first thing I would do when I check into a hotel is to check out the scenery outside the window and check out the facilities offered in the hotel. Then I will jump onto the bed, my hand reaching out for the remote control of the television.

Staycation Idea #3:

Visit a Day Spa:

If you can’t afford the time or money that would cost to go on a traditional vacation, you can spend a fraction of the money and a mere few hours at a day spa near your hotel. Check out the internet to see which day spas offer promotions during the period of your staycation before hand. For a real treat, spend an entire afternoon there and get a facial done as well as a nice body scrub, a massage followed by a hydrobath in goat’s milk. Look for a day programme package that costs cheaper than individual treatments. You’ll feel like you had a great vacation, but it will have cost you much less, which may reduce even more stress!

Staycation Idea #4:

Stay In Your Pajamas:

This is applicable to both men and women who want to distress on a budget. The idea is to stay in your pajamas all day, relaxing and doing only what you feel like. Want to surf the ‘net for hours, then watch “The Twilight Zone” on the Sci Fi channel? Want to do a crossword puzzle from the newspaper, then munch on chips? Watch three Star Wars movies in a row or a whole season of the “X-Files”? You get the idea. The pajamas are only to set the tone; the pajama day involves a whole attitude, a worldview of relaxation and proud laziness that lasts for an entire day. Sometimes that’s just what you need.  

Staycation Idea #5:

Indulge in a dinner buffet:

Try having a dinner buffet that costs so much less than paying for a three course ala carte meal. Skip lunch to save your tummy for the buffet spread and to cut down on food cost. You would never have thought how fun it is to try out so many different entrees, dips, side dishes, main meals and desserts. Indeed it is one good way to pamper yourself and to cut down international travel cost. Eat to your heart’s content and then work out in the hotel gym the next day.

If you are on a budget, staycation is a superb method for relieving stress regularly. You have to do some research work before you start on your staycation experience. 

Online booking has many advantages. The era of the World Wide Web allows you to check hundreds of hotels with only a few clicks and in fraction of time than before from the comforts of your home. Here are some plus points of online booking:

1)       An overview of all available hotels in any part of the world can be sourced out without any phone call at any time.

2)    Instant answers to the availability of rooms are provided.

3)    Professional, instant automatic e-mail confirmation is made available.

4)     It is time-saving to book online as information can be derived quickly.

5)    Reviews of hotels from former guests and information such as the rate of the    

       room and quality of service offered are available online.

6)    Some hotels offer special rates only via online booking.

7)    A detailed hotel description can be gathered from the hotel’s website.

9)   You can save much by selecting the services of online hotel booking service providers and by circumventing the tour agencies. You can definitely save on airline flights, car services, and even entertainment. You will get considerable discounts if you allow them to select all services you need. It is sure that you can save a considerable amount and have extra funds to enjoy on your trip.   

10)    There is no administrative cost for hotels to provide this service. Most of the hotels offer  online booking services to remain competitive in today’s travel market.

Also you should check if any big events are held during your stay. Should you find a particular hotel too expensive, have a look at a hotel not situated directly in the city centre, but connected to the public transportation. This allows you to save some money.

From my experience, I would like to advice that you should be on a look out for early bird deals when you book the hotel and hotels charge more on the weekend especially on Friday and Saturday. So, if you can keep your travel dates flexible, you can save by avoiding a weekend stay. 

The internet contains a gamut of information at your convenience. Make the most of it by planning for a great, affordable holiday.  

The decision to purchase travel insurance or not lies with the assumption that either nothing bad can happen during your travels, or whether should something bad happen you can adequately resolve these unforeseen events.

None of us want to think that something bad will happen. We assume incorrectly that fire, flood, earthquake and terrorism will happen to others. We assume we won’t have a heart attack or stroke, we won’t be ill. All these are wrong assumptions because we cannot predict the future and cannot tell what is going to happen.

Should you purchase travel insurance as a frugal traveller? Well, let’s look at a few things that could, and do happen, to overseas and even domestic travellers. Then, you decide if you should purchase travel insurance.

The question, “should you purchase travel insurance” is perhaps answered by asking yourself why you purchased homeowners insurance, or medical insurance or life insurance. You purchased them so that your consistent small payments would assure you of having someone else provide help in case of a catastrophic event for which you are unprepared. Purchasing travel insurance, just like purchasing any other insurance, is not just about receiving the funds to recover. It’s also about having the professional assistance for you and your family to recover.

You’re from Texas. You’ve never been to the ocean. You travel to Florida and book a hotel room a week but you are then ordered to evacuate due to an expected hurricane. But you have non-refundable airline tickets, and your hotel and rental car are already paid for. How do you replace the airline tickets and get reimbursed for your stay?

You’re on an island in the Caribbean, ready for your cruise back home. You find out that the cruise ship company has gone bankrupt and there will be no return cruise. What do you do? How do you get your money back? Most importantly, how do you get back home?  

You’re ready to take your family on a much-needed vacation to Hawaii. Your son has an attack of appendicitis and must have immediate surgery. But your airline tickets are non-refundable. How do you get your money back?

You landed in Melbourne and are ready to retrieve your luggage at the baggage carousel. However after waiting for 45 minutes, you still can’t find your luggage. Could someone have taken yours by mistake? You did not place an identity tag on your luggage or an address in your hurry to catch the flight. What should you do? You are stranded at the airport with no luggage. There is no way you can replace all the contents in your luggage during your stay. Do you have to spend on clothes for nothing using your credit card just to replace them? 

The above scenarios will give you an idea on whether you should buy travel insurance. While you hope that your trip will be plain sailing, you cannot tell the future or control circumstances. After all, it takes just a little out of your pocket to travel with your mind at ease and to cover expenses that are way beyond your savings if such unfortunate events would occur.  We pay a little in order to save more in unforseen circumstances.

Travel safe and don’t end up being sorry.      

Hotel cost can be among the biggest budget travel challenges. But even if you manage to find a good rate, you cannot avoid the taxes.  In many places, those now exceed 13 percent of the room rate.

You’ve used search engines to find a base price for rooms in your destination city. You have learned that online booking can cut your bill in half, and can be a real money-saver in certain circumstances. Perhaps you take advantage of hotel promotions and you’ve learned that places with empty rooms are ready to make deals.

The hospitality industry makes lots of money from services that are completely independent of your room rate. These are charges that are easy to side-step and must be given some thought when you check-in.

Avoid the Mini Bar  

Would you ever pay $5 for a bottle of water from the bar? How about a $6 bag of peanuts?

A few travelers are tempted to take the expensive water and then replace it the next day with a reasonably-priced bottle purchased elsewhere. It usually doesn’t work, because inventory is taken each day and some honor bars are equipped with motion sensors.

Buy your own drinks or snacks elsewhere and leave the overpriced items for the next guest. You can get mineral water for $1 and a bag of peanuts for $2 from the nearby supermarket.

Refrain from ordering room service

Another blow-a-hole-in-the-pocket charges is the food and beverage order service offered by the hotel. If you flip open the pages of the menu, you will notice that the prices are overly charged. Would you pay a whooping $24 ++ for a plate of fish and chips or $35++ for a set breakfast meal?

You can save 75% by eating out. 

Skip the In-Room Movies

“In-room movie” may be tempting as the selection is wide and the service offers viewing of the most recent movies. But those selections are overpriced offers on your screen.

For the price of some in-room movies, you can rent three or four titles at your hometown rental store when you get home, or buy the DVD and play it on your computer.

These costs add up quickly, but there’s an even more compelling reason to tune out: in-room movies are often the source of billing mistakes. Order one movie, and guests sometimes are charged for two or three.

It’s best to stay out of the hotel movie service altogether.

Stay off the Phone and internet access

This one is less of a problem than in previous years, because many travelers now carry their own mobile phones. But the temptation still sits on your nightstand.

Hotels have a varied and bewildering array of surcharges and fees for using their phones and internet access. Some charge for local calls. Some put premium charges on long distance in addition to the standard rates. Internet access cost $20  day and it is not as if you are likely to use it the whole day.

If you don’t have a mobile device, buy a pre-paid calling card for your long distance conversations. Ask about fees for calling the local pizza parlor or your in-town friends, too. Search for internet cafes in the area if you need to send out or check urgent emails.

Avoid hotel spa and massage services

Hotels may offer state-of-the-art massage parlours and spa services. However, that comes with a price. Such services usually charge patrons 3 times the amount and that too come with double taxes, including service charge.

If you need to seek such services, find out if the area offers any from the tourist centre or the internet during pre-departure and check-in research.   

We all know room service is usually overpriced, yet sometimes the convenience outweighs the cost. But if it becomes a habit, it can eat a chunk of your budget. Explore facilities are complimentary and the services that are located around the hotel area such as dining, grocery shopping, movies and entertainment.