How to Travel on a Budget-Sized Wallet
5 tips to save money while traveling
If you are planning a summer vacation and hope to fly to a sunny destination, or take a cruise to Mexico, there are a few things you can do to save money. I have done by share of traveling by land, sea, and rail and can offer you some tips that I learned along the way.
Taking A Cruise Vacation
- I have taken several cruises to various destinations like Mexico and Alaska, and you will definitely have the time of your life.
Just be aware that while onboard your ship, you may be offered various onshore excursions that may increase your credit card bill.
Before choosing pricy cruise-sponsored onshore excursions, do some research first online. Once you arrive onshore at different ports, you may be greeted by various private tour operators, whose prices may be a lot lower than the cruise prices.
Another option is to determine if the port of call includes a nearby beach and you may decide to spend your day at the beach by walking there or taking a short cab ride. Be sure you negotiate the price of the cab before using it in places like Mexico, Cuba or other sun destinations.
We also get to know the people in different countries by taking a cab ride to the hotel or our destinations. The cab drivers are usually friendly and eager to talk enthusiastically about their country and its interesting culture.
Onboard souvenirs may also be pricey, so it’s suggested that you wait until you reach your next port of call that will offer a tourist marketplace to buy cheaper T-shirts and other gifts.
When we landed in Puerto Vallarta, we stopped by the always exciting Malecon boardwalk, where there are lots of open-air Mexican restaurants, food stands, souvenir shops, and coffee shops.
We spent some time in a tequila store, which offered an incredible number of flavors of tequila and other liquors that were stacked from floor to ceiling. It makes a perfect gift and you can find the right size to put in your luggage. Other things to buy that make great gifts include hand carvings or paintings. You can go barter (reach a price with the seller) for these creative items at the marketplace. Sometimes along the beach, you may find some vendors who sell a variety of inexpensive craft items. I usually support these beach entrepreneurs because they have families to feed.
Going back on board, be aware that there is generally going to be an onboard casino. If you aren’t careful, the one-armed bandit will definitely eat up some of your traveling money! So if you can — stay clear of the casino floor.
Normally, the night before your cruise ends, the indoor shops slash the prices on many souvenir items, like T-shirts, watches, clothing, and other things. I snatched up a few watches at deeply discounted prices during one cruise vacation.
If you are eating in the gourmet dining room and ordering a bottle of house wine, usually the waiter can keep the unused bottle for you to drink on your other dining nights. This will keep your wine budget low.
Also, you may be able to purchase some wine at your port of call to bring onboard for consumption. Keep in mind that onboard drinks can also add up and be pricey — even if you get to keep the plastic souvenir mai tai cup.
2. When I traveled solo to New York one day, I opted to stay in a hostel that was close to the city center. I remember paying about $25 for a stay in the female dorm section. It was clean and safe. That was 10 years ago, and the price may have gone up a little now.
Definitely consider staying at a hostel if you are traveling solo or want to save. You may want to check out the reviews before you accept.
Other options include using sites like Couchsurfing or booking an Airbnb accommodation.
3. Book early and reserve accommodation before you fly. Flying offseason may also be cheaper if booking a hotel or flight. If you have a credit card with Airmiles, you can use your Airmiles to help pay for your flight based upon the number of points you received. Check with your travel agent to find out the offpeak season for your destination, or do some research.
4. If you are a student or a senior, you may benefit from the special senior and student rates. Check with your tour operator, hotel, or museum desk for discounted tours.
If you are 27 years and young, you may be eligible to get a discount of up to 25 percent on train travel in Europe.
5. Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance for trips outside your native country. My credit card offers some travel coverage. This may vary and your best bet is to check with your employer, credit card company, and or visit a travel agency. If you get sick abroad, it may be costly to pay for a hospital stay or fly back home for treatment.
One Final Tip
You can minimize the frustration of having your camera phone fade on you when taking photos of historic sights. When there are no stores to buy a camera, you may be upset that you couldn’t rely on your phone camera to take pictures. The easy solution is to bring along a regular camera and make sure it is fully charged the night before. I used my Canon camera many times because I took both photos and video memories in places like California, Paris, Mexico, and China. Bon Voyage!
That’s all today. Here’s a shout to some writer Banji Alo
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