Shoestring Budget Travel: Best Tips to Save Money

Finding a trip that would be fun and exciting is an easy matter. Finding the money to fund that trip…well, now that’s a different matter altogether. Few of us have the means to just pick up and pack up to go on a vacation every time we have the whim. Why does travel have to be so expensive?

Well, the truth of the matter is that it doesn’t have to be. Of course, we’re not talking about taking a luxury cruise or a trip around the world, but the same principles of saving money would apply to them as well. It truly is not necessary to spend an arm plus a leg just to have a good time on vacation, not when you follow some of the best tips for traveling on a shoestring budget.

The first tip is an obvious one: shop around for the very best deals. Whether its airfare or a cruise, there are numerous discounts and fare wars continuously occurring that can you big bucks. The best ways to find the cheapest travel is:

• Find a good travel agent: one who has the inside track to finding and securing the best prices
• Use online travel consolidators who do the work of searching for the best deals for you
• Check with any affiliations you have that may offer travel discounts: AARP, insurance companies, even your employer.
• Early bookings are often rewarded by applying great discounts
• Negotiate; after all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain
• Cruises and resorts often advertise “3rd person travels free”; travel with two good friends and split the cost for the two fares between the trio.

But that is not where the savings will end!! There are many ways of saving vacation money, one of which is to pay attention to certain criteria, such as:

• Airline costs are generally cheaper when you fly midweek
• Choose a less expensive stateroom on a cruise (spend more time on deck!)
• If you are flexible, great last minute deals are always offered for cruises and resorts; watch for new deals every week offered by travel consolidators.
  Watch for and take advantage of hotels offering a free night when staying for certain durations.
• Purchase a drink ticket when taking a cruise; the cost of individual soft drinks will add up quickly.
• Unless your “inclusive” trip package includes all alcoholic beverages, plan to avoid drinking them; those cute and colorful drinks are expensive.
• [smartads]Shore excursions arranged by the cruise line carry a high price tag; you can arrange a local tour guide on your own, see the same sights while saving big bucks! Word of caution: cruise ships do not wait for tardy passengers; make sure to be back at the ship on time.
• Resist the urge to buy souvenirs; you know they will just become expensive dust catchers. Instead, use tickets, a simple flower pressed between waxed paper, or even better yet, let your own photographs snapped during the vacation to be your memories.

It isn’t difficult to save money when taking a vacation; just remember that it doesn’t take money to have a good time.