Mini Travel Guides

10 Budget Air Travel Tips

Traveling by air has many advantages, particularly when you go a long distance. Air travel is quick. You arrive at your destination without spending days getting there. Air travel is safe compared to driving your own car. Also, a person can arrive at his destination after a flight rested, relaxed, and ready for work or whatever comes next.

Air travel, without proper planning, can be very expensive. That is especially true now with the legacy airlines adding on every possible fee that they can come up with.

The good news is that by following some time-tested, well thought-out travel tips, you can usually do air travel for a reasonable price. The remainder of this article will include 10 budget air travel tips.

1. Be flexible.
Air fares are higher some days of the week than they are others. The time of day your plane departs can also affect the ticket price. Check out different days and times that fall within the parameters of when you can travel.

2. Check prices at discount airlines.
Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and Spirit are all referred to as low-cost airlines for a reason. Their ticket costs are often less. Also, they tend to either not charge a luggage fee, or the first bag is free.

3. Check on the Internet, but also talk to a travel agent.
When you do both, you can be sure you are getting the lowest possible fare.

4. Sign up to receive discount airfare e-mails.
If you type “discount air tickets” into your favorite search engine, it will list companies that will keep you aware of discounted prices by e-mail.

5. Start early to look for a good fare.
Don’t wait until the last minute to check ticket prices. You don’t have to book your ticket until you are ready, but a good price could come early.

6. Buy a vacation package.
If you are going on a trip that involves air fare, hotel, and a rental car, or airfare plus either of the other two, consider buying it all at once from the same discounter. You can usually save a significant amount.

7. Consult “name your own price” websites.
Priceline.com and hotwire.com ask how much you will pay for a ticket. There are restrictions; but, if they accept your price, you can save up to 40%.

8. Investigate flying as a courier.
A company hires you to go and uses your luggage allowance to transport time-sensitive documents or materials.

9. Check prices to alternate airports.
Large cities sometimes have more than one airport. Often other cities with an airport are near the destination that you need to reach.

10. Choose your destination based on ticket cost.
People often have a list of places they want to visit. Their travel dream is to go to and experience many different places. One travel plan is to purchase cheap tickets that are on a special promotion to a place the person would like to visit. Buy the ticket, go, enjoy it, and mark it off the list.

Buying your airline ticket as cheaply as possible will allow you to go more and do more.

In this present economy, spending on vacations can put a heavy hand on your budget. But there are certain tips that can let you enjoy your trip and also save some money. For instance, you can save money on airfare by looking for round trip tickets rather than one way tickets. Booking connecting flights can also help you save a deal.

Another important aspect of travelling is food. Most of us are unaware of good places and end up taking most of the meals in the hotel we stay, which can turn out to pretty expensive. Hence a great way to save money during travel is by planning and having your meals for cheaper price outside the hotel you stay. Cooking for yourself is another option to consider as it not only helps save money, but is also fun as well.

When on vacations, we spend most of our time travelling and spend equally huge amounts on taxis. But by booking for car rentals in advance you can save big bucks.

Steve Perillo, the CEO of Perillo Tours, a travel Company that specializes in trips to Italy, hosts a travel show, where he gives a lot of useful travel trips. Pauline Frommer, an acclaimed travel expert and creator of several travel guidebooks was invited as a guest on the Steve Perillo talk show, where she shared her experiences on budget travel and also gave some tips on travelling cheap. She suggested that tourists can travel for less by trying alternative accommodations, such as private apartments, monasteries, convents, and other religious accommodations. Johnny Jet, a US based expert travel blogger also appeared as a guest on the Perillo Travel Talk Show. He is of the opinion that being friendly to the gate agents and flight attendants can ensure a smooth trip. He also gave viewers tips on how to get cheap business class and first class seats as well as information on hotel booking.

For more information and useful travel tips offered by Johnny Jet and Pauline Frommer on the Steve Perillo Talk Show, check out the episodes on www.perillotv.com.

If you\’ve decided you will be more comfortable on your holiday with hotel reservations in hand but also need budget travel, then you\’re going to have some decisions to make. How are you going to get those reservations? Let\’s look at the options.

You could use a travel agent. If you\’re planning a trip to an exotic location, this might be your best bet. Travel agents know the hotels and lodging in the areas of their expertise, and they can give you good guidance and advice for budget travel.

You could use one of the big Internet booking agencies. Those can help you get pretty good deals. It\’s worthwhile to check two or three of them to see how they rate different hotels, so you\’ll get what you want. Whenever you\’re looking at hotels and bed-and-breakfasts on the Internet, remember, any place can look good with some creative photography.

We recommend avoiding the companies that don\’t tell you the name of the hotel until after you make your reservation. Also remember that when hotels are tied to booking agencies, they lose a cut to that agency. You might be just as well off booking directly with the hotel.

It pays to find a good budget travel guide. If you like their philosophy, you will probably like the hotels they recommend. You can call the hotel directly. Chances are you will be able to talk to someone who speaks English. You can contact almost all of them over the Internet these days, either by e-mail or by contacting them through their own web site.

Although budget travel tips are on top of the agenda, you need to take so many other points into consideration to avoid a disappointing vacation, so make a note of the following guidelines…

If you e-mail the hotel directly, tell them the number of rooms you want and how many people per room. They will need to know the date of your arrival and the date of your departure… so the number of nights you will be staying.

Remember that in most places in the world, dates are written with the day/month/year, not with the month/day/year as it is in the U.S. To avoid confusion on any continent, we write the month out rather than using numbers.

Once you hear back from them, if they have a room at the price you want, accept the reservation. You may have to send your credit card number. We\’re reluctant to send our credit card number in e-mail. You can call and give them your credit card number.

If you have used the hotel\’s own site to contact them, make sure it is a secure site before you send your credit card number to them that way.

Be sure to read the hotel cancellation policies carefully before you make a reservation.

If you make hotel reservations with one of the big travel booking sites or with the hotel itself, beware of non-refundable reservations.

When you make your hotel reservations, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail. Print it, and take it with you. Don\’t delete the original e-mail until you have completed your trip, and you know you have been billed correctly.

If your travel dates are firm, you\’ll find that to get into the most popular and best value hotels, it\’s worthwhile to make those hotel reservations ahead.

There are endless little budget travel tips that can save you a little money here and there. None of them will save you tons of money, but all those little bits can add up to an affordable trip.

If you\’re visiting a big city, hotels tend to be expensive the closer in you stay to the city center. Even the budget hotels might strain your budget. Consider staying in a suburb or the next small town over. Take a 15-20 minute bus or train ride into the city. Hotels and restaurants will be cheaper, and it may even be a cuter area to stay in.

Home swaps are becoming more popular as a way to save while on holiday. They\’re good for families or small groups traveling together to share the expense.

As an even more frugal alternative to a hotel, if you\’re young and adventurous, you might even want to give “couch surfing” a try. It\’s a system where you register, then are referred to strangers who are willing to let you sleep on their couch. Sign up to host or be a couch surfer with an organization like Couch Surfing. They will connect you with others who are interested in letting you flop on their sofa. You can also sign up to host travelers yourself.

There are house swaps and couches to flop on all over the world. You have to be willing to give up a little of your privacy, but you can save a lot of money…. and make new friends while you\’re saving – Budget travel can be a lot of fun!!!

Consider booking a fly/drive bundle or hotels bundled with flights. You might be an independent traveler who likes to find your own accommodations, but you might find you can save a bundle with those budget travel tips.

If you want to go to a play or the opera look for half-off, same day sales booths. Many cities have these. In London and New York where everyone wants to see a play, these booths can save you a bunch. The only downside is you might not be able to see the latest plays. You may have to stand in a long line, and you might have to pay cash.

Are there any budget travel tips when you\’re renting a car? Get the smallest car that you and your group can fit in. Car companies love to say they can “upgrade” you for only a little more…. but why do you want to pay more if you don\’t need the space. Bigger cars take more gas… gas is expensive. (And, the driver in our team reminds me, they\’re harder to park.)

Don\’t get the “gas package” where you can return the rental car empty… you\’ll never get it to empty…. You\’ll be too afraid of running out of gas on your way back to the airport, so you\’ll lose money on that half tank that\’s left. Just fill it up near the airport and save money.

Think about your budget… and the environment when you leave for your holiday. Your house can save you money if you unplug all those appliances that say in “ready mode” and suck electricity while you\’re gone. Unplugging them saves the environment too. Lower the hot water heater temperature to “vacation”. Make sure the heater or the air-conditioner are at money saving settings. The house doesn\’t need to be heated or cooled as much while you\’re gone.

All these little budget travel tips could add up to more travel time… so make sure you take all of these budget travel tips into consideration.

Saving money has never been more important than in today’s economy. These days, no one can afford to travel as much as we used to. We all have to find ways to lower our travel expenses and learning to travel on a budget doesn’t have to be painful if you follow these 7 cheap travel tips, you can make the most out of every mile that you go.

1. Travel light: You can avoid costly travel fees, by leaving some stuff at home. You don’t have to pack a different outfit for each day that you will be gone. Instead, pack clothing that is versatile and can be worn different ways. It’s cheaper to wash an item than it is pay luggage fees at the airport.

2. Tour Packages: Taking advantage of tour packages is a great way to travel on a budget. Research different packages online to get the best deals. Tour Packages often include things like travel, and meals and lets you see as much as possible during your trip. You can go it alone and research different packages yourself online or you can get a travel agent to do it for it. Make the most out of your vacation if you are one that likes to see the hotspots.

3. Keep track of your money: Carrying cash while on vacation is just not feasible these days. This is particularly true if you are travelling to a high tourist area. Using ATM cards, credit cards and verified travelers checks is easier and safer. Since ATM and credit cards require pins to be used for gathering cash, you are less likely to have your money stolen should you lose your card. Verified travelers checks require you to sign them at time of use. This can also protect you.

4. Understand foreign currency: This is an important rule because it will help you to pre-plan the amount of money that you will bring for your trip. Knowing how much foreign currency is worth can significantly lower your expenses because you can bring what you can afford to bring.

5. Mobility: Plan ahead how you will get around once you reach your destination. Will you rent a car? Will you prefer a bike? These are important questions to ask yourself.

6. Keep track: You will want to keep track of the money you spend as you go so that you don’t go overboard.

7. Travel Documents: Keep track of all of your travel documents like passports just in case you misplace one of them. Just remember to keep them separate and secure. A replacement is useless if you can’t find it.

Following these travel tips, you can afford to travel even when money is tight. Working with a budget doesn’t have to mean that you have to stay at home throughout your vacation. With these tips, you can make the most out of your vacation time, no matter how much money you have to spend and still have a great time.

Budget travel has become a necessity for most people with the cost of gasoline and other consumer products on the rise. But when we start considering when, where, how and what type of vacation to undertake, we sometimes get caught up in the anticipation and excitement of the upcoming trip and let the more important financial side of things slip a little. After all, for most of us, taking a vacation may only happen once a year and for some, even more infrequently, so we tend to indulge and forget about our pocket book a little.

There are many ways to save money, avoid unnecessary cost, ensure you take care of details end up a smart and perceptive traveler. Travel planning is easier that you might think and here are eight great budget travel tips for making your travel dollar go further!

1. Cushion your budget – When considering a trip or planning budget travel, it is important to plan for the unexpected and consider the financial side of things early on. This ensures affordability, liquidity and having the resources to enjoy it to the fullest! Plan for the worst-case financial scenario and prepare for things to cost a little more than you expected. Allow up to 20% increase in cost to be on the safe side of things.

2. Emergency money: Carrying some spare cash somewhere can also be a lifesaver. The rule of thumb seems to be around $50-$100 in small bills. This can be used for incidentals, ground-transportation like cab fare and/or your return home, tips and more.

3. Set your priorities: Set some budget travel spending priorities and criteria in advance, like eating at a special restaurant or attending a concert, even if this means sacrificing a bit on lodgings or visa versa, depending on what is more important to you.

4. Keep an eye on your credit cards: It is extremely easy these days to have access to your financial resources through ATM’s and credit cards. Just remember that it is just as easy to overspend because of it being so readily available. A little discipline will go a long way to protect your financial interest and help you stick to your travel budget.

5. Maximize gas mileage and efficiency: If you’re planning a road trip, make sure that your car has been serviced at least a week before your trip. A well-maintained vehicle will go a long way to ensure carefree driving. If your budget allows, you may consider renting a vehicle to save wear and tear on your own. Small economy cars are better on gas and are much more comfortable than they used to be. Minivans and sport utility vehicles are practical only if you have to transport a large family with a lot of equipment or luggage.

6. Gas fill-ups: For filling up your car en route, avoid pushing to the limit until the gas runs out. Gas will obviously be more expensive when filling up in remote locations. If you miscalculated and the light on the dashboard indicates that you are really in need, opt for filling just half a tank until you reach the next more densely or major populated destination, where gas might be a little cheaper.

7. Pack-a-snack: Bring your own refreshments and snacks. Gas station prices on drinks and snack food are high. Avoid these during a pit stop, if you are counting your budget travel dollars. A cooler packed with lots of cool drinks, water and ice and/or a thermos of coffee or hot water for tea, some fruit, granola bars, or a sandwich, goes a long way to still the hunger and save you money by avoiding all high priced stops en route.

8. Travel necessities: It is advisable to travel with basic necessities, like a cell phone and a first aid kit, since both can prove to be essential in emergencies. Most people have cell phones at their disposal, but in the event that you are not one of them, a prepaid cell phone may be the answer for your trip. The peace of mind it offers is worth the small investment. Cell phones can also save on hefty surcharges and higher long distance rates that hotels and resorts often charge.

Hitting the road in your RV and the RV lifestyle can be one of the most economical ways to travel. If you do a little planning and research ahead of time, it’s easy to save even more – without ever feeling like you’re pinching pennies.

One obvious way to take the frugal route is to plan your RV travel during the “shoulder seasons” – before and after prime travel time – when discounts are often offered at various campgrounds and attractions.

Here are 5 cost-cutting RV travel tips that are good any time of the year:

1. RV Travel On One Tank of Gas

Remember the ending to The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy says she doesn’t have to look any further than her own backyard to find her heart’s desire? Well, we’re not suggesting camping out right outside the house, but think about going to places not too far away that you’ve always meant to check out.

You’ll be surprised at how many new and interesting destinations are just one tank of gas away. A lot of territory can be covered in just a few hundred miles, and you’re bound to discover exciting locations you never knew existed so close to home.

Tip: Your neighborhood library is a terrific resource for researching local and state information and attractions – and most of it is free!

2. Put Your RV On A Diet And Get Better Gas-Mileage

It’s a simple fact that the less your RV weighs, the more mileage you’ll get on the road. Look around for places in your rig where you can institute a “less is more” policy.

For example, you don’t have to set out with a full, fresh water tank for your RV excursion. Take what you need for the first day’s travel, plus a small reserve, and fill up once you’ve reached your day’s destination.

Forget that bulky, economy-sized can of coffee: empty a smaller amount into an airtight plastic container that you can refill later. (One place not to cut back, though, is tire inflation: riding on fully inflated tires is a sure way to increase your gas mileage.)

Tip: When buying food staples, consider dehydrated items like soup and dried fruit, and transfer cereal and pasta from bulky boxes into heavy-duty plastic bags – not only do they take up less space, you can reuse them once they’re empty!

3. Plastic not Paper Dinnerware – A More Economical Approach Overall

Sure, the eat-and-toss approach of paper plates and cups is the easy way to go – and might even seem economical when you buy in bulk. But lightweight, inexpensive plastic dishes are easy to find, and while they might not last forever, they’ll certainly see you through the duration of a long-distance RV excursion.

Choosing plastic over a big stack of paper goods is also another way to save on weight, especially when you’re starting out on your RV trip.

Tip: Buy your plastic ware in a mix-and-match variety of vibrant colors, and these snazzy dishes will brighten up even the simplest road fare!

4. Drive Less, Stay More – Save on Gas AND Get Campsite Discounts

When creating your RV travel itinerary, consider making fewer stops and spending more time at each destination. This will save on fuel and campsites costs as most of them offer discounts for lengthier stays.

By driving less and staying more, you’ll receive an additional benefit: It’s much more relaxing to know that once you’ve turned off the ignition you’re settling in for a while. Also, by spending more time in one place, you’ll be able to do some more in-depth exploring of the area.

Tip: Look online at the local newspaper for the area you’ll be visiting. Check for listings of events that you might not hear about otherwise … and don’t forget to look in the classifieds for yard sales and flea markets, too!

5. Stop and Shop – At Local Discount or Dollar Stores

When you need to refill on groceries avoid supermarkets and convenience stores where prices are at a premium. Instead, look for local discount and dollar stores and roadside fruit and vegetable stands — depending on the season. You might not save much money there, but there’s nothing better than freshly picked produce.

Keep an eye open for discount outlets in the area. And stop at flea markets and yard sales where you might find a one-of-a-kind treasure. Not only do these unconventional choices offer the opportunity to find unusual items, it’s a great way to get to know the local neighborhoods and people.

Tip: Keep your birthday and holiday gift list handy – you might spot the perfect knickknack for a family member at someone’s yard sale!

Some Final Frugal RV Travel Tips:

- Make use of the cheaper parks, like state parks

- Join Good Sam Club for 10% discount at their parks

- Subscribe to RV magazines for great ideas on RV travel

- Shop around for best prices on camping stuff like Wal-Mart, K-Mart, GI Joes – instead of RV stores

- Avoid buying your RV “supplies” – like toilet paper – that claim to be for RVs/motorhomes. Save money and buy the cheap stuff.

- Save money and cook all your meals in the RV; don’t eat out. You can even make dishes ahead and store in your RV’s refrigerator

- Ask for senior discounts everywhere you go

- If members of AAA, see if any campgrounds give discounts. Look at a “Trailer Life Campground Directory” at your local library to compare camping fees.

- Plan!!