Budget Travel Tips 101
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Everyone loves to travel (almost everyone). I certainly do. Believe it
or not, doing it right and doing it on a budget takes a little skill,
knowledge and practice. But the required skills are not difficult, the
knowledge required is easy to obtain, and the fun is in the practice!
This past spring my wife and I were lucky enough to be able to spend 10
days in Italy. We didn't spend a fortune, we scrimped on a few things
and spent on others, and the net result was a very pleasing travel
experience. Planning, of course, is key. We had agreed to our general
itinerary and had a limited amount of time to spend, so the general
outline of the trip was pretty clear from the start. We flew to Rome,
spent a few days taking care of the biggies like St. Peter's, and the
Vatican Museum, and did lots of strolling around the city.
Where did we stay? At a "budget" hotel. How did we find it? The
Internet. There are so many choices of reasonably-priced hotels, that
the biggest problem is narrowing down the list. If you have even
minimal Web-surfing skills, finding your accomodations this way is
really pretty easy to do. Many establishments even offer a discount for
reservations made online. Oh, by the way, when we paid the bill on the
way out, we paid in cash - another discount!
How did we get from the airport in Rome to the hotel? (Hint: not by
taxi.) We took the train! Much cheaper, more fun, and in fact, easier.
Even if you can't actually read the signs in the airport, finding the
station is very easy. How did we really know it was so easy to get to
the city from the airport on the train? We cheated. We read a travel
guide before we left! I'm not pitching a travel book here, and I
honestly don't remember which one it was, but the point is, a little
research in advance can save you a lot of money, time, aggravation,
fear, uncertainty and all those other negative emotions brought on by
arriving in a foreign place and suddenly realizing you have no idea
what to do next. And finally, from the train station in the city to our
hotel was a short walk because we planned it that way - no taxi fare.
The walk to the hotel was made even more pleasant by the fact that we
were not over-burdened with luggage, which brings us to the next
practical tip - packing.
Ten days in Europe (or anywhere else) doesn't require a mountain of
baggage - at least not for two adults. Bags with handles and wheels are
essential. Walking to the hotel with our luggage was a breeze. Packing,
like the other parts of a trip, requires a little planning. If you're
careful, and are clear about your plans for touring and socializing,
you can get by with less than you think.
Keeping your travel documents and money secure is always a concern. I
learned an important lesson a few years ago during a trip to Europe.
Having done a lot of business travel all over the world, I made the
mistake of thinking I was immune from pick pockets. I won't mention the
city the event took place in, but afterwards I was stunned at the skill
demonstrated by the "team" that got my wallet - out of a jacket pocket
that was zipped closed! It happened in a revolving door - and thinking
back on the episode, I realize that I was expertly sized up for the
"hit" beforehand. In short, realize that anyone can be "fooled" even if
you think you're an expert. Lesson - I NEVER travel now without a money
belt. On our last trip to Italy, all valuables were in the money belt
at all times, and there were no incidents. Even the "gypsy kids" at the
Coliseum were not a threat (if you go to Rome, be sure to read about
the area around the Coliseum - you must see it, but it's prime
territory for expert young thieves).
In summary, a little thought and some careful planning can make a huge
difference in the level of pleasure you derive from your next trip -
whether it's a European jaunt or a car trip with your whole family to
mountains. I think letting someone else do it all and spending your
days sealed up in a tour bus or following someone else around all day
deprives you of half the fun. So plan your next trip carefully and
you'll enjoy it a lot more.
About the Author
Pete Cullen runs the website http://Easy-Budget_Travel_Tips.comVisit http://www.Easy-Budget-Travel-Tips.comfor more budget travel tips.
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