December 16, 2008 10:00 AM by Kim Mance, editor-in-chief of GoGalavanting.com | COMMENTS
On
the forefront of most wanderluster's minds today is getting the most out of
one's travel budget. After visiting 24 countries since I was fourteen, I've
racked up several ways to save money while out galavanting around the globe. One
great way to do this is becoming familiar with airfare cycles and alternate
routes to save on tickets. Knowing
the seasons that airfares change and not reserving a flight in peak travel times
will be much cheaper. Be inventive with the routes you search for and
don't rely on default search results when using travel bookers online. Combining
that with searching dates that are somewhat flexible will likely save you a
bundle.
Another
good place to save money is by avoiding the kitsch. A lot of travelers get sucked
into the souvenir craze and end up spending a large amount of their budget (and
time) souvenir shopping for friends and family back home. If
you're feeling pressure to bring something back for absolutely everyone you
know, don't discount the simple ways to share your experience. A fun photo of you in front of a monument can be
framed once you get back home and will last a lifetime. If you also concentrate
on buying from smaller local shops or rural communities, you'll end up with
souvenirs that are authentic and budget friendly. Never
shop in heavily trafficked tourist areas as the price is surely jacked way up
due to location; instead opt for side street shops or street artists. Many
cities around the world have artists who sell prints or original artwork
and
this is a good way to have something affordable, as well as easy to
pack.
Many
times you'll be approached by independent guides once you arrive in a city's
airport, train station, or ferry port. They can actually be a helpful way to see
a city and offer affordable rates and
there's nothing wrong with hiring an expert to give you insider knowledge and
help keep you safe. Just keep in mind that you've hired the guide to take you
for a tour, not for a ride - they
may be receiving kickbacks. Souvenir
shops, restaurants and tourist sites will often give a percentage or per-head
commission to tour guides.
This is illegal in most places, but not always enforced. If prices of souvenirs
and food seem far above the local community standard, tell the guide you would
like to go elsewhere. They will likely protest, but stand firm and save
money.
Renting an apartment
can help
you save on lodging costs & provide flexibility, especially if traveling
with a group of friends. Most apartments come with a kitchen and you can save on
the cost of breakfast and some dinners this way. Another way to have very low
cost lodging is the growing
trend of house-swapping, it's a clever way to make the most of the
assets you already have, and experience local-living in your
destination.
Nix
the traveler's
checks unless you enjoy seemingly endless fees and difficulty exchanging
them for local currency. The best way to access cash is
to use your debit card to withdraw money from bank machines along the way (bonus
travel tip: don't ask for an 'ATM' abroad, ask for a 'bank machine'). The fees
are lower and you usually get a great exchange rate. Using your credit card for
as many transactions as possible will also reduce the amount of cash you carry
around and hopefully rack up some airline miles too. Be sure to check with your
card issuer before departing about any fees they may charge for foreign currency
conversion. It shouldn't be more than about 3%, which will still be lower than
the costs associated with traveler's checks.
What
are your favorite ways to save money while traveling?
Watch this video about saving money while traveling.
Kim Mance is editor-in-chief of Galavanting, an online women's travel magazine.
December 14, 2008 10:22 AM by Kim Mance, editor-in-chief of GoGalavanting.com | COMMENTS
With added fees from airlines, the hassle of baggage claim and the many TSA regulations, being able to carry-on luggage is a must and will make your life a heck of a lot easier. This is not to mention that you won't hear frequent fliers snicker as you pass by, lugging the most enormous bag known to man.
How to pack light is a question I get all the time and these are some of my favorite tips:
1. Make a list...and check it twice. Using a packing list will make sure you not only cut down on items to bring, but also remember to bring underwear (you'll never forget underwear twice by the way).
2. Go with a color scheme. A great way to save space in your bag is to limit the number of shoes you bring and reduces unnecessary repeats of clothing items so you can mix and match everything in your bag. The color scheme should probably revolve around a pair of your most well thought-out travel shoes.
3. Wear Layers and save space. If you’re going to a cold climate, there's no need to pack your bulkiest sweaters. Go with silk long underwear under your shirt and a jacket on top of that. You'll be toasty and travel savvy.
4. Hand wash laundry. Soap packets will help give you the flexibility to re-wear items that get dirty (or stinky) and don't take up much space.
5. Don't pack things you wouldn't use at home. First-timers going abroad often make the mistake of thinking they are traveling to another planet and pack far too many items. This classic mistake might be due to the many seemingly fantastic travel gadgets available, but a good rule of thumb is if you don't need it at home, you don't need it while traveling.
6. Buy stuff there. Since you’re not going to Mars, you will be able to find things in your destination you can not only use, but once you bring them home will become souvenirs! And you just might find the perfect face lotion or hair conditioner in a brand that's expensive back in the States, making all of your friends back home green with envy.
7. Go mini. Just like it sounds...don't bring a full-size hairdryer or flashlight, etc. If you can't do away with these items entirely, pony up and buy them in miniature-size. An inexpensive LED penlight can light up a room or a hiking trail with ease and easily slip into a carry-on; check out online travel stores like Magellan's or TravelSmith to find more minis.
8. Use Packing Cubes or mesh storage bags as a way to keep yourself organized and save space. This is helpful if you have multiple destinations on the itinerary and need different types clothes for various climates. Packing cubes are especially useful if you've got kids and need to keep things under control.
9. Roll large bulky items, but leave the rest alone. It’s an old wive's tail that you should roll everything in your bag and here’s why: You have to keep rolling your stuff up throughout your entire trip. Not only is this a pain in the butt, it doesn’t actually save all that much space. To save yourself the headache, you’d be better off culling a few items out, and packing things that don't wrinkle easily.
10. Use unique luggage or luggage tags to help keep track of your bag while traveling. This way even out of the corner of your eye. Plus, if you do end up in baggage claim, you'll see your fabulous zebra stripe bag or cute luggage tags coming from afar rather than elbowing people out of your way to check every non-descript black bag that goes by.
Happy (light) travels!
Kim Mance is editor-in-chief of Galavanting, an online women's travel magazine.
Subscribe
Print
Email
Kaboodle
Pop Sugar
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
RSS
