New Fees for Luggage Could Break Your Travel Budget

Recently I had heard that many of the airlines were having difficulty making a profit on their daily operations.  As a result, there are many new charges and cost increases being implemented to offset losses caused by the spiraling cost of jet fuel.  I was planning to take a trip to the east coast in the near future.  I decided to take a look around the local airport to see what kind of surprises might be in store for the budget vacation traveler.

The first new charge I was confronted with was at the curb-side check-in where most of the airlines have started charging at least $2 per bag to use this service;  this is in addition to a tip for the baggage handlers. 

The next surprise was at American Airlines where I found that you would be charged $15 for the first checked bag.  At United and Northwest, the first bag was free but the second bag would cost $25.  Don’t forget all of the airlines are still charging an additional surcharge of $100 to $150 for any bag weighing over 50 pounds.

Travelers are strongly encouraged to contact the airline they plan to travel with to ask about any new fees or changes in policy regarding luggage.

Budget Travel-Discount Cruise Vacations are Available

Nearly everyone has to do a little shopping now and then and we always like to see a discount on the items we are purchasing.  We like to get in on clearance sales, end of season sales and lots of folks will use coupons to get those sought after discounts on their purchases.  The same holds true when shopping for a cruise vacation.  There are lots of places to find a discount cruise.  You just have to take the time to look for them.  Never, ever pay the book price for your cruise vacation!

There are discount cruises offered through travel agents, and travel agencies.  You can find special offers through the organizations that you may be a member of such AARP or AAA or even Sam’s Club.  Sometimes you will find special offers online that require that you use a special code number when making a reservation.  There is even the possibility that you may find a really good bargain on last minute fares for your cruise vacation when cruise lines are trying to fill up the few left over cabins just before the cruise date.

I just found a great article titled: Discount Cruise Ship Vactaions - Do They Exist? by Forest Schellenberg.  You can find it at http://boom-articles.blogspot.com/ .  It will be worth your while to take a couple of minutes and check out his tips for finding the best deals on your next discount cruise.

Last Minute Travel Bargains For The Budget Traveler

Last minute travel bargains are out there for the budget traveler who is able to leave on a short notice.  If you have been looking to travel to South America or Egypt on a cruise vacation then you should check out these offers from Overseas Adventure Travel.  They have just announced that there are a few spaces left on some of their sailings in early June.  You can get in on a couple of fabulous itineraries at the cost of $150.00 per day including air fare from either Miami or New York.

There is an 18 day trip to the Galapagos and Machu Pichu which departs on either June 3 or June 8 of 2008.  The total cost will be $2795.00 including air from Miami.

There is a 15 day trip to Cairo and the Nile River departing on June 6, 2008 at a total cost of only $2195.00.

To book either of these last minute travel bargains contact Overseas Adventure Travel at 1-800-959-0405 and be sure to mention this code for the discounts WEBB200. Remember this special fares won’t last for long so call right away.

How to Find Savings on Airline Tickets

Camping – the ultimate budget vacation

Nothing beats a camping trip, in terms of budget travel and enjoyment. A camping trip can be loads of fun and great time for family bonding too. Camping can be a very cost effective vacation holiday. You will find it costs next to nothing to set up your camp in a national park or open space in the country. 

Camping is quite a favorite activity among most families. It provides a good opportunity for interaction and working together. As a matter of fact, most families share a lot of group activities together on these trips. Sharing ghost stories around a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, snuggling up to each other, swimming, fishing and many such wonderful activities that will provide you with lifelong memories. 

Camping brings back the innocent fun of the childhood days for parents who want to share the same kinds of experiences with their children. In fact there are many families who take to camping not for the low cost but just for the fun of it.  
 

A good thing about camping is that it involves a one time expense only. Once you have paid for your camping equippment you are pretty much done with your traveling expenses. Whereas if you stay in a hotel, the price of the room itself could cost you a bundle, and then there is the price of food and eterainment.

Before you set off for camping, get your camping gear in the right order. You have to take essential items, like the tent, good camping lanterns, a tested camp stove, sleeping bags and other similar items. You will be surprised to find that your only expenses at this point apart from food will be the gas needed for transportation.  

Camping is a good way to involve all the family members. The whole family can enjoy swimming or fishing, and everyone enjoys making bonfires and cooking or hiking around the area.  Some camp grounds even feature movies, swimming pools and such other facilities for those on the look out for something extra. 

One of the best things about camping is that you may choose from several alternatives. You may want to try rough camping in the back country or small cabins within campgrounds to even the RV style camping.  Camping can be suitable to all budgets and to the tastes of many diffrent people.

Whether you are a city dweller or a small town local, camping can be a lot of fun. In fact there are very few activities which bring a person so much closer to Mother Nature as camping does. So whether, you are a star gazer or just fond of walking or even fishing, camping could be just the thing for you and your family. 
 

While we all acknowledge that camping is an ideal form of budget traveling, there are a few items that you will need to buy. Topping the list is the tent.  A good tent is an absolute necessity for any proper camping, unless of course you want to use an RV or maybe a lodge.  

Since much of the success of your camping will depend on the tent, do check on the quality of zipper, exterior strength and water proof properties. Before you head towards the woods, be sure that you know how to set up the tent so that you aren’t in a fix once you get out to your campsite. 

A vital part of your camping gear will be sleeping bags. Be sure to check on the quality and insulation of these sleeping bags.  Some sleeping bags are designed with removable liners and insulation for better protection.  You might want to consider investing in one of these higher quality bags as they will give you better service in the long run.

You will also need things like, camp lanterns, a good cooler for food and drink on those warm days and nights, a portable charcoal grill or even a camp stove.  In case you are camping at a campground, check with the authorities whether they will allow you the use of their camp stoves. Some of them do and in that case you my not need to carry one for yourself. When you contact a certain camp ground be sure to ask about the facilities they provide so that you can plan your trip accordingly. 

Spending a weekend or a full week camping in the wilds can be a wonderful experience for both young and old.  The new camping equipment is both lightweight and strong an can make for a very comfortable
vacation. You and your family will only have to decide how rugged you want the experience to be and how far out in the wilderness you will travel to "get away from it all".
 
 

Budgeting eating tips

Having food outside while on a holiday is one of the most expensive parts of your budget holiday. It’s an acknowledged fact that you don’t have much as far as eating options are concerned, so you have to opt for hotel food. But in spite of this there are plenty of ways in which you could not only save on holiday food expenses but also have a healthy diet. 

Most people spend most of their travel budget money on food. While it is of course necessary that you try out new varieties of local food, you can also save on some money.  Never skip on meals or forgo the rich experience of sampling local food whenever you travel. This will not save money, in the bargain you might loose out on good health and happy experiences too.  

Most hotels offer buffet breakfast. Now apart from breakfast being the most important meal of the day, you should also take advantage of the large spread and fill up, so that you don’t need more food for a long time. There are many people who have breakfast slightly late so they are not hungry for lunch. This can be a good way of saving money on food expenses of traveling, while not going hungry. 

Lunches, while traveling need not be a very extravagant affair. In fact, you will find many of the expensive restaurants giving discounts for lunch. Instead of having that luxurious dinner try out a good lunch. If possible opt for a buffet lunch, that way you can sample a lot of the local food. 

Another good way of saving money on food while traveling is by taking the help of locals. Try out a local restaurant, with the help of either friends or the hotel where you are put up. You could save a lot of money by trying out the local restaurants frequented by the locals. Usually these are cheap and the food is fresh. 

Eating out in joints like local Chinatown, Little Italy, Korea town, Little Saigon or any such neighborhood joint is a great way to not only save on travel food expenses but also sample local food and acquaint yourself with the local tradition.  

Having fruits or fruit juices, usually found in most local markets is a good way of saving money on food while traveling, in places which are expensive. In fact you could even buy some fresh veggies and whip up a salad with your knife and some hotel cutlery. 

Avoid eating expensive snacks outside by simply buying some groceries for yourself from the local departmental store. That way you will always have a stock of munchies so that you are less hungry. This could save lot of your food expenses while traveling. 

While traveling you could save a lot of money and time by simply packing a picnic lunch. You could pack in some bakery products and some juices and land yourselves in a scenic place while traveling. That way you not only save travel time but also the tab of an expensive restaurant while enjoying a fantastic view. 
 

Budget backpacking

If you have a restricted budget for your travel yet want to be adventurous, the backpacking and camping activities might just be the thing for you! Most travelers while enjoying the fun side of it are also impressed by the low costs that are involved. So whether you are traveling cross country or wandering in the locales of the within the city national parks, you can still enjoy yourself and indulge in some great travel fun. 

The best part about backpacking traveling is its hassle free preparations and very low costs. There’s precious little you will need apart from, a top quality tent and a camp stove or something similar to fulfill your basic heating needs.  The most important thing you would be in need of is your free spirit and love for the outdoors and adventure. In this discussion we seek to provide you ample inputs into a trouble free backpacking trip and how you can make it all the more happening. So read on, 

• More than anything else you need to have a good hiking bag and gear along with a useful map or guide whichever you are more comfortable in.  Pay heed to all the advice given to you by experts and avoid being overtly adventurous. Follow the guide map and stick to known routes.  It is always good to estimate more time than you actually might need for a particular journey. That way, you can time yourself better and plan ahead.
• In order to visit your favorite camp site, it is advisable that you provide prior intimidation to the authorities, or else you might find it preoccupied. Good camp sites are often booked fast into the season.
• You need to have knowledge about local camping rules and regulations, wherever you go. Understand rules about clean ups, littering and lighting fire and always abide by them to avoid having to pay fines.
• There’s nothing like being caught unprepared for bad weather, it could in fact ruin your entire trip. So before you plan your camping location have a thorough knowledge of the weather forecast. This will help you in avoiding bad weather. You would be well advised to pack in extra rain gear for sudden showers.
• If you are camping locally, make sure that you are dressed to suit the weather conditions. It would however be wise to pack in some basic essentials if you are camping out of town and are not really sure about weather changes. Light and crease free material is the ideal thing for camping.  You travel gear might ideally be made of polypropylene or wool, so that you are not stuffed and breathing is easy with moisture controls.
• It would be disastrous if you found out way too late that you have no idea about operating your camping gear. A sort of trial session at setting up camp and operating your stove are must dos before you set of backpacking.
• Before you start packing gauge the amount you can carry comfortably. While doing this, remember that there will be uphill climbs too.  An ideal backpack should weight no more than one quarter of your own weight. Never carry excess baggage on your camping trips, the bare minimum luggage is best packed. Once you are done with the packing check out, the weight of the backpack by carrying it a few times to test your strength and comfort factor.
• Don’t go low on your food stock. Hiking will make you hungry and you will want to eat from time too time. Keeping this in mind pack in all those goodies that are necessary to reinstate energy into you. Fill in on food stock from time to time determining the amount of time they will last you. Pack food rich in carbohydrates, proteins and fats, these will help you sustain your energies.  These high quality backpacking foods include Peanut butter, pasta and dried fruit, instant oatmeal, trail mix, etc are ideal food to be had while backpacking.
• Consult your guide map for water holes. Refill water supply whenever possible, so that you are not thirsty and short on water supply if the next water body is far off. Intake of adequate amounts of water, in all weathers will keep you fit throughout your journey.
• You should be done with your evening cooking, by the time it is dark. Also remember to store away any extra food, on tree branches safe and away form prying animals. You will often find skunks, Raccoons and bears peeping in to have a slice of food from campers.
• A must have in your backpack is a first aid kit. Include few customary emergency medicines apart from your regular medication. If you are traveling deep into the country, you might want to carry a satellite phone, so that you are not totally unreachable in case of emergencies. Always inform your local trail ranger, friends and family about your backpacking schedule. From time to time, get across messages to your family, letting them know that you are safe.

Saving money by traveling in an RV or camper

When we talk about budget travel, there are a set of travelers who prefer to do things in their own sweet pace. For such people and those who want to travel in the luxury of their own time while saving on hotel costs, there is nothing like a recreational vehicle or a camper.  Even though this might cost you a bit in the beginning, believe us when we say that it will be worth every penny of yours in the long run. 

The RV is one of the most popular ways of enjoying a vacation that is budgeted yet full of excitement and entertainment. 

What makes an RV so popular among budget travelers is that once you have a RV of your own, you are free of much of the anxieties of traveling not to mention the associated costs. 

You are now free of the trouble of searching for a travel agent, or book discounted tickets, or look up budget hotels, etc. Your RV, in fact serves as a hotel room, and as your means of transportation too.  There are many travelers who tag along a trailer in which they tow along their car, or motorcycles, so that they can use it when necessary.  

But before you go ahead and buy that recreational vehicle for yourself, you should be aware of some of the facts which you will face once you have bought this.  

• You will need to stock up on a lot of gas, which might be expensive for most travelers. Apart from this an RV will always have limitations on the lifestyle and accommodations. So if you want luxury or even being pampered on your vacation this isn’t exactly the thing for you.

• You may have to consider another factor like visiting the same location quite often, does not necessitate an RV. In such a case you might instead buy a budget vacation home which would be a better deal for you.

 For those of you who love budget traveling to different destinations and seeing new places, an RV could be your ideal buy. It not only saves you money but also gives you a vacation with the friendly surroundings of your own things. Most RV owners set off in the pursuit of fresh locations and new unexplored places in their RV without any hassles and save on a lot of money in this kind of budget travel. 

Most RV owners know for a fact that Wal-Mart’s provides coast to coast free parking for RV ‘s. This is a great saving and a much needed economic relief. This facility is mutually beneficial to both Wal-mart as well as RV owners, since they get a safe parking place and in turn frequent the shops for necessary groceries for the road.

Introduction to budget travel

Whether you are traveling with your family or going it alone, budget traveling is of concern to nearly everyone. Budget travel can certainly be very rewarding and may include many extras that make your vacation both special and memorable.  Keeping travel expenses down is important but that doesn’t mean that your vacation has to be any less enjoyable.

The first thing you will need to decide is just how much you can afford for that upcoming vacation. Then you will need to make a list of places that will suit you budget and you’ll have to decide which of these choices has the top priority for you. Next make a list of options of preferences, signifying those which are a top preference and those which will just do. The next step would be to fine tune your budget and decide the areas you want to spend more and those areas where you can reduce costs. 

Once you have identified those areas where you might be spending unnecessarily,  you’ll be able to eliminate some of the unneeded expenses. How you spend your travel budget mostly depends on your personal preferences. There are some travelers who would like to visit a place or two and just take it easy for a couple of days. For them staying in a good hotel is more of a priority.  

For other budget travelers, seeing a number of tourist destinations might be more important. So they choose to spend less on luxury hotels. There are even other travelers who want to spend on shopping or trying out different cuisines. Determining your interest and spend accordingly, that way you can budget your travel according to your needs. 

Planning your travel budget ahead of time will in fact save you lots of hassles later on. Keep in mind several unexpected factors like travel delays, cancellation of bookings, etc. which may cost you a little extra.  Making a travel budget could save you from unnecessary expenditures. Determine how much you can spend on sight seeing, eating, lodging, etc. This will give you a fair idea of the expenses at hand. After deciding how much you would be spending in each of these areas you’ll need to reserve an emergency fund for any other kind of unforeseen expenses.

Having decided on your budget and how to spend it, its time you look for a travel agent who can procure for you not only the best deals but also give you sound advice on how to plan your budget holiday. Your agent should understand your travel needs and help you find deals that will fulfil your vacation plans.

A good place for starting you search for travel discounts and deals would be the Internet. You will find plenty of information there about different hotels, tours and travels and discounts on local sight seeing and many other items. Check out special reductions for children and special offers where you can use couple passes or even off season discounts.  

If you happen to be serving the military, or even be an ex service man, senior citizen or a member of organizations such as AAA, you might find that discounts are sometimes made available for you. Many organizations offer discount admission tickets for entertainment attractions. Often tickets to Walt Disney World, theme parks, museums and other popular attractions within driving distance are discounted for members of these organizations. If you plan your tour based on a preunderstanding of the time these discounts are given, you might be able to save significantly on you travel budget.

When on a road trip, ensure that your car is in good shape before hand. This will not only save you time but money too. Deflated tires can make your mileage suffer and you’ll need to purchase more gas.  Last minute car problems might end up eating a big hole in your travel budget so a check up is always in order.

Knowing the route to your holiday destination is very important and if you are not familiar with the area, get hold of a good map which must be up to date.  There is nothing worse that finding out that you made a wrong turn about thirty miles back and now you have to turn around and spend another half hour getting back on track. 

What is important on a budget holiday is keeping your expenses under control. While this should not be at the cost of your holiday pleasure, a few small prudent steps can go a long way in making your budget travel a memorable and worry free experience. 
 
 

Getting the best deal on your rental car

If you are planning your budget vacation, you certainly don’t want to spend any more than is neccessary on your rental car. The final price can be very surprising and discouraging when added up at the end of your rental period. 

In order to ensure that you don’t have a huge bill for your rental car, try to pick a car that is small and inexpensive. If you have a small family there is no reason to go for the larger more expensive models. Having a smaller car has many advantages, ie: they are easier to  maneuver around, easier to park in small places and they use less gas so they are less costly to operate.  When you return the rental to the car rental agency they usually have to be filled with gas and the smaller car will require less gas to fill up.

If you are traveling with several people requiring two cars, you can pool your monies together and rent one large vehicle which will most likely be less expensive than two smaller ones.  Although it is always wise to shop around for the best deal on a rental,  it is a must when looking for a high demand vehicles such as SUV’s, minivans and convertibles. You can shop around very conviniently on the web for the rental car that will fill your vacations needs.  Don’t forget the luggage you will be taking along.  Will the trunk size accomodate your belongings or will you have to stack some of them inside the car with the pasengers?

A weekly or a month long rental would always add up to cheaper rates than your daily rental, so in case you plan a long holiday enquire about rental rates over the longer period of time and get the best deal for yourself. 

If you travel regularly, join a car rental club or hire the exclusive services of the same agency every time. This will get you better deals and maybe even provide frequent flyer miles too. In addition sometimes, car rental companies have promotions with airlines so you can find addditional promotions along with your frequent flyer miles. Plenty of airlines have bonus campaigns where, the more you travel, the more points you are awarded. So the next time you travel, be sure to check on these possibilities.

The rental car company will usually offer you collission insurance.  Usually most automobile insurance policies provide for collision coverage. So before you purchase additional insurance  be sure to check with your agency about the coverage for a rental car.   For those travelers whose insurance companies do not provide for rental car coverage, you need not panic. It is likely that you will get the same coverage on one of your credit cards. So before you start on your holiday check with your credit card office about the coverage’s you are entitled to and act accordingly.

In case you are booking a rental car with a large rental agency you will probably be offered a brand new automobile. These newer cars are more desireable to their customers and present a better image for the rental car company.  However, if you rent from a company that offers used cars, you can take advantage of even bigger savings from them.  

Keep your costs as low as possible on your rental car so that you will have the extra money to take advvantagfe of everything else that your well-deserved vacation has to offer.

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