Your Money_ The Missing Manual - J. D. Roth [93]
Finding Deals on Vacation and Travel
As you learned in Chapter 1, experiences are more likely to make you happy than Stuff. Traveling can create lasting memories, but it can also be expensive: airfare, hotels, restaurants—the costs add up quickly. But you don't need to stay in a luxury hotel to have a good time on vacation. You can travel on the cheap, volunteer, or even stay home.
The best way to keep travel costs down is to set a budget so you know exactly how much you can spend. But because you buy so many little things while on vacation, it's easy to lose track. To keep things in check, use a spending log: Every time you pay for something, write it down. At the end of each day, tally the totals to be sure you're still on budget. You might also want to use envelope budgeting (Envelope Budgeting): Withdraw cash and divide it into envelopes for each day. Once the cash is gone, stop spending until the next day. (Visit Get Rich Slowly to read more about how to track travel expenses and stick to a vacation budget: http://tinyurl.com/vacation-budget.)
If you're planning a trip overseas, take exchange rates into consideration. For example, if you're choosing between Paris and London right now, you'll get the most bang for your buck in merry old England. (Exchange rates change constantly, so check around before you travel.)
Tip
How far will your dollar go? Use Tripbase.com's travel-cost calculator (http://tinyurl.com/trip-calculator) to get a rough idea.
If you're trying to pick a place to vacation in the U.S., keep cost of living in mind. Look for areas where you can stretch your dollar. You can have just as much fun in Minneapolis as you can in New York for a lot less money.
Tip
To get more money-saving ideas, follow the adventures of Matt Gross, the Frugal Traveler: http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/. Gross travels around the country—and the world—describing how he saves on hotels, food, and entertainment.
Here are some more tips for making your vacations fun and affordable:
Save up and pay cash. Enough said.
Plan ahead. While you can sometimes find great last-minute bargains, you're usually better off making travel plans as early as possible. Before you leave, make a list of sightseeing priorities. Use the Web to find free and inexpensive attractions.
Tip
If you're traveling to Europe, be sure to take advice from Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com). His website, books, and TV show are packed with info on how to make Europe fun and affordable. I'm a huge fan of his packing philosophy: http://tinyurl.com/RS-packing.
Travel light. Experienced travelers always give this advice, but rookies seldom heed it. Even if you're staying in the same hotel for 3 weeks, packing light can prevent headaches. For example, don't bother taking stuff you can buy there, like shampoo.
Settle for less. If you want luxurious meals and accommodations, you'll pay luxury prices. You can still have a wonderful experience traveling second or third class. Yes, this may mean stepping outside your comfort zone, but you'll save money and have a more memorable trip. My wife and I honeymooned in Victoria, British Columbia, for instance. Because our budget was tight, we stayed at a $40-a-night dive outside the city so we could afford to splurge on exploring the island.
Carry a guidebook. A travel guide is worth its weight in gold. You'll pay $20–$30 for a good one, but ultimately the book will save you money. It can give you the inside scoop on the best days to visit museums and tell you about free events.
Note
Should you buy travel insurance? According to Consumer Reports, the answer is usually no (http://tinyurl.com/CR-travel-insurance), though it might make sense if you're in poor health and traveling overseas. If you do opt for insurance, check out the comparison site InsureMyTrip.com.
Look for discounts. If you're traveling in the U.S., order