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Travel Your Way

In light of a poor global economic outlook, traveling may seem like a luxury. Yet getting that much needed holiday without busting your bank account is entirely possible with clever budgeting!

Budget travel is no longer defined by moving on foot with a large backpack, and checking into mouldy motels. With the increase in online services and free traveling information, travelers can draw up flexible vacation plans and budgets.

Free-and-easy travel is one good way to reduce unnecessary expenses. You make decisions on everything from airfare to daily itinerary based entirely on your budget. Tour agencies also provide more flexible plans these days, offering hotel and flight packages for example, but leaving the customer free to plan his own schedule. Best of all, you are free to explore any place, at any time, without a tour guide breathing down your neck, or having to put up with your tour group’s chatter when you would like some peace and quiet.

 

Air Tickets

This is often the most expensive part of the vacation. You should get your air tickets as early as possible as they affect your budget most. Their availability also determines the dates of your travel.

Air tickets can be purchased from tour agencies, the airline’s ticketing office, or from the airline’s website. Virtually all reputable airlines have features on their websites allowing passengers to book and pay for their tickets online.

For budget airlines, fares tend to be higher nearer to your desired departure date, sometimes even comparable to that of non-budget flights! Some non-budget airlines may launch promotions. Do not brush them off.

http://www.zuji.com.sg is a popular resource for cheap flights. http://www.groupon.sg is a discount website that sometimes features discounts on flights. When looking up budget flights, keep your eyes peeled for fuel charges and taxes, as these are sometimes left out of the promotional text.

If you’re booking tickets directly from an airline, do register yourself an account with the airline. Most airlines allow frequent flyers to accumulate mileage that can be used to offset future flight costs. This is usually not applicable if you purchase flight packages from tour agencies.

 

Accommodation

Accommodation packages can be purchased from tour agencies, ticketing offices if the lodging has a branch in Singapore, or online. Many popular hotels and hostels provide internet reservation services.

Do book your accommodation simultaneously with your flight. You would not want to book your air tickets and confirm the dates of your leave, only to discover that you have nowhere to stay on those days. Most flight companies do not allow passengers to change their flight dates at zero cost if the tickets are bought at a special price.

If you are making the most out of your vacation, you should be spending most of your time away from your hotel, only using it to bathe, relax and sleep. As many hotels with low-range and mid-range prices offer these basics, it is not necessary to turn to the premium hotels.

Cheap and good hotels are very quickly reserved during peak travel periods and in popular tourist destinations. You should act fast.

Unless you wish to explore the country’s transportation system, pick accommodation near the places you wish to explore, or near large train stations, so that you can walk or take public transport.

http://www.tripadvisor.com is a useful source for reviews of hotels at various price ranges.

 

Packing

Toiletries, facial products, medication, spare suitcases, umbrella and even clothes are items that travelers speak of buying from their travel destination.

Packing one more item means one less item to buy. If you are traveling as a family, the amount of savings is multiplied per head.

To minimize the weight of your luggage, you can purchase empty travel-sized bottles and fill them with your facial and body care products. Large, foldable travel bags are perfect for travelers who intend to bring back a suitcase full of shopping. They are compact to pack, and cost a lot less than a new suitcase.

 

Food and Drinks

In countries where living standards are high, the cost of food and drinks can take a huge dent on your budget.

Nonetheless, you must eat well and keep yourself well-hydrated. Pack an empty water bottle, which you can refill from your hotel room, at water coolers or even at eating establishments where this is allowed.

Many travel guidebooks list eating places by price range, and you can also get valuable information from other travelers through blogs and forums. Above all, do not skip meals, especially breakfast, as doing so would cause you to become tired and irritable.

 

Activities

Here comes the fun part, planning your itinerary! You can borrow travel guides from the libraries to read up, or surf the web for travel forums and travelers’ blogs. Take advantage of your freedom and visit unique places that typical tours would not take you to. Consult other travelers and natives on what’s fun and exclusive in the country. http://www.lonelyplanet.com is an active online portal for travel, with a dedicated forum for different countries.

Locate the places you want to visit by getting addresses, directions, contact numbers, photos and maps, usually easily available through a search on the web. Most tourist attractions have official websites which you can visit to look up opening hours and admission prices.

 

Transport

Plan your routes to reduce travel costs. Most public transport systems, especially railway systems, have websites detailing train routes, arrival times and costs. You could arrange to visit places near each other in one day so that you do not have to make repeat trips back to the same place. Some countries also offer travel passes that allow the traveler to take public transport at discounted prices.

Don’t forget to check the time of the last train or last bus, or you may find yourself having to cab back at night!

A little prudence with money goes a long way in helping you to cut costs, as well as afford extra souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones!

 

Safety First

Being pretty much on your own on foreign soil, you have to be vigilant and be aware of where to seek help.

– Read up on the taboos in your holiday destination and refrain from doing them.
– Do not visit places that are out of bounds to foreigners.
– Learn some basic words and sentences from the native language of the country to enable you to ask for directions and help.
– Register your overseas travel with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/eregisterportal/appmanager/web/default). The information you provide will allow MFA to contact and render assistance to you in times of emergency and crisis.
– Buy travel insurance, which can cover you for a wide range of unpredictable mishaps ranging from missing luggage to illness resulting from your trip.

 

Bon Voyage!

– This article first appeared in a lifestyle magazine