America has a lot to offer to travelers. There are natural beauties like Niagara Falls or the Gran Canyon. There are historical sites, metropolitan cities, like New York City; and beautiful beaches, such as Miami Beach. If the vacation is taken by a resident of the U. S. , it could last two or three days; but if it is a foreign visitor then the tendency is for a seven to ten day vacation. Everyone likes to discover new places, but they also don’t want to spend too much. In order to make one’s trip meet their budget there are five tips to take into consideration and apply when planning your U. S. A. vacation: online hotel provider sites, peripheral destinations, pick when, flights, and transportation.
1. Online Hotel Provider sites
One of the primary components of a trip to America is the accommodation. It is second to airfare when it comes to deciding where to go and for how long. The best way to find reasonable prices and compare them too is through hotel provider websites like hotels. com, booking. com or prontohotel. com. A person could also decide to go to a travel reservation site like travelocity. com, priceline. com or expedia. com. On the hotel reservation sites a person can find the best deals the hotels are offering. With hotel search engine websites the additional perk is comparing prices with different hotel providers and being able to make a more knowledgeable decision. The travel search engines instead offer hotel plus flight, car, cruise and package deal prices; always compared with a number of service providers to be able and offer the best prices present at the time.
2. Peripheral Destinations
If you stay in a peripheral area from the major attractions you can still get downtown and go site-seeing without much difficulty, but you will save money because the hotel rates are more affordable. If the person is in a city with a good metro system, they can use those; otherwise there are taxis and renting a car. Money will still be saved and the trip enjoyable.
3. Pick When
Anyone who has travelled more than twice in their lifetime knows that prices go up and down depending on the travel season; there are high and low season prices, as well as mid season ones. When picking the State or attraction to visit, find out when those seasons take place. When you know what months fall within the low or mid season, those will be the better deals to pick from.
4. Flights
In a vacation package the flight can be one of the most expensive parts. If flying nationally it will be more affordable, but the prices can be further reduced by booking flights from and to the main airports of the destination visiting. Variuos airlines you can look into where you can find good prices are usairways. com, aa. com, continental. com and delta. com
5. Transportation
Unlike Europe, the U. S. doesn’t have efficient transportation in every State, city or town. Besides places like Manhattan, Boston and Washington D. C. , the States doesn’t have a metro or bus system that takes you everywhere. For this reason when visiting U. S. A. attractions and towns it is best to rent a car and not rely too much on public transportation. Two of the most popular rent a car companies that you can get your car from are avis. com or hertz. com.
Thorough research, being able to choose the hotel and flight for the trip, and knowing how to save make the vacation package unique to one’s own preferences. It will meet the budget in mind with no additional surprises.
With ever increasing gas prices, it is important to save as much money as possible while traveling. When you are planning a car trip there are several ways that you can save money. If you keep the following tips in mind, you will be able to enjoy your time on the road without feeling guilty about the money you are putting into the gas tank.
First, try and carpool if possible. Gas is one of the most expensive costs of traveling, but this cost can be reduced by including friends and family on your trip. By splitting gas multiple ways, you will all be able to save some money and enjoy the time you have together. To get even more out of your gas budget, do a bit of research before you leave. By looking up average gas prices in the cities you will be driving through, you will be able to plan your stops in the places that have the cheapest gas. This may result in making inconvenient or untimely stops, depending upon when you drive through these cities, but as long as you stop in a safe area the inconvenience will be worth it and your wallet won’t feel the strain.
Another way to make your gas budget stretch is to increase the miles your car can go per gallon. Keeping proper air pressure in your tires and driving at or below the speed limit are two ways to greatly influence the rate at which your car consumes gas. If your car is properly maintained it will work to its maximum efficiency, resulting in less gas being used.
The second most costly expense while traveling is food. Every year travelers rack up millions of dollars in fast food or casual dining off the interstate. While it certainly is very convenient to pull through a drive thru or stop at a restaurant for a quick bite to eat, it is financially wasteful. Instead, try to get a small cooler or two, depending on how many people are traveling and how long the drive will be, and pack them with drinks, snacks, and ingredients for sandwiches. This will enable you to save money, as fast food and casual restaurants are always raising prices.
The last recommendation for saving money while traveling is to stay in traveler friendly hotels. Many hotels cater to guests who plan to stay for an extended period of time, and the cost of staying in such a hotel for one night can be excessive. On the other hand, some hotels are geared toward travelers, in that they offer smaller rooms at a lower rate. These rooms will be small, but they are perfect for anyone who simply needs some rest before hitting the road again.
Remember, when you are traveling there are several expenses you cannot avoid. Gas, tires, oil, food, it is all important and cannot be ignored. However, there are several ways to reduce the amount of money you spend on each of these necessities. Savvy travelers budget wisely. By following the above tips, you will be able to enjoy your road trip without worrying about the money you spend.
Does being short on the green stuff mean your Costa Rica vacation has to be short on fun? Not if you can arrange to spend what green you have during Costa Rica’s Green Season. It would be more accurate, but not nearly as attractive from tourism standpoint, to call them the dry and rainy season, because that’s what they are. If, however, you don’t mind risking a daily downpour during your Costa Rican vacation, heading there between May and the end of November, during the “green” season, you can enjoy all of Costa Rica’s attractions at considerable savings, while expecting at least five hours of sunshine a day.
Your willingness to brave a daily rainstorm will have more than mere financial rewards. The green season is when even the brownest and most barren of Costa Rica’s provinces become abundantly lush, and the crowds which swarm to its warmth and sunshine to escape harsh Northern winters have long since departed. If you’re lucky, the rain in your Costa Rica vacations spot will limit itself to predictable afternoon downpours and you can schedule your (greatly discounted) outings accordingly.
The first savings you’ll experience by choosing to travel to Costa Rica in the green season will be in the cost of your airline tickets. You can expect to save as much as $150 on your round-trip airfare, and if you’re traveling from the US, you can book flight on a number of airlines including Continental, Delta, US Airways, and Spirit Air. Mexicana Airlines also offers service to Costa Rica from many major US cities, with connecting flights in Mexico City.
One of the best ways to save money on your accommodations while in Costa Rica is to book an ecotourism vacation. You’ll find yourself lodged among some of the most spectacular mountain or jungle surroundings in all of Central America, at prices which can be as low as $30 per night for a double occupancy room or bungalow.
If you book an ecotour through Global Exchange, your cost will include not only accommodations for your entire stay, but breakfast and dinner each per day, all transportation within Costa Rica ( and this can be a blessing during the rainy season) excursion fees, and a bilingual guide (another blessing if your Spanish skills aren’t the best).
Global Exchange’s 10-day Costa Rican tour covers three national parks, visits to Indian villages both a banana plantation and a banana growing co-operative, plenty of beach time and lodgings in the jungle, all for $1575 plus air fare per person double occupancy. You can skip lunch if you want to save even more money, but you’ll bring enough money for tips.
If you’d prefer lodgings in Costa Rica’s major cities, your best way to save money is to book with Bed and Breakfasts. In Monteverde, for example, you can stay at the La Colina mountain lodge surrounded not only by brilliantly colored tropical birds of the Clod Forest, but by an authentic Quaker community. While your breakfast is included in the cost of your roam, La Colina also has an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy delicious lunches and dinners.
Rooms with private baths are a very reasonable $38 per night for singles and $30 per double occupancy during the green season, not including Costa Rica’s 16% hotel tax. The staff at La Colina will be happy to arrange excursions including horseback riding and jungle canopy tours for you.
An even less expensive B&B for your budget Costa Rican vacation is the Kalexma B&B in the La Uruca section of San Jose. What it lacks in style it more than makes up for in affordability, with a single room and shared bath going for $15. 00 per night during the green season. A private bath and warm water shower will cost $3 more.
While you lodgings in Costa Rica may include breakfast, you’ll still need to eat at least one more meal during the day. The cheapest way to do that is to patronize the Cost Rican supermarkets, where you can not only find the meal fixings if your lodgings come with kitchen privileges, but ready-to-eat meals as well. You’ll find the small family-run restaurants are also much more affordable than the large hotel dining establishments.
Finally, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to hunt down the most budget friendly Costa Rica vacation options on your own, use the Internet to track down a budget Costa Rica travel broker who has connections to the resorts in the area of the country you’d like to visit. Many of these brokers work with resorts who which would other wise have blocks of empty rooms during the green season and will offer them at significant discounts through the brokers, who collect commissions on the deals.
Most of these deals are all-inclusive, meaning you’ll book your airfare at the same time that you book your resort. Your smartest tactic will be to get a quote from one broker before booking it, spend a few minutes seeing what price you can get for the same trip if you book your own airfare and hotel accommodations.
Remember to book your Costa Rican Vacation at http://www. myroadtotravel. com
Spring break is a time to relax and have a good time with your friends. The last thing you want to worry about is going broke trying to pay for it. Spring break vacations do not necessarily need to be limited to high priced air/hotel packages. There are other options available if you do your research. Reserve EarlyIts true the early bird catches the worm. The earlier you book your spring break vacation the better deal you will get. Booking early for spring break typically refers to six months prior. Many travel agencies will offer free summer trips and other incentives to those students that book prior to a certain date for spring break. It seems like a no-brainer, book early, get the trip you want at the cheapest price and maybe even a bonus vacation or incentive. Book in BulkAnother way to save on your spring break trip is to book in large numbers. Most travel agencies will give a discount to groups of 12 or more. Once again, group discounts only apply when you book spring break trips early. All Inclusive PackageDon’t let the initial price of a all inclusive spring break package scare you. They may seem more expensive at first but when you sit down and crunch the numbers they are actually a good deal. Most packages include Alcoholic drinks(worth the price just for the unlimited alcohol), food, scuba and snorkel rentals, booze cruise and para-sailing(just to name a few). Everything is included which means you don’t have to worry about pulling out your wallet and spending more money when your there. You can sit back and enjoy your margarita. Travel InsuranceBeware of Travel Insurance, you don’t need it. If you book through an agency most likely they have there own security features in place in case there is a problem.
What you just learned about Spring Break is just the beginning. To learn more about Spring Break check out the number one site on the internet, Spring Break Nation where you will find pictures, videos, blogs, stories, games and much more.
Traveling in a group? You are the holiday packagers dream! Imagine being able to offload bulk airline seats, rail passes and entertainment packages in one booking. A group traveling is a wanted commodity and because of this you can secure great deals for your group. But as always, beware of any hidden ‘extras’ such as cancellation policies and preferred partners when stepping outside the package. Be prepared to shop around for the best deal.
Here are some tips for the traveling group on a budget:
1. Travel insurance can be bought through some companies where savings can be ten percent or more. A group usually consists of four or more. Contact a number of travel insurance agencies and compare quotes.
2. Pack as many people as you can into your hotel room (keeping it legal). The more heads in the room, the higher the number to divide the cost by.
3. Renting a car when traveling in a group of four is usually cheaper than buying travel passes – and more convenient.
4. Food, guidebooks, taxi fares can all be split between the group bringing costs down.
5. Rail passes for groups or pairs may find discount offers in some countries.
6. Some airlines offer discount rates to groups of ten or more traveling together.
7. Group package bookings that have everything included in the price will have all expenses covered so you won’t be surprised by any extra costs, apart from shopping!
8. Discount holiday packages for large groups of travelers are offered through a number of travel agencies. Sports fans may be able to travel to big events using one of these travel packages for much cheaper than organizing it on their own.
If you want to join a group tour so you don’t have to travel alone consider all the pros and cons. Will there be like-minded people? Is there any flexibility to the travel arrangements? If not, will this outweigh the savings you’ll make on joining the tour? Some travelers like the convenience of all the travel arrangements being made for them. Group tour operators will find the best fares and reputable places to stay in. This saves you the hassle but it may mean that some of the cultural experiences you want will have to be put aside for the relatively cheaper ride.
Traveling in a family group can also benefit from a number of offers. Inform your booking agent that it is a family and ask about any special offers or deals. Can you visit any amusement parks or tourist attractions at family discount rates?
When traveling in a group, never be afraid to ask for a discounted rate. Everyone involved in the tourism trade is looking to get large numbers on seats or through doors. Groups are welcomed and catered for accordingly.
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com
Recent Comments