Before You Travel: Choose!
This is a delimma that every traveller faces, but it’s really not that difficult. You just have to make a decision by answering these questions:
- Where to go?
- When to go?
- Where to stay?
- How to get there?
Traveling is both exciting and stimulating. It appeals tomost of us for various reasons. It all seems to stem from somewhere deep within our human make-up. We are social and curious beings. Our earlier nomadic traditions and heritage, urge us to explore and conquer our world, both known and unknown. It has always been a quest and inspiration to go somewhere we have not been before and see places unseen until now. A great book that covers this in more detail is “The Discoverers” (this is kind of a double book, one is called “The Discoverers” and one is called “The Creators”).
The travel dilemma most of us face is simply when and where to take our next trip or vacation for leisure purposes. We will look briefly at a couple of money-saving tips that will help us answer a couple of key questions: How do I pick a travel destination and when is it best to take my annual vacation? Or “Can I fit in a couple of short trips this year and where would I go?”
Actually making the decision about where to go and when to travel is the easy part. It does not matter if we are traveling as sun or adventure seekers, to see family or people we know at a certain location or country, attend a spectacular or special event (I have friends who will visit the “Burning Man festival” soon, and that’s the only reason they travel half around the globe - or think about the Daytona Bikeweek - more than 500,000 motorcyclists go there each year, some of them shipping their bikes in containers from oversees). Maybe you want to visit an exotic destination or just look for some peacefulness.
The best time to start planning your trip is when the impulse hits you! Send away for information right away. Contact the local state and National tourist offices and check online, to learn more about your destination of choice.
Plan your trip so everyone has fun and budget for it accordingly! Think child-centered activities or a personal interest indulgence. Save money by deciding early and balance the family interest. Avoid trying to fit in all the “touristy” must-sees that will add up in the end. Holiday is for rejuvenation too, everyday-life is stressfull enough, but if you try to squeeze in every tourist destiation you might be able to show off all the places you have been later, but you won’t really have enjoyed and experienced being there. Select a few of them you really cannot bear to miss and enjoy them together.
Ensure the details are taken care of, like how early or late the attraction is open, transportation to and from the location and be smart by wearing flat shoes and taking water along for in case the wait is longer than expected. Remember, everyone else will be eager to see what he or she came to see too. It might take a little longer at popular venues, so plan your itinerary accordingly.
Deciding the duration of your trip, how long and how you will travel, are all important considerations. The sooner and earlier you plan and budget, the better prepared and more informed you willbe. “The early bird catches the worm”, we always say, and, “First come, First serve”.
You can save a lot of money by booking early and taking advantages of special offers, seat sales and more. Scout for good deals. Watch out and avoid deals that sound too good to be true (they normally are!). Do not get caught by ill-reputed providers and travel-scams. Always read the fine print!
Beware of other details like, what time of year you choose to travel, what the weather will be like, the impact of seasonal traveling, public or special holidays and more. Be smart and budget for the unexpected, delays, unplanned extended stays, inevitable layovers and more. Show some resilience, positive attitude and make sure that you have the right budget for your plans.
Sometimes knowing the right people can be more powerful than having a lot of money. A friend of mine once had to last-minute book a hotel room in Las Vegas, so he emailed some people he knew. Getting a hotel room in Las Vegas three days before you arrive there when there are big conventions going on can be really, really expensive. So, one guy replied to him (he didn’t even knew that guy very well) and said: “Hey, I can help you to get a room for $180 in that hotel”, and that was a great price! Normally a room costs $380 there. The funny thing is, when he arrived they gave him the key and it was on the 35th floor - it was a freaking PENTHOUSE! With jacuzzi, a large double bed, one bedroom, two separate rooms and a balcony!
Early on, while in planning and information gathering mode, consulting with a travel agent, professional specialist, tap into their expertise and experience. They can easily provide current information, industry updates, possibilities and pricing, availability, plan and book vacations; find you big discounts and special deals.
They will also be able to point out details that would otherwise remain hidden and unconsidered like new resorts, airport construction updates and hang-ups. Some can be extremely resourceful, patient and imaginative and want to provide you with the best travel and customer service options and solutions that are right for you. If you feel a travel agent is not providing good service, just move on - these days travel agents really should do a good job or should do no job at all.
They mostly work on a commission basis though, so just ensure that this is the best deal for YOU and not their pocketbook alone! Save money by asking many questions and pose the question about discounts. If you do not ask, they will not necessarily offer the cheapest option or hunt for better deals! (Sometimes it’s good to annoy them a bit by repeatedly telling them: that’s too expensive. You’ll be surprised to find out how much cheaper they can get at times).
When deciding to travel as a single individual or a couple, double rooms in a hotel are mostly cheaper than a single room. Consider sharing, but choose and weigh your travel partner(s) wisely!
Ensure that you are financially independent of one another and that all parties are responsible with money and will not come running to you expecting to help. Clarify needs and wants and highlight some mutual respect for these. Traveling together can be fun, but if money gets involved it can destroy all the fun even with good friends.
Ask the question of whether personal habits are compatible. How would they react in crisis-mode? These factors are handy to know in advance, in order to prepare you for anything. Save money by protecting your financial interests. Avoid others taking advantage of you, and you, ending up paying for mostly everything and sponsoring extravagant spenders. The onus is on you to ensure you take care of every detail.
This would include who and how you will pay for what. Discuss and stipulate it literally to ensure all parties are informed. Then clarify and agree on it. Be smart and act early to sort out any differences and avoid conflict and disagreement. Schedule regular time apart and pool some of your money into a ‘kitty’ to pay for outings and entertainment.
Guidebook-like informational tools should not dictate your trip. They describe, should not prescribe! Some might have set itineraries and must sees that do not interest you necessarily and might be costly if you choose to follow it to a tee. Their pricing options might also be out-of-date, so check their accuracy. They are good and useful for pricing options and ranges that again are useful in the travel budgeting process and list numerous lodging options across the spectrum. This highlights choice and empowered decision making.
Another consideration is Ecotourism. Consider carriers and travel providers that advocate and practice sustainable, safer and environmentally friendly options for travel. It has less impact on the environment and does not disrupt the local economy. On the contrary, it utilizes supports and optimizes it! This is a great option for responsible and conscious travellers.
It is all still about making the most of your trip and seeing any and all that you want to, experience and enjoy your travel and quest. Stroll, walk, take it easy on your first day and do not try to fit everything into 24 hours! In short: Go somewhere! Go anywhere! BUT DO GO! Don’t be like one of these people who’ve seen the whole world on a flatscreen TV but doesn’t know what a real Italian ice-cream tastes like! Travelling Europe on a budget is an adventure, because there are so many different cultures and diverse subcultures within them.
