Tips For Budget and Free Travel – How to Enjoy Traveling in Third World Countries

Author: Tom Pattingson
Source: ezinearticles.com

Budget travelers will often choose third world countries as their destinations because of the radically different experiences they offer and the lower costs involved. It will be useful for the new traveler to take these suggestions into consideration:

1. Don’t always try to spend the least amount of money

Even if you are traveling on a low budget, it can be quite aggravating to obsess about saving every dime and penny. Not only is it a perfect way to take the fun out of your travel experience it also is a great way to demean the locals.

We’re not suggesting that you fall prey to tourist price traps or never negotiate for deals. Instead, recognize that arguing over a price difference that means little in your home currency is not often worth it. You can hold your own in good humor when faced with unscrupulous behaviors from vendors.

It feels good to pay the full price in appropriate circumstances (such as encouraging a local economy not run by multinationals).

2. Don’t show off your fortunes

Clothes and bags tell a lot about a traveler. In third world countries where large segments of the population are poor or very poor, even your less than best clothes may make you appear rich.

Lessen the gap between you and others by wearing modest clothes and carrying average bags. It will make you less intimidating to locals, less of a target for robbers and you will feel much less ridiculous.

3. Learn how to deal constructively with the poor

While it may be appropriate in some circumstances to not give so much as a glance to swarms of begging people it will significantly improve the quality of your travel if you do offer yourself the chance to connect to people in need.

It does not necessarily mean that you should offer money directly to those you encounter. But consider making a donation to a local charity or organism that works with them This money will most likely be used in a more constructive manner than if you give it directly to beggars. If you have no money to spare, volunteering with such organisms can be just as valuable.

To the people you meet directly in the street, you can offer some of your time. Talk to them, ask them questions, exchange words in your respective languages, play with kids, play with your camera, share a meal with them… there are many ways to have a positive exchange.

Tom Pattingson is interested in budget and free travel opportunities. He writes for his travel for free blog.

Six Budget Travel Secrets

Author: Steve Gillman
Source: articledashboard.com

Budget travel is not just about finding ways to spend less. The point is to have just as much fun while spending less. Here are some tips to get you started, and afterwards, a suggestion on how to think about travel.

Are you considering a long trip? You may want to rent an apartment in an interesting city. We did this for two months in Tucson. It saved us at least $600 per month, compared to even the cheaper motels. It was fun to have a “home base” for our travels, from which we took day trips to Mexico and or up to Mount Lemmon, the furthest-south ski resort in the country. Many cities have apartments that are furnished and available on a month-to-month basis.

In general it is the traveling part of travel that costs the most. This is due to the cost of gas, convenient fast food, and the expensive hotels you are forced to pay for when you just can’t drive any further. So if you find a place with a reasonable motel, and a lot to do in the area – stay for a while! We find that a place becomes more interesting when you have a few days to explore it.

Because of the growing popularity of RV (recreational vehicle) boondocking, the BLM has begun to establish areas for longer stays, particularly in Arizona. They have a permit fee is around $140 now. Although you can still park your RV for free on most BLM and National Forest land, paying for the fee areas means you get to stay up to six months (The free stays are limited to two weeks). You’ll also have pump stations, dumpsters and water available. You can find out more from the BLM’s Arizona web site.

Budget Travel Quick Tips

The federal tax on airfare isn’t due if you are taking a flight from one city in the U.S. to another in order to catch an overseas flight. Show your ticket to another country to the agent to have the tax removed.

You may be able to get a senior discount if you are 65 or older. Ask. If you are using an internet site to search for tickets, they may not include this information, so you may have to call the airline direct. Recently, Expedia.com has included a box to check if you are over 65.

For cheaper hotel rooms, use the coupon books at gas stations along the highways. We’ve almost always found good deals using these. It’s rare that a manager won’t honor the coupon. Generally, only if they’re absolutely full will they refuse. Read the fine print, though. They often charge more for certain dates, or for two people.

The above is a good example of how to travel cheap without sacrificing a thing. The same room will often be $20 more without the coupon, and you have to stop for gas anyhow, so why not grab those coupon books? Save on a room for a few nights and you can pay for another day of vacation. Just keeping your eyes open for opportunities like this is one of the keys to budget travel.

How to Buy a Cheap Airline Ticket

Author: Matthew Kepnes
Source: articlesbase.com

One of the biggest costs for travelers is airfare. However, it is very hard to find a cheap air ticket these days. The global recession has helped as airlines seek to fill lots of empty seats. Moreover, searching the internet can help you locate hidden cheap offers if you want to search hard enough. There are some secret tips that can help you get cheap airfares if you follow them. Here they some tips that can get you a cheap ticket: The first thing you should do is book your holiday about two months in advance. The best time to buy is around 8 weeks before you travel as the airlines know you still have chooses to pick from. As an early bird you can get cheap airfare on your ticket. This is because if you book close to your departure date the airline companies know you really need the ticket. If you book really fare in advance, companies might raise or lower fares and they keep fares high in case operating costs go up. Book a round trip ticket. Round trip tickets are usually less expensive if you book round trip. The airline gives a “discount” to round trip tickets because they know the seats will be filled. Often times the prices are not that much different but it is enough to make buying this ticket a good deal. Sometimes you can get blessed and find one of these tickets a lot cheaper than a one way ticket. In that case, book the round trip but only use one way portion you need. Avoid weekend travel. Most travelers prefer traveling on the weekend so there is rush during the weekends and airlines increase their prices to reflect the demand. Hence, between Tuesday and Thursday is the best time to book a flight. Travel with lots of people. A few carriers typically give discounts for groups of 6 or more. The savings can sometimes be substantial and this is a good way to further lower your cost.