[...] reading and research to keep our expenses low and found some tips for saving money on a vacation. J.D. at Get Rich Slowly posted Ten Money-Saving Vacation and Travel Tips earlier this year. Here are the tips for traveling [...]

[...] 10 money saving tips for travel – more basic tips, but this time from someone after they returned from their first adventure. It’s things they did well, and things that they didn’t [...]

In addition to being able to cook some meals for yourself, you have a reason to shop at local grocers and markets, and involve yourself more with day to day life.

Also consider the neighborhood. In Europe most touristy things and expensive lodging is located in the city center. Staying in a residential neighborhood will set yourself apart from the other tourists, be cheaper, and provide a more “local” and enriching stay. (This is certainly true in Prague)

james http://www.futuregringo.com

[...] but so often don’t give food, clothes, or entrance fees detailed thought. The rest of Get Rich Slowly’s 10 tips include common ones such as staying at hostels, packing light, eating cheap. I’d also [...]

I’ve tried this four times, and it’s worked all four times. Be nice about it, and it should work. They’ll usually bring a big box full of them to the front desk, and you can go through it yourself.

Free Charger. (don’t do it if you don’t need a charger, i’d hate for you to ruin it for us!)

cheers,
k

We also walked everywhere and took the Tube when we wanted to go to more distant locations. Our policy was to, “eat what smells good,” so as we walked, if we smelled something tasty we stopped and ate it. We then reserved supper as the one meal on which we spent more money – so essentially we snacked for most of the day.

All together our 5 day whirlwind trip in Paris cost under $2000 including some expensive linens (almost 25% of our expense) including air.

I went to London in April and did a bunch of research beforehand, not only for sightseeing, but restaurants I might want to try. I wrote all my notes and marked locations on a compact map of London that I purchased before the trip. Once I got there, I was able to wander around and sightsee — then, if I was hungry, I could reference the map and see if I had marked anything nearby. By putting all my notes on the map, I avoided having to carry and pull out sheets of paper or travel books — those I kept in the room. I’d review them at night or in the morning to refresh my memory about what I wanted to tackle each day. That map was indispensable, and I kept it as a souvenir of the trip.

While in Italy, recently, I carried a travel wallet around my neck with reserve cash, passports (when not in a hotel safe), back-up CCs, phone numbers, and travel documents (tickets, etc..again, when not in a hotel safe). Otherwise I carried a slim front pocket wallet that I used for the everyday stuff. I left my regular wallet and most of the stuff I use in the US at home. There are no Stop & Shops or Costcos in Italy, so you don’t need their cards. All you need are the few cards you will use, an ID, and cash.

I used a messenger bag as a travel pack. It was big enough to carry clothing, camera, souveniers, water bottles and such, but didn’t a million external pockets to tempt a thief. When I was touring sights I would keep my camera in a mesh pocket so it would be easy to get to, but I had a lanyard and a carabeener clipping it (in a very obvious fashion) to the side of the pack. You can’t deter a pickpocket, they are too good. What you have to do is look like less-easy prey than someone else.

We have an HSBC savings account that we used for ATM transactions in Europe. They are a European-based bank so we avoided additional ATM charges. If you plan to travel alot, get a CC that doesn’t charge you a fee for currency conversion.

Other thing is to wear and take disposable clothes, especially in third world countries. I essentially abandon my underwear, sleep shirts etc. Doing a little laundry every night helps a lot.

A jar of peanut butter and some granola bars helps immensely. I have found that I just can’t handle some of the spicy food provided by my hosts. I have been known to subsist on rice and boiled eggs sometimes.

Travel insurance is a must, provide for a medical evacuation. On one of my trips the leader fell and broke his leg, the local hospital was unable to care for his complex medical needs which were in addition to the leg. Fortunately we had bought the insurance. The cost for the medical evacuation was $189,000!!! Oh, and always carry extra passport photos, this was where I found out why. I had to apply for emergency visas to travel through countries on an entirely different route than planned for both of us. It was a big hassle to get those photos in a foreign country.

Just a few thoughts born of experience

we did stay on the cheap though. well, as cheap as possible. we wanted to be within walking distance of all the great stuff in florence. this saved on having to hire a taxi or ride the bus. we took a chance and booked our room in a one or two star hotel. it was perfect. it was a 10 room hotel run by a grandmother and her grandson. we had a nice view from our balcony, and very personalized service. the room had no frills, but then we were only in our room to sleep and shower.

i am sure we spent more than if we stayed in a hostel or something like that, but it was still relatively inexpensive.

[...] Are You Discouraged By Your Finances? Frugal Dad: Have You Outgrown Your Dreams? Get Rich Slowly: Ten Money Saving Vacation and Travel Tips The Simple [...]

One other thing – after your trip, re-assess your satisfaction with what you packed, and *take notes* so next time you can see how well the stuff you brought worked for you. I did that the last time I went camping and it will help me whittle the pile of stuff I bring to a more reasonable quantity.

We also used convertible suitcases that had zip-away backpack straps. My wife had one from LL Bean, and I bought a Rick Steves one from Amazon. It made a huge difference to be able to put our luggage on our shoulders, and it made us very weight-conscious about our luggage, which was incentive to pack even lighter.

Believe me, as soon as you get to your first cobblestone street, you will be very happy that you didn’t pack the two roller cases that you know you could have filled up. In Venice it made a tremendous difference. The city is all stairs over the canals and we saw many tourists lugging multiple cases up and over each bridge.

Don’t worry, you will almost always pack heavier than you need to. We packed what I thought was super light and even now, I can think of a few things I can leave home next time.

As we were staying several days in each place, the first day we arrived we would do laundry. That would use up the rest of the day (after traveling) but give us time to wander (to find the laundromat) and look at our guidebooks to get refreshed about the sights to see and when to see them while waiting for the wash to finish.

Also, you meet a LOT for people in Laundromats. In Venice we met two other couples on their honeymoons who had been in Venice for a few days already and they cued us in on some of the sights and such that they enjoyed. In Florence we me the guy who manages the laundromat. Turns out he was from San Diego and had been there for five years. We chatted a while and he pointed us to a list of fantastic restaurants that were largely off the tourist’s lists, gave us info about getting around the city. As if that wasn’t enough, it turns out his afternoon job is working a leather goods store, so we ended up with two custom tailored coats for much less than you would otherwise pay off the rack in the leather market in Florence (we checked) and far less than you would pay for the same quality in the states. These were our big soveniers for the trip.

Lesson learned: we will do laundry when traveling.

Some things to bring:
A travel clothesline (its twisted surgical tubing with two loops on each end, and you can get one for about $10 on Amazon)
Packets of woolite (gentle and individually wrapped)
Stain remover packets (to extend use of clothing between washings)

Google “packing list” and look at examples of what other people (usually more experienced travelers) pack when traveling, and adjust your list accordingly.

Learn to pack. Get packing cubes and such, or learnt he “bundle method”. Again, the web is your friend. People have done all the work in figuring out how to pack the most into a small space and minimize wrinkling. All you have to do is look it up.

Maybe it makes me look like a tourist, but as a tall pale person in Asia, everyone had me pegged anyway, and a small crowd often gathered to be amused by my awkwardness. I seldom dig in the belt–I laughed when someone suggested that! Keep money for the day in a more ordinary place. Not such a big loss if it goes astray. Helps you stick to the budget, too. You may need to subtly reach into the belt sometime (leave the dresses at home, ladies), but can avoid it with good planning.

You can also take things like mini cereal boxes, rice cakes, a jar of peanut butter, etc. in your luggage. Those are good things to eat when you’re touring around instead of spending money on an overpriced snack. And since you’re not carrying it back with you, the space it takes up going doesn’t really matter!

Splurge on things that matter. Buy keepsakes that are either part of an overall story of your travels, or that you can use in some way (clothing, jewelry, art that you will actually frame and hang). Take the helicopter tour even though it is spendy.

Maybe taking public transportation is the cheapest way to get from one city to another. But what is your travel time worth if the cheapest way takes 7 hours and the $50 way takes 3?

My rule of thumb is not to *worry* about packing something if I know I can get it where I’m going if I end up needing it. I always say “I’m not going to Outer Mongolia.” [The exception being, if I am going to outer mongolia]

I am also a big fan of street food and grocery shopping. I especially like going into stores in different parts of the world or even different parts of the country–look for things that are cheap there but not cheap at home!

It’s not so easy to cut hard cheeses in London with a plastic knife, but it’s so worth it!

And I second the idea of eating lunch out instead of dinner unless a break wouldn’t fit will in the middle of your day. (Museum visit? Yes! Hike in the woods? No!)

i went to oahu last year with a bunch of friends and spent only $60 a night to stay at the outrigger (smack dab in the middle of waikiki)

helps to have a family member who works for the airline too.. i got a round trip body pass for $200 =) only downfall was i was on standby for half the day =/