Question: Where does a cheapskate go on
vacation?
Answer: Just about any place he pleases.
Surprised? Don’t be. I’m known as The Ultimate Cheapskate, but my
wife and I recently returned from a month-long trip to Spain and
Morocco. In fact, over the years, I have traveled to every state in
the union and on every continent except Antarctica. And I’m sure
we’ll get there someday, too.
No, I haven’t lost my passion for penny-pinching, but I have
learned some secrets for traveling the world on a minimal budget.
When you travel on the cheap, you can travel more often and for
longer, plus you get a real feel for the places you’re visiting and
the people who live there.
Here, my advice for vacationing
on a budget...
Beware of guidebooks. Sure, borrow a good
guidebook from the library to bone up on the places you’ll be
visiting (I like the
Lonely
Planet series,
www.LonelyPlanet.com), but don’t
use guidebooks to plan your every move. If a hotel, restaurant
or tourist attraction is recommended in a guidebook, it’s likely
to be overcrowded -- and overpriced -- as a result. Staying
flexible and scouting out the best deals as you go -- by asking
around, checking local publications, etc. -- saves you money and
is more likely to give you a taste of how the locals really
live.
Know when to go. No matter what time of year
you vacation, it’s always off-season somewhere. That was key to
scheduling our recent trip to Spain and Morocco. By traveling in
winter and immediately after the year-end holidays, we got the
lowest possible rates on flights, ground transportation and
lodging. Had we traveled during peak season, we could have afforded
to stay only about half as long. And while it wasn’t
lay-on-the-beach weather, it still was plenty comfortable and the
absence of tourist crowds was heaven. Check
www.CheapTickets.com for a
list of when it is least expensive to visit destinations
throughout the US and worldwide.
Time activities. In addition to looking for
off-season travel bargains, it pays to time your activities to
maximize savings.
Examples: Hotels catering to
business travelers often charge less on weekends. Flights that are
very early or late in the day can be cheaper. Check the Web
sites
www.FareCompare.com and
www.AirFareWatchDog.com to
find the cheapest times to fly. And if you want to splurge on
that five-star restaurant while on vacation, consider going
there for lunch instead of dinner -- it’s less expensive but
just as good.
Maximize frequent-flier and credit card rewards
programs. Redeeming miles/rewards credits can be a
great way to cut airfare, hotel and other travel costs. We had
enough points on our credit card for one free round-trip ticket to
Spain. But with so many different frequent-flier and credit rewards
programs these days, it may be hard to figure out which are best
for you. Check
www.SmartTraveler.com and
www.CreditCards.com/reward.php for
a comparison of different plans.
Don’t make hotel reservations. During nonpeak
travel times, it can pay to travel without advance hotel
reservations, as we did on our Spain/Morocco trip. Particularly
when traveling overseas, hotels that can be easily reserved in
advance often are more expensive chain hotels catering to
Americans, and sometimes they charge a premium rate for advance
bookings. Finding bargain-priced, locally owned accommodations
usually is best done once you’re there, and innkeepers are
sometimes willing to discount their rates for "walk-in" guests if
they think a room will otherwise remain vacant for the night -- it
never hurts to ask. Just be polite and say something engaging, such
as, "Any chance you might have a lower rate for a tired traveler?"
If you like the security of reservations, visit
www.SideStep.com to comparison
shop.
Consider alternatives to hotels. Because
lodging is likely to be your single largest expense, consider some
creative money-saving alternatives...
House swapping (www.HomeExchange.com) is
increasingly popular for travelers looking to barter lodging
rather than pay for it.
Home renting. Web sites, such
as www.VacationHomeRentals.com and
Vacation Rental By Owner (www.VRBO.com), have special
last-minute deals on many property listings.
Hostels (www.HIUSA.org) provide safe, clean,
friendly accommodations to people of any age and at a price of
about 80% less than a hotel in the same location. While most
hostels have dormitory-style accommodations, an increasing
number offer private rooms and baths at bargain prices.
CouchSurfing (www.CouchSurfing.org) is a
worldwide network of more than 1.5 million folks who will let
you sleep on their couches -- or often in a spare bedroom -- for
free simply because they enjoy meeting travelers. When I travel
on my book tours, I use the CouchSurfing network and youth
hostels almost exclusively.
Camping. If you enjoy the great
outdoors, camping can save you a bundle, and you may be able
to camp for free. See www.FreeCampSites.net andwww.ForestCamping.com.
Look for meal deals. On longer trips, we like
to prepare most meals ourselves because dining out costs a small
fortune. Plus, we love to shop in local markets and use ingredients
that we can’t find at home, even if it’s just local fruits,
vegetables, breads and cheeses for a picnic. When you stay at
tourist-class hotels, hostels or swap or rent a home, you usually
have access to at least basic facilities where you can store and
prepare your own food.
If you’re not into cooking on vacation and you’re traveling the US,
buy Entertainment Books (
www.Entertainment.com) for the
cities that you’ll be visiting. These offer coupon savings on
dining and area attractions. You also can get discounted meal
gift certificates from
www.Restaurant.com.
Wherever your travels take you, here or abroad, hightail it to the
nearest college campus, where you will find inexpensive dining
establishments nearby that cater to cash-strapped
students.
Split expenses. Have some extra space at the
summer cottage you’re renting? Consider inviting along friends or
family members to share in the fun -- and the fixed
expenses.
Long-distance ride-sharing to save money (and driving) getting to
your destination also is becoming popular. Check the Web
sites
www.eRideShare.com and
www.ShareYourRide.net.
Remember that membership has its
privileges. At hotels, restaurants and tourist
attractions -- and whenever you’re buying any type of travel
service or package -- always ask if any discounts are available,
particularly if you are a member of AAA, AARP or one of the
increasing number of online travel clubs, such as
www.TravelMembershipClub.com.
Membership warehouse clubs, such as Sam’s Club and Costco, also
offer discounts on travel services. And it might help to flash
your business card at hotels and car rental offices to see if
they’ll give you a discounted corporate rate.
Go cheap on souvenirs. Look for practical
items, such as clothing and housewares, that you’ll actually use.
And don’t forget to check out secondhand shops, thrift stores and
even garage sales when you travel -- you’re likely to turn up some
one-of-a-kind, bargain-priced souvenirs.