Travel Tips

Saving money would probably be your biggest obligation when you start traveling, but when you have to harass a few people, pull a few strings, and do everything at the last minute, can you still expect to have some money left over at the end of the day? Economy travel would be great if you know how to get it, and even at the last minute. If you are anticipating that you will be going through a lot of last minute travel, then you may want to take note of these tips.

- Always have a great travel agent from a travel agency that knows how to handle travel mishaps. This includes last minute travel arrangements, which can drive even the best travel agencies crazy. You need to have a reliable travel agent who can be on call and efficient, so that no matter how late your last minute is, you can still get the trip that you want and not be worried that you will end up somewhere on the other side of the planet without your luggage.

- Always have info on hand about economy travel discounts. On your off times, ask about these discount travel packages, because when you do need them, they may be useful. Ask about the rates and how they change when you start doing last minute travel. Ask how far you can stretch your last minute or, how last minute can last minute be? Ask about special discounts or packages that you may be able to avail of if you have last minute travel arrangements.

- Keep your passport in a safe place and know where it is. Many travel agencies require a passport when they start booking flights and hotels, and when you do get to the hotel that you have been booked with, you will be asked for your passport. You can get your discounted packages only if you are able to present your passport, so make sure that your passport is with you at all times.

- Ask your family and friends for tips on last minute travel. There may actually be ways for you to save if you know where to look, but sometimes, two or more heads are better than one. You may actually get a lot of good tips from your friends. Ask about their travel arrangements on their last minute travel spree.

Who did they talk to, what agency did they ask about travel, and what airline did they use? Where did they go? What did they like the most about the trip? What was the worst thing that happened? Would they be able to recommend you to anybody working in the airline or travel industry? Ask your friends ahead of time, so that when the last minute travel arrangements suddenly pop up, you will not be ill prepared.

- Look for discount packages that are a little more flexible, such as those that give you time to look around cities, walk around, take hikes, and shop on your own. Some economy packages might be stringent and tour guides will harass you by taking you from place to place, giving you very little time to appreciate your destination on your own.

These are only a few tips that you may want to use when you are considering last minute travel and going economy. Remember, always talk to your travel agent, and do not be afraid to do your research.

The more thorough your research, the better prepared you will be no matter when in the year you choose to travel.

If you are on a budget this summer, camping may seem like an ideal summer vacation. Camping is a lot cheaper than staying at a hotel or resort. The good news? It can be just as fun! Although camping is a relatively affordable activity, the costs can easily add up if you arent careful. So, how can you plan a fun camping trip when on a strict budget?

Dont buy a new camping tent unless you need it. Do you have an old tent in the garage that hasnt been used for years? Get it out. Unfold the tent and air out for a few days. You may be surprised how good it still looks and works. If you do need to buy a tent, but are on a limited budget, consider buying used. Look on eBay, Craigslist, or check your local newspaper classified ads. To save the most money, ask around. Do you have any friends or family members who own a camping tent? See if you can borrow theirs.

If you do need to a buy a new camping tent, price compare first. They are available for sale at many locations, including department stores, discount stores, sporting good stores, as well as online. Look around to find the best deals. If you want to turn camping into a regular activity, read reviews online and invest in a good tent. If this may be a once in a lifetime event, focus more on saving money than quality.

If on a family vacation, you may have a teenager who wants to sleep in her own private tent, as opposed to in a large family tent. Check the prices. Cheap individual tents can be purchased for around $25, but do not buy something you cannot afford. Luckily, most family tents are sectioned off into rooms and designed to sleep at least 5.

Aside from the tent, the biggest cost of camping comes from location. State parks with camping accommodations and campground parks are your two best options. However, if you are staying close to home, consider camping in your own back yard. Move your tent as far away from the house as possible. It may seem like a second rate vacation, but it will still be fun and a lot cheaper.

Always price compare campgrounds. As previously stated, campground parks and state parks with camping accommodations are the best places to camp. Near popular vacation destinations, it is easy to find many camping locations. Use the internet to examine each. Price compare to find the best deal. Why pay $50 a night when a state park just five miles away only charges $25?

One of the reasons why camping makes a great summer vacation is because of the nearby activities. Whether you opt for a campground park or a state park, there should be a lot to do nearby. Many have a manmade beach or at least a swimming pool. Hiking trails, basketball hoops, and playgrounds are common. If you want to get out and explore the area, use the internet to research other nearby activities and attractions. However, make use of what is available to you. Your camping rates should include access to the hiking trails, water, and more.

In keeping with making use of the things provided to you, you should get a barbeque pit. Stock a few coolers filled with ice, drinks, meat, and condiments. If you want to spice it up, leave and find a nearby restaurant. Only do this one or two nights a week. You can save a lot of money by preparing your own food. If driving to your camping destination, stock up at your local grocery store because the prices should be cheaper. Otherwise, shop at a nearby grocery store. Avoid campground stores and convenience stores because they too have higher prices.

As a recap, camping is already an affordable activity and perfect for a summer vacation on a budget. However, as you can see from above, there are additional ways that you can cut costs. So, even if you are on a strict budget, you can still have an enjoyable vacation this summer whether you opt for camping in your backyard, down the street, or across the country.

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If saving money while you vacation is your concern then don’t worry, it can be done without sacrificing your comfort and good time. You should know that the off season is referred to as the Green Season and this last September to December. The Christmas season would be the time that they come out of the Green Season. I don’t know if this means their rainy and hurricane season has ended but Christmas is a time when some families decide to go on vacation.

The first consideration is trying to get a good deal with the airlines to get you into Costa Rica. There are 2 airports, Liberia airport and San Jose International Airport. Liberia is located on the coast and San Jose International is inland outside of San Jose. If you purchase your plane ticket scheduled during the green season you can save up to $150 per person on airfare. It is possible to fly standby as well.

The 2 main airlines into Costa Rica from the U.S. are Continental and Delta. Another possibility for saving money on airfare has just surfaced. Costa Rica has given the official okay for 3 other airlines to land on their airstrips. One of them is an American airline and it is the economy company of Frontier Airlines. I don’t know if rates are available yet but you might want to check with them. If you are going to Costa Rica during the Green Season you are a person that likes rain. It might just be worth the extra money to go during the High Season when it is dry and sunny.

The most affordable lodging I have found is the Bed & Breakfast trade. One way of searching is to go to Pamela Lanier’s Bed & Breakfast website www.lanierbb.com. When I navigated her website and put Costa Rica in her search window I pulled up nothing. So I clicked on the map that is to the side of the search window and I got Latin America. Click near Central America and you have a list of Costa Rican cities that you can search for a B&B from.

As an example I clicked on a B&B in Monteverde. I found La Colina, which is located in the Cloud forest and surrounded by the local Quaker community. The rates run from $38 – $40 per night and they have quite a few amenities. This facility also offers showers and baths to campers, although I am not sure I would want to camp in the jungle. Give me 4 walls please.

The most inexpensive lodging I found was the Kalexma. This B&B is owned by a woman that is an English teacher. She first started this rooming house to offer lodging to her students. She believes in immersion as a way of learning the language and offers low cost rooms as bridge to that end. These rates are as low as $15 per night. This is a bare bones arrangement and you have a bed and a bathroom. The site can be found at www.Kelexma.com.

Villa Mango located in Nosara, Costa Rica, has the most moderate of prices. A room will cost you approximately $59.00 per night, and $385.00 for a week. This B&B is a 10-minute walk from the beach.
The Villa Decary has rates that run about $85 a night and it is located about 10 miles from the Arenal volcano. The hotel sits on the shore of Lake Arenal with a view of the lake from you window.

If you are a woman traveling on your own I would check our Bed & Breakfast rooming, as it is easier to meet people in this type of environment. A good travel resource for women is journeywoman.com. This site gives great info for the single woman traveler.

My final advice is on eating. The water is good in Costa Rica, you don’t have the problems that the Mexicans do with Montezuma’s Revenge. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that are very cheap to buy. Also there are many Mom & Pop restaurants that cost much less than the big fancy restaurants. My advice is to pick a meal a day to eat big, then, keep on hand snacks for the rest of the day. You don’t want to go home heavier than you arrived do you?