Want to have a traveling break, but thinking that travel can be expensive may cancel your plan? But if you plan your trip according to our guide you will definitely save a lot of money while traveling. A planned trip saves the amount of money than an unplanned trip. So, here we are with some easy tips on how you can save money while traveling.
Opt for Off-Season
Traveling in the off-season is our number one tip. If you travel in the high season, the price of everything like accommodation, tours, and even food will be higher. So, to save money you can prefer going in the off-season where you will find much difference in the price. You will find cheap hotels, ferry discounts, and half-price tours if you opt for the off-season.
Set your Intention
The next thing is to set your intention. It is very important to have a clear idea of where you want to go and what you want to do in saving money while traveling. To set your intention you can take out your dairy and pen and make notes of it.
Plan your Travel Budget
So, when you are done with setting your travel intention the next step is to plan your budget. Check out how much your traveling tour will cost you. Here you can consider local transportation, accommodation, food and drink, and leisure expenses.
After making a rough idea of your budget, check your monthly budget and see how long it will take to save up some money. If you find that you can not save money in this section do not worry. Other tips below will help you.
Eat like the locals and trip like the locals
The next thing to remember is wherever you go, try to eat like how the locals eat and travel like how the locals travel. Eating in the local restaurants, shopping at local restaurants, roaming around in local transportation saves you lots of money, and also you will get a much more authentic experience.
Stay where Breakfast is Included
Kill two birds with one stone by staying in places where breakfast is included in the staying price. It is also fine if breakfast is not included. In such cases, you can go to local restaurants and eat items like bread, and fruit to save a lot of your money.
Are you traveling on lengthy flights? You may feel bored, uncomfortable, and exhausted whether you are taking a seven-hour tour to Europe or undertaking a 19-hour journey of the world’s longest flight.
The problems of long-haul travel can range in harshness from annoying seatmates to downright dangerous. An unclear planned journey can ruin your day. Fortunately, we have listed ten easy tips to bear a long flight. Read on!
Book your Tickets Early
Without waiting and hoping for the price drop, it is better to book your tickets at the earliest. As the earlier you book the tickets, the better your chances of picking your favorite seat.
Book Back Seat
If your favorite seat is no more available, book the back seat. However, it will be noisier, but if everyone prefers the front seat, you have a far better possibility of ending up with an empty seat or two beside you.
Furthermore, keep an eye on the seat map before you fly if there are any empty seats you can get at the last minute.
Get Creative
So, if your flight is long hours, you get to use it as an opportunity. You can carry the notebook with you, a sketch pad, or anything else you are interested in.
Stay Hygienic
Stay hygienic is important for everyone. So, try to carry your own toiletries and ensure to brush up your teeth, put on some deodorant, and even you can change your clothes to be hygienic.
Bring your Best Conversation
Long flights can be very boring. So, never hesitate to start a conversation with your fellow seatmate. If you are likely to be seated next to an interesting and friendly fellow, strike up a conversation.
Walk to Keep the Blood Flowing
Passengers who travel in pressurized cabins may have symptoms such as weariness, headaches, swelling limbs, and dehydration over time as a result of decreasing blood oxygen levels. The most ideal activity is to Stretch. To increase blood flow, walk up. You can also perform some quiet exercises in your seat, such as rolling your shoulders and turning your ankles.
Wear the Most Comfortable Outfit
When it comes to long-haul flights, pick a “comfy-chic” dress code of neutral, loose-fitting layers you feel comfortable in. Experts also suggest wearing compression socks, which decrease swelling and reduce the risk of blood clots.
De-stress Before you Arrive
Before you go on a long journey, it is necessary to have a nice breakfast, go to the gym, or for a walk. It is important for every traveler to feel relaxed.
Don’t Overpack the Carry-ons
A long-haul journey will demand more of you than a short-haul flight would, but that doesn’t mean it’s too overpack. Keep your essentials in your personal item so you can always access them.
Bring your Own Pillow
The basic carry-on item for long-distance passengers is a small pillow. Travel pillows are available almost everywhere at airports, and appearing a little foolish is a minor price to pay to avoid damaging your neck.
Learn how to assess security concerns when traveling to more “exotic” destinations and keep safe.
Some travelers maintain that tourist travel to certain countries is unsafe and to be avoided. At the same time, other travelers insist that such travel is safe.
Who, then, can a potential traveler believe? Every traveler is different and has varying travel interests and tolerance levels for risk.
Even within the same country, security concerns may vary widely as well. Before considering travel abroad, it is important to carefully evaluate possible security concerns for a particular destination, while keeping in mind your travel style and willingness to adapt to local ways.
Official Travel Warnings
Before considering travel to a particular country or location, it is advisable to check a variety of sources. This way, the potential traveler can compare the different security concerns that are expressed about a specific country.
A major reliable source of information about the security and safety situations of countries around the world are the dedicated travel sections of government-run foreign affairs offices like the United States’ Department of State, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office, and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. All three offices offer frequently-updated country specific information, travel warnings, and travel advice on their respective websites.
As government bureaus that watch out for their citizens’ safety and interests, the Department of State, the Foreign Office, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have access to a wide range of sources in the creation of these documents. However, some critics have expressed concern that certain travel warnings may be politically motivated.
Information From Other Travelers
Other travelers can be a great source of information. They may have recently gone exactly where you are thinking of going or they may have some first-hand information that is not readily available in guidebooks. On the other hand, they may have picked up unreasonable or unwarranted opinions or prejudices. The rule of thumb when seeking the advice of other travelers is to gain as much information as possible, but to take it with a grain of salt.
Online travel forums are an easy way to find other travelers who may be eager to share their travel experiences with you. Politely asking curious questions is a good way to get the conversation started. Alternatively, you may know someone in your extended circle of contacts who has gone to the place you are researching. You may ask them to coffee so that you can pick their brains.
Mode of Travel
How one travels can impact one’s level of safety and is an important consideration to keep in mind. For example, in a country where Westerners have been known to be targets, Western tourists traveling in a large group may constitute a security concern in certain areas. Traveling as a small group may attract less attention, but as a smaller group – or even those who travel individually – tend to be more approachable, they may be more susceptible to harassment or worse from unsavory elements of the local population.
Whether traveling as a large group, a small group, or individually, it is important to anticipate and balance current security concerns in the city and country you wish to travel to with the mode of travel you choose. If in doubt, contact your country’s local embassy or consular section for advice and information about the latest conditions.
Fitting in Promotes Safety
In general, travelers who try to respect the local customs through their dress, actions, and speech have a greater chance of ensuring their personal safety. As an illustrative example, a gay couple may openly kiss on the streets of Berlin, Germany; however, that couple would risk death for the same behavior on the streets of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A woman who dresses modestly and a tourist who speaks the local language are appreciated in many countries, or at least it may help the traveler to draw less attention to him or himself.
In certain cases a traveler will be immediately recognizable as a foreigner or tourist, such as black people in Russia or white ones in India, or if you are unable to speak the local language, which may draw unwanted attention, but attempting to emulate local dress, actions, and speech may make a positive difference in how the traveler is perceived or treated. So, read a book on the country’s customs. Take a language course. Put together a modest wardrobe.
Keeping Safe
To be safe, it is important to assess the conditions and safety concerns in the city and country you are considering travel to. Get as much information and evaluate it as you can, you need to carefully look at it, you can make an informed travel decision and have a good holiday while avoiding a potential tragedy.
Don’t bring a purse. Purses are a distraction for the carrier and a target for pick-pockets. Instead, use a money belt secured under clothing for cash, passports, IDs, and credit cards, and carry a small pouch pack attached to your hip or shoulder strap for personal day-to-day items like small amounts of medication, reading glasses, and lip balm, etc. Men, leave your wallets at home; take what is needed and keep it in a money belt under your clothing. Thieves look for an easy mark and will focus on the tourist with a bulging wallet flopping around a back pocket or a lady swinging a purse around. Simply eliminate the issue.
Money
Carry at least $80 to 100 in small bills, ones, and fives for tips, water, etc.
Believe it or not, money changing can be the cheapest right at the airport, so scout out the currency exchanges in the terminal before you head out. Plus, crazy as it seems, the hotels are frequently out of money! So get it while you can.
Bring no expensive jewelry. Instead, take cheap but attractive pieces that can afford to be lost.
Pack lightly
Plan to hand wash some clothing halfway during the trip. Choose clothing articles that are lightweight and quick drying. Plan the entire wardrobe before packing everything so that all pieces go with everything else. Have a central theme to the wardrobe using a neutral color: black, brown, navy, or grey. Choose one or two accessories that spice up an outfit for evenings out, like a colorful, glittery scarf or a metallic belt with some “bling.” Finally, lay everything out on a bed for easy coordination.
Wear the bulkiest items on the plane: long pants, walking shoes with socks, jackets, and long sleeves. This strategy keeps a traveler comfortable during the trip and saves space in the luggage for lighter items.
All those who have scrimped and saved, planned for years, and finally booked that dream trip only to have luggage lost on the first day – live and learn. Couples traveling together can work as a team.
Take three pieces of luggage.
1. Take one personal item bag, not a purse, but used as a purse just for the flight, something like a beach bag or backpack. Later, this can be used to go to the beach or carry water bottles. In addition, I hold travel documents, books, games, glasses, pair of socks, a toothbrush, and a sleep pillow – just items to help make the airline flight more enjoyable.
2. Pack 3-4 days of important clothing in a regulation-size carry-on luggage piece. Most airlines have a 22-inch limit, and some might have weight caps too. One should think: These clothes would be sufficient for the trip if the unthinkable happens and a checked bag gets lost. Also, the camera and extra copies of important paperwork like passport, ID, credit/debit card, medications, and copy of travel insurance should be packed here and the bag stored in the airplane overhead bin.
A good traveler is an efficient packer but is prepared for all contingencies. Many countries have different cultural and religious traditions than the traveler’s home, so stores can be closed at unexpected times and days. Pack these 3-ounce portions of anti-biotics, Pepto-Bismol, Zicam, or other cold shortening otc product, hand sanitizer, headache pain remedy, bandages, sunscreen, and a packet of laundry soap or extra shampoo for hand washing clothes in the carry-on bag.
3. Check the third bag. It contains all the less critical clothing items and accessories. For example, it might contain dress clothes and shoes, bulky items, and pieces only worn a few times for special occasions.
Having anything stolen at any time is frustrating at best, but it can ruin a vacation altogether, often before it has even started.
Personal Security. Tips for a Female Travelling Alone
Sadly, females traveling alone often fall foul of undesirables. It seems unfair to distrust everyone, but unfortunately, it’s the world we live in. If you are a girl and going anyplace alone, whether national or international, a few things may help you avoid a good deal of heartache. When you arrive at airports, train stations, bus stations, and the like, you will almost certainly have been seen by the people who make their living stealing things from others.
They will pay special attention to you if you are alone; you will almost certainly generate additional awareness if you are female and alone. This attention will increase with loose baggage, handbags, being disorganized, not being able to find things, even wearing a tight skirt and high heels will attract attention; all these things make a spirited resistance unlikely, and you will be well on the way to becoming a target.
Luggage
Try and get rid of your luggage as early as possible; this is easier with airport travel.
Clothing
When traveling anywhere, comfortable clothing is the sensible choice. With this in mind, choose clothing that is both comfortable and practical; loose trousers and a sleeveless shooting jacket with lots of zipped pockets remove much of the risk. This type of clothing looks tidy, whether male or female, and keeps everything where you need it. Sturdy flat footwear such as trainers or approach shoes completes the ensemble.
What Fits Where?
Each pocket is reserved for a specific item; when you pull the item out, it cannot drag anything else out with it. So keep your wallet/purse in one of the inside fronts zipped pockets, and keep a small amount of money in another pocket to buy drinks, food, magazines, and the suchlike while you are waiting for your flight/train/bus.
Be Careful Who You Talk To
Be wary of people you do not know just coming up to you and making conversation; thieves often work in groups. Be on your guard for people requesting help or change, refuse point blank, and move away smartly. These places have all the help anyone could need.
Eating, Drinking, and Reading
If you can, always try to position yourself with your back against a wall if you are having a coffee, sandwich, or just reading; this will reduce the areas that need to be watched and give you peace of mind.
Toilets
These are, without doubt, potentially higher-risk areas but can be managed efficiently with little thought. Be wary of people standing near the toilets. Always use a cubicle with a lock and when you have finished, make sure you are completely dressed and ready before unlocking the door; unlock the door and move quickly out of the cubicle and out of the toilets. You should have a small bottle of antiseptic gel in one of your pockets (50ml) to remove the need to wash your hands in the bathrooms, an area of particular vulnerability. Sunglasses with reactive lenses are also a good idea, as spraying fluid into a victim’s face (often only soapy water) to frighten them seems to be on the rise again.
In the Unlikely Event of a Confrontation
If you have been successful in your assessments and preparations, the event of a confrontation will be improbable. However, several items may be used to great effect should things need to become physical; a rolled-up magazine, a ballpoint pen, an unimportant plastic ‘credit-card’ type card. Or a bunch of keys; these are only a few everyday items that you may use to control the situation. A ballpoint pen in your top pocket looks harmless enough, but when held in your hand with your thumb over the top, it becomes extremely adaptable, a groin, thigh, or back of hand application being very persuasive.
A rolled-up magazine used end-on is very strong indeed; use this to prod the small depression where the neck joins the chest (just below Adam’s apple). A sharp prod here will allow you to walk away unhurried, as will a similar blow to the eye socket or the underside of the nose. A key or plastic ‘credit-card’ type card across the face will also have the desired effect. If another female confronts you in the toilets, don’t get into a brawl; a finger or thumb to the eye will terminate the situation instantly. Providing these things are only used in self-defense, you will have no problems with the authorities whatsoever.
Help From Others
Don’t rely on help from other people; the vast majority will just walk away, not wanting to get involved with someone they don’t know. Instead, always try to be completely self-sufficient; this will help in many other areas throughout life-giving a glowing presence of confidence and control, the very thing thieves wish to avoid.
Exits
Always make sure you know where all the exits are and where they lead should you need to use them in an emergency.
The Whole Thing
All these things together will protect you better than you think; Thefts know what to look for and avoid; everything you have done, from the clothes you wear and your confident manner to the things you carry, all tell the thieves that you are a really bad risk. They will look for an easier target. Remember, good security is all about avoiding confrontation; if a bodyguard has to physically protect a client, he has failed in his primary objective of risk assessment, placing the client in direct physical danger. Unfortunately, good security often goes completely unnoticed. The consciousness of what is going on around you will always serve you well, and although this has only scratched the surface of a constantly changing subject, hopefully, it may just help things along a bit.
We talk of a need for authentic travel more and more these days, but with bursting pipes and dark days ahead, is that what we want?
Authenticity and Travel: What We Want
We aren’t used to snow in the UK. So the idea that we might be sitting near the top of the Winter Olympics medal tables, competing in cross-country skiing with the Norwegians and Swiss, seems an anathema. An aversion also appears that the authorities, both local and national, might be adequately prepared. Yet while not wanting to get too much into those issues, the slush, flooding, and dampness bring forth other visions not too far removed from images of the Russian spring in some Turgenev novels. The long winter without Christmas is before us; we dream of warmer climes, and the language of travel fills our minds.
The language of travel
On BBC Radio 4’s Word of Mouth, the Independent’s travel critic Simon Calder waxed lyrically, if not a tad sardonically, at the lexical fulminations of the holiday industry promoting itself through seemingly banal and empty adjectives, of which sunny, relaxed, cultural, and diverse are but a few. Such epithets appear helpful whether you’re promoting the nether regions of the United States, Serbia, Brazil, or Iceland, for as Calder notes, we, the paying tourist, seem, in the central, happy to play along.
While there are notorious examples of holiday experiences that sit mightily near to the base and far end of Richard Butler’s classic resort model, whereby the height of any pleasurable experience to be had at any given resort, for example, Coney Island or Blackpool has long given over to what Tim Edensor saw as holidaying in the ‘monotone enclave,’ there are still the Cancun’s and French Rivieras to fall back on.
Holidays are central to our aspirations.
As is entirely understandable in our hectic lives and relatively monotonous working conditions, most of us want to lie back and unwind either with or without the children in tow. As long as the airports, connections, and tour buses are efficient, synchronized, and staffed by friendly and helpful people, our holidays, often the simpler, the better, remain central to our yearly dreams and aspirations. Indeed, it is interesting when reading or hearing accounts of daily life behind the old Iron Curtain to note that of all the daily restrictions that bothered people, the restriction on foreign travel was one of the most annoying.
The historical and cultural playgrounds of ‘the old country, in Italy, for example, might not seem at first sight a caricature of the mass holiday destination as parodied on ITV’s Benidorm. Yet beyond the inferred sophistication of the former over the latter, there is no reason to suppose that concrete apartments and English pubs are any less ‘authentic’ in the south of Spain than a tour through the film set of our collective imaginings, a la Roman Holiday, La Dolce Vita or The Tourist.
Authenticity in travel
Yet again, the notion of authenticity, which is so debated within tourism studies, is highly subjective, that getting and experiencing the ‘real’ experience of life in any chosen destination. Dean MacCannell coined the phrase back and front tourist region, and you can’t get much more about it than taking a trip to see the Auschwitz concentration camp or the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Visits to such places are littered with moral questions, like: are the masses of tourists cheapening the memory or significance of these sites by merely putting such an excursion into their itineraries? Simon Calder again thinks not. Such processes, he suggests, are just natural curiosities and part of the human make-up, just like some other activities that are not necessarily easy to explain, especially to your insurance company, like bungee jumping or parachute jumping.
But are any of these examples’ authentic’? Perhaps, but only in the same way that the Queen Victoria Pub in EastEnders is representative of a few other pubs in the country where everyone knows each other’s business; most pubs aren’t like Queen Vic. Most people don’t live in Assisi, Geneva, New York, or Dubai. The reality for most people isn’t the reality they go looking for when they want the truth of the other.
The real heartbeat of the United States, the middle and most representative of people, culture, and class, is somewhere in the Buckeye state of Ohio. Yet it seems unlikely that the British tourist would give up Manhattan or Florida for such a destination. Likewise, it would seem unlikely that your average American tourist would exchange Windsor, Bath, and Oxford for Swindon, Stoke, and Birmingham. Authentic isn’t really what we want, in the bleak mid-winter or not.
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