TRAVEL

-Tight TravelHow To See The Sights Without Breaking The Bank

By Patricia Gyrl

Nothing’s more fun than throwing cares to the wind and going all out on an extravagant vacation! But who can afford it? In this time of rising gas prices and economic uncertainty, times are tight, and no doubt about it–traveling is expensive. Hotels, transportation and food are all costly obstacles to vacationing on the cheap.

So what about those on a tight budget? Is it possible to travel frugally? Yes! Here are some tips for saving money while seeing the sights.

MEALS

Ordering water instead of sodas or alcoholic beverages can reduce a meal bill by 50% or more. Skip dessert (or split one) and save even more. Many appetizers are large enough to qualify as entrees but cheaper; consider ordering one as your meal. Light eaters, consider sharing a meal. Most meals are far larger than the daily recommended allowance anyhow.

When booking your hotel, ask for a microwave and fridge in your room or for access to one. Dinner leftovers can be eaten the next day and save on meals out. And finally, select hotels with continental breakfasts or consider bringing along bagels, fruit and granola bars for an easy breakfast on the cheap.

LODGING

Use websites such as hotels. com and Priceline which compete for your business. Find good prices on the internet and then phone the hotels directly and ask if that’s the best they can do. Often hotels will upgrade your room or offer unadvertised discounts when pressed. Select hotels which allow easy access to public transportation, free parking and free shuttle service to local attractions, and consider hotels with lower ratings if all you’re going to do is sleep there (just pack your own pillows). Also, consider alternative arrangements such as house swapping, couch surfing (where, yes, you sleep on someone’s couch), or hostels. These options save you a bundle in exchange for a bit of privacy.

TRANSPORTATION

When gas prices are high, stay home! Consider traveling locally

by choosing the nearest hot spot. Odds are you’ve overlooked some amazing attractions within a day’s drive. Travel by train or bus can be an inexpensive option and allow you to relax and enjoy the view. If you must fly, plan ahead–frequent flyer miles and no-frills air carriers like Southwest Airlines might yield cheap tickets (just be prepared to meet restrictions such as flying midweek only). For the especially laid-back, taking a bump is often a great choice. Airlines will offer ticket vouchers or other amenities such as free meals, a hotel room, phone calls or ground transportation if you give up your seat on overbooked flights. Do this on the way home if you aren’t rushed and have ticket vouchers for your next trip! And finally, travel during the off-peak season when rates are slashed in half.

ATTRACTIONS

Planning ahead is key here. First, search for museums and attractions with free or low-price admission. You’ll be surprised at the many inexpensive options in most cities. Also, many museums offer free admission days–plan your itinerary around those dates. Large cities often offer City Pass (citypass.com) which allows you to pay one price to see several major attractions in that city. It saves you nearly half the cost of visiting the most popular attractions.

Visitors Bureaus and interstate rest stops are filled with brochures containing coupons. Snag a bunch of those. Save on expensive guided tours by snagging a copy of their itinerary (and maps) and using public transportation to see those sights on your own. Nationally-sponsored attractions like state parks are usually free.

Finally, avoid the hot tourist spots and opt for attractions off the beaten path. You’ll get a better glimpse at authentic local culture, save some money, and avoid crowds.

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