It is no secret that traveling is a luxury. Except for business travel and emergency trips travel is really just a way for us to engage in life's pleasures. Because of this, many people cut traveling out of their to-do list when the United State's economy took a turn for the worst. On average people are earning less, have weaker job security and the value of the United States dollar has significantly dropped. You can however, still travel as long as you're willing to do it on a budget. Here's how:
First and foremost you need to do your research and consider all of your options. Don't just expect good deals to come your way, you're going to have to dig to find them. You also need to be willing to think outside of the box. Don't just automatically jump to the typical tourist attractions, there are a lot of less traveled to locations which offer plenty of beauty. It's a good idea to find out which countries have been hit especially hard by the most recent financial crisis and consider vacationing there. Some of these countries include Iceland, Greece, Portugal and Ireland, all of which offer travelers exciting experiences. Because these countries have experienced a recession, the US dollar remains fairly strong there. If you travel to other countries you may find that the exchange rates work against your favor. Moreover these countries really need the money tourism brings in so they're likely to offer deals on airfare and hotel amenities. For some good tips on traveling to these countries on a budget look to Kelli Grant's recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Travelers Find Deals Amid Financial Crises”.
Also consider what time of year it is cheapest to travel. May through August is peak travel time so consider traveling in the winter months instead. If you like warm weather travel to the southern hemisphere in the winter and you'll be doubly rewarded with summer weather. Once you've decided upon when and where you want to travel, start scouring the internet for deals.
Susan Carey of the Wall Street Journal reports that more and more, budget airlines such as Jet Blue, are looking to offer additional luxuries for their travelers. This means if you've been avoiding budget airlines out of concern over their offered amenities you may want to take another look at what they have to offer. Budget airlines can save you a bundle and you may not need to sacrifice comfort. Southwest and Jet Blue, two notoriously cheap airlines, have very high customer satisfaction ratings and may even beat your previously preferred airline. If you'd prefer to stick with your traditional air carrier you should make sure to make your frequent flier miles work for you. They can be difficult to use, but if you call the airline you've accrued miles with they are likely to be able to offer you some good advice. If you want to use airfare comparison sites be sure to use more than one and compare your results. If that's too time consuming use kayak.com; they compare the results for you.
Next to the flight, the hotel is the most expensive part of your trip. If you're willing to slum it, consider staying in a hostel. There are a lot of higher quality hostel's out there and if you yelp them you'll be able to scroll through reviews so you have a better idea of what you are getting yourself into. If you're not comfortable with the dorm environment, start searching for hotel discounts. If you seem to be striking out, you may want to consider going on a cruise. Cruise lines are hurting in this economy and thus many are offering outstanding deals. With a cruise you'll be able to visit multiple locations and will be able to dine and sleep for much cheaper.
If a cruise isn't for you and you can't find a super cheap hotel, you can save money on other parts of your trip. Try spending less on food and attractions. Almost every destination offers all kinds of free and cheap amenities. For some good tips as to where to eat and what to do while on vacation consider perusing through Seth Kugel of the New York Time's Frugal Traveler Blog.
Don't let a bad economy discourage you from traveling, there are deals out there, you just have to know where to look.
Martin Wynn
