Expert advice from the travelers who have been there and done that.
Every month our travel and packing gurus tackle your questions about what to take, how to pack it, and what to put it into.
Stress free travel, getting the most from your budget,
and getting organized
We want to get the most from our trip, but we don’t want to break the bank. Are there some tricks to traveling well on a modest budget?
How to travel like a Fat Cat on a Skinny Wallet
First you need to get there:
Airfare Consolidators - You can find good prices on discount airfare web sites, but you might be surprised to learn that you can sometimes get great prices from companies known as airfare consolidators. Consolidators operate by offering low prices on seats that would have otherwise gone empty – seats that airlines obviously don’t want you to know about. Consolidators often place ads travel sections of larger city Sunday newspapers. You can also find sites for them on the internet. Consolidators in the USA typically feature bargain fares for US carriers, with both domestic and international destinations, and frequently specialize in certain destinations.
Know before you book - When you buy any discounted airfare, including those from consolidators, or from some discount web sites, there may be limits on choice of airline and flight times, exchanges, or cancellation policies. Be sure you understand what you are buying before you hand over the cash.
Around the World - Another great often overlooked option is the great ATW, or ‘Around the World’ ticket. Surprisingly, some of the best travel deals of all are round-the-world fares. Usually valid for one year, these typically include 6-12 destinations and require that travel is in one direction. Some fares found today on a quick search were as low as $999-2099 – with as many as 16 stops!
Where to go?
Bargain destinations - Choosing your travel destination is the most important factor that will determine whether you have an economical holiday or not. Typically (but not limited to) countries in the developing world (Asia, Africa, Latin America) are the most economical places to travel to. Also keep you eyes on “neighbor countries” close to your favorite places but slightly off the beaten path. Eastern European countries are a good example.
When to go?
The shoulder season - Travel during the off season can often yield significant savings on lodging. For the USA and Western Europe the “shoulder season” of April, May and September, October, yield great weather, fewer travelers, and lower rates for lodging. This is absolutely the best time to travel.
Where to stay?
Find a bargain at your favorite hotel - For the best rate at chain hotels try going online and asking “is that your best rate?”. Always call the front desk of the specific hotel rather than the main headquarters and ask if they have any special rates. Also, for many club memberships, ie; AAA, American Express, AARP, etc. there are special deals on hotel rates.
Villa or condo rental - The benefits of villa and condo/apartment rentals are the enhanced privacy and often superior locations available, usually for the same price or frequently lower than the comparable hotel room charge. These work especially well for family groups where costs can be divvied up, to save a bundle. Local cottages, villas, etc., often offer better interaction with the locals, enhancing any travel experience.
Getting around:
Travel like the locals do – Try the local transportation. For most countries in the developing world, taking the local transport or bus system is typically least expensive, with fares often being just a few cents. In Mexico for instance, buses go to virtually every small village or hamlet in the country. Taxis can even be a bargain in developing countries. My own record for the cheapest taxi ride was from Mazatlan to Culiacan, Mexico, a distance of about 150 miles for $1.20!
Ride the rails – Train travel in most countries is very affordable, often cheaper than a rental car, and it is generally more comfortable - especially if you spring for a berth or sleeping compartment. Much romanticized, rail travel lets you sit back and enjoy the view. It is also a great way to meet the locals.
Take to the water - Travel by water either on ferries or smaller craft can be an adventurous and inexpensive way to get around, especially in island nations like Indonesia and the Philippines. In the Philippines you can easily hire a private small outrigger boat to go island hopping, seeking out deserted beaches.
One more tip:
Package deals - Amazingly enough, many of the airfare, hotel and sightseeing combos offered by big travel companies can save you money. Not only do you save time and energy in trip prep, these often have not-to-be-beaten prices.
Do you have some tricks to help de-stress while on vacation?
Eye shades and earplugs - Trust me on this. These were a lifesaver for me one time in Thailand when I stayed in a hotel that turned out to be across the street from three movie theaters located side by side. They had turned huge speakers out to street blaring the soundtracks of each movie until 4am. Between that and the flashing red neon sign just outside the window of my room, it was not conducive to getting some well needed shut-eye. At the time, those sleep shades and earplugs were worth a suitcase full of baht.
Make photo copies of your passport and plane tickets - Store these in a separate and secure place. This will be a tremendous help and a huge time saver in replacing your documents should anything happen to them. Also, bring 4-6 small passport photos which are often required for obtaining visas or things like trekking permits in Nepal. Essentially, plan for the worst, and hope for the best.
Sometimes the simple task of travel can be a stress in itself.
Try not to be too confined by a rigid itinerary - when you’re constantly on the move flitting from “must see sight” to “must see sight” it can really drive up the blood pressure. Remember… you are on vacation. Make sure there are rest days scheduled into your itinerary. The very nature of travel ensures that you are going to personally discover some great little village, secret beach, make friends with a local family. These personal experiences are not listed in your particular guide book, which is the beauty of travel. If every moment of your trip is pre-planned, those wonderful, spontaneous travel experiences will not be available to you.
Coping with culture shock – Sometimes stress is brought on just by exposure to a foreign culture. This culture shock can easily make you irritable, overly critical, or to have unrealistic ideas and comparisons of your own culture to that of your host country. It can also make you prematurely homesick. To confront culture shock, focus on what you can control. Don’t worry about things that you cannot change. Put things in perspective. Deal with major challenges head on. Keep a journal. This will give you a healthy outlet for expressing your feelings.
Most importantly, to get the most out of your adventure, travel with an open mind. Don’t expect to encounter your way of life until you return home. Absorb all the sights, sounds, and people around you and immerse yourself in the present. Sample the local cuisine, try new things, make an attempt at the local language, and above all smile. By doing these things you will return with a new awareness of the world in which we live, and a treasure trove of happy memories.
What can I do to keep all of my stuff under control when I am on the go?
Developing an organizational strategy for your travel items will provide enhanced peace of mind and a greater appreciation of the journey.
Start by getting a grip on your travel documents - Use a smart document organizer to keep air tickets, passport, copies of medical prescription, visas and vaccination certificates, etc. at your fingertips. Our Pre-Board Organizers, are a super way to keep these extremely important items organized and close at hand especially when passing through multiple airport security checkpoints.
Pack with precision - There are lots of great organizational tools for the fastidious packer. One of my favorites is our Pack-It Folders. These come with a folding board with easy to use “how to fold” graphics, and will hold between 6-12 folded garments depending on the size, and prevent your clothing from becoming a wrinkled mess when you reach your destination. As an organizational aid, some travelers place their business clothing in one, and their weekend casual attire in another. We also carry Pack-It Cubes, which work great for small items like underwear or socks, and Pack-It Sacks for make-up & toiletries or other small items, also available in a variety of sizes.
Another tool that I never travel without are our Compression Bags. These are like a heavy duty Zip-Lock® bag and allow you to pack bulky items (a fleece coat for example). Roll the packed bag tightly, eliminating excess air through a one way valve, making previously bulky items into a much smaller package. As an organizational tool, I use these for sequestering my dirty laundry.
Be prepared for extras - Most travelers pick up a souvenir or two when traveling. Our Excess Baggage Tote is the perfect travel accessory, as it is completely collapsible, and folds into its own pocket. When needed it transforms into a voluminous tote perfect for those gifts that you’ve picked up for the grandkids.
Learn to love your pockets - Travelers love our Travel Vests that are replete with as many as 18 pockets. One pocket for secure items, another big enough for a for city guide book, one for eyeglasses, another for cell phone or i-pod/mp3 player, etc. I actually use the zip security pocket built into the left side of my Explorer Pants to stow passport, wallet, etc. In lieu of a security neck or waist pouch and it performs that task perfectly and provides great peace of mind.
That's all for now... Happy Travels! - Greg
Greg Garcia – Round-The-World cyclist, ex-trip leader for active vacations tour operators, surfer, kayaker, Eagle Scout, husband, father and itinerant vagabond. With his diverse travel experience, 12 years with TravelSmith Outfitters, Greg is our in-house packing expert who brings his wealth of product knowledge to answer your tough travel questions.
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