Confession: I sometimes bypass budget airlines
Budget travelers should always use budget airlines, right?
Budget travel confession: on a flight leaving Dublin, I chose Aer Lingus over Ryanair. In this particular case, the costs for the two flights were very similar. Aer Lingus charged just a few euro more for the same flight to London Heathrow at about the same time of day.
For that small added amount, I didn't have to navigate Ryanair's confusing, sometimes frustrating website.
I didn't have to worry about printing my own boarding pass to avoid a hefty penalty, and I didn't have a lengthy list of Ryanair fees to avoid.
Several days earlier, I did book a Ryanair flight because it took me from London to the southwest coast (Kerry) early in the morning. I'm happy to say there were no surprise fees or fines. Ryanair was an excellent choice for that flight situation.
But if the price is about the same, I frequently choose the airline with the least amount of hassle.
Confession: I sometimes pay for a guide rather than use a guidebook
There are ways to save yourself the expense of hiring a personal guide when traveling. You can use a guidebook. In many places, you can purchase audio tours that provide excellent information as you tour an area at your own pace.
Budget travel confession: sometimes I'll spend the extra money to hire a private tour guide, hoping to add value to my experience.
Think about it. There are times when you've spent days and considerable money to get to a place.
Is that extra few dollars to hire a guide really an extravagant expense? One might argue it's a good investment. You're likely to come away with a better experience when someone gives you a personalized tour.
Be certain you choose guides who have superior credentials and local knowledge. It's possible to waste money on guides who are simply out to make a buck.
Confession: I don't spend time shopping for the cheapest gasoline
I look for places that provide consistently low prices on gasoline.
Budget travel confession: I don't feel the need to fill up for the absolute lowest price in town.
In many places, gasoline prices vary by just a few percentage points. The time and effort spent snagging the rock-bottom price in a given area frequently does not prove all that rewarding for your travel budget.
Time is money, whether you're on vacation or at work.
Don't waste valuable time trying to save a few extra pennies on your petrol purchase.
One possible exception might be in places where gasoline is sold by the liter rather than the gallon. Buying from European gas stations that are a few cents cheaper per liter could save you money over time because the liter is a much smaller quantity than the gallon. In Europe, good gas prices can be found on the perimeters of larger cities.
Confession: I don't like sleeping on trains
Sleeping on trains can save a lot of money. Berths generally are less expensive than most hotels, and you wake up the next day in a new destination, ready to explore.
Budget travel confession: it takes great effort and resolve for me to take advantage of the financial benefits, because I hate sleeping on trains.
Fairly light sleepers will find that quality slumber is hard to achieve. The train continues making stops through the night.
The squeal of brakes and the lunging starts and stops will keep you half-awake, unless you're the kind of sleeper who simply tunes out these distractions.
But those who can tolerate the starts and stops can save money. You'll have to determine how important being well-rested is when you step off the train the next morning.
Confession: I sometimes splurge on dining
The meal you see pictured here was ordered at Zazu, a five-star restaurant in Quito, Ecuador. Although a meal like this in Quito is a relative bargain compared to other world capitals, there were definitely many less-expensive lunch alternatives on the day it was ordered.
Budget travel confession: I like to splurge on at least a meal or two during my stay in a city or region.
Food often provides a wonderful window into the culture of a place.
You've spent resources to experience that culture, so it makes sense that you don't want every meal to be a slice of pizza from a paper plate or some fruit bars you packed in the pockets of your suitcase.
If you know how to manage food costs on the road, you'll save money to pay for a nice meal by optimizing other dining opportunities.
Confession: I enjoy traveling to expensive places
Many budget travelers are good at finding inexpensive places to visit. There are thousands of places where you can have excellent travel experiences on the cheap. Choosing an inexpensive destination is great budget travel strategy.
Budget travel confession: Some of my favorite places to visit are quite expensive.
If you go to Manhattan, you'll pay some of the steepest hotel bills in North America. Land is at a premium, and those who choose to build hotels on that land pass along the sky-high prices and property taxes to guests.
You can visit the Big Apple without spending $400/night for a simple room. There are alternatives for hotel stays in New York that will save money. The same is true in London, Paris, or any other expensive location. Don't shy away from expensive cities -- find a way to afford the visit.
Interstate 40 cuts through the Smoky Mountains, connecting Knoxville, Tenn. and Asheville, N.C. It has a section or two that are winding and require slower speeds. But there is little doubt that when it's open and accident-free, this is the most efficient route through these mountains.
Budget travel confession: I frequently prefer the scenic routes.
It will cost you time to take a smaller road through the mountains, but it could add value to your trip.
There are toll-free scenic drives all over the world that you should consider. Leave the more efficient routes to people with deliveries to make and appointments to keep.
There are times when a great deal on a luxury room might be a better value than a budget hotel.
Budget travel confession: I sometimes book upscale rooms in unique settings if I can get a great rate.
The Tabacón Resort at Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica offers hot springs, spas, restaurants, and (if the weather cooperates) great views of the Arenal summit. Visitors pay $60 just to visit the gardens and the hot springs.
If a room becomes available at a bargain rate, it's possible to have a unique travel experience. As with splurge meals, it's always possible to offset the cost of staying in a resort with a few nights in a clean, safe, budget hotel. Not far from the room pictured here was another hotel room for which I paid $21/night, breakfast included.
The goal is not necessarily to find the cheapest room every night. You'll want to find a great value.
Budget travelers should always use budget airlines, right?
Budget travel confession: on a flight leaving Dublin, I chose Aer Lingus over Ryanair. In this particular case, the costs for the two flights were very similar. Aer Lingus charged just a few euro more for the same flight to London Heathrow at about the same time of day.
For that small added amount, I didn't have to navigate Ryanair's confusing, sometimes frustrating website.
I didn't have to worry about printing my own boarding pass to avoid a hefty penalty, and I didn't have a lengthy list of Ryanair fees to avoid.
Several days earlier, I did book a Ryanair flight because it took me from London to the southwest coast (Kerry) early in the morning. I'm happy to say there were no surprise fees or fines. Ryanair was an excellent choice for that flight situation.
But if the price is about the same, I frequently choose the airline with the least amount of hassle.
Confession: I sometimes pay for a guide rather than use a guidebook
There are ways to save yourself the expense of hiring a personal guide when traveling. You can use a guidebook. In many places, you can purchase audio tours that provide excellent information as you tour an area at your own pace.
Budget travel confession: sometimes I'll spend the extra money to hire a private tour guide, hoping to add value to my experience.
Think about it. There are times when you've spent days and considerable money to get to a place.
Is that extra few dollars to hire a guide really an extravagant expense? One might argue it's a good investment. You're likely to come away with a better experience when someone gives you a personalized tour.
Be certain you choose guides who have superior credentials and local knowledge. It's possible to waste money on guides who are simply out to make a buck.
Confession: I don't spend time shopping for the cheapest gasoline
I look for places that provide consistently low prices on gasoline.
Budget travel confession: I don't feel the need to fill up for the absolute lowest price in town.
In many places, gasoline prices vary by just a few percentage points. The time and effort spent snagging the rock-bottom price in a given area frequently does not prove all that rewarding for your travel budget.
Time is money, whether you're on vacation or at work.
Don't waste valuable time trying to save a few extra pennies on your petrol purchase.
One possible exception might be in places where gasoline is sold by the liter rather than the gallon. Buying from European gas stations that are a few cents cheaper per liter could save you money over time because the liter is a much smaller quantity than the gallon. In Europe, good gas prices can be found on the perimeters of larger cities.
Confession: I don't like sleeping on trains
Sleeping on trains can save a lot of money. Berths generally are less expensive than most hotels, and you wake up the next day in a new destination, ready to explore.
Budget travel confession: it takes great effort and resolve for me to take advantage of the financial benefits, because I hate sleeping on trains.
Fairly light sleepers will find that quality slumber is hard to achieve. The train continues making stops through the night.
The squeal of brakes and the lunging starts and stops will keep you half-awake, unless you're the kind of sleeper who simply tunes out these distractions.
But those who can tolerate the starts and stops can save money. You'll have to determine how important being well-rested is when you step off the train the next morning.
Confession: I sometimes splurge on dining
The meal you see pictured here was ordered at Zazu, a five-star restaurant in Quito, Ecuador. Although a meal like this in Quito is a relative bargain compared to other world capitals, there were definitely many less-expensive lunch alternatives on the day it was ordered.
Budget travel confession: I like to splurge on at least a meal or two during my stay in a city or region.
Food often provides a wonderful window into the culture of a place.
You've spent resources to experience that culture, so it makes sense that you don't want every meal to be a slice of pizza from a paper plate or some fruit bars you packed in the pockets of your suitcase.
If you know how to manage food costs on the road, you'll save money to pay for a nice meal by optimizing other dining opportunities.
Confession: I enjoy traveling to expensive places
Many budget travelers are good at finding inexpensive places to visit. There are thousands of places where you can have excellent travel experiences on the cheap. Choosing an inexpensive destination is great budget travel strategy.
Budget travel confession: Some of my favorite places to visit are quite expensive.
If you go to Manhattan, you'll pay some of the steepest hotel bills in North America. Land is at a premium, and those who choose to build hotels on that land pass along the sky-high prices and property taxes to guests.
You can visit the Big Apple without spending $400/night for a simple room. There are alternatives for hotel stays in New York that will save money. The same is true in London, Paris, or any other expensive location. Don't shy away from expensive cities -- find a way to afford the visit.
Interstate 40 cuts through the Smoky Mountains, connecting Knoxville, Tenn. and Asheville, N.C. It has a section or two that are winding and require slower speeds. But there is little doubt that when it's open and accident-free, this is the most efficient route through these mountains.
Budget travel confession: I frequently prefer the scenic routes.
It will cost you time to take a smaller road through the mountains, but it could add value to your trip.
There are toll-free scenic drives all over the world that you should consider. Leave the more efficient routes to people with deliveries to make and appointments to keep.
There are times when a great deal on a luxury room might be a better value than a budget hotel.
Budget travel confession: I sometimes book upscale rooms in unique settings if I can get a great rate.
The Tabacón Resort at Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica offers hot springs, spas, restaurants, and (if the weather cooperates) great views of the Arenal summit. Visitors pay $60 just to visit the gardens and the hot springs.
If a room becomes available at a bargain rate, it's possible to have a unique travel experience. As with splurge meals, it's always possible to offset the cost of staying in a resort with a few nights in a clean, safe, budget hotel. Not far from the room pictured here was another hotel room for which I paid $21/night, breakfast included.
The goal is not necessarily to find the cheapest room every night. You'll want to find a great value.
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