|
Five
Ways to be A Frugal Traveller
by: Kerry Hook
As a frugal retiree, you may be
looking for ways to travel within your budget. These
five tips will save you money and allow you to travel
more with your limited budget.
First, consider traveling during the off-season. I
personally enjoy this the most because the crowds are
greatly reduced. Lines at attractions will be shorter
and you may even find that prices are reduced. Many high
tourist areas jack the prices up during their peak
tourist season in order to maximize their profits.
Prices fall when tourism drops off. It’s the old
supply and demand principles of basic economics. Often
they lower prices to draw consumers to their area during
the off season. Expect lower prices on your hotels more
than any other area.
A second way to save on accommodations is to look for
alternatives to traditional hotels. Many people will
consider hostels, but there are certainly other options
open to you. There are a couple of good hostel review
sites that you should use to investigate any hostel
before you decide to go there. www.Hostels.com
and www.Hostelsworld.com
are two very good ones to use. Many universities rent
out dorm rooms when students are out for summer to help
raise revenue. These deals would typically be available
from later May thru August or September depending upon
the school. You can expect to pay anywhere from $25 per
person/night to $110 depending upon where you are. You
may also be able to get even better rates if you stay a
full week so be sure to ask. Check also with convents
and monasteries because they rent out rooms for low
rates.
Look for last minute travel deals. One of the great
things about being retired is the flexibility that you
have. This certainly allows you to take advantage of
last minute travel deals which working folk have to pass
up. It will be much easier to get a great deal if you
have fewer limitations or needs. For example, it’s
much harder to get a great deal if you are traveling
with several other people or need particular dates. Find
a travel agent that you can work with. They are often
able to get many last minute deals that are not made
available to the general public.
A fourth way to travel frugally is to maximize all your
discounts. Don’t overlook any air miles that you may
have on your credit cards, or discounts from
organizations such places as AAA, NRA or AARP. Review
your credit card companies for any other travel deals
they may offer as part of their reward programs.
Finally, always ask about senior discounts. For example,
in the U.S., the National Parks service offers a
discount program for seniors that are permanent
residents or U.S. citizens. For just $10, you can
purchase a discount card that will allow you to enter
all parks along with three other adults. If you are
traveling with your grand-children and they are under
16, they can enter for free. You will also get a
lifetime discount of 50% on park user fees (e.g.,
camping, boat launching, swimming or tours fees).
By keeping these five tips in mind, you can really save
on your travel and get out there more often. Happy
traveling!!
|
|