Cheap Money Saving Tips For Girls
By Denise Trowbridge
Travel doesn't have to be expensive. Sure, it takes more effort
to save money on the road, but when you are a hard working gal with
dreams of hoofing it across continents, sometimes those pennies
saved can mean the difference between out on the road or broke at
home. Here are a few tips to help you get the most for less while
your seeing the world.
Get that AAA membership. It may sound like something your mom would
tell you to do, but it's worth every penny. For about $45 a year,
you get free help if your car breaks down and serious discounts
on hotels, motels and museums. You even get a discount on Amtrak.
I recently took my mom to the beach, and the cash my AAA card saved
me on hotels for that one trip more than paid for the membership
fee.
Bring a friend. Not only is it safer and more fun to travel with
a friend, it’s cheaper. You can split the cost of gas and
hotels, making travel almost half the price of going solo.
Food Smarts. Eating out costs a pretty penny. If you’re going
to eat out, do lunch then eat dinner in your hotel room. Lunch is
always cheaper. When you go out, ask around and find out where the
locals eat, or look for mom and pop diners or ethnic neighborhoods
full of authentic and inexpensive cuisine.
Buy bottles of water and snacks at the local grocery store before
heading out to sightsee. The same stuff will cost you half as much
as it will in tourist areas or convenience stores. You may want
to keep a handy dandy cooler packed with sodas, water and fruits
in your car. Fill it up with treats before you hit the road and
just refill the ice from the hotel ice machine.
The best food is often local food. Locate the farmer's market and
the local bakeries. Stop at the bakery for some bread, then stop
by the farmer's market for fresh veggies and cheese and soon you'll
have the fixins for a healthy, fresh lunch for much less than the
cost of eating in a restaurant.
Hotels/motels. If you can, stop by a truck stop or travel center
on your way into town. They always have racks of free coupon magazines
that can save you a few on accommodations. And they usually contain
a map of the area too.
At Roomsavers.com, you can also download coupons for hotels. Of
course, traveling during the week instead of on weekends will save
you on your hotel bill, too.
If you decide to stay in the locally owned, non-chain motel ( which
will usually be a better deal) ask to see the room before you pay
for it. You don’t want to stay somewhere too icky or unsafe
just to save a few bucks. When you do find a place, work that AAA
discount.
Remember there’s always a hostel. Hostels are almost always
the cheapest way to go for single travelers. Sometimes it can be
cheaper than a motel for two people.
Another new option is house swapping. If you live in a reasonably
interesting place, chances are pretty good you can trade apartments
with someone in another city for a week or two. Check Craigslist
or one of the many house-swapping organizations for more information
and to see if it's right for you.
And if you have tent, will travel. You can park your tent on a
spot with water and electricity for as little as $10 a night. Throw
an air mattress in there and you can camp like a queen!
There are usually state parks, private campgrounds and national
parks with camp sites near most major cities and along major highways,
making them a convenient lodging option. Many parks have cabins
with kitchenettes, where you can sleep up to eight people for as
little as $20 a night.
Travel during the off times The best way to stretch your travel
dollar is to travel during off-peak times. That means when schools
are in session and not during three day holiday weekends, when the
legions of people tied to 9 to 5 jobs maximize vacation days.
You’ll always get a better deal if you travel during the
week, not on weekends, or during a city’s slow tourism season.
For instance, the beach will be cheaper in May and September than
June through August. New Orleans and Las Vegas are cheaper during
the summer because their high season is winter.
Remember, hotels raise their rates on Friday and Saturday nights.
Some rates nearly double. Travel Sunday to Thursday if you can.
You’ll save serious money on lodging. You’ll also avoid
long lines and crowds at local attractions, and maybe save a few
cents a gallon on gasoline.
Summer is universally the peak season, and prices for rooms, shows,
gas, airfare and just about everything else are higher from May
through August. If you can travel from September to April, you’ll
save a lot more money. If you’re considering a European trip,
you’ll cut your airfare in half and will have your pick of
inexpensive lodging, entertainment and transportation.
Book early In most cases, you can get primo rates and first pick
when you book early and you're more likely to lock in the best airfare
and hotel rates. You also may have the option of putting down a
deposit and paying your trip off in installments instead of putting
it on a credit card and paying interest.
Use the Web Many times, booking rental cars, hotel rooms and airline
flights on the Web, directly through the hotels or airline's Web
sites will net you the best deal. Always try to book directly first,
rather than through a broker, then try Priceline , Travelocity or
Orbitz to see which has the best deal. You may also try your hand
at BiddingforTravel.com, a Priceline message board designed to help
you get the best possible deals for travel.
Denise Trowbridge is an award-winning journalist residing in Ohio.
Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United
States, as well as on her site http://www.denisetrowbridge.com/
Denise is also the editor of the women's Web magazine, http://www.pussycatmagazine.com/.
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