Travel Cheap: Live the High Life for Less

 Whether you prefer strapping on your skis, hitting the waves or strolling round the golf course when you travel abroad, you can generally expect to be paying a hefty price for the pleasure.  Here’s a look at some of the more costly holiday activities to show you how you can get the most from your money.

Ski on a budget

The cost of a week skiing can mount up, especially with the additional costs of buying the correct gear and weekly lift passes. Choose your destination and accommodation wisely, to cut down costs and keep to a budget.

The cheapest destinations tend to be Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia, which offer inexpensive accommodation and lift passes. Book self-catering or all-inclusive accommodation and pack your own lunches for the slopes, as these will help you budget your trip more effectively.

Lift pass prices can vary depending on when you are going skiing. They are usually cheapest for pre-season weeks and near the end of the season, whilst peak weeks like school holidays will generally be more expensive. You will often be able to find lower priced lift passes for children and seniors and families can also make the most of any reduction if booking as a group.

Some of the best deals and offers come towards the end of the season, so time your trip for March for great value and quiet slopes. If you’re booking a year ahead aim for the week before Christmas, but check the expected snowfalls first. If you’re likely to be skiing again it can be cheaper to invest in your own gear rather than frequently hiring. However, be wary of additional airport charges for flying with ski gear as these differ with each airline. To make getting to the airport easier and cheaper, drive your gear yourself and park with an external airport parking company such as Heathrow parking specialist Purple Parking, who regularly offer a range of great deals and are much cheaper than the airport’s own car parks.

City break on a budget

Even a short city break can prove costly once accommodation, dining and entertainment have been taken into account, particularly as costs can be much higher in cities compared to country retreats.

Short-haul European cities such as Paris or Amsterdam are cheaper and easier to reach, especially if you can travel there by ferry, train or even by car. Make sure you budget for road tolls as the cost of these can mount up.

For exceptionally low-cost options for dining, entertainment and shopping, consider heading slightly further afield to Eastern European cities such as Budapest in Hungary, Tallinn in Estonia or Prague in the Czech Republic. These beautiful regions offer stunning architecture and a fun atmosphere with relatively cheap prices.

Many of the most reasonable deals for Europe will be during winter outside of school holidays. If you don’t mind wrapping up, these colder months can be an ideal time to take a city break.

Choosing a hotel outside of the centre will also cut accommodation prices, with just the small additional cost of a bus or train journey. This has the added benefit of allowing you to see more of a city than the central tourist district. Or consider renting an apartment, particularly if travelling as a group, as you can cook for yourself and save on expensive dining bills.

Golf on a budget

Some of the top budget destinations for golfing holidays include the Algarve, Turkey and Spain and there is a wealth of options within a short-haul flight of the UK with a variety of great deals on flights and accommodation. Destinations outside the Euro will help your money go much further and booking a golfing package holiday can also save you cash.

There are also some fantastic golfing options in the UK and Ireland which you can drive to, meaning you can enjoy a break away from home without having to spend on flight costs at all.

Do your research ahead of booking and take advantage of any deals courses may have. Most destinations have cheaper courses and tee times available, so perhaps avoid some of the more popular ranges if you’re on a tighter budget.

Save yourself the cost of hiring clubs by bringing your own. If you’re flying overseas, make sure you’ve checked out the baggage allowance first, as some flight companies charge to bring bulky gear on board.  It’s worth considering the combined price of the flight and the additional baggage, as sometimes more expensive flights can work out cheaper once costly extras have been taken into consideration.

Cruise on a budget

Cruising is often viewed as an expensive holiday option, but with accommodation, entertainment, food and drink included in the initial price, it can be a great way of ensuring you keep on top of your budget and escape too many additional costs.

Destination-wise, there are plenty of options for Mediterranean cruises which are likely to be much cheaper than longer-haul destinations like the Caribbean, whilst still including gorgeous weather and stunning sights. In fact, they offer the perfect opportunity to visit a series of idyllic destinations without having to incur too many additional transportation costs. You will usually need to take flights to and from your cruise’s initial and final port, which will be cheaper if you stick to short haul.

Staying in a lower deck room or inside cabin will also help to cut costs. Avoid the additional shore excursions or tours, which can often be over-priced. You can easily book these yourself or use local transportation to explore on your own terms.

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Vacation Tips

Vacation Tips. As a child, the word conjures up grand visions of no school, staying up late and eating ice cream until you pop. You carefully count down the days and scream with excitement when the final bell rings. Even as a full-fledged grown-up, the word vacation can put a spring in our step, a smile on our face and provide enough motivation to sit through yet another mind numbing meeting at work. Although most Americans only get two weeks vacation, making the best use of the time we do get is paramount. Spending some time planning your next vacation will assure that you end up looking back on the vacation with fond memories, rather than swearing that you are never going to the beach/Walt Disney World/Rome/Grandma's (insert your vacation-gone-wrong here) again!

Decisions, decisions

You know you have some days off. You know you don't want to sit around the house. But you don't know what exactly would make your vacation one to remember. You need to ask yourself what is most important to you for your next vacation? Are your priorities sitting on the beach all day with your toes in the sand or seeing all the museums of Paris? Do you want to traipse across the Andes Mountains, sleep by the campfire or dine at the best restaurants Europe has to offer?

Research

After you have decided what you want to do, your next step is gathering information to see what your options are. There is an abundance of information out there, to the point it can be overwhelming at times. One of the best ways to gather useful and reliable information is to learn from other people who have vacationed there before. Using travel forums is an excellent way to talk to someone that might have just returned from your vacation spot, who has some tips that may save you some time, cash or may even help you land the perfect beach house.

Organization

After doing all that research, keeping it all organized is a must! It is impossible to keep track of the different packages, hotels, and activities that you have heard about without a little organization. Keeping a notebook or a folder is one idea to keep everything in place as well as to be able to compare prices and vendors side by side in order to make your final decisions.

Booking

When you have arrived at your decisions, booking them is your next hurdle. Booking early will almost always give you the best prices and the greatest amount of choice. That being said, if you can stomach the risk, last minute bookings are famous for giving out some of the best deals of all. Of course, if you must have a certain date, hotel, or restaurant, then it is best to try and book early to avoid disappointment. A little planning goes a long way in helping your next vacation become your best yet.

This guest blog was written by Freedom Travel, specializing in military travel financing and military lending since 1983. Freedom Travel offers military cruises at discount to destinations all over the world. They even offer military airfare discounts.

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How to Live Abroad as a Military Family

Military families are required to move often as part of the services in the Armed Forces. Among the areas that families might move, military bases situated in overseas locations are a possibility. In fact, many military families spend a few years overseas as part of their military service. While moving is a fact of life for any military family, moving abroad is a different experience and requires some additional preparation before the family relocates.

Cultural Differences

Military families are often adept at moving and adapting to new locations. Within the United States, the adaptation is somewhat easier because of the similar culture and common language. When moving overseas, this adaptation requires taking time to learn about the culture of the area.

Overseas locations are different than the states. Countries will vary in their culture and misunderstandings can arise as a result of misunderstood cultural differences. Taking the time to learn some of the cultural aspects of the new location, particularly as it relates to body language, can help smooth the adaptation.

Language Differences

While military bases overseas will often have the necessities like groceries, it is often a requirement to venture beyond this area. The language is likely to differ unless the base is in an English speaking country. This might mean some confusion and might require taking some time to learn the basics of the language. Some basic phrases like ordering food or asking directions are usually appropriate to learn before going to avoid as many complications as possible.

Housing Patience

Moving abroad with the family might be an exciting time, but not all military bases abroad will have housing immediately available. It might be necessary to wait as arrangements are made either on or off base. This is particularly true of bases that are undergoing any renovations to keep it safe and updated or simply do not have enough housing units for the number of families moving in.

Schooling for Children

The schooling situation for children of military members will vary depending on the particular location. Areas in the world that have excellent educational systems might require children to attend a local school in the area. Children will end up learning the local language as they attend school, often assisted by the local school system with tutors and English speaking teachers.

Areas that do not have good educational systems will have schools on base that are set up through the Department of Defense. These schools are designed by the military to provide education to children of military members.

The Department of Defense Education Activity will make appropriate arrangements for children of military families, regardless of the country. Those who are going to the local school will often have tuition costs paid by the Education Activity to ensure quality education while abroad.

Using the Support Center

Military families who are moving abroad will have a military family support center available on the military base. This center is designed to help families adjust to the new location and work out any potential problems that might arise as the result of different cultures and languages. The center will help as issues arise or give specific information about the area when first moving in to minimize the complications that might arise.

Living abroad as a military family is primarily about adapting to the new language, culture and location. The new country might differ dramatically from the original or it might have enough similarities for comfort, depending on the location. Regardless of the country, the family will need to take time to learn, adapt and use resources that can ease their way into the new environment.
Photo credit: Aeroplane by Vox Efx

About Author: Kenny Alvarez is an advisor to military veterans and also writes for militaryeducation.org, a site which explores military educational opportunities and all the secondary education benefits to veterans and their dependents; for instance check out this information on air force scholarships.

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Ten Great Things to do in Tenerife

Carnival de Tenerife

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is renowned for its beaches, long sunny days and coastal resorts. But there’s more to Tenerife holidays than just a typical beach break. Drag yourself away from the coast and explore the island to discover a whole host of other experiences.

 1. The architecture of La Laguna

In complete contrast to Tenerife’s beach resorts head inland a little to the Aguere Valley and the city of La Laguna. Established in the late 15^th century as the first capital of Tenerife by the Spaniards, the city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the historic streets and marvel at the intricately carved wooden balconies of the traditional houses; stumble across flower-filled courtyards, and discover La Laguna’s intriguing history at its heritage museum.

 2. Explore a unique forest

The Anaga Rural Park in the far north of Tenerife is a magical landscape of valleys, ancient woodlands and isolated villages barely touched by tourism. It’s a protected area within which are the Anaga Mountains, and the park offers some of the islands most challenging and rewarding nature walks.

La Laguna

3. Take a hike

In the spectacular Teno Rural Park lies the picturesque hilltop village of Masca. After browsing in the craft shop and admiring the view from the café, take a hike down the narrow gorge to the sandy Masca beach. Take a boat from the beach to the harbour at Los Gigantes and save your legs the 3-hour trek back up.

 4. Come face to face with exotic birds

The Katandra Treetops aviary at the Loro Parque wildlife centre is the size of Sydney Opera House and contains more than 100 different species of parrots alone as well as other birds including cockatoos and lorikeets. Loro Parque began life as a parrot park but is now focuses on conservation and has a wide variety of species including sea lions, turtles, crocodiles and monkeys.

 5. Go whale watching

The sea between Tenerife and the neighbouring island of La Gomera attracts many species of whales as well as turtles and pods of dolphins. For a moving and unforgettable experience on holidays to Tenerife, take a boat trip from Los Gigantes on the southwest coast to see the whales up close. Sightings of the resident pilot whales are guaranteed almost all year round.

6. Discover a dramatic volcanic landscape

Mount Teide is the highest mountain in Spain, rising 3718 metres above sea level and is within the country's most visited national park. The winding road climbs through small villages and a dramatic volcanic landscape to emerge from the clouds into a unique lunar landscape. Take the cable car up the last 1000 metres to the highest point of Mount Teide and be rewarded with breathtaking views over Tenerife.

Teide Forests

 7. Golf with a view

Tenerife has nine golf courses, all offering either stunning coastal, mountain, or countryside views. Spain’s second oldest golf course, the Real Club de Golf de Tenerife is located on the north side of the island, while a handful of newer courses have attracted some of the world's best players.

8. Party at the carnival

February is the time to enjoy holidays to Tenerife to experience the island’s annual carnival, ranked one of the top three carnivals in the world. There are events all over the island, but Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz are the main locations. Take to the streets and join in with the dancing and partying and revel in the music and experience.

9. Try the local cuisine

The traditional food of the Canary Islands includes fresh fish and seafood as well as meat casseroles, often accompanied by local-style potatoes served with red chilli peppers and mojo sauce. The island has in recent years gained a reputation for fine dining with many restaurants featuring delicious international cuisine.

10. Pamper yourself with 5-Star luxury

Tenerife has long been a budget break destination but the island has an increasing number of 5-star hotels, such as the Costa Adeje Gran Hotel, that offer luxurious spas, beautiful pools, fine dining restaurants and first class evening entertainment. For upmarket Tenerife holidays, Costa Adeje on the south coast is packed with top class hotels include the Bahia del Duque.

About the author:

K. Frost is a travel content writer and writes for the easyJet holidays website.

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The process of travelling can be stressful all year round but can be particularly troublesome during popular holidays and other busy times of the year. You may look forward to that well earned vacation but if you choose a busy time to travel you will likely be met with horrific traffic, hordes of tourists and insanely overpriced accommodation.

I discovered firsthand that it’s best to avoid popular travelling times after I flew out to see my oldest child at her New Hampshire boarding school on Thanksgiving weekend last year. After a thoroughly traumatic travelling experience I could only conclude that I’d never fly that close to a holiday again!

In order to avoid the same mistake that I and so many others make, try and avoid these 5 times of the year to travel:

Christmas

Unless you plan on flying on the actual day of Christmas, you will want to avoid travelling the couple of days leading up to Christmas at all costs. Roads quickly clog up and airports can be a nightmare. What’s more, the weather isn’t great throughout most of America around this time of the year making driving extra treacherous.

Labor Day

Labor Day happens in the US on the first Monday of September, and beaches get especially jam packed. Luckily for me, I attend an online university which means I can hang out on the beach pretty much whenever I want. However, for those that work 9-5 this is one of the few weekdays of the year they can enjoy the beach. Unless you enjoy busy beaches you will want to stay clear of beaches and their routes during Labor Day weekend. Many stores and restaurants close down on this day, so it can be a great day to just stay at home and relax rather than risk a far from relaxing day amongst the beach bum masses.

New Year’s Eve

Lots of people like to party on New Year’s Eve and so a lot of businesses cash in by raising their prices astronomically. If you don’t mind splashing out this is fine, but if you are a savvy spender like me, you will probably want to avoid going out on New Year’s Eve. Other disadvantages of travelling on New Year’s Eve are that there are going to be a lot of drunk drivers, which obviously can be very dangerous.

Thanksgiving Weekend

It’s great to spend time with your family during Thanksgiving but the travelling can be absolute hell! Often hailed as the busiest time to travel in the US of the entire year, it is never a lot of fun. Expect bad traffic, incredibly busy airports and accommodation and restaurants with skyrocketed prices. One albeit slightly selfish way to avoid this travel madness is to host Thanksgiving at your house this year.

The Summer

By all means don’t completely avoid travelling during the summer, but be aware that most places are going to be extra busy during this season. A good tip is to plan short, mini-getaway vacations in the summer and save your long trips for quieter seasons. Also, try and do your trips during the week during summertime rather than the weekends to get ahead of the crowds.

As you can see, there are many factors and dates you want to consider before booking a US vacation. This diverse and gigantic country can be enjoyed all year round, but there are some times that are best avoided in order to get the most out of your stay. Do a little research before you book and have fun on your trip! Bon voyage!

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Visit Adelaide: Active Pursuits and Spectator Sports in Adelaide

Adelaide, Australia

Back then, people from neighboring Australian cities and states do not only come to visit Adelaide but to stay for good. As the city is considered to be one that features “freedom” in countless expressions, people come to it to break from the odds of their own hometowns racial and religious discrimination especially that it recognizes and grants Aboriginal land rights to the native dwellers of its country.

Adelaide is also the first city in all of Australia to grant its women population the right to cast votes and to abolish capital punishment. Freedom granted to the people of Adelaide even went as far as legalizing nude swimming.

Tourists nowadays come to visit Adelaide for its inviting active pursuits and spectator sports. As a matter of fact, Adelaide one of the best places to explore one’s the adventurous limits. As the place is meant and designed by Col. William Light back in the year 1837 to be what it is today- a long strip of lush greens, wide roads and well-laid-out navigation patterns.

Visit Adelaide: Active Pursuits

Adelaide has numerous parklands, lush green sites and countless strips of outdoor sights that will surely make one want to come out and get around. The outdoors should constitute a huge portion in one’s visit to Adelaide especially that getting around the place is no-brainer.

Here are the top active pursuits people love to visit Adelaide for:

• Golf. Golfing gives individuals and families a great chance to be in Adelaide’s outdoors. North Adelaide has the Adelaide Golf Links that offers a good time with the lush greens and a great view of the city. A par-3 course is a perfect choice of activity for families. There are also courses for green championships so this makes the place a great one for amateurs and pro’s a like. Club rates average in a range of A$13- A$27.
• Hiking and/or Jogging. A hike in the afternoon or a jog early in the morning is best done in Adelaide’s parks and trails. While the banks of River Torrens is one that is good for just any jogger, those who want to step-up the activity can take the Heysen Trail that runs 1,600 km.
• Biking. Biking is a fun and healthy activity. Go biking when coming to visit Adelaide and see how nice it is to take a bike ride to get around the city especially that Adelaide is known for its low-to-zero traffic jams despite being 5^th in Australia’s most populated cities.

Visit Adelaide: Spectator Games

Adelaide has its own set of exciting sports and sports persona to boast. Two of the most celebrated spectator sports in Adelaide are Cricket and Football.

• Cricket. The Adelaide Oval is a world-renowned venue for Australia’s national game Cricket. Not only is the oval home to games by teams in Adelaide but it is also a venue to international cricket games. People come to the Adelaide Oval not only to witness the sport but also for guided tours that features the best info on cricket and Sir Don Bradman, Australia’s cricket hero.
• Football. The Australian Rules Football is the most popularly known and played football in Australia. The Adelaide Oval and the AMMI Stadium are two of the largest venues for Australian Rules football that draws crowds to watch the game.

With everything that invites one to visit Adelaide, it will not be so hard to look forward to booking a flight to the Australian city. If problem is finding the best time in the year to visit Adelaide, the answer is pretty simple.

Adelaide is a beautiful place to come to anytime of the year. Most of the times, the place has a mild weather that brings in a good chance to actually experience one’s choice of active pursuit or to watch any of Adelaide’s spectator sports. Months to note would be the cold ones that start during May and ends in August. On the other hand, January to February are the months when the city gets the most sun.

Written by The British Travel Guide

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4 Travel Tips for Seeing Europe on the Cheap

Eiffel Tower

Most people think that doing a big trip and spending some time traveling around Europe has to cost a fortune, but just a few decades ago backpacking through Europe was something you did on a shoestring budget. If you’re willing to rough-it a little, you can actually see a surprising amount of Europe’s treasures without spending that much.

Pack light

If you’re traveling around and want to see a lot of things, not hauling around a bunch of stuff is going to make it cheaper and easier. Luggage is an impairment to both your sight-seeing and your wallet; you have to always have a place to store your bags, taking trains will be much more of a hassle, and you’ll be paying for taxis when a lighter traveler could just walk.

If you’re traveling and the goal is to see a lot and spend very little, bring a couple (as in two) shirts, some undergarments and socks, a pair of pants, and a pair of shorts. This may sound ridiculous if you’re not used to it, but it’s really not that bad. When things get dirty, wear your other outfit and wash the rest of your clothes in a sink. Merino wool and other fast-drying materials will dry while you sleep and be ready to go in the morning.

Buy a Eurail pass

The train system in Europe, especially in Germany, is pretty amazing, so if you want to see as much of Europe as possible, you might want to purchase a Eurail pass. You can travel from country to country without spending much, and if you’re super-savvy, you can figure out night-trains to take so you can sleep on the train (saving the cost of other accommodations) and wake up in a brand new location you’ve never seen before. Eurail passes can be expensive, so find one that works for your trip’s length and scope and check the math to be sure it’s the best choice before buying one.

Stay at hostels

If you don’t have the money for a nice hotel, but you’re not willing to camp out on the ground, either, hostels are the perfect cheap in-between. You share a room with several other people, often strangers from all around the world, and get a bed to sleep in for only a few Euro. While it may seem a little odd at first to sleep next to someone you met ten minutes ago or go use the bathroom down the hall, it’s a fun adventure and will help you get a better sense of the culture (plus some great stories) that you’d miss out on in a hotel.

Find out the discount days

Many of the most famous museums, such as the Louvre and inside Vatican City, have specific discount days each month where you can go see priceless artwork and stunning artifacts for a discount or even for free. The Sistine Chapel is amazing, but it’s even better when you get in for nothing. Check before you go so you know if you need to have a Student ID or some other documentation to take advantage of the discounts.

Traveling can be very expensive, but if you put some thought in before-hand and are willing to make a few sacrifices (like regular showering, sleeping in a bed, or makeup), you can have the time of your life while spending very little cash.

Photo credit: Eiffel tower by Terrazzo/flickr

Author: Thomas Hathaway is a world traveler, financial consultant, and content contributor to payday loans online, a site providing information and advances when you may need money quickly.

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Are you concerned about bed bugs crossing your path while traveling? There has been quite a bit of news concerning these pests, and it is perfectly understandable that travelers may feel anxious about the situation. There are some things you can do, though, to protect yourself from nasty bug bites when you travel. Put the practical tips listed below to use before, during and after your next trip away from home.

Before your trip

• Check out your hotel online before you even make a reservation. You can read the reviews of other travelers who have stayed at the accommodations you are considering. If there have been problems, there will be complaints. Also, research bed bug hotel registries, as these websites provide helpful information concerning infestations at various locations.

• When you pack your luggage, place your items in protective plastic bags that will act as a barrier to pests that might try to hide in your clothing. Leave your items in these bags during your time away so that clothing will not be exposed to anything that might be within the confines of your room.

• Use suitcases with hard sides rather than soft-sided luggage. There will be fewer places for bugs to hide.

Upon arrival at your destination

• When you reach your destination, you will want to do your own inspection of your quarters. Check everything in the room, including bedding, pillows, frame of the bed and bedsprings, headboard, mattress, furniture, wall hangings, drawers and carpet. Use a magnifying glass and flashlight during your search. Look for black specks, red or brown stains, shed skin and tiny eggs or eggshells. Bed bugs may also be visible if they are present. What do they look like? They are reddish-brown in color, about the size of an apple seed, six-legged, flat and oval in shape. Bed bugs will often be found in clusters and can live up to a year without feeding.

• Never put your luggage on the bed or the floor. To be safe, use a luggage rack, a table or a desk, and leave your suitcases in these places throughout your stay. If you do find bed bugs or signs that they are present, immediately contact hotel management and request a different room, preferably a distance away from your current location. Do not forget to perform another inspection in your new room.

Upon arrival home

• Upon your return home, unpack your suitcases outside or, at the very least, in your bathtub where any pests that may have hitched a ride will not be able to climb out.

• Put all of your washable items in the washing machine, with the water set to the hottest temperature possible for your clothing. Also, use a hot setting on your dryer, as heat kills bed bugs.

Bed bug infestations have been reported in many locations, but if you are wise and use the tips in this article, you can effectively protect yourself and your belongings from these troublesome pests. By using common sense and being cautious, you can enjoy your travels without fear of sharing your trip with bed bugs.

Contributing author Karen Barnes writes on behalf of a website that has helpful tips on how to check your hotel room for pests, including bed bug videos. There’s also advice on bed bug heat treatment, which can be used to get rid of any pests that you might inadvertently bring back from your travels.

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Now that you’ve successfully made it through the holidays, it’s time to look forward to the bright future. That’s right: spring break. It’s never too early to start planning -- and surely you don’t want to put it off until the last minute and end up at home watching reruns of Friends again.

The first step in the planning process is writing up a budget that details how much money you are able to spend on spring break. This will help you determine what kind of vacation you’ll have. If you’re willing to spend the big bucks, then now is the time to book your flights and hotels. Trust me, the longer you wait, the less availability there will be and the higher the prices will rise. If your budget isn’t so generous, then read on for budget friendly spring breaks.

Staycations
With gas prices on the rise and many pinching pennies, more and more people have been embracing the staycation trend. A staycation is exactly what it sounds like: You take a vacation off work/school, but stay in your hometown and visit local sights. That’s right, people are spending their vacations at home. This may sound boring at first, but when was the last time you truly enjoyed being home? Or you took time to explore the restaurants and culture your town has to offer? With work, school, and families it’s hard to really appreciate what’s around you. With staycations becoming so popular, it’s easy to find things to do. Just google a quick search or (your area) + staycations and see what you find. Local festivals, small museums, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and more await you. Another key to the staycation is making your home fun too. Plan a movie marathon. Read all the books you haven’t had time for in the last year. Find some new recipes and cook up a storm. Enjoy the time with your family or invite friends over.

Road Trips
Get a group and a car, make some music playlists, and go! You never know where you might find adventure. If you’re going with kids, pack them each a car surprise and fill a backpack with travel-sized games, books, snacks, crayons, coloring books, and anything else that will keep them entertained in the backseat. Don’t have a specific destination in mind? Try doing some geocaching. If you do have an end destination, make sure you have a plan once you get there.

Nature
Enjoy nature. Find somewhere nearby to hike, rock climb, have a picnic, go fishing, etc. Visit a national park. If the weather is right, take a weekend camping trip. This kind of trip can be affordable, educational, and rejuvenating. Go soak in all that the world’s beauty has to offer.

Whether you’re staying close to home or flying across the country, it’s important to have a plan, and starting early is the best way to be sure you don’t forget any part. You have about three months to get the details figured out. And before you head out, check out this packing checklist. You don’t want to wait until you get somewhere to discover you’re missing your camera or essential travel toiletries.

Whatever you plan to do, I hope that you have a great time and make memories that will last a lifetime.

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So you want to go travelling but can’t see how your finances will ever let you follow your dreams?

Well, whether you want to spend a gap year touring Argentina or simply want to get away from it all for a week in the Canary Islands; follow these top tips to helping you in saving money on your travels.

Depart During Low Season

The price of your trip can vary greatly according to the time of year you decide to go.

For instance, many travellers and tourists choose to avoid Thailand during its ‘rainy’ season (June to October). Yet it doesn’t rain all of the time (weeks can pass without rain), and prices during these months, for both travel and accommodation, are far less than during the ‘dry season’. What’s more, off season travellers to Thailand will get to see the country at its most vibrant and colourful.

If you want to spend some of your gap year in Australia, consider going there during the Australian ‘winter’. Most of the country is very warm during this time, with areas such as Queensland boasting temperatures well above 20 degrees Celsius. Avoid the capital, Canberra however, where summer temperatures average around 12 degrees.

Fly During the Week

Weekday flights are nearly always cheaper than flights at the weekend, so it’s worth making yourself flexible to fly whenever the cheapest tickets are available.

Fly Standby  

For backpacking travellers happy to go with the flow, this can be a fantastic way to reach a new destination on a budget.

Flying standby simply means waiting at the airport for notification of spare seats on flights about to leave. As a ‘reward’ for filling the empty seat, you should be offered a heavily discounted ticket.

Choose Your Destination According to Currency

You can save a great deal of money if you choose to visit a country that offers you a favourable exchange rate.

Rent an Apartment

This often works out far cheaper than renting a hotel room – especially if you’re in a group or plan to stay in one place for more than a few days.

Book Online

Booking accommodation in advance through an external agency is almost always a fantastic way in saving money on your trip. In most cases you’ll pay far more if you simply turn up at your chosen accommodation and ask for a room. Try sites like hotels.com and hotels4u.com.

However, it’s worth ringing the accommodation directly to check they’ve received the booking; it’s not unusual for external travel agencies to fail to pass the booking on.

Use Public Transport

Many countries have cheap, reliable and efficient public transport widely available.

Not only is public transport cheaper than booking a taxi (in most cases) but you also avoid the risk of being targeted as a tourist and getting ripped off.

Written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Sport Lived; organisers of sporting gap years in Argentina and Australia.

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