The holiday season is here. It's time to trawl through travel websites for a great holiday bargain, draw up to-do lists, shop and take off the dust covers on your travel luggage. It's also time to look up your credit card bills and bank account statements and, with any luck come to some joyous conclusions. Like the fact that you can splurge on this vacation.
Sometimes though, the conclusions are not joyous after a pre-holiday bout of number-crunching. But your mind is set on taking a break and your heart is crying out for one. So you say the word ‘budget' slowly and repeatedly till the thought of a vacation turns into a real possibility.
We asked two travel lovers on how they plan their budget getaways. Here's what they said:
Shafqat Nabi
Indian, Abu Dhabi-based fashion retail professional
The very act of planning my holidays is exciting. It de-stresses me. I start with the basics - deciding in which period of the year I would like to travel and for how long. I pick the kind of holiday I want (snowbound, adventure, seaside or history-rich, for example) and then look at the most important aspect - the money involved. Redeemable air miles? Check. Staying at a friend's or an acquaintance's home at the destination? Check. Looking for friends who may want to be a part of this holiday? Check.
I also talk to people who have already been to those places, readup on journals and travelogues and make a list of places to visit and the ‘must dos'.
I also look at the flight options, including circuit (in case I am visiting more than one place).
Unless the holiday is purely for relaxation, I opt for accommodation which is basic. I also consider the visa formalities (at times, preference is given to places where visa regulations are simpler, like visa on arrival).
Since most of the payments (accommodation, flights and so on) are done in advance, I don't carry a lot of cash. Though having said that, I do carry some amount of cash in case of a problem with credit card transactions. I also keep in mind the fact that swiping a credit card is not safe in a few cities and also at lesser known outlets.
I firmly believe that budget holidays help you make the most of what the place has to offer without unnecessary expenses.
Other strategies I use to keep my expenses low are to opt for budget holiday packages, use public transport or share the cost of transportation at the destination, eat a heavy buffet breakfast at the hotel so it will see me through the day and avoid shopping for things which are not unique to that place.
I also keep an eye out for deals offering a combination of flight and accommodation at a discounted price. I also make sure I do not have to spend a lot of time in transit at the airport. Ideally, hotels should be centrally located or be well-connected by public transport.
Places seen so far
Zurich, Lausanne, Interlaken, Lucerne, the Maldives, Jakarta, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phuket, Detroit, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Vienna, Rome, Milan, Lisbon,Porto and Goa.
I have not decided where I am headed to this winter, but in all likelihood it could be a European destination again.
Things to carry when embarking ona budget holiday
- Light snacks like dried fruitand some ready-to-eat or easy-to-cook food
- Discount vouchers (made available by travel agents).
- Information on the use of public transportation (metro, buses, etc).
- Walking shoes (in case you have to walk a little extra).
- Basic toiletries.
- Charger for electronic devices.
- Sleeping bag and Swiss knife (depending on the type of holiday).
- SIM card of the place you are visiting (if it can't be borrowed).
- Travel medical insurance certificate.
Things that are free on a holiday
Jogging and walking on the beach, trekking, photography, sightseeing on foot and having a good breakfast at the hotel you are staying at come at no extra cost.
Use hop-on, hop-off bus services available at various tourist destinations. Tickets for these services should be bought at the airport or on the bus itself as tickets bought online are more expensive.
Gina Munro
South African, Dubai-based interior designer
I think planning a holiday is all about keeping your ears to the ground.I have been in Dubai since 2003 and have gone on several holidays. My planning starts by chatting to friends around a dinner table.
I also keep an eye out for special deals. I have been to Mauritius, Cyprus (Paphos), Spain (Valencia), Mali (Bamako), Lebanon (Beirut), India - the list goes on but one of my favourite towns would be Aix en Provence in France. I am off to Thailand for Christmas and the New Year. It is a beautiful destination,on a budget!
Times are changing and people are taking shorter holidays through the year. There are so many special offers in travel today so I usually sign up with airlines.
If you still have cash left over from your spending budget it couldn't have been that bad!
I love trawling the internet to find the best deals. spledia.com and agoda.com are two very helpful sites.
Airfare is usually where the most amount of money is spent on a holiday so look out for good deals or offers from budget airlines.
Hotel accommodation takes away a big chunk of your travel money but there are always cheap options on offer. I am usually not that concerned about the type of place I'm staying in because how much time do you really spend in your room? As long as the room is comfortable and clean and the hotel is in a safe area, I am good.
I try and set aside a percentage of my salary each month which is just for travel.
In between budget holidays, I also enjoy going on more luxurious getaways - it also depends what's happening and where. For instance, a lot of friends seem to be getting married all over the world and it is a good idea to have my travel spending saved in order to splash out. When it comes to travelling on my own, I tend to be a lot more thrifty.
I keep cash for emergency use and credit cards, too. It also depends where I am going. When you're planning a quick getaway you don't want to be worrying about buying traveller's cheques and so on. You can now get travel cards from some banks on which you can set a travel limit which is handy. Mostly I carry a certain amount of cash which I use for things like local transport, visiting markets, food and so on.
Gina's tips:
- Hunt for flights - you're bound to find something cheaper than the one you have been originally quoted. Sometimes a connecting flight stopping for a night somewhere exotic can make your flights a lot cheaper - embrace these opportunities. For example, flying direct to Spain for a long weekend can cost an arm and a leg, but flying via Istanbul and then to Spain can cut the price by almost half!
- Don't be too fussy about accommodation - how long are you actually going to spend in your room?
- Look out for hidden treasures when it comes to food - speak tothe locals. Even an obscure place witha mini-kitchen probably offers delicious food.
- Be careful when renting cars abroad - sometimes a local vendor will cost you half or even a third of what some of the bigger international rentals would charge you. And if you can brave it, why drive a car - rather get yourself a scooter (depending on the city of course).
- Ask locals for advice on shopping and other activities. They usually know places that are less expensive.
- Use the basic forms of public transport where possible - a bus fare in Mauritius can take you around the entire island for the same price asa taxi charges to get you from your hotel to the nearest public beach.
- I try not to get overexcited when shopping on a holiday. I think travelling light generally helps me avoid overshopping as it's a hassle to lug all the weight back home.
- Always carry nibbles like dried fruit and nuts while out. Sunscreen is also a must as this can be rather costly at tourist destinations.
Things that are free on a holiday
Beaches, old forts, markets... remember exploring is always free.
Walking on foot around a town you are visiting helps you find things which aren't possible if you go everywhere by car.
Take in your surroundingsand remember, adventure is always around the corner.
There are guaranteed to bea few historical sights which havea minimal entry fee.
Shafqat nabi's list of things to do for a budget holiday:
- Examine all kinds of package deals but remember to look at the fine print. Some deals offer great value for money.
- If possible, plan a holiday with a group of like-minded friends so costs are shared.
- Travel light (it helps you move about on public transport such as trains andbuses more easily).
- Avoid using hotel laundries. Instead carry clothes that do not needa lot of care.
- Eat a hearty breakfast at your hotel to keep you going the rest of the day.
- Shop for souvenirsthat are expressly unique to the place. Do not spend money on things you can get back home.n Look for accommodation which is well connected by public transport.
- Read up on the weather forecast and equip yourself accordingly. This will save you the trouble of buying extra items during the vacation.
- Be armed with information on places where tickets, vouchersand so on are available ata discount.
Gina munro's list of Mistakes people make on holidays
- Picking an inconvenient arrival time and so having to hang around prior to hotel check-in time when you will probably be exhausted.
- Paying 100 per cent for everything upfront leaves you little flexibility on the other end for spontaneity.
- Not checking visa requirements applicable to your passport of origin. Visa applications can always take more thana few days.
- Not doing research on your destination country prior to travelling. It may lead to a few unwanted surprises.
- Not checking the weather conditions in the area. This must be done to determine what clothes to pack.
- Not checking the currency and exchange rate. You should be fully aware of how much you are spending from the moment you arrive at your destination. n Not checking to see if there are religious holidays, festivals or other local events taking place during your stay.
This can often inflate the price of your stay or limit your movement.For example, I travelledto Goa, India, unaware of the elections taking place there and found all the clubs closed.
