Travel: Cheap, Luminous, and Well

Don’t let your budget determine where you want to go. YOU decidewhere you want to go and then start making plans to get there by determining several factors.

When?

There are several rules to follow in making a decision when to travel:

-There are three seasons to travel-high/peak, shoulder, low/off

-Traveling low-season is always the cheapest, but you need to determine if you want to winter in Alaska or summer in Egypt and the type of activities you wish to pursue on your journey.

-Benefits of shoulder season include: less crowded, better prices and great weather. The best months globally are May or September, followed by April or October-though the last half of April or first half of October.

-Know your world! When it’s winter here, it’s summer in Australia.

-Find out the local holidays! In Europe, kids are out of school for six weeks. Late July, all of August, and the first week or two of September are when the majority of Europeans are on vacation.

-How does the weather affect your activities? If you’re trip is mostly to snorkel or swim, then stay away from the full moon for a trip. It causes two to three days of jellyfish invasion every month and you’ll be unable to enjoy what you came for.

-There are pros and cons of traveling in each and every season. Determine why you want to go and what you want to do. That will help you better decide the when.

Determining cost

One of the more terrible tasks in figuring out your skedaddle is the question of money. How can I possibly afford it??????

Fragment ONE–before making plans

There are several things you can do all year:

-set aside money or make a special vacation savings account

-take your leftover change at the end of each day and add to your fun money jar for a trip

-BUDGET…..yes, it can be a horrid word, but if you thought for a trip—without lustrous where you’re going—all the better it will be when you do decide!

-Cut back! No, this does not mean eat rice and beans every day of the week. Determine where you can cut back and employ that saved money for a trudge.

Do what you do anyway and cut aid where you can. Grow your own garden! We all know the benefits of such and it DOES save money. –Our family goes without cable t.v., extra phone services, etc. and all that money goes toward family memories. You’d be amazed at how fast it adds up.

****This is a very personal decision to make about cutting back and determining budget. I can, however, offer you some insight into this that may aid you in your decision.

1-Our family made the decision long ago to go without all the *extra* stuff to spend it together–making memories that we can “steal with us”. We determined that we would not be on our deathbeds wishing we’d done more with our children in making memories to last an eternity.

2a-Don’t save it for “someday”. Someday never, ever comes. If you live by that creed, you’ll always say “I/we could never afford that!”. If you budget, get rid of the extras and are clear to exercise other ways to save on a journey (which I’ll share shortly), you CAN afford the journey of experiencing this beautiful world.

2b-If you wait too long, you may have not have the opportunity in this life. I’ve heard too many couples say….when the kids are gone (take them with you!), or, when we retire—and then find out that their bodies betrayed their plans and/or dreams.

Part Two–while making plans

There are many, many things you can do in your plans to lessen cost. I will list many here. Be flexible in your decision making and you’ll have a grand time!

ACTIVITIES:

-get brochures from tour operators and copy what they do together to create your own tour. Guides, maps, and library books to keep your own tour together at a small fraction of the cost.

-do an internet search for the area to which you visiting and add the word “coupon” You will find coupons to attractions, lodging, and food that can greatly encourage lower the cost.

-Read your recede guides from the library and get online! There is a LOT of free stuff to do everywhere you go. In Utah, you can visit the Museum of Natural History for free every first Monday of the month and the Fine Arts Museum every first Wed. of the month. In Europe, many museums are free the last two hours of the day (typically from 5 to 7 p.m.)

-do you have a museum or zoo or planetarium membership? All of these offer reciprocating programs with others around the nation and some around the globe! Some offer discounts, but most are free. Spy at the websites to perceive what is offered in the station you plan to be and you may find a great attraction for free or cheap

-look for attraction coupon combining. There are cities that offer passes to several attractions for one drastically reduced price (even SLC offers one!). The Southern California Pass saves $477 dollars for EACH adult ticket when bought through Costco versus each attraction at the gate. That’s a HUGE savings for a family!

TRANSPORTATION:

-fly in mid-week. It’s cheaper than flying on the same day everyone else is leaving to go home or head out on business.

-take the earliest flight…if you’re willing to get up at 4 a.m., you can save more money taking the 6 a.m. flight than the 10 a.m. flight when everyone else wants to go…PLUS you run less risk of delays as the plane more than likely spent the night at the airport! J

-check the brand of a single traveler. It can often be cheaper to check a flight and purchase four single tickets than buying four tickets as a group. That does NOT mean you won’t sit together. You can get your seats at check-in or still choose online with some airlines.

-you do NOT have to use an American based airline. It’s often cheaper to buy tickets from a foreign airline. (I once flew to Luxembourg on IcelanicAir and saved over $400 on the ticket. I flew out of Chicago and got where I wanted to go…for cheaper than any American airline)

-know your rental car options and where you can take them. Italy is notorious for auto theft and many rental agencies will not let you drive your rental to Italy. Renting in Italy will cost more, so, keep it at the end or beginning of your coast…and rent a car in another country or stick to a rail pass. Most of Europe is super easy by public transport anyway.

-Some TYPES of rental cars are also listed in the fine print. Don’t think you can pull a fast one at the border either. The fine print IS read AND enforced by border officials.

(we knew our car could go into Poland, but it still took ten minutes of the Polish border police to go through our rental papers and execute definite this was true.)

-It can be cheaper to sail than to drive in some cases. Small investigation can save you a lot of time as well as money.

-single travelers can encourage from acting as a courier to get a free flight. You must be bonded and insured, but it may be worth it for you!

-Read the small print on your Rail Passes (which you can only take OUTSIDE of the country where it’s being used). With a Swiss Rail Pass, you also get free museum entrances, discounts on lodging, and free bus rides

LODGING:

-look at a hotel’s website. Many offer *Web Only* deals that offer great rates and/or good packages with nice upgrades

-the single traveler can sometimes gain a cheaper room when booking for two beds. You do not have to share, but you also do not pay the “Single Supplement” that some hotels detached stiff single travelers on AND you get a bigger room to stretch out in

-if you are staying a week or longer, consider renting an apartment. Typically found under *holiday flat*, it is THE way to go that offers more plot, amenities like kitchen and laundry facilities, and is typically cheaper than any hotel room….especially in Europe! (Our family stayed nine days in a German apartment and paid a LOT less than we would have for a hotel room. We bought

food at the market and cooked our food…even cheaper!)

-Expedia and websites like it offer good prices AND other traveler’s opinions—great to know what others think! A BIG plus!

-consider a house exchange. Thousands do this every year. It’s a practice that has been around for several decades. That’s FREE lodging!

-you can stay with people from around the world in their homes in something called a *Homestay*. This includes everything from a London apartment to an Australian sheep farm and all else in between!

-if you are LDS, then a great site and service we’ve taken advantage of a few times:

For $35 a year, you can access a huge contact directory of other LDS members from around the world. You can stay in their homes for two or three nights and it includes breakfast….ALL FREE!

(we’ve loved the time we’ve spent with LDS families in other lands!)

-Know your prices! The KOA Las Vegas is more expensive than some hotels that are safe and nice! (first-hand experience!) Camping is not always the cheaper alternative.

-Know your laws! In the Scandanavian countries, it’s legal to camp on anyone’s property (no more than one night without their permission) and as long as you pick up after yourselves. That’s free lodging!

-HOSTELS are not just for students anymore. There are now hostels that are open to all ages as well as catering to families or the elderly. If you plan on being gone all day and don’t mind sharing a bathroom (few offer private baths), you can stay for cheap. Hostels also include kitchen facilities, a lounging area (many with internet and t.v.), lockers for your stuff while you go sightseeing, locked facilities with curfews (to keep you superb at night), and the chance to get to know others!

-convents! Many convents and monasteries have had such a reduction in membership that they’ve had to find original ways to survive. One of these ways is to offer lodging and food at a great price. Most of these are in Italy and France.

PACKING

Now that you’ve made the decision about where and when to go, and you’ve found some great deals…..you need to think about packing.

When you travel, you want go lightly. Yes, that’s moral….you CAN travel with ONLY ONE CARRY ON BAG and STILL have clean underwear! How?

-find out about the climate where you’re traveling and during the time you are there.

-do NOT pack for all the *what-ifs*. No one can carry that much!

-DO pack for what you’ll need to see some attractions. In many countries, you must wear a dress or skirt and place a scarf over your head to enter religious sites. Italy is big in this respect—even if you’ve bought the ticket…you won’t get in. Packing a light scarf with which to accessorize as well as to wear to clear attractions or protect you from wind or sun is very handy. You only need one…and you can wear it while you travel–leaving more room to pack.

This also includes not wearing shorts for the men to the same sites.

-Stick to two or three colors so you can mix and match without taking everything with you OR getting entirely sick of your clothing.

-dress nicely if flying. There are two reasons for this…..you wear your church outfit without wrinkling it AND those wearing skirts or nice pants (no denim or sandals!) are the ones gate agents will bump up to first or business class for FREE if there is room!

-Remember…you’ll be wearing an outfit while you travel-pack with this in mind

-wear your jacket or cardigan-don’t pack it-while traveling

-NEVER pack anything you have to iron

-roll your items –don’t lay flat—it saves space and CAN keep out wrinkles

-use the plastic space saver bags to pack only clothing and get out the air

-KNOW your weight limits! Even by saving space, you can easily add weight. Some airlines have weight restrictions on carry-ons. For example, it’s 15 pounds for British Airways–and that costs to go over!

-pack a copy of where you’ll be staying (on the way) and your home address (for when you go home) in case of lost luggage.

If you save a master packing list, you can copy it to expend each time you pack to save time and “do I need this? ” questions.

PACKING LIST

Two bottoms (pants/capris)

Two or three tops-you can layer with a cardigan if cold inside

Underwear for two days (remember, you’re wearing a pair!)

Socks/nylons -two or three pair as needed/desired

One pair walking shoes

One pair flip flops (great for beach, walking to a pool, or wearing in a shower or around a room if you don’t want to go barefoot)

Swimsuit/goggles (we rarely depart without encountering some excuse to be in the water)

One set of pajamas (I wear an East Indian caftan that I can wear while doing laundry, for sleeping, and can also be a beach cover-up–all with one piece of clothing)

Toiletries

Toothbrush

Tooth powder/paste

Floss

Hair brush

Deodorant (find the small size! It’s cheaper and half the size)

Razor (disposables are tremendous for trips!)

Sunscreen–you should always take a small tube or stick

Add to the list other things you may need that are optional for you–just make distinct they are the smallest sizes you can get, but DON’T go overboard! You do NOT need the what-ifs or everything in your medicine cabinet. Take the barest of what you feel comfortable with.

Medicines as needed

Vitamins (we spend one really good quality for adults and the kids have their own. I pack them in a small ziplock bag to save space)

I exercise free samples of shampoo and conditioner. They stay under the 3 ounce airport rule AND I’ll have more room for souvenirs on the way back. You can also purchase the travel size bottles OR buy a small bottle at your destination. It’s fun to try out different items that what we have at home, too.

Keep a large ziplock bag filled with all papers, reservation numbers, confirmation numbers, maps, and the well-known papers proving you’ll have paid (if you have) or things requested (if you have), etc.

Snacks! Take healthy and non-staining snacks. You will get hungry while traveling….and you won’t want to pay those tourist prices. Fruit leather, granola bars, crackers, dried fruit, and so on are enormous choices that take little room and won’t give you a blood sugar high. Keep these handy on an outside pocket or zipper, if possible.

Keep another great ziplock bag for all your items that you need to take out at airport security screening. Instead of doing it item by item, you’ll have it all in an easy, transparent bag to quickly grab.

Items I NEVER go without:

The items with a *P* in front, I actually do not pack in my carry on, but I build in my day-pack (purse)

-several plastic shopping bags. You’d be surprised at the things you’ll use them for (soiled items, keeping sand off food at the beach and then using it to carry out the trash you made, wet swimsuit for that last swim before heading to the airport and many other uses

-caribener–attach this the outside of your bag to attach other items and give your shoulder a break AND to set aside to the seat at the gate/station, etc. in case you should happen to doze off

-a handful of ziplock transparent bags….for tons of uses and some I’ll mention under another category

-floss -already mentioned, but you can use it to hang up stuff to dry, work as an eyeglass screw until you can pick up to one, exhaust as a tape measure when you go shopping but don’t want to try on clothing AND to take care of your teeth

*P*-Emergen-C we add a packet to water during the journey to our destination to keep up our immune systems. Also sizable to have on hand in case you feel hurry down. A super vitamin and energy burst!

*P* -a stain pen or wipes. Don’t let your accidents spoil your gawk! Attack with the stain pen and you’ll be good to go.

excellent umbrella—a minute one….you never know when you’ll consume it

*P*-first aid kit—quite dinky, you can get the Johnson & Johnson mini-first encourage kit for $1 at Walmart. It comes with bandages, alcohol towelettes, and ointment

*P*-several cough drops, lip balm, nail clippers

*P*-a small address book with addresses and phone numbers

*P*-if staying in the U.S., buy your postcard stamps BEFORE you go

*P*-mini sewing kit with safety pins included (your button WILL pop off on a trip! J )

*P*-brush or comb (you’ll feel better about yourself if you can run a comb through your hair on a longer journey)

inch couple of package of facial tissues-you never know when you find a region with no toilet paper

*P*-paper toilet seat guards. Get a small packet of five at Walmart for .97…..there are some scary restrooms out there!

*P*-liquid or gel hand sanitizer

THAT’S IT? You have the opportunity to do your laundry where the locals go. We’ve met some fun and interesting people, gotten advice, and experienced getting to know the locals of the land in ways we couldn’t otherwise. This is portion of the experience-it’s not impartial doing laundry on vacation. J

If you really don’t want to do your laundry, save money by taking it to a local Laundromat that will do it for you…for 1/3 the tag of the hotel’s laundry service!

WHILE TRAVELING

-even if you are not hungry or thirsty when the flight attendant comes around, engage the food and a bottle of water. You’ll want food or water later and you WON’T want to pay the airport prices

-if your flight is cancelled, don’t wait in a long line to get onto another flight. Bypass the line and head for the phone. Call the airline’s 1-800 number (don’t forget to include it in your address book!) and quickly be given another flight while everyone else is still standing in line. It will be quicker and less stressful

-keep your passport around your neck or in a place that is safe and secure at all times during the journey, especially while filling out the in-flight customs forms (unless YOU have your passport number memorized)

-find out where else you can occupy tickets for transportation, attractions, etc. They may be cheaper and/or faster. (for example–when in London and riding the Tube, we buy our tickets at cramped neighborhood offices….it’s much faster than the ticket machines and lines at the Tube stations)

-did you end up with too many souvenirs? If you’re in the U.S., simply buy a flat rate box for $8.10. For that notice, you can fill it as heavily as you want. Just mail it home!

-go to local grocery stores and stout retail stores (such as Kmart). You can get souvenirs for much cheaper than the typical tourist shops.

-if you have a Costco membership, check them out where you travel. They are worldwide and carry local items as well as what you’ll find at home—for the same prices. (when in Hawaii, we obtain the same Dole Plantation pineapple that sells from Dole for $6 for only $2.99 at Costco. Gas is cheaper for your car or rental car, too.if traveling with your family, share the hairbrush, tooth powder/paste, floss and other items that can easily be shared–it also takes less spaceuse a sheet of fabric softener to absorb odor and dampness..expansive for warm, humid climates and ocean voyages

SAFETY

No sail is suited if you haven’t taken precautions. Being prepared can save your sanity, your spin, and can help stay flexible enough to enjoy.

-check your passport to make positive it’s not expired. It will take 2 to 4 weeks to either get one or renew one. (plan for at least four weeks)

-if going out of the country, check the other country’s laws regarding passports. Some countries require a six month leeway before expiration and others need extra pages. (South Africa requires two free pages in your passport to enter the country).

If extra pages are necessary to be added, send your passport in and extra pages will be added free of charge.

-make sure have enough money in your checking account. Most foreign ATM machines do not grasp money from savings.

-make sure there is NO graffiti on your cash. It must be clean and not torn for it to be exchanged in some countries (eg. Japan)

-take extra cash in smaller bills and don’t keep it all in the same place

-ATMS offer the best rate of exchange. Never use the airport exchange offices. They have the worst rate of exchange.

-credit cards also offer immense rates of exchange, but some countries do not salvage them quite as readily

-In England, many post offices will exchange your cash for FREE! That’s the BEST rate of exchange! You can gather out where at

-Keep various forms of money available: cash, ATM/debit cards, credit cards (many places no longer accept traveler’s checks in our electronic age)

-discuss meeting places wherever you go if traveling with others in case you want to go on your own way for awhile or get separated

-use a small wedge to slip under your door. No one can get in while you are in your room/apt., etc. It’s a safe and cheap way to help yourself conclude safe–pick up at any hardware store

-watch your credit card receipts. Some countries print your entire credit card number on the receipt.

-tape a business card or name and phone number on your laptop. Many are not re-connected with their owners for lack of information

-in case of a medical emergency, your health insurance cards 1-800 numbers will not work outside the U.S. Before you go, call your insurance agency and net the local number…write it down in your address book

-create an ID for each child and every person traveling. If the unthinkable happens, you can hand it over to the proper authorities

On a piece of paper, place a recent photo, place fingerprints, address, phone number, any allergies, medications required, identifying marks or features, height, spy and hair color, etc.

Have it laminated and keep it in your daypack/purse

-Don’t walk around with your passport on you-unless required by the country in which you are. Most countries do not require this, however.

Keep it safely hidden or locked up.

-Keep extra cash in a waist money belt or exercise your passport neck bag and keep it under your shirt.

-Consider your purse, ladies. Get one long enough to wear over one shoulder and around your neck or wear a daypack. I highly suggest a daypack. You can carry a lot in it as well as a bottle of water and some snacks to prevent high-priced goodies if you accept the munchies.

-Watch your hand gestures. What may be acceptable at home may be insulting in other areas around the U.S. or the world.

-When traveling to another culture, fetch out acceptable etiquette—for example–never touch an Asian on the head and always take off your shoes when visiting any Polynesian island home, etc.

-take a whistle for each child. In case they get lost, a shrill whistle in the woods or in a crowd will help you rep them fast!

http://postoffice.co.uk

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

Traveling with your children can be a fun and rewarding experience. The world offers the greatest education in history, culture, art, and humanity. You can build memories and negate lessons that would come no other way.

-before a ride, go to the library and find as many children’s books as you can on your destination. Read them to your kids or have your kids read them on their own. You’d be surprised at what excites them and what they’ll remember during your trip

-let your little ones assist you pack their bag. Allow your older children to pack their own bag…after you’ve taught them what and how to pack

-on a road inch, give the kids their own intention to follow. They can be surprisingly good at directions

-create a journey bag or box that is filled with trip-only fun items easily found at the dollar store or DI. It can create many happy hours on the way

-create a notebook or journal for each child with various headings such as “words I learned” “novel foods I tried” “something I didn’t know before” “most fun/most boring” and the like This can create a lifetime habit of journaling—for at home or on the road

-let the kids choose their own postcards for a friend of theirs or family member…write on it and send it off. Maybe they can even take over postcard duty!

-on a road trip, fetch out every two hours. Not only is it safer for you, but the kids need a bathroom break and a running break. Take a ball or Frisbee, etc. with you to have some family fun before resuming your journey.

-on a plane, have them take their own small backpack filled with a few original items (crayons and activity books), books, electronic game or travel game set, little cars, Ziploc baggies of healthy snacks, and so on. This prevents you from having to gather up and search through stuff to find them something to do, etc.

-many airports have children’s play areas. Find out where they are and let them play while you relax as you wait for your flight.

-don’t overplan….you’ll all be miserable. Check out local parks. The purpose of your ride together is to gaze and make happy memories as a family…not to cram as great as you can into as little time as possible.

-Stick to the buddy system EVERYwhere you go. Girls stick with girls and boys with boys for the restroom or changing rooms…no one goes alone anywhere

-It’s okay to stop and take a nap if you and/or the kids need one. You can enjoy the rest of your day even more when you’re all rested

(we once stopped in the middle of a beautiful Welsh park, plopped down and took a family nap on the grass. Now, THAT is a vacation!)

-let your kids have a disposable camera so they can take their own pictures, too. Limit to one per child….they’ll be more careful with the pictures they take

-children’s binoculars are cheap and they are useful not only in sightseeing, but they have fun with them on the road, too

-don’t forget the books on tape/cd as well as music

-stick to your at home eating and sleeping schedule…..kids off their eating and sleeping schedules can get pretty grumpy (so can the grown-ups!)

-be careful on trying too many modern foods with the very young–allergies can spout up ANYwhere!

-don’t forget your daily family scripture discover….I promise that it’s the best way to start any day…on a trip or not

-send your diapers and other baby needs on ahead that you know won’t be coming aid with you (see website page)

WEBSITES

These are websites to use to your travel advantage.
http://worldclimate.com

(What the weather is normally like for tens of thousands of places worldwide!)
http://weather.com
( Weather does the best job of delivering the essentials clearly. Get current conditions for 98,000 destinations worldwide, updated every 20 minutes.)

http://destinationcoupons.com/

(DestinationCoupons.com is a Free website offering worldwide discounts and coupons for hotels, car rentals, restaurants, shopping, activities and more!)

http://whichbudget.com/

(Find the cheapest flights around the world-116 airlines – 128 countries – 919 airports – 24545 routes)http://seat61.com/

(Maybe you don’t like flying, or are concerned about air travel’s contribution to global warming. Or perhaps you impartial prefer real travel by train or ship, where the journey is part of the adventure… Either way, The Man in Seat Sixty-One will tell you how to travel overland comfortably & affordably where you might reflect that air was now the only option.)Voted ‘Best Travel Website’http://babiestravellite.com/

(Babies Travel Lite delivers over 1000 name notice baby products including diapers, formula, food and more to travel destinations in the United States and worldwide. We also deliver baby supplies for home use.

Babies Travel Lite carries a full line of organic products including baby food and formula; diapering, bathing and sun care items; and Earth worthy diapers.)

http://librivox.org/

(FREE MP3 or Ipod downloads of books, poetry, short stories—a great way to prefer a lot of *reading* material without the weigh down of books!)http://restaurant.com/

(this is a GREAT website for discounts on eating out away or at home pay $10 for a $25 meal is one example)http://www.squaremouth.com/

(Compare hundreds of travel insurance plans from the top providers and buy immediately or expend the comprehensive research features.)http://www.postoffice.co.uk/

(find post office locations in the UK for free money exchange–what a deal!)http://expedia.com

(this is our favorite website for deals, traveler’s opinions, etc. We’ve conventional them without one problem for years)http://www.budgettravel.com/

(a lot of great information, destination tips, etc. Super to use when thinking of where and when)http://cruise411.com

(The handy quick search bar lets you find cruises by date, destination and cruise line. Exhaust the advanced search to choose by price and trip length. Cruise411 include ship itineraries, deck plans, cabin photos and other advice.)http://www.zagat.com/

(procure the details on a restaurant as well as other diner’s reviews. The most trusted name in dining)http://opentable.com/

(don’t have one or two hours to wait in line for a restaurant table? Make a reservation online at you’ll find hundreds of choices for top destinations nationwide. Enter party size, date and time, and the site searches for a table. If one’s not available, OpenTable will suggest an alternate time. Use at home or away on your journey—worldwide!)http://www.ricksteves.com/

(this guy is my Euro-hero! My move style is much like his…down to earth, get to know the locals, the history, budget, family, and go lightly. He has a PBS show as well as books)http://us.lastminute.com/

(score great deals if you suddenly feel like taking a quick trip)http://www.hostels.com/

(hostelling is for ALL ages, backgrounds, families, etc. and can be a orderly budget contrivance to go. Many hostels are located in the heart of attractions or very close by)http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/

(the U.S. government website for travel, disease, immunizations required, etc. A great resource for information to keep you healthy before and during your journey)http://xe.com

(this is my favorite money conversion website. I’ve used it for years. It’s updated every minute and it’s very easy to use—I LOVE the Snappily Conversion Converter–all free)https://tripprep.com/

(A comprehensive resource with recommended vaccinations, embassy listings and crime advisories for 204 countries. (Information is culled from the state departments of the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K.) Also included: tips on local customs and transportation. Free registration required.)http://dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com/

(Create your own handy before-you-leave checklists—FREE and fun!)http://thebathroomdiaries.com/

(A seemingly silly, surprisingly useful resource reviewing 12,000 public bathrooms in 120 countries….trust me, with children or an urgent need, it will be nice to know where to go…and when it’s better to spend a bush!)