Golden sunshine, white beaches, and plenty of cocktails – a trip with your mates can be a great experience. Lots of us flock to short-haul destinations each year to get our groove on when the sun goes down and to recuperate outside the next day. Popular destinations at the moment include Magaluf in Majorca, Zante in Greece and Ayia Napa in Cyprus.

Wherever you’re headed with your friends, there are a number of things you should keep in mind to help you have the best trip possible. I’ve been to a few places now so I thought I’d share my knowledge with you; here are some of my top tips…

Make sure you can afford it

Holidays aren’t exactly cheap, even with those great late deals. With many airlines you’ll find yourself paying extra for baggage and selected seats, so see if you can manage your trip only using hand luggage. When it comes to your accommodation, you’ll likely be looking for an apartment near the best clubs and bars, but don’t compromise on your safety for a cheap bed. You’ll want somewhere that has solid locks on the doors and a safe in the room for your cash and gadgets. For your travel money, look on comparison websites to see where you’ll be able to find the best deal. Either that or you can ask the bank of mum and dad to give you some extra euros…

Watch out for hidden charges

It’s worth noting that many apartment complexes will charge you a security deposit when you arrive. This is to protect themselves against damage or theft by occupants, so make sure you don’t lose it by doing anything silly. It might be worth emailing the apartment operator before you arrive to see whether you’ll need to have this cash available, and how much it will be. Don’t forget to collect your deposit when you leave or else you’ll be out of pocket!

Stay safe

Most destinations are pretty safe in themselves, but it’s important to keep your group close together so you can all take care of each other. When alcohol is involved, it can make a night’s events change from happy to angry in a couple of seconds, so don’t lose your head and get into trouble with other holidaymakers, bouncers or the police. Also, avoid going onto your balcony when you get back to your apartment after clubbing as sadly many people fall from theirs each year.

Watch what you eat

With no mum or dad to cook your meals, you’ll have to fend for yourself. Check that your hotel or apartment isn’t listed on the holiday illness hotspots list on http://www.on-holiday-claims.co.uk as this is a pretty good indicator of where you should avoid eating! Many places have fast food joints you’ll be familiar with, and there will be a choice to buffets too. Just make sure that there aren’t too many flies around and food being left uncovered. Otherwise you might need to go to a medical centre or pharmacy to get some medication, which isn’t much fun when you’re on holiday.

The post Top Ways to Have the Best Lads or Ladies Getaways appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

Europe is usually considered to be the Godzilla of expensive holiday destinations. Backpackers tell horror stories of being broke and stranded in Oslo, one of the most expensive cities to live in, let alone travel. While guides with titles like ‘Europe on $30 a Day’ are likely to give some hope to travelers looking for a cheap holiday in Europe, it still becomes important to manage your finances well and research ways to save. Here are some tips on traveling in Europe and the attendant money matters.

1. Know what they call the cash machine. In France they call it the distributeur, in the UK, a cashpoint. Nearly everywhere else in Europe, ask for a Bankomat and you should be shown the nearest ATM machine. In most places in the world today, and especially in Europe, you’ll find ATM machines the easiest and cheapest access to local currency. They all work like your home cash machines with English instructions. No one uses travelers’ checks anymore. Why should they, with banks making it so easy with universal ATM machines at most major destinations?

2. Don’t be stranded in a country where your card doesn’t work. Before you leave for your vacation, make sure that you find out from your bank or credit-card company whether your cards will work in the European country you’re going to. This is to make sure you don’t have your foreign transactions declined. Also, inform your bank that you’ll be spending in Europe, or else they may freeze your card if they detect unusual spending patterns. One thing I always do is set up a bank account in countries I frequent, allowing for a seamless transfer of funds between countries. With a reliable company, you can take advantage of 0% balance transfer on from your old credit card – incredibly useful when trying to avoid extra fees.

3. Don’t be surprised by fees. Make sure that you find out what fees your bank or credit card company charges for transactions abroad. These will include fees for debit card withdrawals and fees for credit card purchases. Find out if the fees are a flat fee or a percentage of the transaction amount or a combination of both. If there’s a flat fee, visit the ATM less often on your holiday and withdraw large sums each time. Also find out if there are any other currency conversion fees or other foreign transaction fees added to the purchase. You don’t want to return home after your holiday having exhausted your holiday funds, to find more expenses waiting for you.

4. Avoid dynamic currency conversions. Some merchants in Europe, knowing that you may be intimidated by foreign currencies, blissfully tack on a fee for converting their prices to dollars (often based on poor exchange rates) before your credit card is charged. This means you can very well get back home to find you’ve paid more than you thought you had. You have the right to decline the convenience of being charged in dollars, and avoid this sneaky fee. Pay in the local currency. If you’re given a receipt with a total in dollars and a total in the local currency, circle the latter and then sign.

5. Don’t forget to claim your tax refunds. It’s a fact that people leave millions of dollars of unclaimed refundable sales taxes each year when they leave Europe after their holiday. Most people can’t be bothered with the hassle, but the fact is, there is none. All you have to do is take your passport along for your shopping spree, get the refund document or ‘cheque’ from the merchant, and when you leave the country, locate the right people at the airport or border while you wait for your transport out.

Happy travels!

CC Tamaki

The post 5 Tips to Consider Before Going On a Cheap Trip to Europe appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

Like experience, traveling can be one of the best teachers in life. It allows you to be more open to various cultures and have a positive outlook towards life. Not many people like to travel but for those who do, they are some of the happiest and most open minded people in the planet. Going on trips in your state or country is nice but taking a journey overseas to Asia can be very exciting. Finances are of course one of the major things to consider when traveling and the fact is, money is hard to come by for many. The good news is you can go to exotic countries like Thailand and stay at a hotel in Phuket on the beach with a very limited budget. There are even those who are lucky enough to travel abroad for free. Going on a journey to exotic places and historical nations the inexpensive way as a regular person is possible as long as you are optimistic, determined and street smart.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: PURCHASE DISCOUNTED AIRFARE

With many airline companies nowadays, competition is tough which leads to various air fare promos that you can take advantage of. You can either book a year or months earlier for your next trip or wait for off peak season to purchase your ticket. Either way assures you of cheaper air fare that you should take advantage of.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: STAY WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS ABROAD

Aside from saving up for your plane fare to your preferred destination, it would be a great idea to ask your family members about relatives abroad. Keeping in touch with them can be beneficial for your overseas travel because you can save money by staying with them. You can also contact friends who are living abroad. You can definitely save on accommodation or even food expenses and at the same time bond with your hosts whom you have not seen for quite some time.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: CLASSIC HITCHHIKING

A continent like Europe is one of the ideal places to hitchhike and you can visit several nations in the continent by doing so. The brave and bold travelers determined to go on cross country trips for free can find this method appealing. One thing is for sure, you definitely save on transportation expenses.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: DO VOLUNTEER WORK OR ENTER CHARITY EXPEDITIONS

There are certain international non-government organizations in need of volunteers to help out in their cause. Be it building houses for the homeless or farming organic produce, you can sure take advantage of the priceless experience you can have on such trips. In addition, there are also charity groups needing volunteers to climb Mt. Everest, for instance, to raise funds for a project. This can be a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel and you should grab it.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: WORK FOR LODGING, FOOD OR SERVICES

Once you’re in the country of your choice, you need to spend for your basic necessities in order to survive. Fortunately, there are local businesses that you can approach for you to work in exchange of free accommodation or food. You won’t be paid big bucks but you’ll sure have a roof above your head and meals to keep you going while on vacation.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: TRAVELING WHILE EMPLOYED

For some people, they opt to enjoy a kind of all-expense paid trip while employed. You can find temporary or long term jobs in cruise ships or even airlines. You definitely travel a lot without spending for your basic needs and you get paid enough too!

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: JOIN TRAVEL CONTESTS

Different companies promoting products or services come up with various contests open to the public and many offer travel-abroad prizes. There’s no harm in trying and you never know lady luck may be on your side.

HOW TO VISIT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR CHEAP: SWAP HOUSES

It may seem a bit odd but there are websites that offer short-term house swapping to willing travelers. If you are willing to entrust your home to a stranger then this unusual way of having a vacation abroad is for you. To those familiar with the movie The Holiday, the characters of Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swapped homes which turned out to be a great vacation for them.

No matter what method you choose, these ways just show that it is indeed possible to travel and visit every country around the globe inexpensively. Why don’t you start planning and choose the method that would satisfy your adventurous soul.

CC Justin Ornellas

The post How to Visit Every Country in the World for Cheap appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

If you are planning to travel to Africa, keep in mind that plateau continent can be costly, but is also astonishingly cheap. Africa happens to be a budget destination when it comes to the cost of accommodation, day to day living and transport. However, the overall adventure activities, safaris and wildlife viewing can get quite costly. If you travel in Africa on a budget, you will end up spending about $1400 in a month, which is quite reasonable. All you need to do is go through the following guidelines and plan your trip to Africa according to the following 5 great budget travel tips for Africa.

Great Budget Travel Tips for Africa: Use Public transport

If you intend to travel to some big African city such as Cape Town, then traveling by one of the city’s public transport modes like buses and trains will allow you to save money. If you are traveling to an outlying area in Africa, then driving is a better and cheaper option than renting a car, or another alternative is to rent a taxi for the day. If you want to travel to Cairo, then there is a fantastic metro system that you can take advantage of, but avoid traveling to Cairo by bus, as buses can be a bit daunting and overcrowded.

Great Budget Travel Tips for Africa: Take Walking and Bus Tours

If you want to keep yourself busy for most of the day in bigger cities like Capetown and Johannesburg without spending too much, you will find budget-minded bus and walking tours. This way, you will also become familiar with the city, its architectural wonders, its culture and its history. If you really want to make the best of your budget holiday, then taking cheap tours is an ideal way of doing so.

Great Budget Travel Tips for Africa: Book round-trip

If you trip to Africa includes traveling to various African countries or cities, then make sure that by the end of your vacation, you leave from the same city you arrived in at the beginning. The price of one-way flight tickets is much costlier than booking round-trip and you will save a lot more money too.

Great Budget Travel Tips for Africa: Consider a package deal

For your trip to Africa, you will find a variety of interesting package deals. If you want to go on a safari, you will find numerous package deals with a safari trip included in them. If your vacation to Africa includes a visit to various African cities, again you will find some of the finest deals, which include airfare, hotel, and at times, even guided tours. You might have to spend additional time to find out what’s available out there, but it will be worth it.

Great Budget Travel Tips for Africa: Travel last minute

If you have that long spontaneous nature that has remained untapped, now is the time you tap into it and book a budget holiday at the last minute, particularly during off-season. If you book in advance, you won’t be able to take advantage of wonderfully cheap last minute package deals and flight tickets that are generally available.

Terrific diversity is available to travelers in Africa, from ancient villages, beaches, game parks, hikes, jungles and safaris. These mentioned 5 great budget travel tips for Africa will help you save quite a lot of money, yet you will have a memorable vacation in the plateau continent.

US National Archives

The post 5 Great Budget Travel Tips for Africa appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

The continent of Europe has always been a favorite place to visit for many international travelers. There are a variety of historical and famous sites, monuments and locations situated all over Europe that help to make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. More importantly visitors also explore Europe to discover the culture and the people from first hand experience. Traveling throughout this continent is expensive but there are 5 great budget travel tips for Europe that people can use to help alleviate the cost.

Great Travel Tips for Europe: Travel with People Who Live in a European Country

It would be beneficial for European travelers to have European contacts when they plan on traveling throughout the continent. Having at least one contact in each country could help to cut down with expenses related to lodging, traveling and food. European contacts can prepare their homes for a visitor’s arrival and allow them to stay a few days while they explore the area. A contact will usually have good information on the cheapest forms of travel and the best types of foods to get at a reduce price. 

Great Travel Tips for Europe: Travel at Night

Travelers who are trekking across Europe should consider taking some of their journey during overnight hours. Visitors can save money on lodging when they travel by night as opposed to staying in a hotel or bread and breakfast. A traveler can schedule a trip through a certain region of Europe that might not have a lot of sites to see while on their way to the next location. Many buses and trains have comfortable enough seats for people to get a few hours worth of sleep if it is needed. Believe it or not there are some international European travelers that make it a habit to sleep in airports. Destinations that don’t require a whole night’s journey can be scheduled at a later time. This way a traveler can waste away some of the night and avoid having to stay in a hotel or hostel. This tip for travelers should only be used for only a few nights during a person’s journey because sooner or later they will need a place to rest.

Great Travel Tips for Europe: Avoid Hotels to Cut Down on Expenses

Many people like to travel in luxury and there is nothing wrong with desire. The problem is that staying in nice places costs money and if a person is short on cash then they won’t be able to stay in a nice place for very long. One thing that travelers can do to cut back on lodging expenses is to stay in a hostel or Bed and Breakfast. Hostels and Bed and Breakfast rooms are significantly cheaper than hotel rooms. Travelers might not have to stay in these places along every part of their journey but if they plan on traveling in Europe for a while they might want to consider this option. Experienced travelers and travel agents recommend that travelers check out a Bed and Breakfast room before agreeing to stay in it overnight.

Great Travel Tips for Europe: Travel with Only One Bag

This can be rather tricky for people who plan on traveling throughout Europe for more than a week. The reason this tip was offered has to do with reducing extra costs associated with lodging and transporting extra baggage. People with a lot of baggage must have a place to put their belongings while they travel. Many European societies have local places where a person can wash their clothes and they have retail outlets where travelers can purchase clothing when it’s needed. Most people might not consider taking the time to wash their clothes while on a journey and they probably will need more than two days worth of clothes. This tip might not work for everybody but people who are comfortable with a few pair of clothes during their journey could save a lot of extra money in expenses.

Great Travel Tips for Europe: Don’t Be Afraid to Walk

This particular tip might make many people uneasy but walking is definitely still the cheapest way to get around. Travelers can save money on fares and gas (if they’re driving) by walking. In order for this particular tip to be useful travelers should make it a point to walk in villages, towns and parts of some cities. What they should not do is try to walk across extremely large cities such as London, Paris, Rome or Munich. Trying to literally walk across those extremely large cities will take some time, energy and effort and it’s not recommended. Walking across the country side where highways and wide open tracts of land are located is also discouraged. These tips could help to reduce hundreds of dollars off of a person’s travel expenses during their visit to Europe.

CC Fylkesarkiv

The post 5 Great Travel Tips for Europe appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.

Planning a trip has become increasingly difficult, especially with several options available today. When planning to go for a trip, finding a good and cheap hostel to stay in is of utmost importance. While hostels are the best options, especially when you have a limited budget, finding one that is in good shape and at a price that you can afford is very important. While good and affordable hostels are always hard to come by, there are several methods that you can employ when looking for one.

The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels: Be a Commoner

When looking for a hostel that will not freak you out, then it is important checking the common area. You definitely do not need a room that will not give you ample space to hang around or socialize with your friends. If it does not have a bar, then it should at least have a common area. A hostel without this facility can make life really miserable as it limits interaction, especially for solo travellers who need to meet new people.

The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels: Check the Check Out

Another one of the best ways to find good and cheap hostels is investigating the check out time. As a rule of thumb, do not stay in a hostel with a check out time before 10.00 am. Sleep is valuable to any traveler and you should not be an exception.

The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels: No Breakfast? No Go!

Yet another great way of finding cheap but good hostels is looking for a place that offers decent breakfast. There are several hostels that offer traditional coffee and toast for breakfast. In as much as you want to save some money, you should look for a place that offers something worth your money, and at least at an appropriate time when everyone else has woken up. This will cut down on your food budget for the rest of the day.

The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels: Staying Clean

Besides food, you should also consider where you will be showering. In this respect, showers should be carefully analyzed before choosing a particular hostel. Push button showers are not the best to settle for. Besides having low pressure, they are also annoying and difficult to operate. Hostels that have this type of showers should be given a wide berth.

The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels

As a traveller, you must be having valuables that you need to put in a secure and safe place. This is where the need for lockers come into play. It’s surprising but there are a number of hostels that do not have lockers or if they do, then charge customers who use them. In this day and age, you should not pay for security when renting a hostel. Besides that, they should be standard to ensure that your valuables are safe while sleeping or partying.

The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels: Wi-Fi, Baby

While it comes low on the priority list of most travellers, a good hostel should have internet connection. This is because such a hostel makes life easier, enjoyable and fulfilling. You do not need to search for internet cafes from outside the hostel if there are hostels that provide cheap, and in some cases free internet.

Even if it does not have all the above listed things, a good and cheap hostel should have a majority of the above listed things. A hostel that does not have these provisions does not understand the needs of its clients and is not worth your money.

CC Oh-Barcelona

The post The Best Ways to Find Good and Cheap Hostels appeared first on Budget Travel Intentions.