Tip #96 - Final Checks

Another final, last minute check: it is advisable to check every detail and aspect of your luggage. This will include the handles, wheels and zippers on every suitcase and bag before leaving on your trip. Be sure and budget for the worst-case scenario that you have to replace your luggage and suitcase. If it ends up not being necessary, you have a little bit of extra cash to treat yourself and some discretionary budget spending!

Tip #93 - Utilize local resources

Utilize local resources and access their expertise knowledge in order to cut down on costs. Get information and coupons for special attractions, family passes and two-for-one offers, free coupon booklets or special discounted offers and tickets you might not be able to find anywhere else. They also send material and guides in advance that can help you plan, budget, compare and decide when, where, how and why, soon, sooner, soonest!

Tip #91 - Holiday Homework

Be SMART and informed about public holidays, special events, concerts and attractions in the countries and areas you plan to be visiting. This has been mentioned many times in my blog posts. By doing your homework early and coming up with budgetary categories and discretionary funds for entertainment and special events helps you with priorities, plan itineraries, save and execute a memorable and unforgettable trip.

Tip #87 - Accept and Appreciate Local Customs

Utilize and optimize local knowledge, customs and hospitality. Learn, accept and appreciate the customs of the country you are visiting. Go with the flow and enjoy the culture, music, food and kindness of the area and its people!

Sometimes you will be surprised that it does not even cost you a cent to have a good time and share with others. Who knows, you may get a better shopping bargain if you know how to speak like the locals.

Tip #58 - Vacation and Travel Agents

When budgeting for any type of travel, package deal, or even your family vacation, find out about all costs associated with your trip. Confirm with the agent, location or provider you have chosen or listed on the flashy brochure or website you just visited. Read the fine print and avoid any surprises.

Ask about alternatives, package deals, discounts, coupons and special offers – if you do not ask, you will never know. And also, no one is going to necessarily “advertise” a cheaper price or offer you the lowest, cheapest fare right away. There is always room for negotiation and or innovative ways to cut costs and still have a memorable trip to an exotic destination.

Tip #57 - Vacation Memories

Multimedia and technology are travel essentials these days. Recordings before, during and after can all be captured and enjoyed over and over. An added benefit is that they weight less and take up “no additional room”.

It helps you assemble memories, so buying and budgeting for extra rechargeable batteries, charger-kits, adapter plugs, cables, carry-bags, memory cards and/or recordable media might very well be the best investment you make on and for your trip. For the return on investment is huge! Upon your return, it is always exciting to re-live key and precious, shared moments.

You could hear and view a tour guide, entertainers, or musicians enjoyed during your journey. Avoid buying and taking heavy travel guides with you (make copies of pages of interest). At your destination, there will always also be myriads of local sources at your disposal that offers a unique perspective, current pricing and information that might be outdated in even the most recent travel guides or magazines.

Tip #55 - Destination Information to Gather

Be resourceful and curious. Know as much as you can about your destination and prepare as well as you can, even for the unexpected. Read any and all literature you can find on what you should know before departing, such as facts, warnings, advisories, entry requirements, crime statistics, demographics, local economy, attractions and special events for your dream destination.

Again, it is worth mentioning that investing time, effort and yes, even money, if that is what it takes to get quality information that will save you money in the long run, will pay off! It is like a guaranteed investment in you and your travel dollar, pocketbook and budget.

Tip #47 - Vacation Food Budget

Be creative with meals and do not hesitate to improvise and eat like the locals. It is not necessary to have a feast like a king when on vacation. For example, a picnic or a quick bite to eat on the beach or in a park is one of the best ways to keep your food costs down and save your travel dollar for the evenings and dinners out.

Good food is not only found in high-classed restaurants. Economical eateries that serve good and clean food are options. You would be able to enjoy many of the local cuisine and immense yourself with the 'true' local culture and sights as the locals, like many other people, are usually more casual and act more naturally at these locations. This would really maxmize your vacation time and money, and allows you to experience what most other expensive vacations lack.

Tip #43 - About Travel Agents

Sometimes a travel agent, or travel consultant, will charge a booking and administration fee to handle your trip and reservation. This leads to the misconception that they are always expensive and overpriced, always costing more and higher priced.

This simply is not the case. Sometimes the opposite can be true. They are indeed able to provide you with considerable information regarding special offers, limited time package deals and seat sales, as well as significantly reduced and special rates. They also offer advice and information about destination travel, travel advisories, entry requirements and travel documentation needs and costs.

Upon request, they will also spend the time to find you the cheapest and discounted options in the marketplace. This is worthwhile considering if you want to maximize your travel dollar and have a dream destination or exotic vacation to remember.

Tip #41 - Save on Traveller's Checks

Save money on traveller’s checks: Avoid paying a hefty or any service fee to purchase your travellers' checks. Some automobile clubs and banks offer them free to members and preferred customers. It is definitely worth your while and travel budget to check this out before obtaining your checks.

Tip #29 - Check Your Travel Luggage

Worried about the appearance of your luggage? Cannot afford new suitcases? Does your travel-tools and luggage look worn, stained and on its last legs? An old beat-up suitcase or backpack will almost always get picked for random security inspections. The last thing you want is to get stopped for every single random spot-check and be delayed for your next destination.

Clean the exterior of leather luggage with a good liquid saddle soap and conditioner. All canvas luggage can easily be cleaned using a small amount of detergent, some water, and a scrub brush. Nylon and vinyl luggage takes mild detergent and a small amount of water to be wiped down. It is never a good idea to “soak” or immerse your suitcase in water.

Ensure that the interior of your luggage is clean and mold-free so that your clothes will arrive clean and fresh. Remember to air it out after cleaning it as you would for the exterior. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.

Inspect luggage accessories including zippers, wheels, handles and identification tags. Make sure these are still functioning properly. Lugging a heavy suitcase around with a broken handle is a bad idea.

If your luggages are not salvageable, watch for retail sales, consider borrowing from a friend or relative or do the outlet, clearance and closeout circuits for bargains.

Tip #28 - Travel and Vacation Package Policies

Travel package deals always sound like such a bargain. They mostly are priced better and lower, but before congratulating yourself though with a well-deserved pat on the back for a job well done and money saved, check the cancellation and refund policy.

You need to know what happens when the inevitable occurs. Say you change your mind or a trip is cancelled. Scrutinize the fine print and calculate what the financial impact would be. How much money will you likely lose or forfeit?

Tip #20 - Traveller's Alarm

A frequent-traveller's favorite and luggage essential is a trusted small, lightweight travel alarm. It will prove to come in handy repeatedly and is easily carried anywhere. They are freely available and affordable from specialty travel stores as well as discount stores. Frequently, travel alarms are sales items, so wait to make your purchase, if you can.

If you have brought your cellphone along, you can also make use of the world clock alarm functions instead of a specialty traveller's alarm clock. One thing to avoid using is your wrist watch alarm function. These alarms are usually not for use as a 'wake-up' alarm as they are too soft in volume. Even a light sleeper may not be aroused as easily after a day of travelling / vacationing.

Also, avoid using radio alarm clocks that are powered from the ac mains. A blackout can occur during your sleep and cut off the power to the alarm clock. You don't want to miss your flight!

Tip #19 - Travel Baggage

One of the most commonly made mistakes made by travellers is packing too much of everything. Apart from the inconvenience, there are also charges and fees for overages. You have to deal with having to ship personal belongings home, leaving some items at the airport, packing and unpacking bags, removing items and more! All these actions are responsive and costly options.

Pack and travel light. Think minimalism when packing. Pick items that will suit and serve you well, multi-purpose, functional, mix and match well, are durable and easy-care. Essentials rather than outfit and accessory, fashion and color-coded planning dictating the bulging suitcase.

Tip #5 - Avoid buying footwear

Being practical goes a long way to save you money and unnecessary, self-inflicted ‘pain’ away from home! Be sure to pack some common sense too. Save money by not giving in to impulse shopping repeatedly, especially on ‘must-have’ shoes! Avoid wearing or trying out the newly bought pair of semi-uncomfortable shoes on your travels. Your feet and pocket book will thank you.

Travelling with Partners

When travelling as a couple, double rooms in a hotel are mostly cheaper than a single room. Consider sharing, but choose and weigh your travel partners wisely! Ensure that you are financially independent of one another and that all parties are responsible with money and will not come running to you expecting to help. Clarify needs and wants and highlight some mutual respect for these.

Ask the question of whether personal habits are compatible. How would they react in crisis-mode? These factors are handy to know in advance, in order to prepare you for anything. Save money by protecting your financial interests. Avoid others taking advantage of you, and you ending up paying for mostly everything and sponsoring extravagant spenders. The onus is on you to ensure you take care of every detail.

This would include who and how you will pay for what. Discuss and stipulate it literally to ensure all parties are informed. Then clarify and agree on it. Be smart and act early to sort out any differences to avoid conflict and disagreement. Schedule regular time apart and pool some of your money into a ‘kitty’ to pay for outings and entertainment.

Discount Hunters

Are you a discount hunter? No? Well, it's time to be one. You'll be surprised how much less you can pay for the same travel destination by doing some comparison-shopping.

Here are various useful information and travel sources to assist you in this money-saving undertaking for travelling on a budget:

1) Web-pages and online providers who specialize in hot deals for vacation package bargains.

2) Travel websites brokerages and discount fare operators, airline carriers and websites with last minute fares and seat sales.

3) Travel specialist portals taking advantage of overnight flights, empty seats and multiple connections and other ways to save money while traveling the globe.

4) Printed material, budget travel magazines, and e-zines offering industry and insider travel tips, student and backpacking tips, and even specific destination guidebooks.

5) Various customized, targeted guidebooks are ideal for backpacking and exploring remote and or popular destinations of choice, with lots of valuable information for both upscale and budget travellers.

6) Word-of-mouth from regular travellers, colleagues, family and friends who travel frequently often share great insights. We cannot discount these value-adding insights.

7) Coupons and special vouchers, family discounts and specials, online, limited-time internet bargains.

8) Condominium or developers, resort, time-share promotions. Camping, tourist boards and information centers.

Setting up a quick quote or cost-analysis for your planned journey, a rough travel expense account or budgeting outline to get started, is always a good idea to give your dreams some wings. At the very least, you will have an idea and some kind of baseline and starting point.

One thing to note as a travel discount hunter: Make doubly sure the information you get is complete and trustworthy. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Of course, exceptions do pop-up, such as the island caretaker job on Hamilton Island. Just be a little more on guard when discount hunting. Do not get caught by ill-reputed providers and travel-scams. Always read the fine print!

Prioritize your wish list

A wish list of your desired travel destinations is a good way to start planning for your current and future vacations.

Making at least the first goal or location visit on the list happen this year is a matter of prioritizing. Rank according to destinations that you really desire to visit, see, conquer, treasure, explore in your lifetime.

Do some research on your dream destinations. Do not rely on your imagination of your dream destination. The human mind is very clever at deceiving itself (NLP anyone?). Do not rely just on the ads from travel agencies - you may be surprised (and disappointed!) at how different your dream destination is from the pictures and description in the brochures.

Get first-hand account of the places from relatives, neighbours, friends and colleagues. You can also try searching video sharing sites for holiday videos that travellers might have uploaded to know more.

Next up: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals will help you create and prioritize your wish list.