Before making the choice to use credit cards abroad, call your credit card company and ask what their currency conversion rate is. Most cards have one, and it will add to your vacation costs, sometimes substantially. We have found it cheaper to use an ATM when traveling for a few days or more outside the USA . Talk to your bank before you go and have them raise your daily limit as high as possible. That is usually $500USD. My husband and I also each carry a card with that limit so that we can take out a substantial amount at one time if need be.
JAH
of IN
@
Dec 26, 2008 07:54:58 AM
Hotels
I've found that by searching the discount travel websites, like Priceline for example, which offers excellent rates and lists more area hotels than you could ever imagine existed - when you find a hotel that fits your needs, try going directly to that desired hotel's website. You may find even better deals. I did that for a recent stay in NYC - the discount travel website offered the hotel room in NYC for $175++ and the hotel's website offered it for $165 inclusive of taxes, etc. And as everyone probably knows most hotels offer/accept Auto Association Clubs, like AAA, discounts. So, take advantage of that discount too, if and when possible.
Toni
of NJ
@
Dec 24, 2008 11:18:25 AM
Very timely for the Summer vacation. I have a post last month on 13 Things I do to save on vacation.
Amy @ The Q Family
of GA
@
Jun 11, 2008 19:43:18 PM
Before we go on vacation we head out to BJ's wholesale to stock up on snack and energy bars. We even bought a filtering water bottle so we can get water on the go on our trip. Especially with two kids we have to keep everyone's energy level up and depending on where you are you may not be able to stop for a snack at a local store.
FFB
of NY
@
May 29, 2008 15:39:46 PM
Thanks. Some more I just thought of:
If you need to take a taxi somewhere, don't just get in the first one you see. When I was in Prague, I noticed that the taxis that hang out in tourist areas may be much more expensive than the ones just outside. I have no idea how widespread this is, though.
If you're exchanging money or paying for something in cash, always count the money you receive right away. Same goes for double-checking things like restaurant and hotel bills. I've seen friends get ripped off this way, sometimes by quite substantial amounts. Not everyone in this big, bad world wants to rip you off, but the sad truth is that some people do, and it never hurts to be careful.
Johanna
of MD
@
May 28, 2008 16:22:12 PM
When travelling domestically for a weekend, stay in hotels that have a business clientele. They will have much cheaper rates Friday through Sunday than a touristy hotel. Some hotels in DC, for example, are much more affordable on the weekend than during the week. The same can be said for the Marriott in Brooklyn. While it's still expensive @ 300 a night, that's a bargain compared to it's 500 a night during the week.
If you're planning a trip to a theme park such as DisneyWorld or Universal, go in the heat of August as that's when the resort hotel rates are cheaper at Disney World.
Veronica
of NY
@
May 28, 2008 16:07:02 PM
Great ideas, thanks, Johanna! I forgot the one about the bus vs. taxi - that can be a fun cultural experience, too.
Kimberly Palmer
of
@
May 28, 2008 15:33:47 PM
If there's a university in or near your destination city, find out if they rent dorm rooms out to visitors during school breaks. Note that school breaks in other countries do not always coincide with those in the US - in England, for example, there's a month-long break at Easter, and summer break lasts until late September. If you're going to London, I highly recommend the London School of Economics.
Research all transportation ahead of time. If you can figure out how to get where you want to go on a bus rather than in a taxi or rental car, you can save a lot of money. And it often happens that buying things like long-distance train tickets in advance is very much cheaper than paying the walk-up fare.
Find a grocery store or produce stand and stock up on fresh fruit. If you're really hard-core, you can subsist on this for one or more meals each day - otherwise, you can use it to round out a small meal purchased at a cafe.
Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.
JAH of IN @ Dec 26, 2008 07:54:58 AM
Toni of NJ @ Dec 24, 2008 11:18:25 AM
Amy @ The Q Family of GA @ Jun 11, 2008 19:43:18 PM
FFB of NY @ May 29, 2008 15:39:46 PM
Johanna of MD @ May 28, 2008 16:22:12 PM
Veronica of NY @ May 28, 2008 16:07:02 PM
Kimberly Palmer of @ May 28, 2008 15:33:47 PM
Johanna of MD @ May 28, 2008 15:26:14 PM
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