Budget Travel

Arrangements may be more challenging, especially when looking for the right accommodation, but with careful preparation budget holidays can be very enjoyable. 

Travelling on a budget does not mean that your holiday has to be cheap and nasty.  With research and planning, it’s possible to find cost effective destinations, keeping in mind exchange rates, time of year, and a cheaper cost of living.  It’s also possible to find good accommodation at a reasonable price.  If you’re willing to stay in a camp site or caravan park for example, you could find yourself staying right on the beach with the most glorious views. 

There are many ways of travelling on a tight budget, and you might just find that you prefer it to a typical ‘high end’ holiday. 

A good time to travel

The time of year that you choose to travel plays a big part in the overall cost.  School holidays, Christmas and Easter are all very popular times to travel, which means that travel costs are always higher during these periods. Well known and popular international events, such as the running of the bulls in Pamplona, will also increase the cost of travelling to the country concerned, in this case Spain, during the event. 

To travel on a budget, check out an international events guide so as to avoid travelling during a major event.  Have a look at www.whatsonwhen.com to find out when not to travel or view destination guides at www.lonelyplanet.co.uk for more advice.  For budget options when travelling with children, have a look at www.mumsnet.com/bigissues/travelcalender.html.    

Budget destinations

There are great destinations that have a lower cost of living than the UK, usually countries in the developing economies of Asia, Africa, and South America. Some Eastern European countries are also competing for a piece of the tourism pie, so prices are kept lower than the more popular and traditional tourism destinations.

The Lonely Planet Shoestring Guides is full of good advice for navigating destinations that may be off the beaten track, and guides include such titles as Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, South America on a Shoestring, Central America on a Shoestring and Europe on a Shoestring: Big Trips on Small Budgets. If you’re lucky, the exchange rate will also be in your favour, giving you more for your pound. 

Budget accommodation

Choose accommodation carefully as this can make or break a holiday and can be on of the biggest cost factors.  Research the options well when planning a trip.  Compare hostel rates for a double room in
Western Europe, for example, for a dorm room in India – ₤50 vs ₤2.  A good website to start your research is www.hostelworld.com, which offers information on 15,000 hostels in more than 168 countries. 

Some people may choose to go camping, a great way to travel on the cheap especially if you own a tent and are travelling with your family.  For further information on camping look at www.eurocampings.co.uk and www.keycamp.co.uk.

For good advice on InterRailing and last minute weekend breaks on the continent, try Cheap Sleeps Europe, available at most book shops. 

For people who insist on staying in a hotel, avoid the larger, more established hotel chains in favour of the small and quirky boutique hotels. You’ll find many listed on the website www.mrandmrssmith.com. 

Some package deals include accommodation in the price, but find out as much as you can before making a choice. For budget beach and resort holidays, check out websites www.cheapholidays.com and www.mytravel.com.  

An increasingly popular way of travelling on the cheap is the concept of house swaps.  By making contact with other homeowners online it’s possible to arrange to stay in their homes while they stay in yours.  Good websites to look at for house swaps are www.homebase-hols.com or www.homelink.org.uk.  And some people are saving money by boarding with families.  Make similar arrangements through websites www.couchsurfing.com and www.hospitalityclub.org. 

Budget travel

Catching a train can often be cheaper than flying and is an adventure in itself.  Go to the Eurostar website for travelling times and costs, www.eurostar.com, to destinations such as Paris, Brussels and Lille.  An InterRail Global Pass, www.raileurope.co.uk , is an effective way to travel cheaply in up to 30 participating countries.  And you can travel as far as China on the TransSiberian Express (www.trans-siberian.co.uk).   

It’s also possible to travel in the comfort of your own car to many destinations.  Have a look at the timetables and costs of taking your car over to Europe by ferry on websites www.directferries.co.uk and www.ferries.co.uk.  The larger carriers such as P&O and SeaFrance offer access to destinations in France, Spain, Ireland, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia. 

Earning your keep

A working holiday has become a popular way for young people to see the world.  In many cases all you have to pay for is the cost of travel, with accommodation and some living expenses being taken care of by the employer.  A good guide is www.payaway.co.uk which lists organisations that offer paid and voluntary work

Travel insurance

If you do decide to work abroad, it’s a good idea to take out adequate travel insurance.  There are different policies for the various work opportunities so it’s necessary to do a bit of research, but it’s important to remember that although the holiday is on a shoestring, the travel insurance shouldn’t be.  In fact, it can cost more not to have the right travel insurance.