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Travelling, especially travelling alone, requires some diligence. While I think it’s unnecessary to get anal about advanced planning, you do have to be smart and at least organize yourself by setting up a few things beforehand.
I’ve come up with some guidelines that can save you a lot of worry and stress during your trip, as well as some time and money. Keep in mind though, rules are meant to be broken and you should tailor these suggestions to your tastes and budget.
Rule #1: Save Your Spending
I think it’s best to go cheap before and after your trip, rather than during. I cut back on all the extras. Saving a little bit of money here and there months before you travel may add up to a good chunk of spending money by the time you’re ready to leave.
However, if you are the sort who’s been blessed with the frugal gene, you probably don’t need any advice at all. You probably opened a savings account right after you opened your lemonade stand at age six. What you need to work on is telling yourself that it’s okay to spend the money you’ve been squirreling away so diligently.
It’s more fun to spend it than to save it obviously, but knowing when to save and when to spend can be very tricky. Try saving before your trip and splurge when you’re on vacation, because really, that’s what your vacation should be: an excuse to spoil yourself with things you wouldn’t normally buy.
Rule #2: Spread it Out
There’s something psychologically daunting about spending large sums of money all at once. Even for myself, an admitted happy shopper, I get tense when I have to plunk down a huge chunk of cash all at once. Things like flights or long-term hotel reservations require about three deep breaths before I can hit “confirm” on my computer screen. For this reason, I try not to book everything at once and as far in advance as is necessary.
It’s much less intimidating to have smaller bills to pay off and it’s nice to get as many things taken care of as possible before you actually leave for your trip.
Rule #3: Get the Timing Right
Another way to keep the cost down is to go virtual. There are some helpful websites out there, such as www.expedia.ca, www.hotwire.com, www.ryanair.com and www.hostelworld.com. These sites have a bit of a trick to them, however. If you book too far in advance, you won’t get the best rates because there’s too much availability. On the other hand, if you wait too long, the rates start going up rapidly because they know you’re getting desperate.
I find it’s best to book about two to three weeks in advance for flights and hotels. Even so, it is always a good idea to keep your eyes open for deals and watch for companies that offer last-minute packages or discounts: you might just score a great deal.
Keep in mind that in Europe, trains often need to be booked ahead of time. They get really expensive if you wait too long and sometimes you could be out of luck all together.
Keep it in Cheque
It is important to be flexible. If you spend some extra money, it’s not the end of the world, but don’t go on a spontaneous shopping spree that leaves you broke for the rest of your trip. It’s important to find a balance between being uptight and overly loose.
If you indulge a little one day, take it easy the next. If you meet some great people and decide to taste the nightlife, watch what you spend on drinks. To compensate for the small dent in your budget, don’t go out to a fancy restaurant the next night, but maybe grab some produce and snacks at a local market instead. Just make sure you wash them really well, because you don’t want to end up with food poisoning, travellers’ diarrhea or some other surprise that could be lurking among the fruits and vegetables.
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