SolcaribeTour.com

Archive for the ‘Budget Travel’ Category

Travelling the world can be expensive, particularly in countries like Australia, the United States, the UK or Western Europe. Hotels, food and sightseeing can quickly add up and eat up your budget in no time. Although these places are expensive, there are many other countries that you can travel on very little money. Here are 10 countries to travel on the cheap.

1. Laos
Laos is a beautiful landlocked country in South-East Asia, bordered by Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. Rich in culture and natural beauty, Laos has a lot to offer the budget traveller. Guest houses are cheap and it’s quite easy to find one under $10 per night. Like most Asian countries, street food is aplenty and very cheap at around $1 per meal. Even restaurant meals will only cost a couple of dollars. It’s quite easy to travel Laos on $20-$30 per day.

2. Guatemala
There are many bargains to be had in Central America, but Guatemala is a lot cheaper than the more popular Panama and Costa Rica. Beautiful beaches, rainforest, mountains and ancient ruins are all on offer, and it can be travelled on the cheap. It’s easy to get a room under $20 per night and cheap eats are available as well at only a couple of dollars per meal. It’s possible to travel Guatemala on under $35 per day.

3. Greece
It’s possible to travel on the cheap in Europe. Greece is particularly cheap now due to the recession, and it’s a great option for budget travellers. Hostel rooms can be found for $10 per night, and street food is available, with delicious gyros costing only $2-$3. Even with a few restaurant meals you can easily travel Greece for under $40 per day.

4. India
India has always been a cheap country to travel, and with such a rich culture and so much to see and do, it makes an excellent budget travel destination. Rooms can range greatly in price depending on where you go and what comfort level you want, however cheap options are almost always available. Cheap food is also always available, and tastes amazing! It’s possible to travel India on $20-$35 per day.

5. Cambodia
Like Laos, Cambodia is another country full of culture and beauty, with a lot to see and do. Rooms can be found for as little as $2 per night, however a budget of $10 per night is reasonable. Street food in Cambodia is wonderful and costs under $1 per meal, while restaurant meals cost only a couple of dollars as well. Some people have been known to travel Cambodia on as little as $10 per day, but it’s more reasonable to budget $20-$30 per day and really enjoy yourself.

6. Romania
There are many budget options in Eastern Europe and Romania is a great choice. Full of history and interesting people and places, it doesn’t receive the attention that it deserves. If you stay in hostels and eat at cheap eateries, you can travel Romania on $30-$40 per day.

7.Bolivia
Bolivia is an excellent budget destination in South America. High up in the Andes, Bolivia offers a lot to see and do. You can get a room for under $15 per night, while food can be as low as $2 per meal, depending on where you eat. A good budget for Bolivia is around $35 per day.

8. Vietnam
Like other South East Asian countries, Vietnam is perfect for budget travellers and is full of great culture and natural beauty. Comfortable rooms cost around $10 per night and street food is all under $1 per meal. Restaurant meals only cost $1-$3 per meal. It’s possible to travel on under $15 per day in Vietnam, however a more comfortable budget would be around $20-$30 per day.

9. Honduras
Another Central American bargain is the lovely little country of Honduras. You can find rooms for under $15 per night, while cheap meals only cost a few dollars. It’s quite feasible to travel in Honduras on under $35 per day.

10. Nepal
Nepal is probably the cheapest country I have been to, and possible the most beautiful. It’s a very poor country and travel costs reflect that. Budget rooms and local meals only cost a few dollars. If you wanted to, it would be possible to travel in Nepal for under $10 per day, however it largely depends on what you want to do. If you take trekking tours etc, then your budget will increase a lot. On that note, you can still easily travel Nepal for under $30 per day.

Incoming search terms:

• cheapest countries to travel in europe
• cheapest country in europe to travel
• to 10 coumtrys to travels

New York is a City that never goes off to sleep. A visitor to the place has no time to ponder over his worries back home. Weather plays a great role in deciding about the best time for a vacation in New York. Cheapest holiday in NY City can be planned for the first half of January. This is the time when it is cold and wet around the City. Flights are available at fewer prices. Hotels provide cheap accommodation facilities. Good weather means costlier flights and costlier accommodation.

How to Set a Budget for your Vacation in New York? Look for best travel deals available. Think about all the attractions that await you, don’t think about staying in a five star hotel which will burn a huge hole in your pocket. New York is meant to be explored and enjoyed. And enjoying does not cost a great deal.

If you become very selective about your flight to New York, it can be slightly expensive. But for a flight which can be accommodated within your budget, go for a weekday option for flying. Weekend flights will obviously cost more. Flights on Tuesdays & Wednesdays are cost effective. Flights that arrive to the city in the middle of the night are cheap too. It does not matter whether you are landing at the airport during day or night; the City is always alert and alive at all times.

Finding good accommodation in the city is what matters to visitors. And thinking about how to set a Budget for your Vacation in New York becomes a question of prime importance. Cheap hotels, motels, rentals and inns are scattered all over the City. These places provide all facilities for a comfortable stay. Most of these places are concentrated at areas of chief attractions around the City. It is not necessary to have a good Spa experience to enjoy your vacation. You will manage to enjoy your holiday even if your room does not provide internet facility. Colonial House Inn, Hotel Franklin, and Chelsea Savoy Hotel come with full comfort and low price towards all facilities.

How to Set a Budget for your Vacation in New York which is full of so many attractions? Watching a show at the famous Broadway Theater will not cost you a bomb if you manage to get tickets at discounted price. Search online for all information regarding the availability of these discounted tickets. Plan a visit to the Central Park and become one with the artists, painters, musicians and other visitors to the place. A Ferry ride to Staten Island will give you the pleasure of seeing the beauty that is all around, and a ride is certainly not an expensive one. You can walk down from your hotel to Times Square, St. Patrick’s Cathedral or the Rockefeller Plaza.

Enjoy delicious food within your budget. Parker Meridien Hotel offers you delicious cheeseburgers and fries with milkshake. Cuban specialties are available at Havana-Chelsea Luncheonette. Enjoy cheap but exotic Chinese food at New York’s Chinatown.

Incoming search terms:

• how to set a budget for your vacation
• how to set a vacation budget

Trust your instincts. Trust your friends. These pearls of wisdom safely guided me here to the island of Bali. Back in Santa Fe, while reflecting on these chaotic world times, I wondered if there is a place where people might chose harmony over conflict. Traveling to Bali presented a portal, not abstract like John Malkovich’s brain, but a direct link to the answer to my question.

Tonight, a typical balmy evening in Bali, I stood outside naked to the waist, arms outstretched, in perfect alignment with the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross. I felt the universal harmonic chord resonate in perfect pitch. To the south, sounds of stirring farm animals and the happy chatter from the Balinese family preparing dinner balanced perfectly with the sounds to the north of slapping waves that carried fishermen’s boats to sea. American and other western governments’ promotion of fear and loathing had not permeated this landscape or culture. The Bali bombing, executed by a few Javanese extremists, had not poisoned the well of generosity and kindness that flowed naturally from the Balinese.

Earlier in my travels, at an Internet Room in Pdangbai, I had a fascinating conversation with my Balinese counterpart. He too was an observer of humanity.

In his forties, he spoke about his earlier years as a farmer in the rice fields. Contemporary western world interests brought lucrative property values, so his family chose to sell the farm. To stay in contact with the land, and the sea, he operates several fishing boats and enjoys doing his own fishing, as well as attending to his own garden.

As we continued our conversation I realized this fellow possessed keen insights into man’s behavior, whether members of the Buddhist, Islam, Hindu or Judaic-Christian communities. He distinguished people as either rational or irrational.

Today, he said, most Westerners and Asians still have problems understanding each other’s cultures. Balinese do not understand the logic behind the mutual animosity of Westerners and Muslims. The Balinese spiritual philosophy determines that, if there is a conflict between two parties, then both parties are at fault. What a refreshingly thoughtful outlook on life, I thought.

Though my American upbringing seemed to emphasize “might makes right”, I’ve instinctively felt that a more peaceful path to alleviating aggression and potential conflict must exist. My own philosophy of tolerance included a mixture of good Christian and Buddhist values combined with sage wisdom from contemporary writers and Hollywood scripts.

I admire Kurt Vonnegut’s redefined version of “love thy neighbor”; understanding the realistic difficulties of loving every type of neighbor, Vonnegut suggests a more moderate approach, choosing either to respect or be indifferent, thus minimizing conflict. This view certainly helps me mitigate road rage while I’m driving Cerrillos Road.

A Bill Murray character suggests considering those individuals who demonstrate social interaction problems as “temporarily disconnected”.

In the village of Ubud, a Swiss fellow named George introduced me to a gentleman highly revered by the Balinese as a spiritual leader. Conversing over a civilized cup of tea, Adipati spoke about the influence of his father, the general, who convinced him to pursue a life of conflict as a warrior, a hired gun exploited by Suharto’s government to annihilate the people of East Timor. Today, this decision still caused him great pain for he knew he had blood on his hands. Thankfully, his grandfather had saved his soul by reintroducing him to his spiritual roots. Many years later, his current spiritual path and good role model status had earned him respect among the young people of Ubud.

Adipati was worried that many young Balinese were becoming corrupt on the spoils of the tourist dollars. This current economic downturn gave the Balinese time to reflect and to return to their spirituality. However, the downturn also produced idle hands, hands that used to work the fields or developed creative works. He said Balinese pray all the time but still maintain corrupt thoughts. He tried his best to provide a positive influence.

While we spoke, I reflected back to an earlier encounter with a young rice farmer I met while walking the road to Tirtagangga, a picturesque village which lay in the quiet eastern shadow of Mount Agung. He expressed puzzlement concerning young Aussie travelers who seek pleasure only through loud, raucous, drunken activities when his environment offered peaceful pleasures such as star gazing, watching fireflies and listening to the crickets and frogs that gather in the neighboring rice fields. I said I enjoyed the simple pleasures too. His expressive contentment was reminiscent of a smile I’ve seen on the face of a New Mexican organic farmer I know.

In Tirtigangga, the rice paddy farmers are great practitioners of what I call the philosophy of “weedism”, or discovering one’s own humility and sense of nirvana through the efforts of tilling the soil. They quickly put me to work clearing the weeds in preparation for the next planting. Toiling in the Elysian Fields was good for the body, and soul.

Adipati continued, explaining the Hindu/ Buddhist philosophy. Balinese Hinduism does not have the strict caste system structure as in India. The caste system you belong to is determined solely by your bloodline, not by wealth. Your caste status carries little authority today however, except as it pertains to certain roles within the temple. One’s stature in the community is now measured by a variety of roles disassociated from their caste, including their role within the local farmer’s co-op and other trade related authority.

My earlier hotel host exemplified such a prominent man, a leader in both his Ubud community as well as head of his family’s household. As a reluctant hero, the townsfolk had recently elected him mayor, a role he lightly observed carried many responsibilities.

The Balinese also have a universal understanding of life’s dualities and balances of Nature…the yin and the yang, the light and the dark, birth and death…all life’s cycles that are constantly in motion, ever evolving.

Under Hindu/Buddhist teachings, one’s actions were held accountable to their karma, a belief that seemed to provide a solid moral grounding.

George came back to join our conversation. George was embroiled in a melodrama of his own creation and enlisted our advice. A feud had developed between himself and a Dominican Republic gentleman. During the last few nights, like two bantering roosters, they’d been using an innocent woman as a mere excuse to play out their darker inner conflicts in the bars and streets of Ubud. Both were men of idle hands, George finding fleeting fortune through “easy” deals, and the Dominican through inheritance. George admittedly knew better, had known of loving a good woman and brief honest work as a milkman delivering milk with poetic notes; yet, he repeatedly chose the titillating darker path to see where it led.

George, though older than us, became our son, who respected our opinions and sought our fatherly advice.

What do I say? I thought. What would Jesus do? What would Buddha do? Or, for that matter, what would Emerson, Vonnegut, Bill Murray or Monty Python say? We did not condone George’s actions. We tried to dissuade George, asking that he transcend beyond the titillation of this futile melodrama, for its outcome could only lead to pain. Despite our sought advice, George pursued the darker course.

The next morning, I heard that the Dominican in a drunken confrontation had stabbed George. I heard the wound was thankfully only superficial and George would be released from the hospital soon. The “buzz” in the community was amazingly indifferent, no ill will, just relief that the two foreigners’ bad karma influence was finally out of their lives. Vonnegut and Buddha had joined hands.

Gazing back at that balmy evening sky, I realized my hands still joined to the two twinkling polar constellations. Time to reflect. Hopefully George had learned a valuable lesson. Our paths can greatly depend on our choices. I thought about Bill Murray’s Razors Edge character stating “is it not easier to be a wise man on top of a mountain”. Obviously, the true test is down where you get your hands dirty, in the society of man.

Everyone experiences times in their lives when they must exercise fiscal restraint or adhere to a tighter than normal budget. While it may be a bit of a challenge, it isn’t impossible to go on a variety of vacations and still adhere to a financial plan.

Many people decide they want to go somewhere and then make reservations without determining what it will really cost, put it all on a credit card and spend all year paying for it plus interest. It often turns out that a great deal was no deal at all.

What follows is a guideline for the process of planning and calculating the costs of your vacation. As with many things we look forward to, the first step is dreaming, the second is calculating cost, and the final step is editing until you can afford your plan. Alternatively, you can postpone it and save more money until you have enough.

Transportation:

Are you going far away for your vacation? If so does that mean you will fly there and rent a car? Will the airfare be $1,000 and the car rental $500? Make some inquiries and find out for sure. Perhaps you have some travel points that will cover one of these expenditures. Don’t forget to include health and cancellation insurance, especially if you are traveling with children or seniors, as well as the cost of having your own home checked every 48 hours while you are away.

Perhaps your getaway is within a few hours drive of home. Estimate what it will cost you for fuel to drive each way as well as keep the car on the road for the period you will be away. To calculate this with any degree of accuracy you will need to have some idea of where you will be staying, how far it is between your accommodation and the places you want to go, and what it is you want to do while you are away.

Accommodation:

Camping, hostel, hotel, resort, bed and breakfast, cottage or chalet rental. Prices can vary from less than $20/night for backcountry camping to hundreds of dollars per night for anything but a hostel or camping. Know what you can afford.

Activities of Choice:

Do you want to lie on a beach and read books?

Are you going on a guided adventure trip? Know what is included, what isn’t and the cost.

Is this a self guided holiday? If so then plan what you want to do, make sure you can afford it, and budget those fees. Don’t forget theatre tickets, boat cruises and admission fees for things like museums, amusement parks and sporting events. What about green fees or boat rentals? Perhaps you will be renting sports equipment. This list could go on and on. If you are staying at a resort, activities like horseback riding, water sports, tennis, etc. are often extra. Know before you go.

Food:

If this is a guided trip then you will likely be advised what meals you are responsible for on your own and possibly given an estimate of what to budget for those meals. Make sure you know.

If you are going to lie on the beach and read you might just want to take a small picnic cooler with your favourite foods inside.

If this is a road trip you will need to calculate what you can afford to spend for meals. An alternative would be to pack your own food in a cooler. This would be much the same as eating at home.

If you will be at a resort or a B&B what will lunches, dinners and snacks cost?

Total:

Now add all this up. It’s probably more than you thought it would be. Most people do a rough estimate and forget to calculate things like taxes, tips, insurance, incidentals or shopping. Holidays just about always cost a bit more than you expect but you can plan for that expense. Will it be $100 or $1,000?

To conclude the process, ask yourself these questions:

Where and why do you want to go?

What do you want to do?

What do you want to bring home? Stuff, memories, bills, pictures? Plan for it.

Can you afford it right now or do you need to postpone the trip to save more money?

These few simple steps can make the difference between a great vacation and one that causes more stress than it relieved.