What is affordable travel? Well, I guess it’s all to do with individual finances and that is as varied as the places we visit. However, the purpose of this short article is to give a few pointers on how to save on your travels whatever your personal budget is.
Firstly, I have to point out that sometimes the travel agents themselves really do have some fantastic deals, especially last minute trips that they want to fill because of cancellations or unsold slots etc. But the problem with these types of bookings is that many folks are restricted with times and durations due to school and work commitments and are therefore not usually able to snap up a these late bargains.
If you have the time to do a little research yourself, you will also see that many package tour holidays are extremely overpriced, as there are the agents, the middle men, and the destination vendors all taking a cut from your holiday cash. With so many of us having access to the internet these days, it really is easy to arrange your own affordable travel. In fact, such are the savings sometimes, you may find that you are able to visit places you only dreamt about or perhaps add a few extra days onto your trip with the money saved.
For example, a package deal may only be able to offer you a modern 4 or 5 star hotel whereas you could find a clean smart, friendly well run place just meters away at a fraction of the cost. This way, you are still where you want to be, have clean rooms, nice food, and all the rest of it, but without the man in the corner playing a grand piano, or a saluting doorman at the front entrance. Alternatively, should you prefer the luxury of a fine hotel, check out its rates online and you may find you can still book in at a reduced cost compared to that of an agent.
Another tip for affordable travel is to reduce the traveling itself. Why is it that we feel we need to go so far in order to have a great vacation? Just a few kilometers away from where we live could offer undiscovered travel treasure troves that we had no idea about. Take a look at you immediate region and you could dig out places you never knew existed right on your doorstep. We don’t have to fly or drive hundreds of miles just to get away from it all. There are places in your own back yards that are worlds apart from what you’re used to. Simply go to an online search site and type in something like ‘vacations in + state, town, or city’. Honestly, you’ll be amazed before you’re half way through.
Affordable travel deals can be had using a multitude of different avenues but there are a few golden rules to arranging your own. 1. Know your budget. 2. Know where you want to go and what type of holiday i.e. outdoor, beach, countryside, city etc. 3. Know your preferred accommodation type i.e. camping, caravan, guest house, cabin, hotel etc. 4. Know your method of travel i.e. car, train, ship, flight. 5. Know your activity i.e. adventure travel, beach holidays, sightseeing trips etc. Make a simple check list, sit at the old PC, and start to price up and tot up the individual components. You may want to grab a holiday brochure too, so that you can make the comparisons. Good luck
Bob Wilson is a proficient writer and webmaster for Journey Extra dot com where he has articles on Finding Cheap Air Travel and the Australia vacation. He also has many other travel related pieces on the site.
Tags: adventure trav, affordable travel, beach holidays, holiday brochure, package deal, sightseeing tripsadventure trav, affordable travel, beach holidays, holiday brochure, package deal, sightseeing tripsShare This
The decades-long ban on photographing and filming in public places was lifted recently in Saudi Arabia.
Specifically the new ruling allows photographing and filming for all citizens and residents in public places. No such ban has ever been in place for photographing or filming in private settings.
Although the stated intent of the new ruling references the desert Kingdom’s on-going push to increase secular tourism, the wording does not directly include non-residents or tourists, and the implementation of the ruling is still to be tested.
Even with these newest freedoms on photographing and filming in the Kingdom, however, taking pictures continues to be a tricky proposition in Saudi Arabia. Many places remain off-limits to those with cameras or filming gear, including military installations, security personnel, government buildings and petroleum facilities - even when those places are in the deep background of shots.
And photographing people - especially local women - is still not allowed without direct permission, even in public settings. The traditional culture and beliefs of many Saudi Arabians include a deep commitment to privacy and modesty. In addition, some religious scholars contend depicting human images is forbidden in Islam which adds further weight to the prohibition.
Saudi Arabia offers photographers and film-makers an amazing variety of subjects - from towering sand dunes deep in the Rub Al-Khali to ancient archeological sites and the endless blue of the Arabian Gulf. And thanks to new ruling, the number of possible subjects just continues to grow.
Lori Olson White is an American expat writer and author living and working in Saudi Arabia. Her blog sandgetsinmyeyes.blogspot.com/ offers insights into life in the Middle East while her ezine arabiangulftraveler.blogspot.com/ gives travel tips and advice to tourists traveling to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Tags: middle east, photography, photos, pictures, Saudi Arabia, saudi tourism, tourism, travelmiddle east, photography, photos, pictures, Saudi Arabia, saudi tourism, tourism, travelShare This
Prague is situated in central Europe which makes it a convenient location from all major European cities. Its excellent rail connection system with the rest of Europe makes it an ideal location for Europeans in search of a city break.
Capital of the Czech Republic, with a land mass which covers 200 sq miles, Prague is a rapidly expanding city, with a great range of historical architecture and historical monuments displaying the history of the Czech people. Prague has a population of just over one million - and recently became a member of the EU.
It’s main airport, Ruzyne Airport, is Pragues’ only international airport and is situated 10 miles northwest of the city. Regular buses leave the arrivals building and take thirty minutes to the city hcentre.
The best and quickest way of travelling around Prague is by metro. The metro is also the most comfortable transport system and is very straightforward with clear easy-to understand signs. Other methods of travelling around the city include a good tram system and a bus service to the outer regions of Prague.
Most sites worth viewing are situated in the centre of the city, whic is the historic area of Prague. Prague has over twenty large museums and hundreds of fine art galleries for tourists to view. Its museums give a fascinating insight into the history of the Czech people.
Also situated in the centre of Prague are the cities most lush gardens and palaces. Prague castle overlooks the city and still remains in good shape after centuries of wars and invasions. The river Vltava runs through the centre of Prague with boating trips providing an ideal way of exploring many of Prague’s historic parts. These trips only run through the summer months.
The winter months in Prague can become extremely cold, while the summer remains warm and mild. Rainfall in Prague is plentiful during the months of October and November. Snow falls can get quite heavy, but never too extreme. If you are lucky enough to be in Prague after a snow fall, the early morning light shining on the snow turns the city into a magical place.
Prague has become one of Europe’s most visited cities. Most of the good hotels are found near the city centre and range from large international hotel chains to smaller more exclusive old-fashioned Czech hotels. Hostels are rare in Prague, but some travel agencies offer cheap rooms in private dwellings.
Prague has a large variety of restaurants which are located mainly near the city centre. The cuisine in Prague is similar to that of central Europe, dishes contain large portions of meat, mainly beef or pork, and are served with potatoes or rice. On special occasions game is normally served as a main course. Czech beers are famous around the world, and accompany a meal very well.
A cheap city to visit, and well known for its artistic heritage, Prague will offer you a memorable and rewarding trip.
TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer. For more tips you can visit his photography site. To view his images visit his on-line gallery of pictures of Ireland or see his travel site.
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