Teresa the Traveler
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    • Tips for Travelling on a Budget
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  • Central America
    • Nicaragua >
      • Corn Islands in Nicaragua
      • Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua
    • Costa Rica >
      • Volcanic Mud Bath in Costa Rica
      • Costa Rica Eco-Adventure
  • North America
    • Canada >
      • North Pacific Cannery
      • Terrace Lava Beds
      • Center of the Universe at Vidette Lake
      • Gold Panning at Barkerville
      • Salmon Glacier
      • Niagra Falls
      • CN Tower
      • Calgary Stampede
    • United States >
      • Florida Everglades
      • Florida Keys
      • Disney World
      • Orlando Sea World
      • Kennedy Space Center
      • Grand Canyon
      • Hoover Dam
      • Las Vegas >
        • Vegas Pool Party
      • Hawaiian Island of Oahu >
        • Polynesian Cultural Center
        • Hanauma Bay
        • Pearl Harbour
        • Shark Cage Diving
        • Submarine Ride
        • Dole Plantation
      • Hawaiian Island of Maui >
        • Haleakalā Crater
        • Piiholo Ranch Ziplining
        • Turtle Town
      • Johnson Space Center
      • Disneyland
    • Mexico >
      • Cabo San Lucus
  • South America
    • Argentina >
      • Repel down a Waterfall
      • Boat Ride to Iguazu Falls
      • Evita Museum
      • Learn to Tango
      • Salinas Grandes Salt Flats
    • Bolivia >
      • Eduardo Avaroa National Park
      • Salar de Uyuni
      • La Paz Witch Market
    • Colombia >
      • Plaza de Toros Santamaria
      • Zipaquira Salt Cathedral
      • Guinea Pig Gambling
      • Mount Monserrate
    • Peru >
      • Climb Machu Picchu
      • Fly Over the Nasca Lines
      • Sand Dune Boarding in Huacachina
      • Mountain Biking down Chachani Volcano
      • Visit the Catacombs in Lima
      • Moray
      • Inca Salt Pans
  • Europe
    • England >
      • Big Ben and the Parliament
      • Buckingham Palace
      • Hyde Park
      • St. Margaret’s Cathedral
      • London Eye
      • London Dungeon
      • Tower of London
      • Tower Bridge
      • London Museums
      • Trafalgar Square
      • Stonehenge
      • Bath
    • France >
      • Eiffel Tower
      • Louvre Museum
      • Notre Dame Cathedral
      • Arc De Triomphe
      • Moulin Rouge
      • Sacre-Coeur Cathedral
      • Palace of the Popes
      • Les Pont St-Benezet
      • Les Grottes de Thouzon
      • Roman Aqueducts
      • Fontaine De Vaucluse
      • Antique Theatre in Orange
      • Monaco
      • Cannes Film Festival
      • Fort Royal State Prison
    • Germany >
      • The Reichstag
      • Brandenburg Gate
      • Jewish Memorial
      • Checkpoint Charlie/Berlin Wall
      • Museum Island
    • Greece >
      • Acropolis
      • Santorini
    • Hungary >
      • Vajdahunyad Castle
      • Buda Castle
      • Hero’s Square
      • Fisherman Bastion
    • Italy >
      • Venice
      • Sienna
      • Florence
      • Pisa
      • Pompeii
      • Trevi Fountain
      • Roman Forum
      • Pantheon
      • Vatican City
      • Roman Colosium
    • Poland >
      • Wieliczka Salt Mine (The Old Salt Mine)
      • Cracow's Main Market Square
      • Kazimierz: Cracow's Jewish Quarter
      • Wawel Hill
      • Schindler's Cracow Factory
      • Auschwitz and Birkenau
    • Romania >
      • Bran's Castle
      • Rasnov Fortress
      • Poenari - The Real Dracula's Castle
      • House of the People
      • Peleş Castle
    • Spain >
      • Party all Night in Ibiza
      • Sagrada Familia
      • Island of Formentera
      • Giants Parade
      • Watch the Castellers
  • Middle East
    • Egypt >
      • Giza Pyramids
      • Khan el-Khalili
      • Saqqara
      • Felucca Boat
      • Philae Temple
      • Magic Spring
      • Western Desert
      • Unfinished Obelisk
      • Abu Simbel
      • Cairo
      • Alexandria
      • Valley of the Kings
      • Hapshepsut Temple
      • Karnak Temple
    • Israel >
      • Oskar Schindler's Grave
      • Jaffa
      • 14 Stations of the Cross
      • The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
      • Western Wall
      • Manger Square
      • Dead Sea Scrolls
    • Jordan >
      • Dead Sea
      • Monestary in Petra
      • Wadi Rum
      • Bethany Beyond the Jordan
      • Ma'in Hot Spa
      • Mount Nebo
    • Lebanon >
      • Star Square
      • Pigeon Rock
    • Syria >
      • Citadel of Aleppo
      • Ummaayad Mosque of Aleppo
      • Grand Mosque of Damascus
      • Damascus Old City
      • Latakia
    • Turkey >
      • Shop at the Grand Baazar
      • Spice Market
      • Harem at Topkapi Palace
      • Blue Mosque
      • Ephesus
      • House of the Virgin Mary
      • Pamukkale
      • Love Valley
      • Derinkuyu Underground City
      • Selime Monastery
      • Ihlara Valley
      • Goreme Open Air Museum
      • Cappadocia Balloon Ride
      • Take a Turkish Bath
    • UAE >
      • Burj Dubai
      • Wild Wadi Water Park
      • Indoor Ski Hill
      • Al Arab Seven Star Hotel
      • Palm Islands
  • Caribbean
    • Dominican Republic >
      • Hoya Azul
      • Dune Buggy Tour
  • AFRICA
    • Tanzania >
      • Go on an African Safari
      • Explore Zanzibar
    • Kenya >
      • Visit an Elephant Orphanage
      • Kiss a Giraffe
      • Visit Nairobi National Park
    • Zimbabwe >
      • Walk with Lions
      • Explore Victoria Falls
  • Contact

Tips For Travelling on a Budget

1. Taxicabs - The price of cabs in some countries can be all over the map.  Be sure to find out what the price should be so that when you negotiate a cab you don't get ripped off.  One method I use to find out what a cab is worth is to ask one of the locals what a ride should cost.  They usually know and are happy to share the info with you.  Be sure to negotiate the price of the ride before you step into the cab and let the driver know that they are not allowed to change the price once you reach your destination, drivers in Israel and Romania (and other countries as well) like to add money to the fair once they have you in the cab so be warned and be prepared.  I will often pull out the correct change in front of them and let them know that is all they will be receiving.

2. Use Public Transportation - Buses, Trains, etc that the locals use are always the cheapest way to travel.

3. Stay in Budget Hotels - I have a few different methods of finding budget hotels.  Sometimes I have a Lonely Planet Guide that suggests different budget hotels, sometimes I just go for a walk around the town's train station, bus station or city square and there are usually lots to choose from and sometimes I use websites like www.expedia.com , www.hotels.com or www.hotwire.com  

4. Avoid Pricey Tours - I only take tours to remote sites that are too difficult to get to myself.  Usually I take public transportation or cabs and visit the sites myself.  There are usually tour guides available for cheap at the site or guidebooks available.  The entrance fees to historical sites are usually not that much.

5. Eat in Local Cafe's - I usually eat at small cafes where the locals eat because the prices are way cheaper than the tourist restaurants and the food is very good.  Stay away from the tap water and from salad unless you get a shot ahead of time to prevent traveller's diarrhea.

6. Buy a Guide Book - There are lot's of guidebooks available that teach you the tricks of travelling on a budget in your chosen country.  Lonely Planet is my favorite series of guidebook.

7. Don't Plan Ahead - With many hotels and tours, the best prices to be had are last minute deals.  In many third world countries, you can get the best deals on hotel rooms by just showing up and negotiating a great price and the same goes for tours.  When you book ahead there is often a middle man involved who takes a cut but when you book direct, that is not the case and they can give you a better price.

8. Learn the Exchange Rate and Pack a Calculator - Before you enter a new country it is always wise to first learn what the exchange rate is.  There is no shortage of people looking to rip off tourists at the point of entry into the country.  Using a new currenty can be a bit confusing and if it's not your own currency it can seem like Monopoly money.  People will try to charge higher than normal exchange rates and will try to charge you more for things like cab rides.  Learn the exchange rate and bring along a calculator and protect your travel money.

For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
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