MONEY & ENTERTAINMENT

Transportation
There are several ways to scrimp a bit on transportation. If you are into serious long term planning, taking advantage of travel mile rewards programs is a smart idea. The other way to get a break on airfare is to be flexible about when you are leaving. Flexibility in departure date and times enables you to take advantage of three easy ways to save cash:

* Take last-minute flights: If you figure out what week you would like to travel, keep an eye on last-minute ticket sell-offs. You can do this a number of ways, but the two best are to watch web sites that specialize in last-minute sell-offs or to contact a travel agent to look for last-minute sell-offs that are leaving within the next few days. Often, travel sites will let you sign up to get notices about last-minute deals, and you can go when you can.
* Travel in the off-season, and in the middle of the week. High season for various destinations may vary slightly, but the standard low season to shoot for is February-May and September through December 10th (excluding the week before American Thanksgiving). Accommodations are also cheaper during these periods. Also, book your flight on a weekday (between Tuesday and Thursday) and stay at least 7 days.
* Offer to be bumped and take a later flight. To compensate you, the airline will give you cash or a flight voucher.

Aside from flights, when you travel to another city, the most frugal decision you can make is to take advantage of public transportation. Not only will it give you a better idea of how the city is laid out, it will save you a ton of cash on cab rides and the often hidden expenses of rental vehicles.

Where to stay
Hotels are great, but they are so expensive that the cost can double your holiday budget! There are several lower-cost solutions to travel accommodations. Certainly, they don’t all come with a hot tub like a hotel might, but saving money on accommodations can mean the difference between being able to afford a weekend holiday or a two-week holiday.

One solution to soaring accommodation prices that is gaining popularity is doing a house exchange. There are companies that, for a small fee, will list your home as available for exchange on a directory. You will receive periodic updates to the directory until you find a home in a place you wish to visit. The exchange is not arranged through the company. Rather, you get in contact with a potential exchange yourself and decide if you want to go ahead.

It is difficult to arrange a vacation home exchange on your own, but there are a couple of ways in which it might be an advantage. When you list on a home exchange program directory, you will not have any background on who is coming to stay in your home. The advantage is that it gives you a large pool of people (and destinations) to choose from. One way to do it yourself is to try to arrange an exchange through a social group or society you are involved with. For example, if you are active in a service group like Rotary or Masons, you can put out a call to a group in a city you are interested in visiting to see if any of their members might be interested in a swap. That way, you can get a few references if you are nervous about a total stranger coming into your home.

My parents arranged just such an exchange, and as a bonus, each couple gave the other the use of their vehicles to get around. As a result, my parents not only got free accommodations in New Brunswick, they were able to drive all over the Maritimes during their two-week stay. The only complaint in the end was that the people who stayed in their home had broken a couple of wine glasses (which they replaced with a new set).

If this seems too trusting to you, there are still a couple of cheaper options open. Often, especially during the summer, universities offer very cheap lodging in their residence buildings, with accommodations ranging from single rooms with shared bathrooms to double rooms with kitchenettes. This is often a slightly better option (although not cheaper) than staying at a hostel, which can be really cheap, but can also be a bit of a gamble in terms of the quality of the accommodations (e.g. some have curfews, some have all-night parties, some are located in unsafe areas).

Live like a local
Other than learning to take local transit, one of the best ways to vacation cheaply is to live like a local when it comes to eating. Avoid touristy areas when you are looking for a good, cheap meal. Instead, ask your cab driver, hotel chambermaid, or bartender where you can find some good, cheap local fare. Not only will you avoid tourist prices, you can go to where the food is good and authentic.

While a restaurant is nice as a treat, an even better idea is to hit a local market and pick up some groceries, especially if you have a kitchenette in your accommodations. If you go out for the day, you can make your own sandwiches to take along for a picnic lunch, and have some fresh fruit in your bag for a smart snack (both for your wallet and your holiday waistline).

There is no need to completely deprive yourself, however. You are on vacation, after all. If you want to splurge on a really good restaurant meal, do it at lunch instead of dinner. You can often get the same fare as at dinner, just a smaller portion at a fraction of the price! Another good idea is to hit some smaller, family-owned ethnic food restaurants. They are often cheaper, with healthy portions.

Travelling cheaper does not necessarily mean that you have to compromise quality. Certainly, a frugal holiday is not going to have the same conveniences of a luxury holiday, don’t kid yourself. It doesn’t mean that you have to starve yourself on (or after) your holiday either. It just requires a little extra planning and an adventurous spirit—one that will often allow you to experience a community more authentically than if you stuck to your full-priced hotels and quick cab rides. Instead of going to and from in a new city, you can actually travel through it and truly experience it.