TRAVEL FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS

Unless you are rich and famous, travelling abroad or locally can be a very expensive venture. Planning a holiday is difficult, especially if, for example, you are a student on a budget or someone who plans to travel with a large family. First thing you should always do: plan early. Read on for more tips on how to save money while on holiday. "Decide on the purpose of your trip" Book early Decide early now on how, where and when you want to travel. Scout around for packages that meet your criteria and book one. By booking your holiday early, you not only allow airlines to identify forward booking, you also allow them to initiate tactical offers like early-bird specials. Waiting could cost you money. Examine the package Check the terms and conditions. For example, certain deals are only valid for up to a certain date (6 months usually). When prices are low, something has to give. The cheaper the fare, the more stringent the conditions. Also, look at what is included and compare them with other offers. A cheap deal may mean staying in a three star hotel in a seedy part of town. Although that may be okay with some people, it might not be suitable for a family with young children. It's an unhealthy trend when a holiday package focuses on price. If the content of a holiday package is bad, then it is not much of a holiday. Never discount a package just because it is expensive. Do your research and consult your travel agent Decide on the purpose of your trip. Are you looking for a leisurely holiday at the beach or a cultural/ historical one in an old city? What is your budget? Do you want a FIT (Free and Independent Traveler) holiday or are you okay with traveling in a big group? Will you be traveling with senior citizens or young children? If it is a family outing, check whether the hotel has facilities that cater to children. Discuss these issues with your travel agent so that it is easier to fulfill your needs and meet your expectations. Take note of off-peak periods Demand exceeds supply during the peak periods, and naturally, airfares and room rates go sky high. If you want to travel cheap, take advantage of the lull between peak periods, or the "shoulder periods". For example, if you visit Australia in winter, you will not have to fight for flights and rooms. If you are going local, bear in mind that Malaysia is popular with overseas holidaymakers during the months of June to September. School holidays are also a big no-no if you want to travel cheap. Look for options While South Korea has been positioned as a skiing destination in winter, it is not the only such destination. To avoid the crowd and exorbitant prices, you could go elsewhere such as the mountain areas in China or India. Places that are really popular are usually chock full of tourists and barely enough room to enjoy yourself. Make use of the Internet The Internet is a treasure throve of information. If you want to check the quality of a hotel noted in your tour package, you could do so if the hotel has a website online. Some resorts even have logs made by visitors; so read what they have to say. FIT travelers also plan their holidays, booking plans, rooms and flights through the Internet. Going to travel websites may also be useful because many of them offer traveling tips or warnings from people who have traveled to a certain destination. If you have the time, surf around and find out the best price and deals and make comparisons.