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Dollar-Stretching Tips for Travelers

Guest post by Jesse at jesse@soulful-travel.com

Dollar-Stretching Tips for Travelers

Photo via Pixabay by ThePixelman

Traveling has many benefits, but for those who don’t have much time or money, it can be difficult to get away. Fortunately, there are several ways you can travel to just about anywhere your heart desires without breaking the bank, and if you do a bit of research ahead of time, you’ll save yourself several hours of driving or walking by looking for the best destinations for your needs.

That research is important; while the idea of jetting off to a new city is romantic and fun, it’s not ideal for those looking for a way to save time and money. Do some homework to find not only the best deal on transportation, but the best deal on a place to stay and how to find one close to everything you need. For instance, if you grab a hotel room by the airport simply because it has the cheapest rate, you might find yourself having to spend extra money on a cab or Uber to get to restaurants and events, or you might have to walk long distances to get there, which will take up valuable time.

Travels and Escapes shares some great tips on how to avoid wasting hours and dollars on your next trip.

Plan ahead

Planning your trip a couple of months in advance will often ensure you get the best deal on accommodations and plane tickets. You can also plan your departure and arrival on days that aren’t typically peak travel times; Tuesdays are usually the best days to get a good price for air travel, according to BudgetTravel.

Do some homework

Make sure you know everything worth knowing about your transportation and accommodations before you book anything. Resorts sometimes have added, “hidden” fees that you won’t see until the end of your stay, which can be a nasty surprise to say the least. Understanding exactly what you’ll be responsible for will help you stay on budget and will give you peace of mind.

Think locally

Travel doesn’t have to be exclusively to faraway places; you can likely find all sorts of fun things to do in cities near you. Look online for the best cities to visit that are within an hour or two of your hometown and take a day or weekend trip. This is a great option for people who have full schedules and can’t afford to take a longer trip.

You don’t even have to leave town! Simply rent a vacation home in San Diego and stay near the city’s attractions that interest you. For example, if you want to enjoy San Diego’s thriving restaurant and music scene, you can find a home in the Gaslamp Quarter. If you’d prefer to spend time near the water, look for a home near one of San Diego’s beautiful beaches. Most vacation homes come with fully equipped kitchens, so you’ll be able to save substantially by cooking your own meals instead of eating out all the time.

Take public transit

Just about anywhere you visit will have some form of public transportation, so take advantage of it! It’s usually either free or very inexpensive, and if you’ll be doing a lot of sightseeing it’s the way to go if you want to save money (and shoe leather).

Remember that traveling on a budget means you’ll need to be careful about keeping your funds safe. Never flash your cash in public, and, if possible, wear a travel pack that straps to your body to keep your money and credit cards close. With a little planning, you’ll be able to take the trip you’ve always wanted to take and keep your cash where you want it: in your pocket.

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Helpful Passport Information

Helpful Passport Info

In 1996, the U.S. Department of State issued 5.5 million passports. Fast forward to 2019 and that number has since been trending upward, reaching just under 21 million in 2019.  

Need to send in your old passport to get a new one? The Department of State recommends that applicants use a trackable shipping method, such as Priority Mail Express, to keep tabs on their application and know when it arrives safely at its destination.

Think you have plenty of time to renew? Don’t take your passport’s expiration date at face value. Some countries have a six-month or three-month passport validity rule that requires your passport to be valid for a certain amount of time after your date of entry.

If your passport was issued after August 2007, you’ve got what is called an e-passport. This has a small integrated chip in the back cover that stores your passport information and a biometric identifier based on your photograph. To protect passport holders from unknowingly falling victim to high-tech identity theft, there are metallic elements in the cover of the passport, making it impossible for the passport to be digitally “read” until it’s physically open.

Has your appearance changed significantly? You probably need to apply for a new passport. This is in case you’ve lost or gained a lot of weight, so much so that you look different than you do in your passport photo. It also applies if you have undergone significant facial surgery, trauma, or if you’ve added or removed large facial tattoos or piercings.

Your photo must also reflect your current appearance. Face the camera and keep your expression neutral. Don’t wear a uniform with any writing on it.

What if you travel a lot and you run out of pages? The standard issue passport is 28 pages long. You can request one that is 52 pages at no extra cost. If you fill that up, you will need a new one.

You will also need a new one if yours is damaged more than just wear and tear. If it went swimming and is damaged by water, or if your kids drew all over it with their favorite crayons, or if there are tears on the book cover or the page with your personal info…you will definitely need a new one.

Did you know most countries want you to have at least one blank page for stamps? Some countries require to have up to three blank pages in your passport for visa and immigration stamps. Be sure to check before you travel.

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Safety and Travel

Recently I read a post by Johnny Jet about safety and travel.

These are some excerpts from his interview with Kevin Coffey, a travel security expert. Kevin spent several decades as a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department and was responsible for the creation of the LAPD’s LAX Airport Crimes Investigation detail.

In this interview, he taught me numerous tips but none greater than what he calls his “What If?” Kevin’s tip is for everyone to do two things:

If you have a US passport, go to page 3 and fill out the In Case of Emergency page. In addition, he says to put either a sticky note or paper clip a piece of paper onto the inside cover with more In Case of Emergency information, mainly your cell phone number and those of your loved ones who are and are not traveling with you.

He also said it’s important to do this in the event that you’re traveling solo and you get in an accident or have a medical emergency. The first thing trained emergency workers do is go through your wallet to find contact information and if you’re traveling internationally, this will help enormously.

The Most Important Thing For Travelers To Do According To A Safety Expert