The High Price of Low-Cost Travel

Why It Doesn't Pay To Travel Like Scrooge

edited by Dave Shultz

With the cost of travel taking off faster than a private jet, travelers are exploring every avenue in search of the ultimate travel bargain. According to Mike Thiel, Founder and President of Hideaways International, the urge to save is hard to resist but a great vacation bargain doesn't always translate into a great vacation.

There can be a high price to low-cost travel. Years from now, when you think back on your vacation, you won't remember how much you spent, or saved you'll only remember if you had a good time...or not.

Top 5 Reasons to Avoid Pinching Travel Pennies:

Something's "Off": The best deals are typically available during the off-season . . . however; it's off-season for a reason: unreliable weather, too cold, too rainy and gray, or hurricane season in the tropics.
Wish You Were Here . . . & I Wasn't: If you choose your destination by dollars, you probably aren't visiting the destinations that really interest you. Life's too short for that.
Catch-22 Short-Stay Travel: Many "deals" are on short stays at distant destinations. Is it really worth traveling 12 hours-each way-for a 3-night stay?
The View from the Bottom: When you book a rock-bottom rate, it's doubtful you'll enjoy the nicest room in the hotel (or even a nice hotel). A "rock bottom" rate might get you in a basement room or a view of the dumpster.
I'm Not Really Sure I Was There At All: You might be too busy focusing on the prices in shops, on menus, and at area attractions to see anything else, or enjoy the experience. In that case, why go?

You don't have to splurge on an expensive vacation or store your suitcase in the back of the closet. There are ways to save without compromising the quality of your vacation. Here are the Top 5 Ways to Cut Costs and Expand Your Travel Horizons:

A Shoulder to Fly On: Pick a place you most want to experience and visit during shoulder season. During the days just after high season ends, the weather is typically fantastic, attractions are still open (and don't have lines!), and the rates have dropped.
Be Creative: If the euro's strength is keeping you from traveling to Europe, consider taking a European cruise, where you can pay in U.S. dollars. Another option is to visit places that feel like Europe but where the dollar goes further-Montreal or the Eastern Townships of Quebec feel French, and Oregon's Willamette Valley has an atmosphere similar to the Bordeaux region.
Stay at Home, Just Not at Your Home: A vacation home-whether it's a villa in Tuscany or a beach house on Nantucket-often costs less than a local hotel. You might not have a hotel's pampering extras, but you will have space for the entire family (and even for a nanny or your favorite babysitter!), the conveniences of a kitchen and laundry room, and the priceless chance to live like a local.
Ready? Set? Travel: The more flexible you are, the better your chance of taking advantage of a last-minute deal at a place you actually want to experience. Stay up-to-date on these offers with travel e-newsletters (like Thiel's Best Deal) and travel websites with lodgings and destinations that match your interests.
Enjoy Guaranteed Travel ROI: Some travelers pay reduced rates, get room upgrades, and enjoy VIP perks (like spa treatments) at resorts, hotels, and cruise lines that meet high standards.

Think of travel as an investment in family, future, and fun and really, can you put a price on that? Save when it's smart to do so, and splurge when you can."

For more information on Hideaways International, visit: www.Hideaways.com.