| There are common sense travel tips, like "Check at | | | | cheapest one now - the others will be cheap another |
| least three web sites to get the best deal on plane | | | | time, and a savings of $500 can buy a few extra |
| tickets." Then there are the tips that are more along | | | | days, or an extra mini-vacation some other time. |
| the line of "secrets." These are the little-known tricks | | | | Anywhere you go, there are things you can do to |
| learned by experience. Here are some of the best of | | | | keep it cheaper. Eat where locals eat, for example, |
| those. | | | | instead of at tourist restaurants. See the free and |
| Cheap Travel Tips | | | | cheap attractions first. You might have so much fun |
| Find out where local visitors from within the country | | | | that you'll never get around to doing the expensive |
| stay. The cheapest "tourist hotel" I could find when in a | | | | things. Higher prices mean better quality with travel |
| resort town in Mexico was $135. I asked a local | | | | bags, but not necessarily with travel experiences. |
| businessman where to find a cheap room, and got one | | | | Other Travel Tips |
| for $10. There wasn't a swimming pool, but the room | | | | E-mail important documents to yourself. These should |
| was spotless. I was there to travel, not to lounge, so | | | | include a copy of your passport, other IDs, phone |
| this suited me fine. | | | | numbers of the U.S. Consulate offices where you'll be, |
| Negotiating room charges is common in many | | | | and your itinerary or e-tickets for any flights. In this |
| countries. In Banos, Ecuador, we negotiated our room | | | | way, even if you are robbed and lose everything, you'll |
| rate down from $12 to $6 per night, by paying for | | | | have access to all the important documents from any |
| several nights in advance. The trick here is to be sure | | | | internet cafe in the world. |
| that there are other options, then make your final offer | | | | On a streetcar, I once had a pocket unzipped and the |
| and walk away. Most owners will call you back and | | | | wallet removed without feeling a thing. Many |
| lower the price. | | | | pickpockets are experts. Fortunately, it was a "decoy" |
| Consider hostels, if you don't mind sharing a room. | | | | wallet, with nothing but a few pieces of paper, and a |
| They're much more common overseas. This saves | | | | fake credit card. Other ways to protect money, cards |
| you a lot if you are single, because you pay for the | | | | and documents include putting a bill or two under the |
| bed. I once spent four days in a hostel for $4 per day, | | | | inner sole of running shoes, safety-pinning a hidden |
| breakfast included. I shared a room with several | | | | pocket inside your pants, and hiding cash in several |
| others, and a TV room with travelers from 16 | | | | different places. |
| countries. | | | | I see young travelers in other countries walking |
| Hotels in the U.S. are less likely to negotiate, but we | | | | anywhere they feel like it at night, and then being |
| have done it. Most small chain motels are not | | | | shocked that they are robbed. Aren't there places in |
| company-owned, but franchises, so it is usually the | | | | New York or Chicago where you wouldn't walk at |
| owner behind the counter. Paying for several nights in | | | | night? Ask the locals where it is safe and where it isn't, |
| advance, or just starting to walk away, has resulted in | | | | and trust your intuition when it warns you. Leave |
| discounts for us many times. | | | | expensive clothing and jewelry at the hotel when you |
| Travel is often only as cheap as your plane tickets. | | | | are just out for a walk. Safety tricks are the most |
| For international travel, search the fares to several | | | | important travel tips. |
| countries that you would like to visit. Go to the | | | | |