A room to yourself as you travel. It's a basic need, but it comes in many shades of style and at a variety of prices. Put that room aboard a cruise ship, and there are even more variables to consider. Shopping for cruises and hotels on a budget need not be complicated. Read the step-by-step budget tips linked below and prepare yourself for an affordable cabin or hotel room on your next trip.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.comNot every cruise is a bargain, but shopping for cruises often proves to be a rewarding experience for budget travelers. Here is a step by step approach for finding an affordable cruise and then avoiding some expensive pitfalls common to these trips.
Hamburg Süd GroupIf you have more free time than the average traveler and your schedule is flexible, you should look at freighter cruises. On many cargo vessels, some cabins are added for paying passengers. It supplements the cost of the trip for the line, which is still primarily in the business of delivering goods rather than pampering passengers. There are fewer stabilizers and certainly very little in the way of entertainment. But the trade-off is peace, quiet, some rarely visited ports-of-call and daily rates that are sometimes significantly cheaper than what is offered on traditional cruise lines.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.comMost budget travelers focus on finding cheap cruises. That isn't a bad strategy, but many board ship and proceed to waste a lot of money because they've failed to account for expenses that are incurred after leaving port. It's important to pay attention to the money you spend aboard ship, and be ready for the budget challenges a cruise can pose.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.comJust when you've found that great hotel rate, a bunch of fees crop up to turn your bargain room into a budget buster. Sometimes these fees are unavoidable, but many can be reduced or eliminated with a little planning. Take a step-by-step journey through hotel room no-nos that can add up to a big bill.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.comOne of the best ways to secure a bargain hotel room is to bid for a low rate on Priceline.com. But if you don't have experience with such online auctions, it's easy to overbid and pay too much. Since you're taking some risk in bidding, you should get the best financial reward possible. It comes in added value, but only if you have a strategy. Follow the tips in this step-by-step before clicking on a non-refundable buy.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.comWould you like to check into a nicer room than you're paying for? If so, you'll need some good fortune, good manners and a fair amount of persistence in asking for a free hotel upgrade. Following these steps is far from a sure pathway to this upgrade, but such things do happen every day at hotels all over the world. Increase your chances at greater value at the front desk. Look into a free hotel upgrade.
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.comTake a look at five examples of budget hotels in Europe that offer comfort, convenience and low price. They aren't perfect examples, and you could do even better in your searches. But they will provide some insight into how to spot and book a simple, economical discount hotel in Europe.
