FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: cell phone

  • Time and Money Saving Tips: What to Do Before You Leave on Vacation

    Your flights and hotel have been booked for months, your bags are packed and you’re ready to embark on your adventure. But have you thought about what will be happening on the home front while you’re off galavanting around the world? I know, nobody likes to think about coming home from a wonderful trip, but the reality is that you will eventually have to. Wouldn’t it be nice to make that homecoming as smooth and hassle-free as possible? Here are some tips for things to do before you leave that will help you save time and money when you get back.

    Pay your bills in advance. I know, nobody likes to think about paying bills before going on vacation – especially if you’re planning on spending some money while you’re there. But, it is best to pay your bills in advance or set up an automatic withdrawal so that you don’t get penalized by late fees. If you decide to do automatic withdrawal, keep in mind the dates that your bills will be paid so that you don’t overspend and overdraw your account while you are gone.

    Contact your bank and credit card company. There is nothing worse than trying to pay for something in a far off land and having your credit card declined because your company thinks it was stolen. Be proactive and contact your bank (if you plan on using a debit card) or credit card company to let them know when and where you’ll be traveling. You also might want to think about removing the daily spending limits you have on your cards. It is nice to know you that you can have access to your funds if you really need them. On a related note, check with your credit card company to see how much international transaction fees are. That way you can plan accordingly and use cash to avoid having to pay these fees. See: How to Pay For a Vacation post.

    Insure yourself. Make sure that you have travel insurance (in case you need to change your travel plans) that will reimburse you for the partial or full cost of your plane ticket. Also, check to see if your medical insurance will cover you abroad and/or how to submit claims when you return.

    Check with your cell phone company. It is a good idea to check with your cell phone company to see what the charges will be for making and receiving phone calls while abroad (including roaming fees). There are few things worse than coming home to a massive phone bill.

    Stop your mail. To avoid a cramped mailbox (or potentially lost important pieces of mail), make sure to stop your mail before you leave for vacation. You can do this online.

    Ask someone to check on your house. It is a good idea to have some check on your house at least a few times while you’re gone. They could water your plants and just do a general walk-through to make sure that there aren’t any problems (like a flooded basement, an electrical fire, etc.). It’s much better to catch potential issues early on than discovering them when you get home.

    Give a few friends your contact information. Make sure a few people  (including the person who is taking care of your house) know how to get in touch with you while you are gone in case there is an emergency and they need to get ahold of you.

    Enjoy your trip. You’ve done everything you can to ensure a great trip and a smooth re-entry. Now it’s time

  • Communicate on the Cheap: How to Save on Phone and Internet Communication While Traveling

    It’s true. Most of us have a hard time getting through the day without checking our voicemails, updating our Facebook statuses, tweeting about our daily activities, or checking email.

    Media and communication have become an integral part of our daily lives, and that doesn’t change when you are miles away. In order to stay on budget, frugal travelers don’t have to forgo these “necessities,” they just have to be savvier about how they approach them. Here are some tips for continuing to indulge in your daily communication rituals while traveling without breaking the bank. Cell Phones (and alternatives) No doubt you’ve heard horror stories about traveler’s who’ve been hit with roaming fees while making calls abroad and come home to find a massive phone bill waiting for them (Internet fees can be even heftier). Be sure to read the fine print on your cell phone contract (or contact your carrier) before embarking on a trip. If you’re planning on traveling or working abroad, I suggest looking into a pay-as-you-go cell phone. Buy the cheapest phone you can (you’ll only be using it for a while) and simply load it with more minutes as you need them. This will provide you with the flexibility to make calls in the country you’re visiting (to confirm reservations, make plans with friends, etc.). Of course, calling abroad (to friends and family back home) will cause you to fly through those minutes, but it’s better to know how much you’re spending as you go rather than waiting for the killer bill when you get back home. If you can stand the “inconvenience” of using a stationary phone, I highly suggest using phone cards (these can be purchased at convenience stores and magazine stands). Typically, this will be your cheapest option. To avoid hidden fees sometimes charged by international hotels, either ask for clarification up-front from a hotel employee (“Will I be charged extra if I make a call from my room using this calling card?”) or, to be on the safe side, always use a phone booth. I almost always opt for calling cards when I’m traveling abroad. I know I’ll save money this way (and it’s a nostalgic trip back to my pre-cell phone days as a student gallivanting around Europe). If you are able to secure an Internet connection, Skype is also a great option for communicating with friends and family in other countries for free. Simply create an account at www.skype.com and start talking for free. internet cafes photo Internet Free wi-fi is so common in most parts of the world (especially touristy parts) that one can conceivably never have to pay for Internet while traveling. The most convenient thing is if your hotel has free wi-fi (either in each room or in the lobby). If it doesn’t, it’s time think creatively. Perhaps there is a coffee shop in the area with free wi-fi for customers (some hotel concierges will have a list of free wi-fi spots). Is there a public library nearby? Maybe you could hop on their wi-fi. I always bring my iPad with me while traveling. It’s light and portable (I also have it loaded with useful travel iPhone apps to help me save money and time) and I’m always ready to hop on free wi-fi if the opportunity presents itself. I recently read an article about a frugal traveler who was able to get free Internet access on his Kindle -- worth a try! If worse comes to worst, Internet cafés are ubiquitous in most cities. You can pay to hop on (or sometimes access is free with a purchase) for enough time to do what you need to get done. Another option is to purchase a wi-fi plan through a site like http://www.wi-free.com/.