FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: travel trends

  • Etiquette for Couchsurfers – Tips for Free Travel Trend

    Couchsurfing is a great way to see the world without spending a lot of money. But as with many new traveling trends, the etiquette and expectations can be confusing. In this article we offer our advice for being the kind of couchsurfer that will be welcomed into any home.

    In case you weren’t up to speed, couchsurfing sees generous souls opening their couches, beds, floors, and homes up to tourists. With 2.2 million people in 237 countries registered as members of the couchsurfing e-hub couchsurfing.org, it seems the world has embraced this traveling trend. Through this site members connect and e-mail back and forth before bunking down in the real world.

    Couchsurfing etiquette begins before you even set off for your vacation. It’s important to complete your online profile on couchsurfing.org or a similar website with honest responses. Detail your likes and dislikes, and always include a recent photograph. Make sure to keep this profile up to date to ensure your prospective hosts know what they’re going to get, and to ensure you find people you’re compatible with.

    It’s also poor form to send impersonal e-mails to prospective hosts en masse. Instead choose the hosts you want to stay with carefully and send them a customized note. This message should outline your shared interests and the dates you hope to travel.

    A couch at someone’s home isn’t simply a substitute for a hotel bed, so make sure you don’t just sleep and run. People who accept couchsurfers want to share their culture with you, and to learn about yours. They’re sharing their space with you for free, after all, so they deserve to get something back. Make sure you spend time with these people to make it worth their while. Arriving with a gift, particularly one that represents your culture, is also a nice touch. Coffee table books, handicrafts, or local wine or beer, where culturally appropriate, are some good ideas. Don’t spend a lot of money though; a gift should be a small token of your appreciation.

    During your stay make sure to observe the house rules. Take your shoes off at the front door, don’t come home too late, and ask before inviting any guests back to the pad. Clean up after yourself and volunteer to assist in household chores. Drying the dishes and cooking a meal for the family can go a long way.

    It’s also important to remember that unlike the employees in a hotel lobby, your hosts have things to do beyond serving you. They’ll need enough time to prepare for your arrival, so don’t contact them at the last minute. It’s also polite to avoid late night and early morning phone calls. Make sure you’re conscious of any time zone differences when you do make contact.

    Girl sleeping on couchAnd finally, don’t outstay your welcome. Couchsurfing might offer a free room, but staying any longer than a couple of nights is generally not the done thing. Remember to leave positive feedback about your host on the couchsurfing website once you depart. This online gesture of good will is often the only payment that couchsurfer hosts require.

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Ride Sharing

    Most of us have car pooled to the office, or hitched a ride with friends after a big night out. However when we vacation, most of us tend to travel solo or with our nearest and dearest. But why not embrace carpooling practices when you’re abroad? Ride sharing is a great way to cut costs, minimize your carbon footprint, and make some new friends.

    Ride sharing is a relatively new concept, but backpackers have been doing it for years. The message boards of hostels around the world are full of signs advertising for willing travel companions.

    In Europe and North America, ride sharing has well and truly joined the digital age. Websites like Eurostop and Hitchhikers in Europe help match up travelers needing transport with drivers looking to fill their vehicles. In North America there’s the similar eRideShare and Ridester. If you’re traveling outside these continents, Digihitch is worth a look. This forum helps travelers and drivers from all over the world connect with one another. Other drivers advertise in the Services: Travel/Vacation section of Craigslist. As ride sharing is a growing practice, new sites are popping up all the time. Search the internet and you’re sure to find one serving your intended destination.

    Drivers typically ask their guests to share in the cost of petrol and tolls. If drivers are traveling in their own vehicle, they may also add a small wear and tear fee. And of course there are some generous souls simply happy to share in your company, without asking anything in return.

    As with any travel experience which sees strangers meeting, safety is the greatest concern. Modern ride sharing practices are much safer than the old methods of standing by the road with your thumb in the air, but it’s still important to rely on your own instincts. Make sure you chat with your driver, and the rest of your travel group if you can, either online or in person. Ensure they have the same attitude to traveling, and that they don’t set off any red flags. Also make sure to travel light, and with just a little cash on your person, to minimize the risk of theft.

    car near waterIf you’re feeling uneasy about your ride sharing arrangements, it’s best to dig a little deeper into your pocket and splurge on public transport or your own hire car. While ride sharing can be a wonderful budget-friendly experience with the right companions, you can’t put a value on your own peace of mind.

  • A Guide to Bench Blazing – Tips for Enjoying Free Travel Trend

    When most people think about spending a night under the stars, enjoying the great outdoors, they imagine bunkering down in a campground or RV park. But there’s an even cheaper option for the more adventurous traveler, and it doesn’t cost a cent. Welcome to the world of bench blazing.

    Bench blazers take the freedom of travel to the extreme, refusing to tie themselves down to organized accommodation and itineraries. They might sleep on the bench of a suburban park one night and on the beach the next. They’re not quite sure where they’ll make their next bed, and that’s exactly how they like it.

    On a good night, a bench blazer might find themselves with a full belly and a roof over their head thanks to the kindness of strangers. This isn’t cheating, but just another experience on the bench blazer’s improvised vacation. It’s not quite couch surfing as there’s no prior planning involved, but it does make a refreshing change of pace in inclement weather!A bench blazer

    Of course we can’t control when Good Samaritans will come along, so bench blazers often spend nights in less than favorable conditions. It takes shivering on just one wet night to become more compassionate to those less fortunate. With the money you’ve saved on accommodation perhaps you can throw a few dollars their way, or share a slap-up breakfast with your neighboring homeless folks the next morning!

    If you’re planning to bench blaze on your next vacation, make sure you travel light. Without a room to stay in, you’ll need to carry your luggage wherever you go, so you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t weigh a ton. You also don’t want your expensive electronics or entire designer wardrobe to disappear while you’re catching forty winks. Really all you need is a sleeping bag, your wallet, a flashlight, and a few outfits. This is one situation where less really is more.

    When looking for a place to stay, make sure you’re smart about it. Bench blazing is an adventure, but you don’t need to stay in a gang neighborhood to get that adrenalin rush. Parks are often quite safe, while train stations and bus depots are generally best avoided. Trust your instincts and move on if you’re uneasy about bunkering down.

    That old adage about safety in numbers is also true. A single person in a park is a loner, vulnerable to being hassled, while a group of young travelers is a party!

    Make sure you respect the local authorities and do as they say. Western Europe and Scandinavia is very accepting of bench blazers, but much of Asia, African, and the Americas is less tolerant. Learn the local rules, because a fine may cost you more than a hostel room! Many cops will let friendly bench blazers off with a warning, but it’s better not to tempt fate.

    And finally, always have a back-up plan. It’s smart to locate the local hostels and cheap hotels, just in case you can’t find a suitable sleeping place or the weather is really gnarly.

    It’s not for the faint of heart, but bench blazing can be an exhilarating way to enjoy a frugal vacation.