FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: vacations

  • Tips for Financing Your Next Vacation

    Reading an article about American perspectives when it comes to saving (or not) and the use of credit cards got me thinking about the ways in which I’ve financed travel in the past.

    Here are some ideas for financing your next trip while remaining financially solvent. When and How to Use Credit Cards For convenience sake, most of my booking is always done with a credit card. In addition, I often use a credit card (rather than a debit card that takes money directly out of my checking account) when traveling because it’s easier for me to dispute fraudulent credit card purchases (if this ends up happening) than it is for me to recover lost funds from my bank account. However, allowing a trip to sit on your credit card balance for months can impact your overall financial health. Here are some things to consider when using a credit card to pay for your travel expenses. Selecting a credit card using credit cards on vacation photo To get the most bang for your travel buck, use a credit card that pays you back either with airline miles or a cashback option. You will still reap the rewards, even if you pay off your full balance each month. When researching credit cards, start with the one offered by the airline you fly most. Check out the percentage rate and perks (for example, Delta’s credit card rewards travelers in miles, discounts and free baggage checking).  Be sure to research several options before making your final choice. Establishing a Budget If you plan on paying for your entire trip on a credit card, make sure you have set a budget before you start making purchases. When using a credit card, it’s easy to lose track of how much you are spending. A clearly defined budget can help you to avoid an unpleasant surprise when you open your credit card statement at the end of the month. Before you charge your first travel-related expense on your credit card, come up with a specific budget. This may involve some research (on airfare, typical meal costs at your destination, hotel costs, etc.). A good travel budget is comprised of several “sub-budgets” for each area of your travel expenses (airfare, lodging, food, etc.). Once you’ve established this, then you can start making your travel purchases. Establishing a Payment Plan Of course, the ideal is to pay off the entire balance of your credit card each month (especially the months when you have racked up a lot of charges during a trip). If this is impossible, establish a clear plan for how and when the balance will be paid (i.e. $500 per month for the next 4 months). To make sure you stick to your plan, set these payments to be made automatically. Even better, you can pay off part of your trip before you even leave (airfare that has been charged on your credit card for in advance, for example). Tips for Saving Like I mentioned above, the ideal for your financial health is paying off the entire balance of your credit card as soon as you return from your trip. The only way to be able to do this is to make sure you have the money in the bank before you leave. Remember that budget you established? Add $200 to it and use this amount as your savings goal. Next, establish a specific plan for stocking away this much cash before you leave on your trip. For example, have $100 out of each paycheck automatically deposited into a specific savings account set up for travel. If you put away a little bit each month, it won’t seem like such a big deal when the time comes to pay off your credit card.

  • Volunteer Vacations

    We’ve mentioned before how volunteering can be a great way to spend your vacation time. It not only provides you with the opportunity to help people and experience new cultures and places, but volunteer experiences are a great way to boost up your resume for colleges, grad schools, and jobs.


    We also see volunteering as an amazing experience to travel and experience the world. If any of these things strikes your fancy, then read on and learn a little bit more about volunteering and travel!

    In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards volunteer vacations. Some of these vacations last months at a time, some last years (think Peace Corps), and others last just a week or two. On several of our FrugalMonkey pages we feature travel opportunities that surround the idea of volunteer vacations. Take some time to learn if a volunteer vacation is right for you, and get excited about unique and valuable vacation opportunities.

    If you want your volunteer vacation to have a ‘green’ approach, then consider learning more about an eco volunteer vacation. These types of vacations situate volunteers with organizations and areas that are showing a special focus on ecotourism, or sustainable ideals for that particular region. For example, there are vacations in Latin America where volunteers help to clean up villages and show locals how to live in a way that is not only better for the village but also in sustaining the environment. These types of experiences are great for those that are interested in sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and the green effort that is sweeping the globe. On our volunteer vacations page within our ecotourism section, we provide a number of links to organizations, like the American Hiking Society, that provide opportunities of this kind to travelers.

    Although it is nice to have a narrow focus, like ecotourism, to your volunteer vacation, there are those that choose a much broader type of experience through a volunteer job abroad. Perhaps the largest number of opportunities of this kind exists through universities and non profit organizations. In fact, the largest demographic of volunteer job employees are college-aged students. The types of volunteer vacations that provide an opportunity to work with a cool organization and experience travel are practically endless. While most people think about non profits like the Peace Corps, there are thousands more that place people in volunteer positions abroad that last only a few weeks, or months at a time. Volunteering has an endless amount of positive outcomes for those who volunteer as well as for those who are on the receiving end of the volunteer effort.


    Find out more about volunteering abroad through a job with an organization overseas and expand your horizons both through travel as well as through the experiences you will entertain as a volunteer. In this page we highlight government agencies, and technical information like procuring a visa or work permit.

    Also, consider working abroad if you want to travel and gain valuable work experience. There are always paying jobs available through organizations that will allow for travel, even if they may be more difficult to uncover. Also consider a teaching job. You may know already that one of the most popular jobs abroad are teaching English abroad jobs, an experience that anyone who is willing to train can procure successfully. Find out more about exciting work opportunities through pages like this through FrugalMonkey.

  • End of Summer Vacations

    Not ready to say goodbye to summer? We aren’t either! This summer has been an amazing season for travel deals and we’re on the lookout for even more.


    We have set our sights on finding the perfect mix of Labor Day vacations and last minute summer excursions. Here is what we turned up!

    First and foremost don’t forget our summer travel advice regarding last minute flight purchases. Some of the best vacation deals this summer have resulted from last minute vacation purchases. While in the past booking last minute flights would have cost you hundreds, now you can find some of the best deals of the summer through last minute flights. The current state of the travel industry means that airlines are bending over backwards to fill up flights and this translates into some seriously great summer deals. So don’t last minute travel! Even though it is counter intuitive, it could generate big savings.

    Expedia

    Expedia is having a Labor Day sale offering over 200 vacation deals and packages. Most of them are for domestic travel throughout the United States with amazing deals for a great summer getaway. For example, we found hotels as cheap as $24 a night! In fact, some of the best deals on the Expedia list are hotel discounts. Take the Sofitel San Francisco Bay Hotel where discounts rates start at $50 a night. That is down from previous hotel packages that could cost as much as $250 a night! Time to book, don’t you think? Lunch in Golden Gate Park does sound inviting…

    Other Labor Day Deals

    Another great place to find last minute, end of summer deals is through Travelzoo.com.


    For starters, right now you can book an incredible Mexico or Caribbean vacation for as little as $49 a person! Both the Sun Village Resort & Spa in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic as well as the Oasis Cancun in Cancun, Mexico have deals starting at $49 a person. That is an incredible price for three-star resorts. Also, check out Travelzoo.com for great cruises to Mexico at incredibly low prices. Hurry though – you must book before the end of the week, even though travel deals are good through December 18, 2009.

    Ever wanted to travel to Greece? Interested in vacationing in Athens, Mykonos, or Santorini? Well, with FrugalMonkey’s full travel profile on Greece in addition to the Travelzoo.com deal which offers airfare and 8 nights stay in Greece for only $1,399, you can’t go wrong! This great deal can be accessed directly from Travelzoo.com’s site and is valid through September 13, 2009. This means you can enjoy an almost-perfect, almost-labor day vacation that is the perfect end to your summer travels.

    Stay tuned for more great deals this week!

  • Great Flights and Eco Vacations to Costa Rica

    Want to take an unforgettable vacation? Want to swim in crystal clear waters, go hiking, backpacking, and sea kayaking on your trip? Want to experience the ultimate adventure vacation while taking in some of the most gorgeous views of your life?


    Then we have the vacation for you. The best part is, you can enjoy all of this and more while you rest easy knowing it’s cheap and environmentally friendly as well. We’re talking about a vacation to Costa Rica!

    Costa Rica is one of the top vacation destinations for North American travelers visiting Central America. Its beauty is legendary and its cities are equipped with enough modern luxury and metropolis savvy to entertain city-lovers, while being utterly close to an unparalleled wilderness. Traveling to Costa Rica is nothing less than breathtaking, exciting, beautiful, romantic, enjoyable, and amazing.

    Costa Rica is also known however, for being incredibly environmentally conscious and is one of the most notable eco friendly countries in Central America. Where most of Costa Rica’s neighbors have poorly managed tourism and their natural resources, Costa Rica has done the opposite. Ecotourism in Costa Rica is an important part of the tourism that drives their economy. As such, you can expect to take some of the best eco tours of your life while on vacation in Costa Rica. It also has a number of environmentally friendly parks and eco lodges as well. They are also highly ranked for the amount of land protected by the government meaning that while you’re on vacation, you simply must visit one of the National Parks in Costa Rica, for an up close and personal experience with local wildlife.

    Although booking your trip ahead of time is a guaranteed way to find low flight prices, there are some last minute flight deals that certainly deserve a second look. Right now you can consistently find flights to Costa Rica on most major airlines for as little as $235.


    Although most of them come in closer to $350, this is an incredible travel deal that simply begs you to book! Also, if you want to enjoy Costa Rica in the lap of luxury, book the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort. It’s only $159 a night for this all-inclusive experience and that’s 50% off previous prices!

    If for some reason a trip to Costa Rica is a little too far to travel, don’t forget about the number of summer travel deals to places like Hawaii and Mexico that are readily available. Both of these locations offer many of the same attractions as Costa Rica and are more accessible from the United States with many more flights to and from. Regardless, keep in mind that the summer vacation of a lifetime is right around the corner. We’re simply suggesting you consider a FrugalMonkey favorite: Costa Rica!

  • Ski Trips In Argentina

    Take your next winter vacation in Argentina and enjoy amazing skiing.

    For your next winter trip, think about going skiing in Argentina. Argentina is home to two of the most famous mountain ranges for skiing in all of South America. The first is Cerro Catedral in Bariloche and the other is in Las Leñas just west of Mendoza, Argentina.


    Both are known for their spectacular views and amazing open ski ranges. Since the mountains reside above the tree level most of the skiing is wide open with hundreds of runs sloping down the Argentine countryside with nothing in your way except miles of soft powder.

    One of the largest benefits to going skiing in South America is that if you’re a skiing fanatic, you get to enjoy an amazing winter vacation during the North American summer. Unless you live below the equator, the Argentine winter takes place during the summer months up north. This means that you don’t have to wait six months for the weather to turn around, but you can be skiing in South America instead of sweating it out during a dry and deserted summer. It’s an excellent time to take advantage of low flight prices into South America since it is low season for traveling. It is also a great time to avoid crowded summer vacation spots up north and enjoy the cooler weather. South American skiing is also well known for its small town charm. While both Cerro Catedral and Las Leñas are two of the most famous mountain ranges in South America, the towns that inhabit these amazing slopes are very laid back. You won’t have to worry about high prices and resort style costs when you visit Argentina for a ski trip. Instead you can enjoy the laid back atmosphere of both Bariloche and Las Leñas. Bariloche is known for its amazing Swiss chocolates and small town pubs while Las Leñas lays claim to some of the most beautiful northern countryside in all of Argentina.

    If winter is your favorite season and skiing a favorite sport, then look into cheap flight prices and hotel deals in Argentina for the upcoming winter months down South.