Winnepeg

Thought I'd give you an idea of how it costed me $400 for 3 nights in Tampa.

I flew from Atlantic City on Spirit Air, $136.50 RT including taxes. (Internet special.)

I booked my car through Alamo using Preferred Traveller. The cost for the three days was $67.83

I had booked a hotel room on Hotel.com and got a room in Tampa for $47 a night. I think it was a Best Western. It was 10 minues from Busch Gardens on Bearss Rd.

The airfare, hotel and car rental costed my $345.33 for the 3 days.

Not bad, even after I add in the cost for food, drink, and gas while in Tampa.

I realize that travel doesn't need to cost a fortune. This is a perfect example.

Thanks for the interets.

Mark

Scarlett

This is where I show my inability to be a budget traveler
Comparing a stay to Marks..
Continental to Jax...$200 something each
The Adams Mark hotel, $100+ a night
Enterprise car, upgraded $$60+ a day
dinners each night in another excellent but non budget restaurant..about $120+ a night
Adding it all up, it is a wonder I am ever able to go anywhere!

Winnepeg

Scarlett,

Doesn't seem to be all that a bad a deal for what you got.

Keep in mind that the room I was in wasn't anything like an Adams Mark hotel.

The car I rented was a sub compact. Being 6'5, 230, the sub-compact barely fit me.

The airfare was simply a special that I found on Travelzoo.com. The prices to Tampa from Atl City are normally $200 RT.

I went cheaply this trip so that my budget will allow for another trip early this year.

Glad I went a bit cheaper becasue I ended booking a rather lengthy trip last month.

Decided to take an extended trip to Germany.

Turns out that I will be in a small town called Sommerach for 2 months. It's in Germany about an hour from Wurzburg. I rented an apartment for me and my 2 y.o. black lab. The apartment is about 500 sq feet. It is costing me 26 Euros a night. Found it on vacationvillas.com

I really hope that the dollar gets a bit of its strength back before the end of May.

Happy travelling!

mvpl

I think flexibility is the key. I was previously able to travel at any time of the year and was able to take advantage of some unbelievable deals, like 5 days in Hong Kong, air from LA and great hotel for $500. Now that my time frame for travel is limited I'm stuck traveling during the most expensive periods of the year. But you have to decide on your travel priorities - a more expensive trip or stay at a lesser hotel or one out of the mainstream. Find out where the dollar is strongest and the economy is weakest - go to places that are not on the A list for most people. If there's a will...

Tat

I see this thread brings up best and worse in travelers.
But considering amount of usefull information - let it live, please.

Thanks to everyone and I am with Patrick on "if you feel you do not like some posters - skip their inputs and move on with your life !" It is so easy.

Please, continue

caribtraveler

i have a distant cousin who works for an airline. her and husband CONSTANTLY travel EVERYWHERE since they don't have to pay for flying standby (lucky them!).
i have a friend who works for the Ritz..she goes to any Ritz she wants to for $25 or $50/night (can't remember exact figure but it was no more than $50). she takes advantage of it, let me tell you!
my late stepfather for example was a research physicist from belgium who worked in africa. he'd go to physicists conference every year all over the world (the americas; africa, asia, europe). the universities he worked for picked up the tab and he only had to pay for my mom's airfare. that's how they got to see the world on a middle class salary.
so that's how some people travel a lot (besides the ones who have lots of $$). you just have to have the right job!
my husband and i travel twice a year but i'd go every month if we had won that latest mega millions lotto jackpot!

irlandes

I don't travel as much as others, but we do travel frequently. We're working on our second trip to Ireland, we went to Spain 2 years ago (got engaged) and Hawaii last year (honeymoon). We're trying to get all the traveling out before we have kids. I go on vacation with my parents/siblings every year to the same place (NJ) and don't pay much. We have no car payment, no mortgage, 1 student loan, and we save every ounce of change we get. Who knows what next year's vacation will be!

singlegalzzz

I don't work for and am not doing advertisements for these companies, but they really helped me save a lot of money:

eBay - shop for gift cards at discounts (for example, Tiffany or Macy's, Target, Walmart, however whereever you like to shop)

Priceline - got $160 last minute summertime fares from California to Florida. Especially cheap hotels, $40-$50 for 3-4 star stays.

Entertainment book - 2 for 1 priced meals are great when you eat out. They also have discounted tickets to the movies and museums and other attractions. Even discount for grocery shopping!

There are lots of other ways to save money in everyday living, and you can then use the money to travel.

Timewise, it just depends on your company and whether you accrue them over the years.

I don't drink alcohol or coffee, smoke, or have expensive hobbies (like collecting stamps or dolls or baseball cards). Paycheck goes to rent, utilities, food, and that's pretty much it. I shop around online for the best prices ALWAYS before I purchase something, so no impulse buying. All the money I saved go allowed me more freedom to travel.

Of course, it helps that I'm single and don't have any dependents or loans.