SAVE<BR>I make sure I get pretty reasonable deals on my flights. I eat fairly modestly, and am not the world's most enthusiastic shopper, although I may bring back a memento or two for close friends/relatives, especially if it's the very first time I've visited a place. If for some reason I can't walk through a town or get to a particular destination in a town in enough time, I'll usually use a Metro system, or bus over cab any day. For travel within the same country, I use the train instead of renting a vehicle.<BR><BR>SPLURGE<BR>I do like to stay in a hotel room with an attached ("ensuite") bath, a great location, and some nice ambiance, although my accomodations are usually under 4 star. A/C, a tub and shower are a must! My transportation from the airport or train station to the hotel is one area where I usually won't scrimp, and will take a limo or taxi, but in order to avoid rip-offs, I'll arrange for this prior to arriving, if possible. Sames goes for getting me there to depart--won't find me schlepping bags all over a bus or train terminal to get myself to the airport. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a museum addict, so I'll pay to get into 'em without blinking an eye.

I'm a cheapie for airfare..but splurge on hotel.

Many of you will spend 10 hours or more in a very cramped space eating horrible food and pay $300 to $800 for the 10 hours or more flying. When you think of it this way, I would gladly pay $ 500 for 24 hours in luxurious hotel and never leave the room,(except to get some food). This is important to me. It gets my trip off to a great start.

I splurge on dinners as I cant get the same cuisine back home. <BR><BR>I wont splurge on those darn Hard Rock cafe "country" t-shirts.

I hate to spend with the airlines..I get as many frequent flyer miles as possible,charging everything. But once I arrive it's a taxi or car service..I don't do tubes or metros and schlep luggage anymore!<BR><BR>Like nice 3 or 4 star hotels, have light lunches, splurge on dinners in most places or find great places that don't kill your wallet!. But I am a great fan of half board country house hotels! Skip the snacks during the day..neither my budget or my waist needs them!<BR><BR>And buying schmata(Sp) to bring home to people is not my thing. I do buy things I love but only good things that I love and collect..and not much of that either. Try to get the best deals available with car rentals, look for off season specials on air fares and hotels..they are there but you have to look!<BR>And walk walk walk~! leave the taxis sit there..join organizations that allow free entry ..like Royal Oak..or buy museum passes

Fun thread.<BR>I save on:<BR><BR>AIRFARE: Bargain hunt and use AMEX membership points.<BR>FOOD: DH and I aren't really "foodies" at home either. We grab a quick, cheap lunch in a cafe or sandwich shop, have a tasty but inexpensive dinner.<BR><BR>I splurge on:<BR><BR>HOTELS: I like 4-stars that are right in the thick of things. At the end of a busy day day I like to come back and relax in luxurious surroundings and get pampered. I especially love soaking in a nice big bubble bath and then wrapping up in one of those thick hotel robes. &lt;sigh&gt; I don't go bonkers though. $275 is my limit in high-season. Usually I bargain hunt and find something great for around 225.<BR>SHOPPING: I still love and use/wear all of the things I've ever bought on vacation. <BR>TAXIS TO/FROM AIRPORT: Trying to lug my crap around public transport or those slow-poke shuttles possibly while jet-lagged just isn't worth saving a few bucks to me.

what a fun thread! so many names you don't see much, on here - where are they all now?<BR><BR>splurge - TRANSPORTATION. Nice cars, taxis when I don't need to rent one. I cannot STAND lugging all my crap around on public transport. Don't tell me to pack less, I hate wearing something past its sell-by date (which inevitably happens if you don't pack enough - even if it's only socks).<BR><BR>save? erm, save? let me think. ;-)

Make friends world wide and stay with them. Be sure to reciprocate when they come your way. Stay in touch!<BR>Blessings,<BR>Dr. B.

Always bargain shopper on airfare, splurge on nice/decent hotels, main meal at lunch ( just don't like to eat late). Heading to Italy for 2 weeks on the 11th and only have 3 gourmet meals planned. Always rent nice cars.

Save: My budget's fairly tight, so I travel in shoulder or off season, shop like crazy for the best possible (coach)airfare, and do extensive research on hotels to find the best located/priced 2 (or sometimes 3-star) hotel with a bit of charm. Take public transit and 2nd class rail (with the locals!) most of the time, or rent a compact, manual transmission car. Not much of a shopper; what I do buy is often from a street market and it has to be both useful and unique, and fit in my luggage.<BR><BR>Splurge: Cultural stuff's important to me, so I'll spend $$ on ballet and theater tix, and any and all museums, walking tours, etc. that interest me.(Though I still check lastminute.com for deals on the former and research whether passes are the best deal or not for the latter.)<BR><BR>Food/drink/nightlife are also things I really enjoy. No Michelin-starred restaurants, but I do research where to find good meals and sit down and have a nice lunch and/or dinner, with wine, daily. Not so much of a breakfast girl, so unless it's included in the hotel rate, I skip that or grab a pastry on the run.<BR><BR>Since I can't afford the 4-5 star hotel thing, I'm curious: do those of you who stay in those posh hotels see many non-Americans there? Especially at places that you're able to get with points, like Hilton/Sherton/Starwood properties? A marble bath sounds nice, but I love meeting travelers from all over and talking with the owners/staff at small hotels.

Splurge on icecream or fancy cakes in luxury restaurants, save on everything else.

Scrimp on everything, especially acommodations (spent US$20 per room in Paris last year); travel 2-4 times a year with kids, but throw the budget out the window for:<BR>opera tickets<BR>candy we've never seen<BR>site-specific, well-written guide books<BR>entrance fees to museums<BR>spices & herbs<BR>historical fiction<BR>local wine<BR>bike rental<BR>cool kids' t-shirts (Como ti senti oggi?)<BR><BR>Fun thread! And we thought we had a lot in common!<BR>

Budgetgirl,<BR>I see travelers from all over, but I usually don't stay in a chain hotel like Sheraton or Hilton if I go 4 or 5 star as I think they do attract more American business-type folks. I pick a hotel that is unique to the area.<BR><BR>Also agree with an earlier post, to get friends in international places! Before I was able to go 5 star I relied on the comfort of friends' couches and floors...and vice versa. I suppose, thinking about it, that's why I love luxe hotels now.

Be flexible in regards to airfare & the timing of trips. Summer to Europe is very $$$. I always eat well & base my hotels on location rather than name or price. I refuse to have a budget. It is also cheaper to stay in smaller towns than big cities. I always use the train for transport as well. We seldom buy gifts or shop much. We typically take 2 short trips & 1 longer trip to Europe every year. It's all in what your priorities are I guess.

Here's my two cents:<BR>SAVINGS: <BR>*Transportation- flying coach, driving my own car (if in my country), local transport (subway, train, bus,- like others say, a good way to experence the local feel of that place.)<BR><BR>*Lodging- we are of the mind frame that the room is for sleeping & changing clothes, so staying with a budget of $120/nite maximum gives us clean & safe places. We have stayed in some very nice places for this price range. <BR><BR>SPLURGES:<BR>* Meals- We usually stay at places that offer at least continental or full breakfasts, that way we can spend more on lunch & dinner. We also eat at local places, more of where the locals eat at. <BR><BR>* siteseeing / passes - we go to see other places, so we spend the $$'s to get to these places. I try to find deals or passes that will help. This then makes the trip more memorable. <BR><BR>*Gifts - I am a shopper & love to see the local stores and find new items. I do bring back gifts for family (especially when one is not able to travel very much) and a few special co-workers. I don't spend alot (family is usually more $$) but they make great christmas gifts! I do buy somethings for ourselves as memories of the trip. We collect magnets (should see the Fridge at home!!) / postcards to go with our pictures / small knick-knack for my curio shelf and books on the area or special site.

Splurge:<BR>Auto transmission in left hand drive countries.<BR>Taxi, almost a necessity with my bad feet, save feet for walking at museums and such not from train station to museum.<BR>1st class train if it is an all day trip.<BR>Lodging close to center of larger cities, we have learned to take breaks in the middle of the day and this makes it a lot easier.<BR>Don't economize foolishly, take that river cruise even if I think it's a little too expensive.<BR>Good maps purchased well in advance.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Save:<BR>B&B's where possible.<BR>Nothing above 2 star hotel.<BR>Sometimes we even picnic for dinner in hotel room, too tired to go out.<BR>Time, paying more for airfare that saves hours on using out-of-the way airports or long layover times or multiple connections.<BR>Lunch picnic, if my wife can make lunch from the breakfast buffet I guarantee she will.<BR>Shopping: don't do it at home so don't do it traveling although I do window show a lot. Have to admit to being a lapel pin junky.

SAVE<BR>I don't like to drive anyway so never rent a car. Often especially traveling solo prefer to eat & drink in my hotel room (i.e. bottle of wine and take away food). Really don't enjoy overly fancy (stuck up) hotels, so usually go 3-star. Don't like to shop at home either, so never go wild on purchases on trips.<BR><BR>SPLURGE<BR>Bathroom en suite!!!<BR>Private compartment on overnight trains.

I splurge generally while on vacation but save by going not during the peak season (e.g. Paris before Christmas, Rome at end of March) yet not during the worst weather months either. I live in Boston so I'd rather enjoy the beautiful weather here while it is nice in the summer and Paris in December is no worse than Boston. By doing this I usually save on airfare and can stay at nice hotels for about 20%-30% less than they cost during high season.

I think what I like most about this board is that we all have our unique spending priorities, and by reading what others have done, I get to consider options upon which I would have otherwise never "splurged." It seems to me that most people here don't blindly have to have top of the line to make a trip memorable, so I'm willing to look at the value of their choices.<BR><BR>As far as our personal choices, I think we've settled into a spending pattern.<BR>Airfare, of course. Why punch in here if you're not checking fares all the time anyway? I admit to paying a slightly higher airfare to Europe if I can use FF miles to upgrade to business class. Leg room--ahhhh.<BR><BR>Like Patrick, we just don't shop. We don't need or want "toys"--and we really try not to have friends who are into things, so it works out. <BR><BR>Because of the lack of mass transportation where we live in the US, European mass transportation is a marvel to us. We tend to save money by using it, but we're doing it more for the experience than the savings. Ironically, though, we never use the cheapest rental car on those rare occasions when we use one.<BR><BR>We have no budget when it comes to museums, concerts, etc. We buy passes for the convenience more than the savings, and we enjoy the fact that passes give us a monetary incentive to do and see more.<BR><BR>Hotels--we're middle of the road but also variable. In France, we tend to do 3*, but we've certainly done some good 2*s and experienced some great 4*s. In Italy, we learned to up the ante to 4*s. In Britain, we've given up trying to figure it out. <BR><BR>But I admit to a terrible fault---no family rooms! I love my children--can't think of traveling without them--but after one memorable family room in Florence, I refuse to share a bathroom with three others ever again. So our splurge is two rooms for the family.<BR><BR>As far as restaurants go, we're all over the map. We value a superb menu, yet we don't have to eat that way all the time. We resent "pretend" haut(e?) cuisine. <BR><BR>One final huuuuggggeee splurge. Guidebooks. They're an addiction. I have three floor to ceiling bookcases filled with them. <BR><BR>Whenever I buy a new one and my husband just stares at me, I always respond,"Well, I'm not into jewelry and furs..."<BR><BR>

Like others I save on the airfare and the hotel. I splurge on the food, since it is one of the cultural experiences. I also don't stint on entry fees or souvenirs. M.

Hotels, definatly hotels, stay in a cheaper one, we stayed an a decent (clean, nice shower) one in Zakopane for $14 and night while there were ones for +$100 an night. We were there for the outdoors. Also, go in the off peak times. I dont mind traveling in the winter time.

Food is here and gone but shopping is forever!! Seriously - save on food - breakfast at hotel, lunch on the run, maybe afternoon tea instead of dinner or one nice dinner out. Spurge - theatre tickets in london, unique hotel if it's my second or third time there - the first time it's about the sights, after that it's the ambiance and whole experience. i buy alot of things unique to the region - wood carvings and dirndls in Germany, etc. i do sometimes splurge on desserts - and hope i burn it off walking!

I splurge on food. I do not want more "things". I do not need more "things".

I'm with Mina--don't want more things, can't have more things, no place to put more things! Now that our kids are grown we buy each other a book at Christmas and put all the rest of the money into our next year travel plans. Save on not shopping unless someplace remarkable (this year a Donegal tweed handwoven jacket for DH for $250) We like our own bathroom but don't generally go for the 4/5 stars unless there is a specific reason to stay there (and most often there is not) Like to find a nice hotel with good dining and never save on a good meal. Travel is one of the fewer luxuries of our lives---we tend to live rather frugally most of the time.

I like things! We're in our late 20's - early 30's, so we still have room for our stuff, too! I absolutely ADORE the teak birdcage we bought in Thailand, the vintage advertising poster from Paris, the espresso machine from Italy - it makes me relive my trips again when I see these things around our home.<BR><BR>SAVE: <BR><BR>* Hotel: Our budget is generally around $100/night, or whatever gets us a clean, well-located room with hopefully SOME charm.<BR><BR>* Meals: We generally try to have one or two very nice meals per trip, but typically have fun just eating cafe food.<BR><BR>Our airfare is covered, so while we try to get the best deal, we don't need to consider it in our overall budget.<BR><BR>SPLURGE: <BR><BR>* Things! Typically home decor items are one of the major outlays for us on any trip. In fact, I usually have an idea of what I want to buy from someplace before I've chosen a hotel. And sometimes clothes, shoes, etc.<BR><BR>* Cultural activities - We don't consider the costs of museums or other sights, and typically try to see one ballet/opera/symphony<BR><BR>* Local transport - We take the metro when available, but to be honest have never taken a bus. Give me a taxi anyday. Probably comes from living in China where they are plentiful and cheap, but when I'm tired from walking all day (and am loaded down with the THINGS I've bought), I just want to hop in a taxi and go straight to the hotel.<BR><BR>* Guidebooks, coffeetable books (I try to get one interesting one per major destination we visit - I mean country or city, not sight), books (I love to buy books written about the places we're visiting that aren't always available in the states).

Splurge on wine, a special present for my folks that represents the city I was in for my holiday. I have splurged on a BMW to drive in Germany for Oktoberfest. I splurged on a vibrant silk dress in Italy. But I also found some amazing hotels that went for a song.

Splurge:1- guidebooks- want to get info on the city as much as i can<BR> 2- Stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel- I dont like hiltons and sheratons but a nice hotel that has flavour of the county.<BR> 3- transportation- From and to the airport I get a cab<BR><BR><BR>Save- 1-airfare<BR> 2-Food- I just eat to stop the hunger. Also, i will have a big breakfast, skip lunch and then have a big dinner.<BR> 3- Only shop for things i cant find in my country.

Scrimp: no presents for others, only the odd item to take home (usally something for the home, like a piece of art or furniture, like a lamp); never eating lunch - breakfast at the hotel and a snack is fine till dinnder; drinking wine by the glass at dinner - after a long day's holidaying, any more will put you to sleep; drinking nice, cold beer - cheap and a different experience than at home, where I usually drink tepid-to-slightly-cool bitter; hiring a mid-size, frills-free car - it's only to get you from A-B; <BR><BR>Splurge: the odd 'experience', like cocktails at hip hotel, or dinner at well-known restaurant; nights in 4/5* hotels - but scrimpy in a way as I usually book via the internet to get a discount; paying about $220 more for 'premium economy' on long flights; big purchases, like big pieces of art, which can be mailed home;

topping for Bob

When I'm in Europe, I don't like to worry about money, though I'm not extravagant either, so I'd rather "save" by being more economical at home. In fact, I just told my husband (and this post got me thinking about it--thank you sandy--good post) that would not buy a single item of clothes unless absolutely necessary in the next year if we could go to Europe again next year. And guess what--he agreed!!! That alone should pay for at least my plane ticket. <BR><BR>However, there are a few things I do try to save while in Europe. One is only eating dinner out most of the time--but we rarely eat breakfast or big lunches. Also, I check here for recommendations for hotels and such.

ttt

topping

To the top for an old but interesting thread!

The type of vacation matters where I save or splurge. In Europe I look for a well located inexpensive hotel. At the beach I like a nicer hotel since the purpose of the vacation is to relax.

Really old, but interesting thread.

I try to save on hotels by staying at basic 3* hotels. Nothing fancy, it doesn't really have to have much charm - just be clean, safe and in a relatively convenient area. I also try to save by taking public transportation rather than taxis.

What I do not limit my spending on is sightseeing activities, as the entire point of travel to me is to see what each city/country has to offer.

I take a lot of pictures and do not worry about the cost of film/developing and how much it costs me in materials to put together the final scrapbook. I am also a postcard nut. These go into my scrapbook along with my photos, and I easily spend $100 on postcards alone on a 2 week trip.

I usually try to eat cheaply for breakfast and less expensively for lunch so I can have a nice dinner.

While I don't open up my wallet for shopping as freely as I do for sightseeing, if I see something that I really want (and can fit in my luggage), I'll buy it.

&gt;I try to save on hotels by staying at basic 3* hotels.&lt;

Some of us stay at 2*, 1* and B&amp;Bs. :)

Good point, ira - if I really wanted to, I could probably save even more on hotels - but my usual travel companions are more used to the 4* and 5* hotels - so we compromise.

I really don't want to hear them complaining about the hotel from the minute we get there. :)

I save and splurge at the same time by tacking vacations onto business trips. That way the company pays for transportation (business class flights or first class train fare), taxis to/from airports, meals at upscale restaurants, and a good chunk of the hotel portion. For example, I had a 4 night business trip in Vienna. I gave myself a week's vacation in Vienna before the conference. Because I was staying at the hotel for 10 nights, they gave me a good rate on the nights that I wasn't there on company expense and upgraded my room.
I was just in Chicago for business and arrived two days early to get over jet lag and enjoy the city before the convention madness began.

I get the best airfare and advance train tix I can, but I've scaled back on the hotel rooms. I reserve one really nice meal out, lunches out, light dinners in, stocking up on market goodies in case I am too tired to go out. No skimping on museum entry fees.

My new deal with myself: the first day, after I am settled, I'm allowed to take a taxi to my first site, just so that I get up and out. After that I use public transpo.

I no longer buy gifts for other people. I will send postcards, that makes for a nice interlude at a sidewalk cafe, anyway. Purchases for myself are small items easily packable that speak to me of the place, a bold print scarf, a tablecloth featuring local flowers, bangle bracelets from street vendors.
Oh! My other splurge is an unhurried visit to a street market, and I have a spending allowance for trinkets...but it's more about talking and laughing with the vendors, practicing the language, hearing their questions about my country. Then a nice refreshment break for some people-watching.

Our strategy is to try to be as budget-minded as possible in the broad areas---airfare and hotels. I'd fly at 4 a.m. to get a better deal, and it doesn't bother me one whit to use Priceline to get an acceptable hotel for under (or around) $100 if possible. We're not &quot;foodies&quot; either, and our meals are pretty inexpensive. We splurge on SHOPPING! I try to buy a Christmas ornament everywhere I go, and one for each child's collection. Coins for our youngest, both contemporary and antiques--and reproductions, too. I buy books, videogames or DVD's that aren't available in the States, presents for my nephews, clothing--you name it. I wish there was some sort of Mailboxes Etc. chain in Europe so that we could ship everything home without lugging it on the plane.