How about a "budget forum" - anyone interested?
 

Hello forum friends - <BR> <BR>I'm a newcomer to this forum, but a regular visitor. I often find that my specific travel needs and budget (as opposed to my armchair traveling) dictate that I seek information on bargains in accomodations, meals etc. . Is there enough mutual interest in this niche for us to petition Fodor's to establish a separate section of this forum targeted at that need? How about it, everyone? <BR>

Although the people who post here generally give advise on the "best deals", I'm interested in a forum dedicated to best deals and sales. I need to budget every dollar I spend on a vacation. I save up all year for 2 weeks off ( I don't get any vacation pay). Count me in! <BR>

Thanks Kittie!......just when I'd begun to thinkk no one else was listening. Maybe we can get enough of a thread going to prompt Fodor's to consider it. I'd prefer to stay here at Fodor's 'cause I like the atmosphere and the people but some of us really do have to budget and want something other than chain motels and franchise restaurants/fast food. My daughter and I are about to visit Toronto and have discovered (and booked) a double room in a "summer hotel" at the Neill-Wycik Co-operative College. We'll have to share dorm style bath facilities with a few other folks but have a private room with two beds and access to kitchen facilities. This is smack dab in the middle of downtown at $28 US per night! These are the types of things I'd love to share and learn about but it's truly budget (NOT hostel) travel and perhaps deserves it's own forum. Anyone else out there interested? Speak up!!

I'm always looking for a good bargain; 2 of us in Maryland would frequent such a site. Thanks for the idea!

We love the Fodor's travel message boards - they load quickly and there's lots of input from people. We get lots of ideas for "dream trips" but in reality we need to closely watch our travel budget. This is why we would like to see a separate category for true budget travel also. There's room for both categories. <BR>

Thanks to everyone who's posting on this thread!! If any of you know others who visit Fodor's regularly and might support this idea, PLEASE ask them to reply to this posting. The Fodor's editors are unlikely to see the need unless we can prove interest - the more people the better. There are other websites devoted to hostel travel and related subjects but many of us fall in that huge gray area between pricey and bare bones. Thanks! <BR>

Boy, am I ever interested! I have just graduated from college and am starting out in the lower income range. I need cheap vacations, but not so cheap I'm staying in a hostel. A vacation is supposed to be a treat, so I'm willing to spend a little on special things - just not too much. Hope someone at Fodor's is listening!

Count me in!

My husband will be retiring next year and we plan to do a LOT of travel and will definitely be searching out bargains! What a great idea for a new forum. PLEASE FODOR'S????

Continuing thanks to everyone!! If we all keep seeking more supportive voices, this might just fly! <BR>I'll plan to start making notes on the bargains I've found (and hope to find soon), for future reference...

Owen, <BR>I'd suggest you post your idea on Fodor's Europe forum, as well. There are a great many budget minded advice seekers there as well. One problem I've noted there involves people who are obviously intending to travel on stringent budgets being given advice from those more free with their money. I quake at the thought of the budget minded traveler thinking he'd committed to a $40 a night gasthaus only to find himself in a $200 romantik castle. <BR>I think, then, you should advise Fodor of the positive responses you've gotten to your query.

I'd definatly bookmark a site like the one suggested <BR>i'm always plotting and planning my next vacation, but being young and just starting out, this kind of form is just what i need. good idea!

Owen: If that Co-op College has been around for about 15 years then I believe I stayed there before. As I remember, the rooms were clean and sharing a bathroom was no problem. Enjoy! Let us know how it goes! <BR>Kittie <BR>

Your idea about sharing ideas for lower cost traveling is a good one. Until a separate Forum is created, we can still share our tips for budget traveling using this Forum. My suggestion would be to identify these postings by including the word "Budget" in the title. <BR> <BR>One way that we use to save money on our travels is by going to places in the "Off-Season." For example, we got a $150.00 a day Suite in Phoenix for $45.00 a day by going in September. Most attractions are also a lot less crowded off season. Be sure to check their hours first, and have a great time on a budget!

Thanks again everyone and thanks to Wes and Marty for the specific suggestions. Although I don't frequent the Europe Forum (not yet - but when the time arrives I will), I will post the suggestion there. In the meantime, let's all try putting "budget" in the title of those posts where we're sharing or asking about low priced travel options.

VERY INTERESTED. We are retired, and even though we "timeshare" most of our vacations, we still need to get from here to there, and there are plenty of places we want to go where there is no timeshares. A "Budget BBS" would be wonderful! Thanks for the idea.

Hi, Owen: <BR> <BR>Count me in, too! U.S./Canada/The World!! <BR> <BR>I, like some the the visitors at this site, plan my trips for off-season (Caribbean in spring/summer or early December; parks in the fall spring/fall). I don't want to go the shared bathroom/hostel route, but I'm a person of modest means. <BR> <BR>We need this one, guys! Good luck with it, Owen.

YES! Just because you have a limited income, doesn't mean you can't travel! Where there is a will there is a way! What a great idea! Everyone has there own definition of low-budget, cheap, etc. I think responses need to include $ amounts.

Thanks Bev! (and everyone) - <BR>I have forwarded the suggestion and a request to review this posting to Fodor's. If the editors see fit, we'll have a budget forum. If not, let's all start putting "budget" into the titles of our posts, For anyone interested in a rational opposing viewpoint to this idea, please look in the Europe forum for responses to this same posting. There was one negative response, which I respectfully disagree with but friendly debate is welcomed! <BR>

Great idea, Owen - count me in!! <BR>If I spend less, than I can have more trips - right?? <BR>Let's see a budget board, I have lots of ideas.

I vote for a budget forum as well. I adore Arthur Frommer's site, but the message boards there are lacking - even the new one. We always travel on a budget - and in the end, we see the same sights as those who stay at the most expenisve places, but we take twice as many trips as they do.

I agree...not everyone can spend $300/day on room and food. <BR> <BR>Come on Fodor's...how about a place for the working man??? <BR>

Sounds great! Would love to see a Budget Forum. <BR>

I'm in agreement that a budget formum in needed. My husband and I are both retired and we take two to three trips a year. We are interested in saving money on these trips so we can do more travelling.

<BR>I am new to this site, but have come here frequently. I am very interested in the budget forum. I found a great place in New York at 49th and Broadway for $109 a night plus tax. I was lucky it was such a good place, but I would have felt better about booking the hotel if someone had recommended it to me. The savings provided an extra night at a show. I hope to see this budget forum happen.

Great idea Owen!!We allow so much each year for travelling so if I can find some good deals and budget travel we can have more trips.

Really Great Owen -- Fodor could do us all a favor by giving those of us who like to travel but like to look after our resources as well. <BR> <BR>In all honesty, when I was searching Fodor's site on hotels in Montreal, besides the pricey ones, they listed, even recommended, student rooms at McGill University. Also gave info on YMCA and YWCA. <BR> <BR>But a seperate budget forum sounds great!

very good idea - go for it !!

I think it's an excellent idea and I agree that a "budget" forum should be added. Those of us who travel infrequently look forward to spending our money wisely. I'm on a limited income and the one time I get to take a vacation, I find it difficult to find moderately priced accommodatings, restaurants, etc; <BR> <BR>I have found the posters here at Fodor's to be the most helpful of all when it comes to travel ideas. <BR>Let's go for it, Fodor's!!!!

<BR>I just found the Fodor's site - and I'm a regular visitor now! Travel is a great ambition of mine, but I'm of a limited budget after just starting out in a career after college. I'm VERY interested in a budget forum - that would be GREAT!!!

A budget forum sounds great. I found this site the other day, and while the info is good, it would be much better if we could all begin to reply with the actual costs paid for certain things we recommend and where applicable note the methods used to get the deals. With regards to "budget forum" it seems that those with tons of money would most likely not frequent a site like this. Instead they would just pay someone to tell them where to go and what to do. This site should be for the common person that is focused on value and great information. Keep the word "budget" in your title.

Just when you think a thread has died out..... {:-) <BR>Thanks again to everyone for the support. If you're not already aware, please note that Fodor's has declined the suggestion, due to limited resources available for this purpose. The new search function should enable us all to search for the best values and share our experiences without requiring a separate forum. To sum up somne of the excellent suggestions offered by respondents to this post (and throw in a few of my own ideas): <BR>1) Include the word budget in the title of your post <BR>2) Include a specific reference to the geographic location (city, state, region, hotel or restaurant name etc.)in the text. <BR>3) Select the appropriate state location from Fodor's location list if entering a new post. <BR>4) Include information about how the best deal was obtained (or if it was simply the "regular" price)and what the prices were. <BR>5) Include comparative information where appropriate - e.g. I just spent an incredibly romantic weekend in Oxford MD on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. We paid $100 per night for a room and although it was not "cheap" it was, comparatively, a great value. <BR> <BR>If we all make an effort to throw in the occasional post after we make another "budget" excursion, in no time at all we'll have a tremendous searchable resource available to all. <BR> <BR>Anyone who has more suggestions to offer and wants to keep this thread alive, please do so! The more exposure this idea receives, the faster those great bargains will roll in.