2008 Woodie Awards
How to go abroad with pennies
You can still see the world with minimal funds
Veronica Carrington
Issue date: 7/2/08 Section: Features
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However, these tips can help any traveler see the world for a fraction of the regular costs. Though overseas travel may still be pricy, hopefully these tips will help to make your travels affordable and enjoyable.
1) Check airline deals.
Europe's low-fare carriers are good for more than cheap airfares--many also sell packages (plane tickets and hotel rooms for a bargain price) and offer hotel and car-rental specials. Holidays.EasyJet.com has hundreds of packages in dozens of European cities, many departing out of London. However, the deals will require careful planning and a lot of patience: EasyJet does not fly to the US, so you will have to connect to it in a hub like London.
2) Dig deep into tourism websites.
Tourism bureau websites are often loaded with overly rosy descriptions of a place, but some can also have good deals. Just as you would save money on gas at home, use a bike to get around the city you are visiting. In Paris, about 20,000 bikes are available for short-term rentals at hundreds of pickup and drop-off spots. You buy a Vélib' card for 1.50 Euros per day or 7 Euros per week; each bike is then free for the first half hour, 1.50 Euros for the second half hour, 3 Euros for the third half hour and 6 Euros for every half hour after that.
3) Find free deals at your destination.
Though it is said there is no such thing as a free lunch, you may find some free entertainment in the city you are traveling to. Scour the Internet before your trip for free museums, concerts, cultural events and activities--you may be surprised by what's out there. The blog at EuroCheapo.com is a worthwhile source on how to find free stuff in Europe.
Here is hoping that your journey overseas will be a safe and cheap one! Bon Voyage!
This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
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