A Month In Venice

Now I have never been published in the field fo travel writing. Perhaps it shows in this blog. However, I am working hard to improve my skills and I regularly read some really great travel blogs. One of them, the TravelMinx, just created a great article on how to write killer travel articles. If you are new to this particular type of writing then I would highly recommend you read this nugget of information.

We all have habits when we travel. Some of us are into photography and others keep a detailed journal of where we have been. However many of those same people do not realize that they can use these habits to help offset their travel costs and even make some money each and every time they travel.

The truly innovative are the one’s that can take any activity they normally do for fun and turn it into a profit making venture. I am a big believer in having hobbies that actually pay me money. Not only do I get to do something I enjoy but if I can help offset any travel cost then I am all for that!

Now one may ask what can I do on vacation that will actually make me money? Well for some keeping a profitable blog, such as what I hope to do with this blog, is one method of paying for travel. Perhaps you can use your skills with the English language to teach it to others, this is very popular in countries such as China, South Korea or anywhere English is deemed to be an important language. This will not only pay for a long extended stay in a country but you may be able to develop a side business as well.

Others are keen photographers and sell their photos on iStockphoto.com or other similar web sites. Others have developed key relationships with members of the business community just so that they can start an import/export business. While I am unfamiliar with that aspect of travel I find the subject fascinating and definitely worth looking into. I believe that there are opportunities everywhere you look.

The only difference between one who is successful at traveling is the questions you ask yourself and those around you. Perhaps I should expand on this a bit more as I research the subject myself. I will let you know what I find out.

Let’s just say that traveling around the world is high on my to do list. It is something that I have dreamed about for a while. I would imagine traveling to far off and exotic destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, China and the former eastern bloc countries such as Croatia and the like. Of course I would travel all around Europe as well as there are many places I have not been yet such as Switzerland and Austria.

Traveling around the world takes a lot of planning and doing this on your own is definitely not recommended as purchasing tickets individually can really cost a lot of money. Fortunately there are other options out there. One of the best options is to use of a service called Air Brokers. This company specializes in around the world planning and can really help plan where and when you want to go in order to save you both time and money. Another service provider would be Air Treks who can save you a lot of money since they purchase tickets at bulk prices and pass the savings on to you.

Now you may ask what would be the average price for a around the world trip. Well the price really varies on when and where you want to go however I would definitely plan on spending at least $6,000 for each person. However you may be able to spend less depending on how you structure your trip and if you go to cheaper destinations such as India and some of the developing Asian countries.

Traveling by air is certainly not the only option when circumventing the globe. Many cruise lines offer a round the world itinerary option. This is certainly not for the budget traveler as this option is certainly more expensive then flying around the world. This option is great for those that do not want to hassle with airport security at each destination which can become a bit exasperating. The best deals to be found are through the Internet of course as many travel agents do not specialize in this area. A great resource can be found at vacationstogo.com on their world cruise page. Not only will this give all the options available but it may save you some money in the process.

Traveling by luxury cruise liner is certainly not the only option when circumventing the globe. What most travelers are not aware of is that you can also circle the world by freighter. This is certainly an option for the more adventurous traveler as many of the amenities available on cruise ships will certainly be lacking. However this is not to say that these ships are not comfortable, they are just geared more towards the shipment of cargo then supplying entertainment for their passengers. The rate for participating in such a adventure is not cheap as the price per person ranges between $12,500 and $14,000 so it is definitely not for the budget traveler.

I would say that you would need to plan at least a year ahead of time in order to get the best deal on your trek around the world. There are many resources and people to help you plan your trip. It really depends on where and when you want to go and how adventurous you want to be. i just ask that if you actually do one of these trips around the world that you record your experience for all to share. That way you will be not only preserving your memories but also allowing others to learn from your successes and setbacks.

The quest to save money is a real motivator for me. Let’s face it the more money you keep means the more options you have later on in life. One of the biggest expenses in traveling is the airfare to your chosen destination. With gas prices on the rise so are the ticket prices on the major airlines.

To find the cheapest airfare you must first have a plan in place. Here is my step by step process for finding the best deal on whatever flight I may be taking. The first step is to check the major airfare search engines such as Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and Cheaptickets. This will give you an idea of what is the standard going rate for a ticket at full retail price. I would not initially go for the deals offered on these websites without some further checking however. Also it is always a good idea to check the surrounding airports from your departure and destination. If you are willing to drive a little bit before or after you leave it could save you some serious money.

The second step is to check what is known as aggrregator sites such as Kayak, Qixo, Sidestep and Mobissimo. These aggregators will search all the major search engines mentioned above and also the airline websites which should give you a betteridea of what a good price for a given ticket should be.

The third step is go directly to the airline that displays the cheapest ticket for where you want to go. For instance if you find the best airfare on American Airlines through one of the aggregators or search engines I would then proceed directly to the American Airlines website. The reason is there is usually a transaction fee that these search engines place on each transaction for booking the flight for you.

Finally check the budget airlines themselves as they would not be listed in the search engines or aggregators in some cases. You can find some really good deals on flights from Southwest, AirTran and Ted airlines.

Having a plan to save money will ultimately make you a better consumer and help you with your bottom line. Whether you travel for business or for fun hopefully these tips should save you some money and enrich your travels.

Happy trails!