Frugal Travel Tips

[Foreigner]

Some useful tips here, given weak AUD for overseas trips:

133 Travel Tips from Frugal Travel Guy Readers | Frugal Travel Guy

 

[harvyk]

Some very American suggestions in there which are either not applicable to ppl outside the US, or are only valid for travel inside the USA, and a few points counteract others, but there are still a few good suggestions in there.

I think number 19 is prehaps the most important piece of advice in this day and age, just last night I was talking to a guy whom had all his travel plans on his phone and the phone died (along with his boarding pass) as he was walking to the gate.

I've also hsd phones die (and not just flat batteries) whilst traveling. For me the worst part was that I didn't have any music to listen to, but since I had printed copies of everything else I was fine. It could have been a problem had I gone E-everything.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Ditto - I have all my booking confirmations etc in a plastic sleeve in chronological order. As each one finishes I rip it up, so by the end of the trip I have no paper left....To be honest I have never needed them, but they are my safety blanket!

 

[leadman]

Are you kidding, I know these types of blogs or webpages spring up everywhere but there should be warnings "do not read if you have taken more than 10 flights"!

We should add a few more;

- Remember to go to the airport to catch your plane!

- Remember to get your boarding pass at check-in so you can get on the plane

- Make sure you get the right plane

- Hotels have beds so do don't need to bring your own.

- Telephones are available outside the US, and I think e:mail but worth ringing internet cafes just to check.

- Make sure you ring the banks in the country to see if you can change currency and they will take yours.

 

[Revolio]

love your post Leadman.

-check your boarding pass when seated on the aircraft to ensure you are on the correct plane. (if not, advise a staff member..........{afterthought) immediately.)
-ensure you vacate the aircraft upon arrival.
-use the toilets in the aircraft. but pack incontinence pads in case you forget.
- always carry a phrase book in case the passenger next to you is Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Kiwi, an Orstralian or a Limey. If they are South African have your ear muffs in your hand and not in the overhead lockers.

 

[Denali]

- Make sure you get the right plane

I had about 20 people fly in/out of Melb over the past 4 days. One of the Syd>Melb flights had to be rechecked because a pax got on board the wrong plane.

I gave up reading the list about #17 - who's got time for 133 of them!

 

[slc767338]

I like how it says in number 11 "Always roll your clothes for packing in the suitcase. Saves a TON of space."

Then proceeds to contradict itself at tip number 50 - "I disagree with rolling your clothes..."

 

[eastwest101]

Yes - the suggestion not to pack toiletries and to buy the small travel sized toothpaste, shampoos etc at your destination didn't seem too frugal or practical to me.

 

[get me outta here]

I am a great one for planning in advance, it surely beats planning in retreat 10) Always plan in advance.

 

[leadman]

Sorry but the "frugal traveller site" is too golden not to play with; After re-reading is it an old lost Monty Python script? Dead parrot parody.....

1) Call ahead to the property you are staying at. Talk to the general manager or concierge (someone in charge!) and remind them of any birthdays, anniversaries etc you’re celebrating. "what a brilliant idea, I reckon you would score a few bottles of wine and cake over a trip. only problem is you can use this trick at each hotel once a year but then if you take your family, get them all to have birthdays"
3) Carry a compass (or a compass app!), whether in non-grid layout cities or in the outdoors, it always comes in handy. "for what, impress chicks in bars?"

4) Always bring your noise canceling headphones. "so I spend $300 odd to buy the new NC Bose to leave them on the table at home"

9) Pack your things in plastic bags in your suitcase (no real added weight as it prevents your things from getting wet during travel, plastic bags are useful in the long run as many countries now charge for plastic bags at stores or don’t offer them at all). "yes, a must to save 10cents to buy a plastic bag to carry the beer back to the room. pockets are full of plastic bags and you could be mistaken for homeless person"

10) Always plan in advance. Designate place and time to meet back up, should you and your partner or group plan to separate while out. "no, seat of cough planning is much better. always a thrill finding that person in a crowd three weeks later"

13) Ask hotels for benefits for not having your sheets changed each night (i.e. bonus points). "get bigger brownie points for servicing your own room, make the bed, change towels, clean toilets.... Then if you are bored there is the hotel kitchen; washing up, even waiting or even try your hand at cooking!"

14) Be nice when traveling. I’ve been amazed at how many people help you when you smile and treat them with respect. "don't be silly, smack the first Customs officer right over the head with your passport. Then its best in a big city you have never been to tell the taxi driver where to go"


No more; have better things to do in my life

 

[ozbeachbabe]

-use the toilets in the aircraft. but pack incontinence pads in case you forget.

Wasn't there a story about a female astronaut using the latter to minimise stopping when she drove across the country to confront husband about an affair with a fellow astronaut? Acutally I think it may have been an adult nappy or is it the same thing?.

- always carry a phrase book in case the passenger next to you is Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Kiwi, an Orstralian or a Limey. If they are South African have your ear muffs in your hand and not in the overhead lockers.

Reminds me of when a South African pax travelling to the US was asked by the CSA for a contact address in the USA for Homeland Security. His response (in the same accent of Mr Van Der Merwe from Lethan Weapon) "is that so Barack Obama can come and have breakfast with me"?

 

[Revolio]

Wasn't there a story about a female astronaut using the latter to minimise stopping when she drove across the country to confront husband about an affair with a fellow astronaut? Acutally I think it may have been an adult nappy or is it the same thing?.



Reminds me of when a South African pax travelling to the US was asked by the CSA for a contact address in the USA for Homeland Security. His response (in the same accent of Mr Van Der Merwe from Lethan Weapon) "is that so Barack Obama can come and have breakfast with me"?

I think you might be right about the astronaut incident beachbabe. The only English speaking accent I have trouble with is Irish. I just get lost sometimes and the speed of some doesn't help.

 

[leadman]

it was a Lisa Nowak, and it was a kidnap plot back in 2007 where she was charged. drove three days or something to grab her ex, or something similar. She had a few issues; probably formed after reading the frugal trips website!