Everyone loves to travel and take holidays — it’s one of life’s luxuries to enjoy after working long hours. However, we are often hindered by one factor: money. But travel doesn’t always have to be expensive and if you plan well, you can avoid high costs. We’ve put together a number of tips and hints for planning your trip and when you reach your destination. Happy travelling!

OVERSEAS TRAVEL
Travelling overseas is exciting and inspiring. However it can also be very expensive if you don’t think things through before you go

INSURANCE
As the saying goes, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises all Australians to take out travel insurance before going overseas. It pays to play safe. Hospital costs in South-East Asia regularly exceed $800 a day and in the United States, basic hospital treatment can cost 10 to 15 times what you would pay in Australia for private hospital treatment. Medical evacuations from the US usually cost between $75,000 and $95,000 and sometimes up to $300,000, Department figures show. Evacuations from closer places, such as Bali, can run to more than $60,000.

CUSTOMS AND QUARANTINE
That cowskin drum you bought on your African safari might have seemed a good idea at the time but you’ll need to declare it on your return to Australia. Travellers must declare all food, plant material and animal products for inspection or face fines and/or prosecution. You won’t be penalised if goods are declared. To find out what you can and cannot bring into Australia, contact the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS) on 1800 020 504, http://travelbug.gov.au

VISAS
Visas might seem a blow to the back pocket before you go but it is well worth the extra effort, to avoid hefty fines and problems overseas. Check with your travel agent or contact the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit for visa information. For tips, go to www.dfat.gov.au/visas/index.html

VACCINATIONS
A needle beats suffering the consequences of a nasty disease while travelling. It’s important you see a qualified health practitioner for advice on travel health and vaccinations, to avoid any complications while travelling, as well as possible hefty medical bills.
For advice, check out www.tmvc.com.au
Travelvax Australia, 1300 360 164, www.travelvax.com.au
Travel Clinics Australia, www.travelclinic.com.au

MONEY
Do you take traveller’s cheques, cash or credit cards? It’s a personal choice and a combination of each may work best, depending on the destination and your needs. However, check with your bank or card provider for information about overseas services, to avoid tricky or hidden fees. Traveller’s cheques often have substantial fees to cash them, so beware.

When travelling, carry enough cash for your daily needs only. For exchange rates, go to www.rba.gov.au/Statistics/exchange_rates.html

For a currency converter you can go to many sites including www.ozforex.com.au/cgi-bin/convert.asp

COMMUNICATION
If you plan to take your mobile phone when travelling, be sure to switch your mobile to international roaming. With international roaming, you will be charged for outgoing calls, incoming call charges and incoming cal ls, even if you do not answer the call. It can get expensive so often a better idea is to purchase a SIM card in the country you are visiting. Phone companies often have deals for using your mobile overseas.

SMS is a cheap way to stay in touch and you can also subscribe to services that tell you your flight details, weather and so on.

Staying in touch via email is a great idea but be careful not to get ripped off at Internet cafes or in hotels. Look for no-frills chain Internet cafes, such as easyInternet, across the UK and Europe. Investigate options such as Messenger and Skype, where you can chat in real time for next to nothing.

COMMUNITY-MINDED TRAVEL
Holidays don’t have to be about sand, seafood, sangrias and suntans — and a dent in your bank account. Why not consider a trip where you make a difference and the experience is more important than the money you’re spending?
www.oxfam.org.au
www.worldexpeditions.com.au
www.statravel.com.au

SHIPS AHOY
If the thought of a cruise evokes images of The Love Boat and cheesy karaoke nights, reconsider. You can often get a good deal with fares that include accommodation, all main meals, entertainment and activities.
www.pocruises.com.au
www.spiritoftasmania.com.au
www.kimberleyquest.com
www.cruiseabout.com.au

HAGGLING AND BARGAINING
There’s nothing more satisfying than the bargain-basement feeling you get after a successful bout of haggling. In many Asian countries it’s all part of the fun of an overseas trip — both prospective buyer and seller expect it and both often benefit from it.

Of course you can still get ripped off, thus an important rule for haggling: make sure the vendor wraps up the object you have inspected and bought, not an inferior substitute. Learn what locals pay.

TRAVELLING CHEAP IN EUROPE
• Hire a villa in the Tuscan hills. With well-equipped kitchens and beautiful ingredients, it’s no trouble to whip up an antipasto or pasta dish to go with a local red wine for dinner.
• Live like the locals do and hire an apartment in Paris. Spend your time (and money) perusing markets and cooking dinners of local ingredients, rather than on expensive hotels and restaurants.
• Travel at the end of the tourist season. There are fewer tourists around which means less queues and the prices are lower.
• Follow the locals or look for places off the beaten track to eat at. Often places with no signage, no menus and no English spoken have the best food at bargain places and you eat things you would never usually try.
• Talk to other tourists. Often word of mouth is the best way to find the best and most affordable places to stay.
• Don’t be sucked in by expensive tourist attractions. Just walking around European cities can be enough to fulfil your cultural needs. Sitting on church steps with a cheap gelati could be one of the best ways to see Italy.
• Invest in an all-day travel pass. All cities will have different options, just as we do. Buy a full-day pass valid for all forms of transportation and you’ll never be stuck for transport. You can also get a tour of the city for a fraction of the price charged for those tourist big bus tours!

ENTER COMPETITIONS!
How often do you see a competition advertised in a magazine and turn the page, thinking, “I’d never win”? Well, someone has to, don’t they? So pick up that pen or log on to the Internet and start entering. Often all that’s required is 25 words or less on a topic. How wrong can you go in 25 words or less?

Some tips: make your 25 words catchy, original, make it positive and mention the product advertised.

Many travel companies, such as Intrepid, Peregrine and STA, also offer trips.

TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA
Many Australians have never explored this big, beautiful country we live in. Although it is large and can be expensive to get around, there are ways to travel in Australia without breaking the bank.

BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
With the rise of budget airlines, travel has never been so affordable for Australians. Check out the following websites for cheap flights:
www.studentflights.com.au
www.virginblue.com.au
www.jetstar.com.au
www.cheapflights.com.au
www.escapetravel.com.au
www.economytravel.com
www.statravel.com
www.pacificblue.com.au

Virgin Blue has, at times, a weekly lunchtime sale. Different destinations are on offer every day at greatly discounted prices. You’ll have to be quick, though, to catch these specials. Log on between midday and 1pm to find out more. Other times you can find the general specials.

Most airlines also offer package deals that include flights and accommodation. Booking online can also be cheap so check out www.zuji.com.au and www.flightcentre.com.au

BOOKING ROOMS INTERSTATE
Getting there is only half the story of every trip interstate. If you’re not visiting friends or relatives, you need a place to stay and finding a room at the right price can be a headache. However, more and more agencies are selling hotel rooms and apartments online in the same way airlines now sell tickets. Some helpful sites to try are:
www.lastminute.com.au
www.wotif.com.au
www.readyrooms.com.au
www.quickbeds.com.au
www.budgetstay.com.au
www.lowcastbeds.com
www.otel.com

HIRING CARS
Car hire can often get confusing. Sites such as www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au compare prices and help you get the cheapest rates from all the big companies. The site also has a Travel Tips section so that you can get up to speed with distances, road conditions, speed limits, signage in different states and the situation of petrol.