6 Ways to Save on Your Vacation

Most people today often find that the act of going to a new and exotic location for various leisure activities is a much anticipated happening. Whether the trip is for a summer vacation, a ski trip or for that matter any special trip you need only to decide that it would be a good time to go on a trip and simply pack up. The problem is that can be an costly proposition. Not everybody can afford to purchase an airplane ticket or can they afford to stay in a deluxe hotel or in many cases they just do not have the required money to spend when they arrive at their chosen destination for their planned trip. If you know where to look for it traveling need not be expensive. If this idea interests you then you should read on.

1. Use the 'net! People with access to the Internet will find it very easy to search for discount travel offerings ranging from airlines, motels, villas for rent, cruises or even automobile rentals. Almost all tourist related businesses every where now have a web site so that you can go to and get the desired information prior to actually finishing your travel plans. You can always call the sellers directly and obtain additional information.

2. Be flexible about the day and time you travel. During the slow days of the week you can easily find many special deals or discount prices for both airline tickets and places to stay. Airlines may have seven or eight flights to your destination on a particular day. If you have to leave in the morning, check out the three or four departures that leave in the morning. Since airlines charge for tickets according to the availability of seats on the plane, changing your time by just one hour or so may save you a large amount of money.

3. You can also save is by traveling with a group such as a tour group, travel group or travel club. Group travel is usually arranged ahead of time by travel agencies. They purchase in bulk, often chartering a whole airplane and booking a large block of rooms to get the very lowest price.

4. Book early! Make your travel plans well in advance. Book your cruise a year in advance for the best discounts, and get the lowest rail fares just after the holidays. If you make your arrangements several months before you travel you typically get your choice of flights and rooms at the lowest rates.

5. Travel during the off-season. For example, go to the Caribbean and Mexico in the summer because in the winter rates for accommodations and plane fares go up. Caribbean cruises are less expensive when you go in the fall versus winter or spring. Hawaii is least expensive from mid-September to mid-December. Europe's best deals are offered between Thanksgiving and Easter when the Europeans are not on vacation.

6. In a foreign country exchange money at a local bank for the best conversion. ATMs affiliated with major credit card companies are great, but watch out for foreign ATMs. While they usually won't charge you a fee, your bank may charge you one! Learn your bank's policies before you travel.

These are but a few of the many ways you can make your vacation less expensive. All you need to do is be resourceful and pick the best time to travel and you can have that dream vacation that you have wanted so long without destroying your family budget.

M Gravlee is a travel writer based out of Akumal, Mexico.
source : http://traveltide.blogspot.com/2009/04/6-ways-to-save-on-your-vacation.html

Senggigi Beach - Lombok Tourism

The Senggigi region is the main tourist strip of Lombok, stretched out along nearly 30 kilometers of beachfront just to the north of the capital Mataram.

The first time traveler should be aware of these distinct regional differences. Simply booking a hotel in Senggigi could mean a relatively remote location where the town center can only be reached by taxi.

Senggigi is the place to find hotels/resorts with manicured grounds and swimming pools. Many accommodations advertise they are located only a short distance from the beach. However, the beaches can vary in quality from broad, white sand beach in one location to coarse, black sand beach in the next. Senggigi is not a typical tourist resort town where a day can be spent shopping and socializing at the local bars and restaurants (such as found in Bali). Most visitors use Senggigi as a home base and take day trips to the waterfalls, the Gili Islands, or just exploring the still authentic villages, temples, and jungle habitat found within a couple hours drive.

Senggigi is about 15-20 minutes north of Mataram and its airport. Taxis charge around Rp 30,000 for the trip, while bemos will cover the distance for under Rp 5,000.

If you are frugal or intrepid and take the slow ferry from Bali, it's best to arrange transport in advance from the ferry dock to Senggigi, since the dock on the Lombok side is in a remote spot several kilometers south of Mataram. Travel agents on Bali offer transport from any point in southern Bali to Seggigi, including the ferry ticket, for about Rp 140,000.

Barelang Bridge - Batam Tourism

The Barelang Bridge (Jembatan Barelang) is a chain of 6 bridges of various types that connect the islands of Batam, Rempang, and Galang, giving the system its name. The smaller islands of Tonton, Nipah, and Setotok (considered as parts of the Batam Island chain itself) connect Batam and Rempang.The bridge is an icon of the local area and is a popular tourism site

The total stretch of all 6 bridges total to 2 kilometers. Traveling from the first bridge to the last takes about 20 minutes. Construction of the bridges started in 1992 and took names from fifteenth- to eighteenth-century rulers of the Melayu-Riau Kingdom.

You can Meet this bridge near from batam city, around 20 minutes by car.

Kuta Beach - Bali Tourism

Kuta beach is the most visited place by the tourists. Kuta is located in Badung regency, about 20 - 30 minutes from Denpasar and 10 - 15 minutes from the Ngurah Rai Airport - Tuban. It has white sands, great waves for surfers, amazing daily sunset view, suits for sunbath, take the air, swimming, and various kind of activities.

Kuta is glorious region in Bali and represent the heaven for foreign countries tourist. Kuta fulfill all tourist requirement, like white sand, coast with its perfect wave for the surfer, a lot of restaurant, cafeteria, and disco making night life very impressing. Alongside walk a lot of kiosk selling multifarious of tourist requirement, like clothes, cassette ribbon, and ticket sold very cheap. Kuta is located 11 kilometer side south Denpasar and reachable easily use the public transportation.

If you walk to east, you'll found poppies alley (poppies I and II). Inside the "poppies" there are hundreds of mini store that sells handicrafts, clothing, accesories, tattoo, internet rentals, phone rentals, motorbike, car rentals, restaurants, bar, club, fitness centre, and many more... it's almost what you need are available here from low price to expensive one. Great place for shopping!

Kuta beach not just our favorite place but also favorite place for Penyu (turtle) to lay their eggs. The turtle and their eggs are under protection by the Indonesian Law. Sometimes if you ever found the turtle eggs just contact the securities (pecalang) near you (they usually keep on patrol) and let them taking care of. The eggs usually brought to the shelter for hatched.

Kuta beach are one of the favorite place for surfing, usually there are big surfing events (local and international) held during the summer holiday and patricipated by the local surfer and international.

When august 17th arrived, there will be various activities held to commemorating the Indonesian Independence Day such as Areca Climbing contest (Panjat Pinang), Sack Run contest (lari karung), Eating Chips contest (makan krupuk), and many more... Many foreigners are enjoy this contest and usually the team mates with the locals to participate.

Sometimes Kuta are also visited by world wide artists, movie star, athletes and entertainment celebrities.