Sometimes traveling last minute can actually save you money, believe it or not, but you have to know how the travel industries works. This article explains how to take advantage of travel bargains.

The Best Last Minute Travel Bargains in 2010

By Eoin Evans

The best last minute travel bargains in 2010 are going to be city breaks. National travel might show a few promising target locations, but not as many as the city traveler will enjoy. Forward thinking travelers strategically target vacation locales around the country and put their information on file with a sympathetic concierge or travel organizer, but the true-blue procrastinator must rely on city venues for the greatest savings.

Seaside Breaks

Resorts are notorious for seeking to fill up vacancies, and last minute travelers can score huge bargains. The downside of this approach is the need to be flexible and accept that a travel party may be broken up for the sake of filling various rooms. That being said, it is an excellent way of staying at high end resorts for bargain basement prices.

Walking Tours

A favorite for travelers during a city break, historic walking tours habitually offer last minute sign up deals. Since the tour guide must give the full tour whether or not plenty of holiday makers are around, organizers try to make it as worthwhile as possible by opening up unfilled slots at rock bottom bargain prices.

Package Deals

Travel organizers specializing in city breaks frequently package sightseeing tours, restaurant meals, hotel stays and museum visits into attractive itineraries. If these tours include transportation provided by the tour organizer, the odds are good that s/he is willing to make deals when upcoming tours fail to have full occupancy. With soaring fuel costs, filling each seat on a tour bus is a must.

Last Minute Hotel Reservations

It is common knowledge that last minute hotel deals in the city are plentiful. That being said, popular countryside venues — such as a Lake District hotel — are almost always fully booked months ahead of time and therefore out of reach. Travelers should consider ferreting out the best last minute bargains in 2010 by drawing on experience from 2009. Hotels that were not willing to offer good deals in 2009 most likely also won’t do it in 2010.

Last minute bargain travel is an attractive and cost effective method for staying at hotels, taking tours and visiting locales you might not otherwise have chosen. There is one caveat: make sure any children in your travel party are old enough to see the flexibility needed as an adventure rather than a worrisome inconvenience.

Eoin has written for many publications in his native south Wales and further afield. He currently lives in London’s trendy Docklands with his partner. Both are regular faces in West End theatre audiences.

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Safety Tips for Budget Travelers in Foreign Countries

Author: Stuart S. Travel

There are many things to keep in mind when traveling, whether you are a budget traveler or not. You obviously want to keep what money you have for your trip rather than lose it or have it stolen. You also want to keep yourself and traveling companions safe from harm. Here are some tips to follow to ensure your trip is safe and enjoyable in a foreign country.

1. Have a valid passport and all visas required for your trip. Make two copies of your passport. Keep one in a separate part of your travel luggage and the other leave with someone at home.

2. Be aware of any travel warnings for the country you are visiting. Find out about security and safety conditions in your destination.

3. Secure travel insurance!

4. Ensure you have been vaccinated against any infectious diseases prominent in the area you will be traveling to.

5. To make sure you can be contacted in case of an emergency, make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone at home.

6. Travel light and don’t pack valuables that you wouldn’t want to lose. Leave your jewelry at home but take an extra pair of glasses if you can’t live without them.

7. Remember you are a foreigner when you travel. You are a guest in their country and therefore should abide by their laws, and to a certain extent, their customs. For example, if you are a female traveling in an Islamic state, be considerate of your dress.

8. Try not to bring too much attention to yourself when traveling. Don’t go out looking like a tourist with a flashy camera and expensive clothes. Try to blend into the scenery.

9. Travel in a group where possible and in well known areas. There will be times you want to get off the tourist track, so make sure you always have a traveling companion with you.

10. Only carry small amounts of cash on you. Your credit card and travelers checks will pay for most things.

11. Watch out for pickpockets! Wear a money belt and keep your purse/wallet in the front of your body. Report any loss or theft immediately to the local authorities.

12. Don’t leave your luggage unattended. Apart from having it stolen or items from it taken, you could also become an unsuspecting drug courier.

13. If traveling with a partner, pack half your clothes in their luggage and vice versa. This way if one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some clothes.

14. Lock your luggage and label everything.

15. Lock your hotel room. Keep money and valuables with you, not left unattended in your room.

16. When using public transport be aware of possible theft. If you are traveling overnight, secure your luggage and sleep on top of it if possible. It is not uncommon for tourists to be drugged while on trains and buses so don’t accept gifts of food or drink from strangers on public transport.

If at any time you feel unsafe, whether it is on the streets or in your accommodation, get out. Follow your instincts. Stay safe when you travel by being aware of the dangers and obeying the laws of the country you are visiting.

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

About the Author:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Online Travel Guru:

Sherry Hardesty has been a professional flight attendant for over 15 years. Her experience is extensive and she provides professional travel consulting and booking services at http://www.stuartstravel.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Safety Tips for Budget Travelers in Foreign Countries