Budget Travel
This Pathfinder is no longer being actively maintained by ipl.
This pathfinder is designed for people interested in discovering how to travel on a shoestring budget. Anyone with a budget-savvy mindset and an itch to travel can find the following information useful.
A variety of resources on the topic of budget travel can be found at your local bookstore, library and on the internet.
Internet Resources
About.com: Budget Travel
http://budgettravel.about.com
This is a comprehensive site for those looking for links to useful websites, articles on budget travel, free weekly newsletter and discussion forums.
Backpack Europe on a Budget
http://backpackeurope.com
Provides useful information such as travel and packing tips, hostel FAQ, links and more for backpackers and other independent budget travelers.
BootsnAll Travel Network
http://www.bootsnall.com
Offers plenty of articles written by staff members, cheap hotels and hostel reviews and recommendations at top destinations, adventure trips and tours, travel discussion forums and travel blogs for the budget conscious traveler.
Bug: the Backpackers’ Ultimate Guide
http://bug.co.uk/
This site is tailored to the needs of the backpacker and budget traveler. It offers budget travel guides, independent hostel reviews, discussion forums in a variety of topics and destinations and a number of travel blogs.
Eurocheapo
http://www.eurocheapo.com/
A team of seasoned travel writers provide budget travel advice and independent reviews of budget accommodations throughout Europe’s most popular cities.
Eurotrip
http://www.eurotrip.com/
This independently owned travel website offers discussion forums, podcasts, travel tips and links contributed by fellow travelers.
Frommer’s Travel Guides
http://frommers.com
Provides candid and reliable information through professional written articles. Features include global destination guides, trip ideas arranged by activity or lifestyle, tips and tools, deals and more. Site offers a large variety of forums for discussion and a daily blog from the travel guide founder, Arthur Frommer.
HostelWorld.com
http://www.hostelworld.com/
This award-winning site maintains a database of over 17,000 hostels in over 168 countries. Hostels are reviewed and rated by fellow travelers. Also, site provides podcasts, free pocket guides for world’s top cities, travel tips and news and more.
ReidGuides.com
http://www.reidsguides.com/
This award-winning trip planning site is written, designed and maintained by guidebook author and travel expert Reid Bramblett. Offers money-saving tips and advice as well as information on destinations and adventure activities. Also, site stresses alternatives to traditional travel techniques.
Smarter Travel
http://smartertravel.com/
Offers money-saving tips and deals, expert advice, unbiased news, a price comparison tool, travel guides and more for the budget minded traveler. In addition, there is news and advice for seniors, families, students and adventure travelers.
Magazines/Webzines
Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel
Vacations for Real People. Print resource published ten times a year by Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc. ISSN 1521-5210. Magazine covers articles, deals and tips of interest to those seeking affordable travel.
Website: http://budgettravel.com
In addition to current articles from the print magazine, this extensive site offers tons of useful tips, expert advice and how-to articles with a budget focus.
National Geographic Traveler
All Travel, All the Time. Print resource published eight times a year by National Geographic Society, ISSN 0747-5463. – Provides quality world travel articles and photographs.
Website: www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler
Offers a comprehensive resource with features such as smart traveler articles, podcasts, trip planners and e-mail newsletters that offer discounts and exclusive deals. Site offers various articles of interest for the budget minded such as free things to do and more in ten cities worldwide and Ways to Cut Vacation Costs.
Transitions Abroad.com
Work-Study-Travel-Living – (Webzine; print publication ceased as of January 2008)
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/
This award-winning website continues to offer numerous informative articles, resources, programs and links that pertain to working, studying, traveling, living and volunteering abroad.
Print Resources
At your local library, you can find books on travel under the Dewey Decimal Call Number: 910 Geography & Travel.
The following titles offer tips and recommendations for the cost-conscious traveler:
Bernick, E. (2007). The Family Sabbatical Handbook: The Budget Guide to Living Abroad with Your Family. Connecticut : Intrepid Traveler
Companion Website: http://www.familysabbatical.com/
Greenberg, P. (2007). The Complete Travel Detective Bible: The Consummate Insider Tells You What You Need To Know in an Increasingly Complex World! Pennsylvania: Rodale.
Companion Website: http://www.petergreenberg.com/
Hasbrouck, E. (2007). The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World. California, USA : Moon Publications, Inc.
Companion website: http://practicalnomad.com
Leffel, T. (2006). Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler’s Guide to Getting More for Less. California: Traveler’s Tales.
Companion website: http://www.contrariantraveler.com/
Leffel, T. (2006). The World’s Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Money Is Worth a Fortune. United States: Booklocker.com, Inc.
Companion website: http://www.worldscheapestdestinations.com/
Rattner Heilman, J. (2007). Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re Over 50. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Torkells, E. (2007). Secret Hotels: Extraordinary Values in the World’s Most Stunning Destinations. New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang.
Torkells, E. (2007).The Smart Traveler’s Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers. Philadelphia, PA : Quirk Books.
White, C & White P. (2008). Live Your Road Trip Dream: Travel for a Year for the Cost of Staying at Home. Oregon: RLI Press.
Companion website: http://www.roadtripdream.com/
Guidebook Series
There are many destination guidebooks that offer comprehensive listings of accommodations, transportation, restaurants, attractions, nightspots and travel tips. These guidebooks are not only handy and essential while traveling but they are also a valuable resource while planning a trip. Many of the websites of the guide series listed here provide travel information as well as discussion forums, blogs and more. The below list is just a sample of available guide series for the value conscious traveler.
Series: Frommer’s $ a day and Pauline Frommers
Website: Frommer’s Travel Guides: The Best Trips Start Here!
http://www.frommers.com
Series: Independent Travelers
Website: Thomas Cook Publishing
http://www.thomascookpublishing.com/
Series: Let’s Go series – Written by students and updated every year.
Website: Let’s Go Travel Guides – The Leader in Budget Travel
http://www.letsgo.com/
Series: Lonely Planet Series, especially Shoestring Guides
Website: Lonely Planet / Travel Guides, Advice, Tips and Information
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
Series: Rick Steve’s’ Guidebooks
Website: Rick Steve’s’ Europe through the Back Door
http://www.ricksteves.com/
Series: Rough Guides
Website: Rough Guides
http://www.travel.roughguides.com/
Organizations
The Couch Surfing Project
http://www.couchsurfing.com/, http://www.couchsurfing.org
This site created by a non-profit organization for educational and cultural exchange offers alternative (and free) accommodations to registered members.
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
http://www.ciee.org/
This is a non-profit and non-governmental international educational organization that provides quality programs and services for students and educators.
Elderhostel: Adventures in Lifelong Learning
http://elderhostel.org/
Elderhostel is a non-profit educational travel organization that provides nearly 8,000 programs a year in more than 90 countries for adults 55 and over at remarkable values with no hidden costs.
Hostelling International
http://www.hihostels.com/
Global booking site for youth hostels that are run by National Youth Hostel Associations.
International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC)
http://www.istc.org/sisp/
Offers student travel information, destination guides, links, currency converter, ATM locator as well as a worldwide locator for ISTC affiliated student/youth travel offices. These offices issue student, teacher or youth (under 26 years of age)discount cards that offer savings on flights, ferries, rental cars, public transport, accommodation, restaurants, shops, museums and cultural attractions.
This pathfinder was created by Andrea MacAdam. Updated by Sena Roth. It was updated again by Linda Pabian for Dr. Eileen Abels Info 780 Course at Drexel University, Spring, 2008.