Essential skill: frugality

Chapter 4 aids the travel journalist by outlining tips, tools, and cautions which should help journalists cover stories at a home market or on the road. Likewise, Seth Kugel of the New York Times Travel section updates travel tips for the new year. Kugel devotes the entire article to helping travelers master the technique of traveling frugally which can lead to more experiences which in turn contributes to the travel writers end goal.

Kugel encourages the aspiring traveler to adjust their mental budget. Instead of thinking about staying home for another average weekend one should be

subtracting what you save by not being home. Surely you would have gone out for dinner and a movie one night, at least, so knock off $100. Add in gas, groceries, electricity, etc., and you’ve got at least another $50.

Kugel also warns that…

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Facing the fiscal cliff

Chapter 6 discusses the opportunities for the travel journalist. As tensions build with all the media attention surrounding America’s economic situation, travel journalists may find themselves gaining more opportunities during tough times. Julie Schwietert of the Matador Network helps the journalist find opportunities as unemployment lingers around the country. Here’s one tip,

1. One sector’s pain is another’s gain.
The somewhat diluted value of the dollar has had an effect on other countries’ currencies that benefits travelers.

Consider the Mexican peso, for instance. After enjoying a lengthy period of relative stability (with the exchange rate being about 10 pesos to every 1 US dollar), the peso’s…

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Sleep capsules

Resources gives the travel journalist advice on how to travel on a shoestring. Pod hotels are listed as a resource to consider in order to sleep comfortably for a considerably low rate. Taken a step further are the Japanese capsule rooms. The rooms are about 3 ¼ feet wide and 6 ½ feet long – just enough for a bed, a small lcd tv, an alarm clock built into the wall, and free wifi. These tiny rooms go for about $46 a night. Perfect for any backpacker.


Ask and you shall receive — travel savings

One way to save money? Talking. BudgetTravel.com’s Deanna Cioppa advises that simple human to human interactions can lead to discounts on airfare, lodging and cruises.

The author asked several travel experts for simple questions travelers should be asking to save money. Some of the questions include:

  • Is there an upgrade available?
  • Are you running any local deals?
  • Is there a tourism card available?

Some of these questions seem like no brainers but often times travelers forget, are too intimidated, or think its useless to ask them. According to experts, start asking these questions to ensure a more complete, inexpensive trip. Besides, it won’t hurt to ask.