Wise Bread (David DeFranza)

How to Host a Traveler: 13 Tips to Keep it Safe, Easy, and Cheap

David DeFranza — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:22:03 +0000

Here at Wise Bread, we know that couch-sharing services, such as Couch Surfing, can save you money when traveling. We have also heard that hosting travelers through these services is a great way to meet new people, get in the spirit of travel, and even make some money. As good as this sounds, many have reservations about hosting strangers in their home. After all, house guests can be frustrating, expensive, and even dangerous.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some tips to help make hosting travelers safer, easier, and even cheaper.

Keep it Safe

Letting strangers into your home is a frightening thing for many people. Here are six tips for making it safer:

Start slow: You are not required to hand over the key to your home and welcome a wandering stranger with open arms. If the idea makes you uneasy, start slow and only accept invitations for coffee, dinner, or a short tour of your town. Once you have met several friendly people, you may decide that having them spend a night at your place is not such a big deal. If so, arrange to meet at a neutral location, like a cafe or the library, first. If you don't like the looks of things, politely decline your invitation.

Don't be a stranger: If socializing with a stranger makes you cringe, then do everything you can to make sure the person is not a complete stranger when you meet in person. Begin by creating a complete and detailed profile on the couch-sharing network of your choice. List your interests and favorite activities, and include something about your habits. If you get up early for work and like to turn-in with the sun, state this explicitly in your profile. If you don't like guests using your computer, say so up front.

Get more information: When requests come in, check the traveler's profile. If it raises questions, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. Ask questions and get to know the person electronically before you meet in person. Most sites also offer the ability to gather information from references and the traveler's previous hosts.

Set boundaries: Again, you are not required to hand over the keys to your home. If you don't want to leave a stranger there alone, explain that the house will only be open when you are there, and that your guest must find a way to occupy his or herself while you are out during the day. Be clear about times you will and will not be there and offer your cellphone number for emergencies.

Don't do it alone: Involving a friend can make you feel a lot more comfortable. When you go to meet your guest at a neutral location, bring a friend along for support. At the very least, let someone nearby know that you will be hosting a guest and that you may contact them in the event you begin to feel uncomfortable.

Don't be afraid to say no: If you do not feel right about the person or the process at any point, from the initial request to the second day of the visit, do not be afraid to say no.

Make it Easy

If you decide to host a traveler, everything, hopefully, will go smoothly. Unfortunately, having house guest can sometimes be a hassle. Try these five tips for making it as easy as possible:

Orient your guest: When your guest first arrives, take the time to give a tour of your home. This is a good way to show the person where everything is, but it is also a subtle way of explaining anything that might be off limits. Rather than handing your guest a list of rules, mention your restrictions as you pass by. "This is my bedroom, you won't need to go in there..."

Provide some basic supplies: Some people leave things like guest-sized shampoo, toothpaste, and other basic necessities in plain view, keeping their personal items stowed away, while sharing their bathroom with a guest. More important, is showing your guest where to find some basic cleaning supplies, like a broom, mop, sponge, and so on, in case they accidentally make a mess.

Give them space: Most travelers participating in home-sharing programs look forward to getting to know their hosts, so expressing in interest in spending time with your guest shouldn't be a problem. Giving them space for their things, especially if you live in an apartment, might be. Still, it is important to clear a space for their luggage and even offer a basket or some shelf space to use. This helps prevent a backpack full of dirty clothes from being emptied across your living room floor.

Encourage activity outside the house: Be ready to suggest things to do in your town. Having a map ready and a list of your favorite places to eat and hangout shows your guest that they should be out exploring, not in your house, sitting around.

Ask for a hand: Finally, don't be afraid to ask for some help around the house. Most guests are very appreciative of the effort hosts go to house them and will be happy to lend a hand.

Save Some Money

Both Wise Bread and The Simple Dollar have great tips for saving money when guests are visiting. Still, hosting travelers is unique and there some special tips that can help save you money.

Buy toiletries in bulk: Specifically, toilet paper. It's the one item you can count on guests using. If you like to offer smaller items like shampoo, consider buying a large bottle at the bulk store and filling a smaller bottle before guests arrive.

Ask your guest to cook dinner: Most guests will be happy to make something from their home country. Offer your services as a "prep chef" to ensure they can find the things they need in your kitchen.

Hosting a traveler is often a wonderful and enlightening experience. It allows you to learn about a new part of your country or the world and even make a new friend. Let us know how it works out in the comments.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Sleeping In Airports For The Stranded And Frugal Minded

David DeFranza — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:04:14 +0000

Whether it's an unplanned layover, a means of making an early flight, or simply an attempt to save money on accommodation, the season of sleeping in airports is upon us. I know, I am doing it.

As I type this article, dozens of other weary holiday travelers are hunkering down in chairs and on the floor inside Albany International Airport. Sure, the lights are bright, the cleaning crew loud, and the temperature cold, but it could be worse. There is pleasant classical music coming from the ceiling, the chairs, if you are in one, are comfortable, and it is warmer in here than it is outside.

Sleeping in airports is a basic skill for frugal travelers. I say skill because with some experience and preparation, it is not something that must simply be endured, but a way to save money and time.

Here are some tips:

Know before you go

Research is key to a comfortable night in any airport. First off, you must know if you will be allowed to sit there after flights have stopped for the night. Beyond that, you want to know the basic layout of the place, what facilities are available, what the temperature, noise, and light levels are, and how many other people will be trying to do the same thing.

The first place to go for this information is the airport's website. This will provide you with a map, list of services available, and likely some rules pertaining to overnights. For more information, check to see if your airport is listed in the helpful Airport Guides series. After these resources, it is time for more specific details and no one has more than The Budget Traveler's Guide to Sleeping in Airports.

Pack for sleeping

Lots of packing guides tell travelers to fill their carry-ons with things like toiletries and changes of clothes. Not me. I say, bring what you know will make you comfortable, not what you think you may need.

If you are planning to sleep in an airport (or fear you may be), this means packing to sleep. The big three concerns for the airport squatter are light, noise, and temperature. Must haves include headphones or earplugs, a scarf or eye mask, and a blanket or light-weight sleeping bag. It sounds obvious, but having these things means the difference between a great night's sleep and starring blankly across the terminal for 10 hours.

After you have found a place for these items, you might want to consider bringing something to soften a hard floor. A blanket, thin, partial-length, sleeping pad, or a pillow could all help prevent bruising and soreness.

Don't forget these luxuries

Be sure to leave room for a timepiece, specifically one with an alarm, and anything else that might make the time pass more gently. My recommendation is the ever-useful deck of playing cards.

I know what you are all thinking: "playing cards? what about hooking up the laptop you hypocrite?" Fair enough. For those, like me, looking to get their interwebs fix there are several guides and maps that will help you find WiFi wherever you go. There is even a wiki to help find power outlets in airports around the world.

Eat, drink, be merry

Going too long without food will only leave you cranky. There are numerous ways to anticipate what kind of inflight meal you will be served. You can even share pictures of your meals and write reviews. Even can join in. But the sad truth is that lately, you will not be served any meal on the airplane at all. This only makes airport eating more important.

Of course, the easy option is to eat at one of the airport's restaurants or cafes. While easy, this is certainly not the most frugal option. Instead, try packing a snack or meal.

And don't forget to have some kind of water. I know the bans on liquids make carrying water bottles around airports a crime. I also know that an airport is drier than a desert. By a bottle of water if you must, but please, stay hydrated.

If slumber parties in museums can be so much fun then why can't we enjoy our nights in airports? With a little planning and preparation, your next night in the airport will be more comfortable and fun as staying in the dingy hotel across the parking lot. I promise.

Have any other tips for staying in airports? Any stories of success or failure? Do you love airports as much as this guy? Let us know in the comments.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Frugal Living Lessons From The First Thanksgiving

David DeFranza — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:47:31 +0000

Here in the United States, Thanksgiving is a holiday governed by some fairly specific traditions. Most of us eat a turkey-based feast, enjoy a parade or football game on TV, go to sleep early, and rest up for the biggest shopping day of the year.

We know that these traditions are mostly modern inventions, but on some level we all invoke the myth that our celebrations are a reenactment of the first thanksgiving.

This is fine (I would be the last one to give up my pumpkin pie in the name of historical accuracy), but there is still a lot we can learn about frugality from the first Thanksgiving celebration.

Here are five lessons:

Use what you have

We are not exactly sure what was on the menu during the first Thanksgiving. Still, it likely consisted of foods that were readily available in the limited local area of the Plimoth Plantation in early November. It was a celebration of what the colonists had, not what they pined for.

This is, perhaps, the most significant rule of frugal living. Instead of looking to what could be, make yourself happy with what you have. Then, as some have pointed out, we can try to "use it up. Wear it out. Make it do, or do without."

Work with your neighbors

We don't know if the English at Plimoth Plantation made a regular habit of working with their Wampanoag neighbors but the limited evidence we have indicates that the first Thanksgiving was indeed a joint celebration.

Instead of "competing with the Jones'," it is clearly better to share and work with them. Whether its a cup of sugar, an afternoon of labor, or a shared dinner, working together allows us to live more simply and frugally.

Learn new skills

It is likely that, in preparation for the celebration, the English of Plimoth Plantation learned some new skills from the Wampanoag, such as catching eel and growing corn. Most of this education, if it happened, would have come from Squanto, a former slave who learned English while in bondage in Europe.

Regardless of its authenticity, this element of the Thanksgiving story remains a strong lesson for frugal living today. Learning to repair your home, maintain your car, or cook saves significant money over time, making education one of the most valuable investments available.

Prepare for lean times

Before the famous first Thanksgiving, it is thought that both the English and Wampanoag held harvest festivals. Traditionally, the goal of these festivals was twofold: to collect the food reserves necessary to survive the winter and to restore everyone's health before entering these lean times.

Those looking to live frugally should take note of this philosophy. Windfalls, be it a holiday bonus, tax return, or small inheritance, can buy some excellent gifts. However, this unplanned income can also be used to build an emergency fund, save for planned health expenses, or as a contribution to a retirement fund.

Celebrate accomplishments

Of course, the first Thanksgiving was a celebration. The English of Plimoth Plantation had survived disease and drought and saw easier times ahead. It is thought that the festivities lasted three days and featured entertainment as well as eating.

If you have been working hard, saving money, and cutting expenses, don't forget to occasionally give yourself small rewards. Otherwise, the tunnel ahead becomes very dark with burnout looming ahead. Instead, set goals and reward yourself responsibly when you achieve them.

When you sit down for your Turkey Day meal or kick back in front of the TV this Thursday, try to take a moment to think of the frugal lessons we have learned from the first Thanksgiving celebration. And don't forget to relax, enjoy the company of your friends and family, and have an extra slice of pumpkin pie. You can say it's for me.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Make Your Own Deal Tracker

David DeFranza — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:08:51 +0000

If you are not already familiar with them, websites like Woot! and Steep and Cheap offer a single item at a time, often at huge discount, but only until their limited stocks run out. If you need a new piece of travel gear or gadget, these sites can be a great way to find it for cheap. However, they also encourage frequent refreshing, procrastination, and impulse buying.

What if there was a way to filter the results so that you were only notified of items you were most interested in?

Well, I am going to show you an easy way to do just that.

Introduction: RSS and Yahoo! Pipes

Real Simple Syndication, commonly known as RSS, is just an easy way for readers to stay up-to-date with new content on their favorite websites. Using RSS is commonly refered to as "subscribing" because new content is delivered to the reader's browser or email, eliminating the need for them to visit the site themselves. The major difference between an RSS subscription and most magazine subscriptions is that the former is totally free to use.

Yahoo! Pipes is a fun, straight forward, way to manipulate the information carried by the RSS subscription. I say it is fun because really it is a lot like playing with blocks. Here are five simple steps to creating a custom deal finder with Yahoo! Pipes.

Step One: Grab your sources

The first thing we need to do is insert the RSS links into Yahoo! Pipes. The links themselves can be found on each deal site, marked by either a text link labeled "RSS" or a square, orange, icon. Copy the link from you favorite deal site and head over to Yahoo! Pipes.

To create a deal tracking machine, we are going to link several modules together with "pipes." The first module we want is under "Sources" in the left column and called "Fetch Feed." Drag the module from the left column into the working area to add it to our machine.

In the dialog box on the Fetch Feed module, add the RSS link from your favorite deal site. I did this twice, once for Woot! and once for Steep and Cheap.

Step Two: Sort the results

The next thing we want to do, is sort the results from the two sites, so that the newest deals will always be at the top of the list. This is easy with the use of the "Sort" module, found under "Operators" on the left side.

Connect this module to the first one by clicking the little circle at the bottom of the Fetch Feed module and dragging it to the top ofSort. You should see a "pipe" appear between the two. It's kind of like connecting the dots.

Under the "Sort by" drop-down menu on the Sort module, select, "item.pubDate" and then set it to "descending." Once that is finished, click the plus sign on the module to create another sort option.

Set the second sort option to "item.y:published" and, again, descending.

I did this twice, once for each of my RSS links.

Step Three: Combine the feeds

Note: If you have only a single Fetch Feed module than you can skip this step.

If you have been working with the RSS links from two sites like I have, we can now combine them into one. We do this using the "Union" module located under Operators in the left column. After dragging it into the work area, you will see that the module has several input circles but only a single output.

Click and drag between the output circle of the Sort module to one of the input circles on the Union module. Do this for each differentSort module you have created.

Step Four: Filter the results

The goal of this process is to filter the many deals that will appear for things you do not need, from those that you do. We can do this using the "Filter" module, located under Operators in the left column.

Once you have dragged the Filter module over from the left column, you will see that you have the option of either blocking or permitting certain items. The easiest thing to do is to permit only the items you are interested in.

As an example, lets say I am interested in buying a new winter jacket. I would set the Filter to "permit items that contain all of the following." For the rule, I would select "item.description" from the first dialog box, leave "Contains" selected in the second, and type "jackets" into theword box at the end. That's it.

We are almost done, but I like to do one more thing to limit the results I recieve. Drag the "Truncate" module from the Operators section in the left column and connect it below the Filter module. Set this to however many results you want to see. Something like two, five, ten, so on.

Now is also the time to connect a pipe between the bottom of the Truncate module to the "Pipe Output" module.

Step Five: Grab your feed

Once you have connected to the Pipe Output module, click save and name your new feed.

Once created, there are many ways you can view the results of your new deal-tracker feed. If you click "Run Pipe," you will notice that you can view the results on that page, add them to a Yahoo! or Google homepage, get them sent to your phone or email, or view them through any other RSS reader. How you view the results is up to you.

Once you find that great deal on a winter jacket, simply go back in, edit you Filter to permit a different item, and save the Pipe again.

Deal-a-day sites can be a great way to find discounts on items you do not urgently need. To beat their impulse buying trap, try using the free and powerful Yahoo! Pipes tool to create your own deal tracker.

What is your experience with Yahoo! Pipes? What are your favorite deal-a-day websites? Let us know in the comments.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

5 Easy Recipes Perfect for the Traveling Chef

David DeFranza — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:10:52 +0000

Self-catering while traveling is an excellent way to save money. However, cooking on the road poses a whole set of problems and challenges that can seem impossible to overcome. You don't want to have to buy an entire spice rack to make your favorite recipe and then be faced with the difficult decision of lugging it around or leaving it. Even if you are willing to buy what you need, you cannot always count on foreign supermarkets having the items you are accustomed to. When you finally get a meal cooked, there is often a huge amount leftover that cannot be packed to the next destination.

These challenges have put me on the lookout for simple, good, food that can be cooked with a minimal number of widely available ingredients, and prepared in variable portions. Of course, I am thinking mainly of travelers staying in accommodation, be it a hostel, friend's house, or rental house, with a basically stocked kitchen.

Here are five easy recipes for the traveling chef:

1. Fritatta

Like a more-hearty omelet, the frittata is a frugal cooking classic. What makes this dish great for the traveler, in my opinion, is that it is based around eggs, one of the most universal ingredients in the world, and that it can be modified to include any local meat, fish or produce you can find. For a basic introduction to making a frittata, check out this recipe from the New York Times. For an example of how this simple dish can be elevated to something spectacular, have a look at this spinach frittata recipe.

2. Lentil or Bean Stew

Though you probably won't use the whole package in a single meal, a small bag of dried lentils or beans is easy to carry with you. I prefer lentils to beans because they do not require soaking prior to cooking. If you use beans instead and are planning to cook after a travel day, I recommend placing them in a resealable water bottle that you can carry in your bag throughout the day.

Making the lentils or beans into a stew only requires a single pot and can consist of any rooty vegetables, potatoes, and spices you find at the local market. For an example of a very simple lentil stew, check out this recipe.

3. Sauted Noodles

Whether it is a local native or an import from Italy, dried noodles can be found in markets and convenience stores around the world. To quickly cook noodles using a minimal number of ingredients, try sauteeing them (after they have been mostly cooked in boiling water) with some oil, crushed or chopped tomatoes, and any other vegetables or spices you can find.

4. Baked Fish

If you can find fish for sale, this is an incredible recipe that uses very few ingredients. Take some fish fillets or a whole fish, gutted and scaled, cover it with salt and pepper, a pad of butter or some olive oil, and a generous helping of lemon juice. Then put it in a 350 or 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. That's it.

For an example of this popular recipe, check out this version from the Hillbilly Housewife.

5. Drunken Chicken

Nothing gets a hostel full of backpackers excited like the sound of beer cans cracking open. This is why drunken chicken, is a great dinner to make when traveling, even though it typically produces more food than you could comfortably eat yourself in one night. Most simply, this dish requires a chicken, a can of beer, and some basic seasonings. If you roast some local vegetables while the chicken is baking, you will have a feast that will certainly win some new friends. For a fairly simple recipe, look no farther than Paula Deen's Drunken Chicken.

One of the great pleasures of traveling is the opportunity to sample another country's cuisine. Eating out for every meal, however, can add up even in the cheapest of destinations. And cooking for yourself not only saves money, it gives you and excuse to tour some new supermarkets and an opportunity to make new friends wherever you are staying.

What are some of your favorite, simple, recipes? Let us know in the comments.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Your Couch Can Earn Cash And Support A Band

David DeFranza — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:26:53 +0000

By now, anyone interested in budget travel has heard of CouchSurfing, a website that helps connect travelers with benevolent strangers in cities and towns around the world. The concept has hit the mainstream, even approaching trend status, best evidenced by a recent television commercial featuring a couch surfer armed with a particular brand of cell phone.

Of course, CouchSurfing has obvious advantages for travelers looking to meet locals and save money, but it can also be fun for hosts as well. Having a foreign guest, especially one eager to visit your town's tourist attractions with you, can almost be like taking a trip yourself. If you are trying to learn a foreign language, or even an international language, hosting a couch surfer is a great way to get some practice. Simply hearing someone else's stories can make for a memorable evening. Certainly, there are many reasons to participate in home stay programs, even if you don't plan to take a trip in the near future.

If you are considering becoming a host for couch surfers, be sure to check out these two, slightly different, opportunities.

AirBed & Breakfast

The basic premise of AirBed & Breakfast is familiar: travelers search for hosts listed in an on-line database, booking a night or two through the website. The significant difference is that, as a host, you can set a price for your accommodation. This means that, in addition to the less tangible benefits of hosting a guest, AirBed & Breakfast can help you make some extra money as well. The program is open to everyone, whether you have an extra room or simply a couch available, but the amount of money you can make clearly depends on what you have to offer and where it is located.

Better Than the Van

Another interesting alternative to hosting a couch surfer is to host a band on tour. Better Than the Van is a website designed to facilitate just such an arrangement. Though the thought of having a band crash in your place may be a bit frightening, it is a great way to support independent music and up-and-coming artists. If you are a fan of music, this could be a great way to meet some musicians.

What is your experience with couch surfing? Ever hosted a stranger? Let us hear about it in the comments.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Facebook For Budget Travelers

David DeFranza — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:13:48 +0000

For the frequent traveler, Facebook is an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances from around the world. Is it possible, however, that the popular social network could help budget-minded travelers save time and money when looking for cheap accommodation and transportation?

These applications could help you do just that.

Find a Couch

Of course, the best way to find a free place to stay through Facebook is to mine your pool of friends. If you don't have a connection in a particular area there are many services that connect you with generous strangers. Two applications, CouchSurf and CouchSurfing, allow you to search for and book available couches through Facebook. The advantage to this over separate, dedicated, sites like CouchSurfing.com is that you will be able to use your host's Facebook profile and network of friends as an indication of his or her disposition, interests, and so on. If you are comfortable with the Facebook platform, it could save you the trouble of becoming established on a more specific site.

Reserve a Hostel

Before couch surfing, the accommodation option of choice for budget travelers was the hostel. Scary movies aside, hostels are still great places to stay if you are on a budget, especially if you are interested in meeting like-minded travelers. Two different Facebook applications, confusingly called Hostels and Hostel, help you find hostels in your destination, evaluate your options with user reviews, book rooms, and coordinate plans with your friends. If you like booking hostels on the internet, and many travelers do, these applications help streamline the process.

Find a Ride

Once accommodation is squared away, the next concern for most travelers is transportation. There are a number of applications that help you search for airfares to visit your friends, but I don't think they are particularly useful or concerned with budget travel. More useful, in my opinion, are applications that allow you to find or offer a ride throughcarshare networks. Both Carpool, an extension of the popular Zimride, and Share My Ride can help secure cheap rides most places in the United States.

Send a Postcard

As you may know, I am a huge fan of postcards. There are many applications, including Kiwee postcards and Photo Wall, that allow you to send "postcards" to your friends for free. If you are on such a tight budget that the cost of postage is a concern, this could be a solution. However, it seems that almost all of the romance of sending a card through the mail is lost on these digital interpretations. The solution may be Hippopost, which sends a printed postcard via snail mail from your Facebook account.

Find a Travel Partner

Traveling with a friend, someone with whom you can share the excitement and hardships, can enrich any trip. Having a second person who can help split costs can also significantly reduce the cost of your trip. One application,appropriately called Trips, helps you find people interested in joining you on your next adventure. It also helps you plan, document, and share your trip. With its focus on sharing something that is important to you, Trips is likely the most social of the applications discussed here.

Facebook is one of the most popular social networks not only because of its simple interface and massive pool of users, but because of its functionality as a platform for accomplishing common tasks socially. When preparing for your next trip, trying using this platform to help save you time and money.

Let us know how it works out in the comments.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Can AirNinja Find Airfare Deals?

David DeFranza — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:30:06 +0000

Everyone has his or her own strategy for finding the best price on airfare. Some people swear by sites like Farecast, Farecompare, and Air Fare Watch Dog. More and more people, however, are relying on Kayak.com to sniff out the cheapest fares.

The only problem with big search engines like Kayak and others, is that they do not include many smaller, regional and discont, airlines. A new site called AirNinja is designed to fill that niche. Enter your departure point and destination into AirNinja and the site returns a list of small and discount airlines that service your route. It does not help you book flights, or even hint at ticket prices, but it does provide contact information so you can check for yourself.

The question that emerges: will this really help you save money on a ticket?

Putting it to the test

I deceided to do a little comparison shopping to see if AirNinja could help save money. On June 30, 2008, I tried four diffrent itineraries and comapared the prices between Kayak.com's results and those offered by AirNinja's suggestions.

Round 1: Newark to Los Angeles

My first test was a crosscountry flight. I searched for a flight from Newark's EWR on July 29, 2008, to Los Angeles LAX with a return on August 5, 2008. Kayak's search computers went crazy and, for this week long trip, turned up a ticket on AirTran for $385. When I went to AirTran's website the actual ticket price was $360. Not bad.

Over at AirNinja, I actually searched for flights from all airports in the New York area to all airports in the Los Angeles area. The search turned up JetBlue and Southwest Airlines. JetBlue is searched by Kayak and didn't really offer me a close enough route to be acceptable. Southwest, which is not searched by Kayak, turned up a ticket for a total of $447. This is not a great price, especially considering it requires a flight out of an inconvenient airport on Long Island.

Result: Kayak wins

Round 2: New York to San Francisco

I wanted to test the crosscountry flight again. This time I searched for flights from New York's JFK, departing on July 29, 2008, to San Francisco's SFO, returning, again, on August 5, 2008. Kayak found a ticket on JetBlue for $329.

AirNinja searched and the only carrier it returned was JetBlue. Out of curiosity, I entered the same itinerary into the JetBlue site and the same price, $329, came back. I am inclined to call this one a draw, but must conceed that Kayak was more conenient.

Result: Draw on price, though Kayak was more convenient

Round 3: New York to London

I wanted to try some international flights as well so I went to Kayak and searched for tickets from all airports in New York to all airports in London. I kept the departure date July 29 but this time I changed the return to August 12, 2008. Kayak returned a fair of $737.64 on Air India, one of my favorite airlines.

With AirNinja, things got a bit more complicated. Three airlines were suggested: AirBerlin, Aer Lingus, and Zoom Airlines. I had a lot of trouble booking a flight through AirBerlin. Everytime I tried to get the price to London, I eneded up looking at a ticket going to Vienna. I fiddled for a few minutes and gave up. I moved on to the Aer Lingus website which was a pleasing shade of green. I entered the information and, for a flight going from JFK to London Gatwick, a price of $1,228.05 returned. Finally, I gave Zoom Airlines a try. Several of the flights had been booked already, so I had to change the dates a bit. Still, I managed to find a ticket only a day or two off the original itinerary for $988.55.

Result: Kayak

Round 4: London to Barcelona

AirNinja claims its strength is finding deals on flights within Europe. I did a search for flights from all airports in London to all airports in Barcelona, departing on July 29 and returning August 5. Kayak found a flight on Easyjet, which did not surprise me, for $185. However, when I went to the Easyjet website, the actual fare was increased to $228.61 by various fees Kayak had not detected.

AirNinja found five airlines that could make the trip. The first, Thomsonfly returned a comparably absurd price of more than $535. The second, Fly Thomas Cook, would not return a price. At this point I realized that navigating airline websites was a serious pain. The next on AirNinja's list was Easyjet. Again, out of curiosity, I did a search and was able to adjust the times, though I kept the same days, to get a slightly cheaper fare of $200.72. Finally, I checked the last airline, Ryanair. The website required little fiddling and returned a price of $156.42.

Result: AirNinja

The Verdict

In this test, Kayak emerged the victor. To be fair (or should I say "fare") this was in no way a scientific or conclusive test. The dates and routes I chose were completely arbitrary. Looking at the list of airlines AirNinja has indexed, I suspect this tool is especially useful for shorter, regional flights in areas you are not familiar with, particularly in Europe.

Where Kayak really stood out was in the ease of use compared to badly designed airline websites. I am sure this is no accident of the Kayak team, or a surprise to fans of the site, but the interface really wins points for usability.

That said, I think I will add AirNinja to the list of sites I check when doing airline ticket research. You never know when it might find something you had never heard of before.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Don't Greenwash Your Holiday

David DeFranza — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:03:01 +0000

As consumer concern over environmental problems has increased, we have witnessed a push to make almost every industry "greener." The travel industry, as we all know, has not ignored this trend. From hybrid car rentals to carbon offsets, green hotels to conservation oriented vacation packages, the number of options now available to the environmentally conscious traveler are numerous.

While I appreciate these efforts, the reality is that, at this point, much of it is greenwashing.

This greenwash, which describes any good or service that is misleading about its environmental virtue, often comes at a premium, adding several additional fees to a vacation. To save our budgets and our conscience, we must filter out the truly green from the imposters.

The first step is to define ecotourism, or green travel, in a way that is meaningful to you. In order to do this, you must decide what shade of green traveler you are. Decide to what lengths you are willing to go in order to make your trip easier on the environment before you start shopping around for hotels and packages. If you are looking for a more concrete definition, perhaps the best place to look is the International Ecotourism Society, which defines ecotourism as:

"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

When evaluating an element of your holiday, whether it is a carbon offset, eco-hotel, or environmental tour, compare its promises to your definition. If they do not match, than it is probably not a good option for you. If it does match your definition, than you should check to make sure it holds up against the "Six Sins of Greenwashing." These "sins" offer an excellent framework for evaluating, not only ecotourism options, but all "green" products and services.

Hidden Trade-off: Make sure that one green initiative does not cause other problems. For example, a hotel may advertise that it is heated with wood instead of oil, but harvesting local wood for fuel may be contributing to the deforestation of the region.
No Proof: Many hotels and operators will claim to be doing things to help the environment, but cannot offer any evidence of their efforts. Don't hesitate to ask if a hotel or tour company has a written policy concerning environmental initiatives and relations with local people. If they don't have it written down, it probably isn't happening.
Vagueness: This likely goes without saying for Wise Bread readers, but you should never take a claim of "green," "environmentally friendly," or even "ecotourism" at face value. Look for specific definitions of terms and actionable policies that produce measurable results.
Irrelevance: It takes a little effort, but it is a good idea to do some research to verify the relevance of claims. For example, if a hotel boasts that it has a "property wide recycling program," it is worth checking to see if, in fact, there is a citywide recycling program mandated by law.
Fibbing: It is easy to say that a building was constructed from "environmentally friendly materials," but it is harder to know what this means. For the traveler, the best way to sniff out fibbing is to look for widely accepted certifications, or their absence. Some common ones include Green Globe, Energy Star, and the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Lesser of Two Evils: A carbon offset flight is still harmful to the environment in several other ways. Whether you give up certain unavoidably impacting activities or not depends on what shade of green traveler you are. Either way, consider the true benefit a green upgrade has in comparison to the damage done by the activity before you pay extra for it.

As the travel industry clamors to turn green, it will, at times, settle for the appearance of environmental friendliness. It is important for us, as consumers, to take a little effort to make sure these initiatives are all that they seem.

More importantly, it is necessary for travelers to define their own understanding of eco-travel, one that takes into consideration individual tastes, tolerances, and budgets. By doing this, we may help make the travel industry one that is genuinely concerned with its impact.

For some more about greenwashed travel, check out the following:

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Europe Reborn As A Budget Destination?

David DeFranza — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:30:23 +0000

I had abandoned Europe as a possibility for the budget traveler long ago. I did it with great difficulty, because I know from experience there is nothing like the food, history, and atmosphere of Europe. Still, a strong euro and expensive flights seemed to offer no other choice. That is, until I read about a deal to be made on Sunday.

The Open Skies agreement, reducing restrictions on flights between the United States and Europe, is expected to foster competition and, at some key airports like London's Heathrow, spark as much as a 20% increase in transatlantic traffic by June. With this increase in volume and competition experts predict "in the next 18 months you will be able to travel at a steep discount to Europe."

We may not have to wait for major airlines to catch on. Zoom airlines has already begun an aggresive expansion program, with flight schedules modeled after the regional low cost carriers, to drive down the price of flying to Europe. At the moment it is still no bargain, but with a little more competition and room to operate, these already discounted fares will likely drop even further.

For me, the possibility of more reasonable airfares triggered daydreams about lazy coffees at French cafes. With the current exchange, that would be a lazy, budget breaking, $10 coffee. Reality seeped in and I realized that even with the cheapest flight possible, the value of a weakening dollar is a serious budget challenge. But, does it necessarily make travel in Europe impossibly expensive?

Thanks to EasyJet, RyanAir, and other pioneers of low cost airfare, it is still cheap, even with a weak dollar, to fly around Europe. With CouchSurfing and other room share programs, It is possible to sleep for free. This option may not work well for families, but there is always the opportunity of a home exchange.

Of course, there are other expenses that will have to be dealt with. Perhaps the best way to beat the weak exchange is to avoid the euro all together. From Poland and Hungry, to Estonia, Sweeden, and the Czech Republic, there are many excellent destinations not yet on the euro. Even if forced to face a euro exchange, all is not lost. There are many tricks to eating cheap abroad, visiting museums, and even shopping that can help cut the costs.

This is all good in theory, but is it possible in the New Europe? I found some admirable examples of budget travel in Europe. Frankly, it was inspiring.

So, am I off to find the coffee of my daydreams? Well, if I am, it will be relegated to a planned "splurge" in the budget, I am afraid. Still, I am now convinced that a budget trip to Europe, while it may require some careful planning, is possible. I think that, even with frightening reports, this most expensive of destinations can show us just how much travel is possible with a small amount of carrefully spent money.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Free Travel With Postcard Fun

David DeFranza — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:00:14 +0000

A strange picture. A quick message filled with glancing references to the exotic. Odd postmarks and stamps in a foreign tongue. At the same time nostalgic and alluring, nothing epitomizes travel so much as the postcard. Unlike letters, magazines, or websites, postcards require flipping and by this actionseparate the picture and message, creating a pause between them, inviting the mind to wander.

For these reasons, having a little fun with postcards is a great way to simulate the experience of travel, get into the spirit, and take a trip for free (or very cheap) albeit in the imagination.

Here are some of my favorite postcard activities:

Make travel inspired wall decorations

If staring at your walls has you down, postcards can make some inspiring new decorations. Though you can find frames that will fit the exact dimensions of most postcards, I prefer the look of the mounted postcard. To do this, affix the card to the center of coloredcard stock or heavy paper before framing. How you acquire a frame is up to you, but I like to reuse frames from cheap pictures bought at thrift shops or liberated from the dump.

Create a travel journal

If you are like me, you have a stack of postcards from various trips that you bought but never got around to filling out and sending. This pile is a great resource for revisiting old travel memories. Take a card and fill out the back as though you were sending it to a friend or even yourself. It will feel silly at first, but after you fill two or three cards your mind will loosen up and the memories will start flowing. Of course, you could do this on the computer or a sheet of paper, but I think the back of a postcard limits the amount of time you can spend on each memory, preventing burnout and overload.

Make your own postcards

If you don't have a pile of postcards lying around, you can make some of your own. A postcard can really be made out of any material. The only limitation is that it must be 5-6" long and 3.5-4.5" wide. You can cut card bases out of card stock or old manila file folders and glue any picture you want to the front. Magazine or catalog pictures are great, or make a collage. You can also cut down the fold of most greeting cards to make two regulation postcards.

Send a postcard puzzle

Making a puzzle is a fun thing to do with homemade postcards. Take a large picture and cut it into four, postcard-sized, pieces. You can start a fun mail game by sending the pieces to a friend over a period of time. For a more complex version, send the pieces to different friends with a message indicating who to contact for the rest.

Turn your photos into postcards

There are many ways to turn your own photos into postcards. I like to print them out myself and, if necessary, glue them onto a piece of card stock. For a more professional finish, get some prints developed from your favorite kiosk or development service.

Send a PostSecret

If you are having fun making postcards, but can't think of anywhere to mail them, you might want to check out the popular PostSecret website. To participate, create an anonymous, confessional, postcard and mail it in. Looking at the postcards can, at the very least, serve as inspiration for your own designs.

Join Postcrossing

If you are not in the confessional mood, but are still looking for a place to mail your postcards, check out Postcrossing. This fun website gives you a random member's address to mail a postcard to. Once the card is received, someone will mail a postcard to you. This is a fun way to get mail from all over the world.

Travel is about so much more than movement. Get in the spirit this weekend with some postcard fun!

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

7 Reasons To Take The Bus

David DeFranza — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:00:19 +0000

In the deeply entrenched hierarchy of transportation options, flying has always been comfortable in its position above all others. Recently, air travel's superior convenience has been eroded by crowded routes, increasing delays, and long security lines. At the same time, increases in fuel prices have made budget fares difficult to find. By now, the glamor of flight has faded in the eyes of most travelers.

Meanwhile, a once lowly mode of transportation, the bus, has been working hard to craft its niche in the budget market. More comfortable buses and cheaper fares are covering more routes than ever before.

Here are seven reasons to consider taking the bus:

1. Cost

Low cost airlines have made huge progress in America over the last five years, but even at their most discounted, it is hard to compete with the bus. The well known "China Town" buses continue to operate between Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Washington D.C with fares around $15 one way. At the same time, newcomers like BoltBus have introduced fares on similar routes as low as $1. Even Greyhound has introduced a group of fares that range in price from $13 to $34 one way.

2. Coverage

Cheap buses have always been available to take you around town, but it used to be that longer routes were limited to trips between New York and Boston. Recently, however, these low cost buses have dramatically increased their route coverage extending up and down the both coasts, around the Midwest, and even, with some changes between carriers, across the country. Currently, Gotobus and the British owned Megabus dominate these networks. Of course, if you are thinking about taking a really long trip, Greyhound still claims it will take you anywhere in the United States for $99.

3. Time

I know what you are thinking: sounds good, but the bus is so slow. It is true that while the bus plods along around 55 mph, the airplane is high above, cruising at hundreds of miles an hour. But when you add up connection times and layovers, indirect routes that cater to an airline's hubs instead of your travel plans, and the time it takes to get to and from airports, the time savings in transit are drastically reduced.

The bus, which has a main station in the center of most cities, may indeed get you there faster, especially if you are traveling to a nearby city. I don't even want to get into the hassle caused by delayed, canceled or missed airline connections, but it does remind me of my next point...

4. Reliability

I have been a frequent traveler on the route between New York City and Syracuse, which passes through a notorious snow belt. These trips have taught me one thing: the bus will continuing driving though conditions that would stop your personal car, let alone an airplane. It is very rare for a bus to be canceled and, in my experience, the companies know their routes well enough that significant delays are rare (though they do occur, of course). When you book a bus ticket you can be almost guaranteed that the bus will depart as scheduled.

5. Its More Green

Many analysts say that one flight produces the same amount of CO2 per person per mile as if the passengers were driving alone in separate cars. In addition, airplanes emit many other harmful materials and it all goes directly into the upper atmosphere. The result of this, we are told, is that the damage to the atmosphere done by flying is almost twice that of driving the same number of miles in a car. When you look at the numbers, a full bus is much more gentle on the environment than a flight of the same distance. That said, the debate is ongoing.

6. Free Wi-Fi

The second major complaint commonly voiced about bus travel, after its perceived slowness, is that it is uncomfortable. Interestingly, as many airlines stripamenities to become more bus-like, some bus lines have taken action to make travel more comfortable. A notable example is the BoltBus, which in addition to its $1 fares, offers free Wi-Fi access on all of its routes.

7. Flexibility

Many bus lines offer exceptional flexibility with their tickets. Greyhound, for one, allows you to use a ticket for the reserved route on any day or time for which there is availability, up to a year after the original departure date. Other companies, notably Megabus, allow you to change your reservation with 24 hours advance notice and only a $1 service charge. I have also found drivers to be very generous with the baggage allowances as long as the bus is not too full, something you will never experience flying.

The humble bus is coming back as a cheap and friendly alternative to flying. With the environmental controversy, security and scheduling hassles, and increasing prices andsafety concerns, why not give this old, budget travel standby, another chance?

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Frequent Flier Programs For Infrequent Fliers

David DeFranza — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:00:29 +0000

It's hard to argue with the basic idea of the frequent flier program. Getting credit towards a free flight every time I spend money on a ticket does make it a little easier to finalize travel plans. The only trouble is, I do not generally fly in a way that allows me to capitalize on the benefit. At their root frequent flier programs are consumer loyalty programs and I am, admittedly, a woefully disloyal consumer.

Most people fly infrequently or with whichever airline offers the cheapest fare. Frequent flier programs are not designed for customers like this. Nevertheless, they hang there, a carrot from a stick, beaconing us towards an unrealistic reward.

Even if you fly frequently and are consistent with airlines, changing rules and restrictions make it advantageous to use your credit as soon as possible.

Fortunately, there are several tricks for maximizing miles and using them in creative ways to get the most benefit with the smallest credit.

Earn miles on the ground

Most people are aware of the many credit cards available that provide bonus air miles for every purchase. While I am personally not a big fan of credit cards, this is one of the many reasons to use your credit card to pay for everything, that is, if you can do so responsibly.

Besides credit card bonuses, there are several other ways to earn miles on the ground. Both e-rewards and e-miles give airline miles for viewing marketing information and taking surveys. Whether this is a worthwhile use of your time is debatable. However, if you only need a few more miles to attain a reward, these programs offer a no-cost way to do it.

Finally, if you like shopping, mypoints.com and the WebFlyer Milage Mall might be a good solution for building up some additional air miles or hotel credit through purchase you had planned to make anyway.

Trade and exchange miles

If, like me, you have miles spread across several different programs you do not frequently add to, consolidating may be the best option. The basic strategy most people use is to find a "common denominator" between various flight programs. For example, If you have a few miles from an international flight with Virgin Atlantic, but the majority of your miles are from domestic flights with American Airlines, you can use the Hilton HHonors reward system to transfer between the two airlines. Keep in mind that when you transfer your Virgin Atlantic miles to Hilton HHonors points, you will lose some credit and that even more will be lost when you convert the HHonors points into American Airlines miles. Another useful "common denominator" program is Amtrak Rewards.

A while ago Wise Bread writer Nora Dunn introduced us to Points.com, a great place to manage reward programs. This service is also a great place to trade and transfer points between programs, informs you of any applicable bonus offers available, and even allows you to buy more points.

Make a donation

Finally, if you are feeling philanthropic, or that your miles are too insignificant to ever be of use, consider donating them to your favorite cause. Many well known charities accept frequent flier miles donations including the Red Cross, and Project Hero. More examples can be found at this guide for OnePass members. While you generally will not receive a tax deduction for these donations, it is a good way to help out and prevent your miles from going to waste.

It is true that frequent flier miles have the greatest value when applied to the airline from which they were earned. However, for most fliers, this simply isn't practical. With a little research you can consolidate and maximize you rewards and apply them to something worthwhile.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

How Do You Spend Money When Traveling?

David DeFranza — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:30:18 +0000

The urge to save money is a defining characteristic of the budget traveler. Among travelers there is an endless dialog about cheap destinations, tricks to get a deal, and rumors of sales and specials that will shave a few more dollars off the next trip.

But is there ever a time when it is actually a good idea to spend money? If it will healthfully support the local economy you are visiting, or help accomplish some of the personal goals for your trip, then yes, spending, within reason, is a good thing.

Here are a few items and occasions I look for:

Local beer

If it's available, a locally or regionally produced beer will certainly be part of the culture. Whether it's a finely crafted micro brew, or on par with the cheapest in my hometown, giving the local beer a chance is a great way to get a taste of a place. As an added bonus, I feel like I am supporting a local industry with every pint.

Street food

I am a huge fan of eating on the street. I know it can be hard on the stomach and I know that no one wants to see me stumbling down the sidewalk dripping a sloppy sandwich everywhere. Still, I can't help it. By eating food from sidewalk vendors you are supporting the local economy and promoting a more vibrant street culture. These vendors bring people onto the streets, in the open, and this gives a huge amount of life and character to a place. Street food just happens to be the cheapest way to eat as well. Plus, it's delicious.

Local tour operators

Once in Mexico and friend and I decided we wanted to go snorkeling. Instead of signing up with one of the slick and well advertised tour operators in town, we managed to find a co-operative of fisherman who gave tours in their free time. Spending the day with a local fisherman in his small boat turned what would have been a mundane experience (the snorkeling itself was nothing rave about) into a unique and exciting one.

To find these lesser known operations or individuals, I usually check fliers or ask around town. If I want to arrange something before I arrive, I start with the local tourism bureau or chamber of commerce. Not only is this a great way to have a more personal experience, but it is also a great way to add to part of the economy commonly overlook by tourism.

Craftsman and art collectives

If I am shopping for a souvenir I always look for the shop of a local craftsman. The products at these shops are often a bit more expensive, but offer a true representation of the place I am visiting. Plus, I get to meet some local artists and learn about their work. Often, I find browsing these shops more interesting than a museum visit or tour. Remember to look for things made from sustainable materials.

When I can't do it anywhere else

A great time to spend a little extra is when you find something you cannot do anywhere else. Wise Bread reader Jack asks himself if he could have the same experience at home:

When I can't, it doesn't really matter about how much it costs as it's often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And if it looks like a memory in the making, well, splurge...

Good advice about spending, and about keeping perspective on your travels in general.

Even with all the money saving techniques in the world, we will still spend money when traveling. The real trick is to concentrate on how your money is spent so that it has the maximum benefit, not only for your budget, but for the communities that you visit.

How do you like to spend your money when traveling?

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Keeping The Budget In Budget Travel

David DeFranza — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:17:17 +0000

It's easy to forget about the budget when you are traveling or on vacation. After a day of relaxing, extra expenses don't seem like such a big deal. In a new place there is so much to see and do, how could you justify missing something based on its cost? New acquaintances invite you to dinner, and an exciting new nightlife begs to be explored. Before you know it your carefully collected trip fund has vanished with days left before your flight home.

Neglecting to monitor spending when traveling does not only lead to a trip going over budget. After months saving, hoarding sick days, and even making some sacrifices, many people are reluctant to spend their hard earned money on anything, even if it is reasonable. By focusing on saving money without realizing what they are actually spending, these people run the risk of missing out on things they could have easily afforded.

As an incorrigible member of the second group I have come to learn that tracking spending and expenses while traveling is vital for keeping perspective of a trip's cost. To make this easier on myself, I have broken the process down in to four steps (really three) that do not interfere with the day to day enjoyment of my travels.

The Pre-trip Budget

Developing the pre-trip budget requires some decisions and research, but ultimately ends with a total estimated cost for the trip. This total is dependent on how you like to travel and the place you will be visiting.

I do not stop my budget planning once I have arrived at the total estimate. Instead, I take that number and create a spending plan using the "zero-based budget" technique. I treat my target savings amount as my "income" for the trip and then whittle it down to zero by estimating all possible expenses. Pinpointing certain things that you are willing to spend extra money on is very important at this stage.

If you bring a copy of this budget along, either as a paper printout or a file stored online, you will be able to reference it frequently as your trip progresses. Hopefully, this will put spending in perspective andprevent you from going crazy re-evaluating your expenditures every moment of the trip.

Control Spending

Now, I am no fan of rigid travel plans be they in the form of itineraries or budgets. This is why I like to add some flexibility by allotting myself a certain amount of money per day. In the morning, I take the daily total from my pre-trip budget plan, subtract the cost of lodging and acontribution to an emergency fund (always a good idea, even when traveling) and put the rest in my pocket.

This "back pocket" method of budgeting lets me keep track of my daily expenses without worrying too much about the arithmetic. If I spend less on lunch than I had planned and want to know if I have enough for a fancy dinner, there is no need to dive into the books or power on the calculator. I simply reach into my pocket and discreetly count the money I have left for the day. If you are nervous about being caught without enough money, take a traveler's check or two as an emergency cushion.

As an added benefit, only carrying one day's worth of money on your person acts as a bit of protection in the unfortunate event you are mugged or pick pocketed.

Tracking Expenses

Personally, I don't like to keep detailed, itemized, expense reports while traveling. However, if you travel for business or use a credit card to pay for everything it is a good idea. There are many resources for tracking spending and managing your money online. If you will be traveling with your cellphone, a service like xspenser would may be a good option. Of course, there is always the pen and paper method. Having a pen and small notebook handy is also great for taking notes about your experiences.

Budget Reviews

Whether you have been using the "back pocket" method, keeping a detailed expense report, or some combination of the two, frequent reviews of your spending and pre-trip budget are key to staying on track. Depending on the length of your trip take time every few days or every week to evaluate how much you have spent, how much is left, and how you stand in terms of the initial plan. These frequent reviews will help catch problems before they get out of control, and allow you to get the most out of your savings.

A final budget review after you have returned home is a great way to assess the status of your now depleted trip fund. It is also a great time to create a savings plan for the next trip.

How do you keep track of expenses when you travel?

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

How Haggling Taught Me About Life

David DeFranza — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:00:48 +0000

I used to be afraid of bargaining. The thought of haggling over a price, or even asking for a discount, was embarrassing. Then I began visiting countries in which haggling is expected. I was forced to adapt. At first it was frustrating, then tiresome, but eventually I learned to embrace the process of bargaining. Once I did, I realized that haggling had taught me a lot.

Here are six of my favorite lessons:

It Never Hurts to Ask

When I first began bargaining, I was very timid about suggesting a discount. After several very unsuccessful attempts I realized there is no harm in simply asking for what you want. The more I asked, the easier it became. Now I ask questions all the time. I find that it helps establish my terms and clear up misunderstandings before they happen.

Shop Around and Learn the Market

A bargaining situation is not something you want to jump into blindly. Before you can recognize a reasonable price, you must know what other people are paying and what the nature of the market is. This, of course, is not the only time in which a little research leads to a big payoff. I always try to understand the established terms of my problem before I attempt to evaluate it. This is the first step towards what I think is the most important lesson...

Know Your Price

Expert hagglers will tell you that the key to feeling satisfied with a negotiation's outcome is to know exactly what you expect from it. This is relevant to almost any situation, whether bargaining is involved or not. Before I buy something, I try to establish how much it is truly worth to me. If my price is less than the marked one, and there is no room for negotiation, I probably won't buy it. But this doesn't only relate to money. Time, energy, ethical, and moral values are all things to consider when evaluating the cost of an item, activity, new responsibility, or anything.

Stay Calm

A heated negotiation is an exciting event but, to be successful, you cannot get caught up in it. The best hagglers sit back with a calm, almost aloof, confidence and let the situation play out on its own. This patience is a skill that can take a lifetime to develop. I am still working on it, but a more relaxed attitude has already helped me in all aspects of my life.

Have Fun

I think the greatest misconception I had about bargaining before I did a lot of it was that it involved an argument. This couldn't be farther from the truth. If you smile when making an offer, people are much more likely to accept it. If you can laugh at yourself, everyone opens up a bit. Haggling, and life, require a sense of humor.

Don't Be Afraid To Walk Away

The final revelation that comes when learning to bargain is that the lowest price will be shouted after you have walked away. Still, sometimes you just have to accept that your price is too low. Other times, you have to realize that you didn't really want the item that much in the first place. Then there are times when you begin to put distance between yourself and a situation, and it comes running back, begging to make a deal.

There are a lot of great guides to haggling and bargaining out there. Here are some that I enjoyed:

Get Rich Slowly: How to Haggle
MetaFilter: How low can you go?
REI: Travel Expert Advice: Bargaining
Reader's Digest: Haggle Like a Pro: 5 Lines That Work
New York Magazine: Tips on How to Haggle
Beijing Travel Tips: Bargaining
Wikitravel: How to Haggle

Do you have any great bargaining tips or stories? What has haggling taught you? Share it in the comments!

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Volunteer to Travel: 11 Opportunities for Free or Very Cheap Travel

David DeFranza — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:26:22 +0000

Short of winning a sweepstakes, a no cost holiday to a foreign country is an impossibility for most people. Of course, there are countless ways to reduce the cost of a trip, but ultimately you must decide if the traveling is worth the money you will spend on it. With growing fears of recession and a dramatically weakening dollar, the scales of reason seem to be tipping more and more in favor of staying at home.

But what if you could travel for free, even be paid a stipend, in exchange for contributing time to help a foreign community as a volunteer?

Purposeful travel has become very popular and the opportunities to take 'volunteer vacations' are endless. However, all of these programs cost money, often just as much as a traditional package tour.

There are a lot of good reasons why travelers should pay to volunteer, but we are about to see that you don't have to.

Here are 11 options for free or very cheap travel through volunteering:

Long-term Programs

The Peace Corps is the classic all expenses paid volunteer option that first comes to an American's mind. They offer two-year appointments, mostly in Africa, Asia, and South America, as well as modest stipends. Popular among recent college graduates, the Peace Corps is actually open to people of all ages. It is part of a larger government program called Freedom Corps, which includes the Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP). VfP offers similar benefits and projects as the Peace Corps, but assignment lengths are variable, from a few weeks to several years in duration.

The United Nations volunteer program sends experienced professionals from almost any field to every region on earth. As a volunteer all expenses, including airfares to and from your work site and any pre-appointment necessities like vaccines and visas, are covered. In addition, volunteers receive various grants and stipends that vary in amount depending on the project's local economy. Like most of the groups in this list, they are looking for people with extensive experience in their field. Like the Peace Corps, most appoints are for two years, though they claim to be increasing the number of six-month and year-long options.

The ArtCorps is a program specifically designed for professional artists. The program focuses on using art as a teaching tool, as well as a means of expression, for communities that face pressing social problems. Though the program does require that participants do some personal fundraising, the cost of travel is otherwise fully covered, along with a small stipend. Most assignments last 11 months.

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) was recognized as the "International Development Charity of the Year" at the 2004 UK Charity Awards. They have placed over 30,000 volunteers, primarily in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. They provide a stipend, in addition to covering all expenses. While most assignments last two years, there are some special projects for experienced professionals lasting between two weeks and six months.

Shorter-term Programs

Geekcorps is a volunteer program that specializes in placing experts from the IT industry in communities with the goal of fostering digital independence. Geekcorps runs projects primarily in Mali, Ghana, and Lebanon. The program covers travel and living expenses in addition to providing a small stipend. Most of the placements are four months in duration, though options range from one to six months.

Winrock International is a non-profit organization that works to build economic prosperity and civil empowerment while encouraging sustainable resource use and environmental protection. They have projects in many parts of South America, Asia, and Africa. They offer to cover all travel expenses including a small per diem and most assignments last two to three weeks, including travel time.

ACDI/VOCA leads projects focused primarily on economic development. They are looking for experienced professionals with knowledge of business, banking and finance, marketing, agriculture, food processing, and community development, in addition to other, project specific, areas. They administer projects all over the world and cover all project-related expenses. Typical assignments are between two and four weeks long.

The International Executive Service Corps (IESC) encourages the development of private business and industry with the goal of increasing prosperity and development around the world. They are looking for volunteers with a background in business or industry and operate in many locations. All travel expenses are covered by the program in addition to a small stipend. Assignments vary from one week to several months long.

The Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) places business and finance professionals in developing and reforming economies to provide education and guidance. They cover all expenses and operate primarily in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Assignments typically last between one and two weeks.

Not Free, But Very Cheap

Willing Workers On Organic Farms (WWOOF) places volunteers on organic farms around the world. While working, your room and board at the farm is free, though volunteers are responsible for all expenses involved in getting to and from the site. Volunteers must pay a small annual membership fee to join the organization in the country they wish to work in order to access the database of farms. This is a great opportunity to learn about organic farming and spend a week or two doing some fun physical work.

Finally, there are a number of "work camps" worldwide that place teams of volunteers on a two or three week project. These can involve everything from farming to construction, education to art, every project is different. It costs about $300 for two or three weeks of room, board, and work. Not free, but not bad for two weeks of traveling. These projects are organized through clearing houses, the most popular being Volunteers for Peace and Service Civil International. As a great deal, Volunteers For Peace charge $500 for an entire family, regardless of the size.

Keep in mind that these trips will not be a week sitting on the beach. You will have to work, but even if you are doing something related to your everyday job, the location and unique challenges will make it seem fresh and new.

Besides a vacation, these opportunities provide an opportunity to learn a new language, take a leadership role, experience everyday life in a foreign country, and make some new friends and professional connections. With experiences like that, maybe it is smart to take a vacation during a recession.

For more general information on volunteering check out Transitions Abroad, the True Travellers Society, and the Idealist.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more Travel articles from Wise Bread.

Use Safe Driving To Save Gas During The Last 6 Weeks Of Winter

David DeFranza — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:44:33 +0000

Yesterday, Punxsutawney Phil predicted that we will have to endure six more weeks of winter. When I heard this news one thing came to mind: more winter driving. While I don't like the added danger of driving in winter conditions, I am more upset by the knowledge that the snow, ice, and cold reduce my car's efficiency by up to 50%.

A while ago we looked at the efficiency improving techniques of 'hypermiling'. Many people criticize these techniques as unsafe but really the core concepts are, in fact, perfectly suited to safe driving in winter weather.

By practicing these techniques for the next six weeks you will be a safer, more efficient driver. As a added bonus, you will be in the habit of fuel saving driving when spring and summer arrive.

Hypermiling is Safe Winter Driving

The AAA advice for safe winter driving could easily be used as a basic primer for the new hypermiler. They recommend:

Group all driving into one session and plan a route that will involve the fewest stops, hills, intersections and the lightest traffic. If possible, public transport is safer and more fuel efficient than driving yourself.
Accelerate slowly to increase your vehicle's traction on slippery roads. The use of cruise control is not recommended in the snow, ice, or rain.
Come to a slow stop. If you begin stopping early, the car can slow down gradually.
Leave plenty of space between cars. This prevents slamming on your brakes and skidding out of control.
Drive slowly to allow more time to react to your own car as well as other motorists.
Don't stop if it is possible to avoid. Slow down so that you can roll through a light rather than stopping the car completely.
Don't speed up hills. Instead, build speed and inertia before the hill and use it to coast to the top. This saves gas and prevents spinning wheels.

Fighting the Cold

While the techniques above will help make driving safer and more efficient in the ice and snow, there is one more issue that dramatically reduces economy in the winter: the cold.

The Canada Office of Energy Efficiency has some great tips for maintaining efficiency in the cold. They recommend:

Get a tune up. Winter driving takes a tole on your car and waiting until spring may not be worthwhile. Regular maintenance is the most important thing you can do to your car to ensure your car is as efficient as possible.
Warm your car by driving, not idling. Leaving your car to sit and idle wastes fuel and can also be damaging to the engine.
If it is very cold in your area, consider a block heater. These plug in engine warmers are a significantly more efficient way of heating the engine compared to idling.
Clear snow and ice off the entire car. A car piled with snow is dangerous, but the weight and reduced aerodynamics it causes can also hurt efficiency. Snow and ice build up in wheel wells can rub against the tires, increasing resistance on the wheels.
Check your tire pressure. Dropping temperatures reduce the pressure and an under-inflation of just 2 psi can decrease economy by 1%.

These basic techniques can radically increase the efficiency of your car for the remainder of the winter. Perhaps more importantly, they will make your winter driving a bit more gentle on your car, and safer for you and other motorists.

For more information on winter driving, try these sites:

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Travel Planning With Class

David DeFranza — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:00:03 +0000

Bring up class and most people start to get touchy. Unfortunately, it's an unavoidable reality when traveling. From the airport lounge, to the seat assignment on a ticket, to the bed on the train, to the floor number of a hotel room, class is presented to the traveler in the most unsubtle terms. In reality, different groups of travelers define themselves and others by class. It sounds nasty, but it is not all bad. In fact, these largely self imposed class divisions are something you can use to make your trip planning more effective.

Of course, there is no one that is going to force you to pick a group and stick to it. Everyday of your trip may be characteristic of a different class of traveler. After all, unexpected changes and surprises are part of the fun. However, understanding these traits can help us narrow down our options when planning a trip.

Let's take a look at a few different classes of traveler and their accompanying traits.

1. The Backpacker

A backpacker is the person who has taken the slowest means possible to get to wherever you are. Perhaps a bus, the back of a truck, a camel, or even on foot. She did this because she thinks it is a more intimate form of travel. It was also the cheapest. Time is her asset and she uses it to the utmost advantage. At the same time, frequent day tours, meals out, and even hotel rooms are considered luxuries.

I have done a lot of traveling in this style and I can attest it is not all scrimping, fasting, camping, and hitchhiking. And it is not all smelly and dirty. It is, however, slow. If you have a lot of time, a very budget conscious trip will help you maximize the money you have over a long period. Focusing on activities that are free like hiking, camping, and people watching, help keep daily expenses down. Local buses are slow and offer an often harrowing ride, but they are cheap and great places to meet local people. All said, this can be a very fun way to go if you have a surplus of time.

2. The Flashpacker

He is a also likely to be young and equipped with a backpack, but his gear is not so threadbare. He is listening to an mp3 player on the bus and is not afraid to buy food and a beer at dinner. He enjoys the far-flung destinations, but has the money to make the budget less austere. Flashpackers are often young professionals, between careers or taking a break from work.

Flashpacking is a great option for people that like the idea of cheaper or less touristed destinations but also like to keep their options open. As a flashpacker, having several good nights out in the city wont break the budget, and there is nothing to keep you from going to both recommended museums in spite of the admission costs. This class of travel blends the adventure of backpacking with the ability to travel quickly to cover more ground.

3. The Expatriate

The expatriate has made the choice to live and work abroad. While budgets and lifestyles vary among expats, they all have become, to some extent, rooted in a foreign place. They have gone beyond experiencing the culture and become a part of it. Expats have developed routines and relationships in the place they live. It has become more than a trip. It is their life.

This could be a great model for your travels. Even if you have only a week, you can still try to keep your movement to a minimum. Rent an apartment and explore one neighborhood extensively before moving to the next. This can be a great way to travel with kids, and often ends up being a very cheap trip.

4. The Jetsetter

She has been to Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, and Buenos Aires...this month. Always between trips to the most fashionable destinations, she lives for the night life and culture of these cosmopolitan cities. With an itinerary defined by parties and events, this traveler is always on the go.

While this lifestyle may be a dream for most, it too can help tailor the much more modest trips of our own. If you like fashion, high culture, and experiencing the night life, your trip may need a larger budget. However, even in the most expensive cities of the world, there are deals to be had. The pace of the jetsetter may also be appealing. There is nothing wrong with hopping quickly between cities and this would be desirable if your time is very limited.

Focusing Your Goals

Among these group, there is a progression in budget from small to limitless, but one is not better then the other. We must realize that, while initially divided by money, this is not the only characteristic that differentiates them. Available time, interests, and lifestyles all contribute to forming the group identities. When you sit down to plan your next trip and are confronted by all of the available options, remember these groups. Ask yourself, "would the flashpacker enjoy this trip? What about the jetsetter?"

Travel is a chance to experience new cultures, try new things, experience the buzz of the cosmopolitan, and get away from it all. There is an endless list of places to visit in the world, and just a many ways to experience each destination. By defining your goals, your style, your class, it will be much easier to plan the trip of your dreams.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Save 50% On Your Passport Application?

David DeFranza — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:11:57 +0000

Last year's plan making a passport required for all international travel created a frenzy of applications for the document and sent the issuing system into gridlock. The result was a delay of the plan but it is still set to take effect by June, 2009.

This means that you will be required to present a passport, which now costs $97 for an adult and $82 for a child, in order to re-enter the United States. If you are planning a family vacation abroad this could mean a substantial additional cost.

However, if your travel plans involve a border crossing via land (to Canada or Mexico, for example) or sea (like a cruise to the Caribbean), then you may be able to take advantage of a new option, almost 50% cheaper. The new passport card is a wallet sized ID imprinted with a RFID chip. If all goes to plan, the cards will be available in February at the price of $45 for adults and $35 for children. If you are an adult in need of a passport renewal, the card will cost only $20.

Again, the passport card is only valid for land and sea border crossings. If you are a family planning a road trip to Canada, a cruise to the Caribbean, or if you live in a border region and make frequent crossings, this could provide real savings.

I should point out that this card is not without controversy. Many people argue that it will weaken border security and endanger card holder's privacy. The U.S. Department of State argues that the RFID technology poses no threat to passport holder's privacy.

Whether you choose to apply for the traditional passport booklet or the new card, make sure you give plenty of time for processing. Expediting the application process is possible, but not something you want to have to do. Also, a sure way to save $7-$10 on any passport or visa application is to take your own photos.

For more information on the passport card, check out this overview from the LA Times.

Written by David DeFranza and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.