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AVOID
EXTRA BANKING CHARGES -- Before you leave
home check with your bank to find out how easy it is to find
ATM machines where you are going. In many countries nowadays
they are widespread, making this the most cost effective way
of getting local currency. However, you need to know which
ATMs to use so that you don't pay fees to your own bank at
home as well as the foreign bank dispensing the cash. (Sa,
Hong Kong).
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STAY IN A UNIVERSITY
OR COLLEGE RESIDENCE -- If you are travelling
during the summer try to stay at university and college residences.
They're always clean, convenient and inexpensive. Breakfast
is available and these residences are usually on a bus line.
(Marg, Cambridge, Canada).
EDITOR'S NOTE: Take
a look at Journeywoman's A
Girl's Guide to University Sleeps for a listing of dorms.
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SHOP AT SECONDHAND
OUTLETS AT YOUR DESTINATION -- Check out second-hand
clothing shops at your destination. I found Scandinavia especially
good for this. What may look like old or out-of-fashion in
one country, will look cool, retro, cozy, quaint back home.
Plus if you are travelling from country to country, you can
always recycle such inexpensive clothes without feeling guilty.
(Tuija, Vancouver, Canada)
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STAY IN A CONVENT
-- Be sure to check out convents
in Europe. I stayed at one in Zurich for a very low cost although
the guide books all said Zurich was a very expensive city
and I almost skipped it. It was so affordable (and the city
so fascinating) that I stayed three days. I ended up with
a dorm mate from Brazil who showed me around town for a morning.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
If you plan to visit Austria, Czech Republic or Italy, a good
guide to convents and monasteries is called, 'Good Night &
God Bless ' by Trish Clark (Lucretia,Tennessee, USA).
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DO YOU REALLY
NEED A TOUR BUS? -- I use guide books to plan
my itinerary when I visit a new destination. I find it's cheaper
to take trains and buses to the specific sites that interest
me and eliminate the stops that I'm not interested in at all.
(Daphne, Renfrew, Canada).
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EATING A NICE
MEAL IS CHEAPER AT LUNCH TIME -- When I do
go out for a nice meal, I go for lunch when the menus are
much less expensive. Also I'm not the only woman sitting alone.
There are many businesswomen enjoying a meal by themselves
at that time, too. (Pam, Boulder, CO, USA )
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AVOID ROAMING
CHARGES TO YOUR CELL PHONE -- Sometimes it's
smarter not to use your wireless device. Seek out cheap Internet
cafes and email from there rather than garnering huge roaming
charges with your wireless devices. (JC Lam, Toronto, Canada)
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GO TO A MATINEE
INSTEAD OF AN EVENING THEATRE PERFORMANCE --
Especially if you are a solo woman traveller who chooses not
to stay out too late in the evening, going to a matinee or
preview performance in place of a regular evening one is a
perfect solution. It suits your needs and you save money doing
it. (Debra, Toronto, Canada)
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DRINK WHAT THE
LOCALS DRINK -- While on the road don't insist
on ordering the same alcoholic drinks you are used to at home.
Doing that will generally cost you a fortune. Instead try
something new and drink the less expensive beers and wines
of the regions you're visiting. That said, drink less wine
and more water. It's better for you. (Cherie-Lynn, Ottawa,
Canada)
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STAY IN A HOSTEL
THAT OFFERS FREEBIES -- Some hostels offer
free breakfast, free airport pick up and free use of towels
(as opposed to the ones that charge you for one). I recently
stayed at a great hostel in Cairns, Australia (Castaways
Baackpackers) that had wine and cheese night plus they
gave us coupons each night for a free dinner at a local restaurant/bar.
Some offer free Internet and/or wifi. The hostel I stayed
at in Sydney organized outings at night that were either free
or ridiculously cheap. I use the website www.hostelbookers.com
for booking the places I stay at (Alison, Atlanta, USA).
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Bonus!
Local carry bags make great gifts...
