Browsing Tag

Travel

General

Why Travel Medical Insurance Is Important

Traveling is a wonderful experience. It is always nice to see a different part of the world whether it is by car or boat or plane. It is important, however, that you prepare properly for your trip by purchasing appropriate travel insurance. First check to see if your employee benefits package contains the proper travel medical insurance. Also, see if any other insurance you already pay for will provide you with coverage. If not, then you need to read on.

During the past few years my husband and I have taken several road trips that have taken us to both Canadian coasts as well as down into the United States. Until recently, however, we never even thought of buying travel medical insurance. Thankfully nothing happened to us that would require the need for medical assistance, however, if it had, especially during our travels to the States, we would seriously have regretted overlooking the importance of travel medical insurance.

June 24, 2011

Travel & Entertainment

A Way To Save On Travel Through Mennonite Your Way

There are a lot of ways you can save money when you travel. My husband and I generally camp whenever possible as it has been a cheap way for us to get to see a lot of places. However, some friends of ours recently introduced us to an organization called Mennonite Your Way. They had gone to the U.S. for a vacation and they stayed with people who open up their homes to travelers. Not only did they save a lot of money by not having to stay in hotels, but they also had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people.

Mennonite Your Way is not strictly for Mennonites, in case you were wondering. According to their website, it’s a hospitality network for Christians. They have created a directory of over 1700 hosts in approximately 60 countries and for a donation you can get a copy of the directory. Then, you can contact the hosts located in your area of travel and make arrangements with them directly. The whole purpose is to encourage fellowship with folks from all over the world. On top of that, it makes traveling a whole lot cheaper as well.

August 29, 2010

Money Saving Tips

How To Save Money On Airline Tickets

There are many websites promoting cheaper airline tickets. If you compare prices between the sites, and some sites even compare between other sites for you, you can find the best possible price. Many of the websites have a lowest price guarantee, so be sure to check the fine print in case you qualify for it.

Another way to save money is to request an e-ticket, instead of having traditional paper tickets delivered to you before the flight. They also have the safety feature of not being able to lose the tickets before the flight, especially if you book far in advance.

You can buy two “back-to back” cheaper round trip tickets instead of unrestricted tickets, which are more expensive. By using half of each set of round trip tickets, you save money. The major draw back to this is you can’t use them toward frequent flyer miles.

If you travel during the middle of the week, instead of over the weekend, you can usually purchase cheaper airline tickets. The weekends are higher volume, so seats are at a premium.

February 15, 2010

Travel & Entertainment

How We Saved Money On Our Road Trip

Last year my husband and I went on a 10,000 km road trip and had a blast. We went for two weeks and our budget was $2000. We were able to stay within our budget despite the outrageous gas prices, and we had a great time.

Here are some things we did to save money while traveling:

1.We ate our own food. For the most part we ate food purchased from grocery stores along the way. We brought along a cooler and a Coleman cooking stove so we could cook our own food. We did eat a few meals in restaurants but usually we did so only when we were visiting friends. We ate a lot of cold cuts and buns, eggs, and various veggies and fruits. We brought along some granola bars as well so we wouldn’t be tempted to stop at convenience stores for snacks.

2. We camped instead of staying in hotels. We brought along our tent and camped along the way. For a few nights we stayed with friends at their homes. We also slept in our car for two nights. I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in your vehicle every night, but if you just do it once or twice it is okay.

3. We maintained our car. Before we left, my husband gave our car a tune up. He changed the oil, made sure the air filter was clean, and checked the tire pressure. Throughout our trip he checked the oil and tire pressure. Thankfully we had no car trouble and our car was extremely fuel- efficient! Taking care of your car really does pay off.

4. We used a GPS system rather than relying on maps to get around. This saved us both money and time. We didn’t have to stress over where we were or how to get to the next destination. The GPS also provided us with the most direct route to our destinations so we weren’t wasting fuel going in the wrong direction! I highly recommend using GPS if you are going somewhere unfamiliar.

5. Our entertainment was enjoying nature. Along the way, we often stopped at curious sightseeing spots such as canyons, small waterfalls, etc. We didn’t have to spend a lot of money on entertainment as we were so enthralled by just being able to see such beauty all around us. We visited friends along the way and had a great time catching up. Except for a few tourist attractions, most of our entertainment was free!

May 14, 2009

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