Research

A few things I've learned along the way ...

☼ Check several travel sites because listings, reviews and prices differ

☼ This also makes it a bit time-consuming

☼ Everything is covered; from accommodation to transport, itineraries to travel guides/agencies.

☼ Whether it's cheaper to book directly with a hotel or guide than using a site depends on several factors so you really need to do your research

☼ If you're taking the direct route, you should probably elect to pay in person if that's allowed. If not, using an established site is safer as payments then are through them.

☼ Booking - flights - Booking early tends to be cheaper and allows you the luxury of selecting your seat most often but if you don't have to worry about visas or putting down deposits for accommodation, you could get a good deal at the last minute

☼ Booking - accommodation - If you're a risk-taker, the non-refundable bookings tend to be the cheapest. But if you're not a gambler, go for deals with free cancellation allowed close to the time of your visit. That way you can keep an eye out for flash sales either for the same accommodation or others at the same location. Then just cancel your existing booking and re-book!

Why do any research at all? Why not get a travel agent to book things for ya?

Well, I've saved €50 by booking flights just three months in advance and there's a €1,000 difference between what my Seychelloise travel agent quoted for accommodation and what I booked on my own after some research.

Research has its rewards!

Budget vs luxury travel

As I'm planning my next holiday, I'm torn between cutting corners and treating myself.

Scrimping and saving for a low-budget holiday is an experience. Nomadic backpacking teaches you to pack light and survive on the bare minimum, be it clothing or nourishment. And you quickly learn a thing or two about a nation by their transport system, which you have to navigate on your own. Where to buy tickets, their validity, which bus/train goes where etc. On top of which you have to read up on the sights you see and their locations. You could splurge on audio guides everywhere you go, but that cost kinda piles up.

Taking a medium- to high-end tour once in awhile is great too I tell ya! Your luggage is picked up and delivered so you don't have to worry too much about how much you've packed. Your meals cover all food groups and don't need to be inhaled in three minutes before your transport leaves. And you are taken about in a large comfortable coach with a lovely guide regaling you with humourous stories and fascinating facts about whatever you see.

I find a mix of both extremes works best for me. Choosing a hostel over a hotel softens the blow of dining at a fancy restaurant. As does taking public transport to a star attraction where entrance costs the GDP of a small nation!