V is for “Vacation” vs. “Travel.”
V is for “Vacation” vs. “Travel.”

Huh? Aren’t they one in the same? No, not exactly. Today many “travelers” pride themselves in having wanderlust; the ability to pack up all their belongings and hit the road regardless of having a mapped out plan. They wish to delight in the experience of their journey and take joy in the immersing of a new cultural encounter. A “traveler” wants to expand horizons, discover new cultures and gain a tremendous amount of perspective of the world in which we live hoping to evolve, grow and understand.
The “vacationer” on the other hand, tends to plan a trip to a particular destination to revel in the luxury of relaxation. Sure, they may schedule activities and visit a few nearby attractions, but mostly a vacation is a respite from one’s day to day stresses which allow them to enjoy some free time. The goal is to be stress-free at a beautiful location, filled with fun, great food and lots of relaxation.
Whether you are planning to “travel the world” or relax on a vacation, having a realistic budget for each is highly recommended. Here are a few money tips for both the traveler and vacationer:
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Create a real, detailed budget and stick to it!
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Be flexible – consider alternate airports the savings may be worth the diversion.
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Do some research online to find the lowest fares and hotel discounts through sites like Booking.com, Airbnb, Kayak, and Momondo
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Sign up for a credit card with loyalty rewards programs; use accumulated points to book a flight, pay for a room or receive upgrades. Be sure to use this card wisely – pay entire bill each month to avoid interest charges.
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Sign up for hotel and airline rewards programs and receive discounts when you book directly with the hotel or airline.
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Travel during the off-season when discounts are widely available, this may help you save $.
For the traveler:
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Couch surf or check out hostelworld and sublets for gypsys on Facebook
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Find volunteer work that provides room and board on websites like workaway.info
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Exchange services for food and a place to stay check out woof.net or help.net. Be sure to check the reviews!