Making sense of common travel tips
What it really means to book in the off-season, travel lightly and eat like a local
When it comes to tips on how to travel better and more affordably, there are some old chestnuts that always apply. But though they sound obvious, many actually require insider knowledge to use them effectively. Tip 1: Travel in the off-season to save money! Yes, that’s correct, but when exactly is the “off-season?” The truth is, off-season varies greatly from destination to destination. As a rule of thumb, off-season usually falls when the kids are in school, especially for resort destinations, theme parks and anyplace with sand.
The exceptions to the “kids” rule are important business cities, as they often see a boom in visitation during those months. (Woe betide the traveller who tries to find an affordable hotel room in New York City in October).
The period directly after big holidays also is usually slow, so you generally can save a bundle on travelling to beach-y places in the weeks directly after New Year’s Eve. And, of course, prices drop when the weather’s lousy. Except for destinations where you spend most of your time indoors anyway, travelling then just for the savings always seems like a backwards strategy to me. Tip 2: Pack light to avoid hassles! A truism, because, when you pack less, you don’t become a slave to your luggage, straining as you lug it hither and thither; and taking taxis rather than saving money on public transportation.
But how, exactly, can you pack less and still be adequately prepared, especially in this day of mobile devices, cords and chargers?
For clothes, the key is bringing items in dark, stain-hiding colours that can be matched into several outfits. And instead of laying the clothes flat, you should roll most of them, as that will make them less wrinkled and they’ll take up less room in your bag (so you can carry a smaller bag).
The period directly after big holidays also is usually slow, so you generally can save a bundle on travelling to beach-y places
Also, invest in a small sack that will efficiently hold the electronic gear you need in one small space. And consider carrying a tablet, perhaps with a foldable keyboard, rather than a bulky laptop. Tip 3: Eat like a local! Doing so likely will save you money and allow you to have more authentic meals in the destination.
But how does one find the places that locals love?
First off, don’t ask the concierge at your hotel. Often concierges get kickbacks for steering tourists to restaurants that wouldn’t stay in business otherwise.
If you’re in a destination that speaks a language other than English, look for the restaurants that post menus only in the local language. And do some research in advance of your trip. A good guidebook writer will ferret out the local favourites and list them in his book. (Indeed, most guidebook writers today live in the destinations they cover.) Or you can peek at sites that are geared toward locals, not tourists. to see which eateries are garnering the most raves. Pauline Frommer is the creator of the award-winning Pauline Frommer’s Travel Guides series.