Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and cheap

Bait-and-Switch or ineptitude?... WTF Travelocity!?

blueberry — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:27:45 -0800

Buying a ticket to Bangkok—is there a dependable online ticket-searching service that is all about getting the truly cheapest fare? Skinflint-In-Coach.com? Argh!, I spent over an hour today working on the Travelocity site, trying to find a low-priced ticket from Portland to Bangkok. After noodling around with my Portland/Bangkok departure dates I finally found a reasonably priced ticket that I could afford. However when I clicked to order it Travelocity said Sorry, that ticket's not available, please go pick another one—all of the other tickets being at least $500 more. (And annoyingly, when I went back to look at the other tickets, that cheaper un-buyable ticket was still listed as being available)

So, I tried Kayak.com and found that while it searches across four different ticket sites, each site finds fares that differ from each other by thousands of dollars. That is, each site is saying "This is the absolute cheapest flight out there" but actually the ticket prices vary from $1900 to $4000. To my mind, there should be only one "cheapest flight"—you know, hence the "-est" suffix.

So tell me hive mind, is there one ticket-finding site that
A: doesn't advertise tickets that it doesn't have (Travelocity), and
B: searches all flights all through one interface—so you don't have to dig through several different sites and windows wasting time with their laughable ideas of what they call "the cheapest flight"?

[For reference, I'm looking to leave PDX on Dec 9th, and leave BKK on any of the days between Dec 31 and Jan 3]

Have to fly in July, but we'll adapt to anything else!

amicamentis — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:53:46 -0800

How to find the best NYC --> Europe flight deals when both day of week and destination are flexible. Caveat: flying out July 2010. My roommate and I are planning an extended European vacation beginning around the middle of July next year. I know that this is the absolute worst time to fly out, so we need some tips about how to cut down the price.

We are flying from NYC but would be willing to travel to Newark or even Philadelphia if there were significant savings. I have used RyanAir in the past and am familiar with inter-European travel, which is why we don't care much about the city that we first land in. So far, it looks like flying into Dublin is the least expensive. We would also be fine with Paris, London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, or Geneva.

What now? I've heard that if you're flying during peak season then you should just buy tickets as early as possible because they will never lower. However, with our flexibility it seems that there may be some deal, somewhere a bit closer to our flight date. Is this wishful thinking?

We would appreciate any website recommendations that would give fares on neighboring cities as well, or flexibility about the day of the week. I've tried Kayak and liked it - are there others?

In addition, our vacation will probably continue for several months. Will the customs agents give us any problems for having a return ticket for more than three months from the day we enter the country?

Thanks!

Cheap Bus NYC-DC

mixer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:48:43 -0800

Cheap buses from NYC to Washington D.C.? The question's been asked and answered in the past, but I'm wondering if that information is outdated. Thanks!

how to entertain a group of 8 in singapore on a strict budget

messiahwannabe — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:03:15 -0800

i need a bunch of cheap, or better yet FREE, activities for a group of 20-something indonesian musicans and dancers during our trip to singapore. me and my band will be in singapore for 8 days. there's 8 of us (3 girls 5 guys) and we'll be on a super tight budget, but since most of them don't get out of indonesia very often, i want to show them a good time while we're there. so i'm looking for some fun, FREE activities i can do with them - mostly in the afternoon before our shows, but also at night after 10pm. ideas anyone?

it can be anything really, not just classic tourist stuff (though that's cool as well, as long as it's FREE). just as long as it's interesting or fun! so far i've thought of: wandering through the biggest, newest mall. a walk through a cool, attractive area, maybe at night, say by the waterfront or something. eat at a cool hawker center where they can spend their $10/day per diems, maybe like la pasat or something... maybe there's a free rooftop viewing area we can look at the skyline? free museums and concerts are also good. basically anything i can do to fill up our free time around our shows without spending the little money we're making on the gig...

we'll be staying in the gaylong area (but i think we can probably at least afford to take the mrt places). also, we'll be there during f1 if that helps any!

Affordable Spain!

lattiboy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:46:38 -0800

What are some of the best things to do in Spain in October? Going on an 11 day trip of Spain:

We will be spending the 1st, 2nd, 3rd days in Madrid, hopping the bullet train and then spending the 4th, 5th, and possibly 6th day in Barcelona. After that we're going to play it by ear, but we're thinking of going to Valencia and different spots in Catalonia (I lined up a rental car) and driving back to Madrid (it's my scheduled drop off point for the car).

Looking for awesome stuff to check out. We'll have a car from the 6th to 11th day of the trip. It would be great if things could trend toward the affordable as I'd like to have some of our savings when we get home.

Also, is there a "city pass" type thing for Madrid and/or Barcelona? We saved a bundle on our last trip to San Francisco by getting one of those. It included metro and museum entry for a flat fee.

New York for the Young

ashaw — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:06:24 -0800

Help planning a 5 Day trip to NYC - Do you know of any secret delights that New York City has to offer? I need recommendations/advice on everything from where to stay to where to go. Much more details inside. Just to spark some ideas, I'm a twenty year old single british male traveller who has clichéd hipster young adult interests like: music (open mic, gigs, records), antique fairs, flea markets, good cheap vintage/secondhand clothes, coffee shops, cheap carnivorous food, literature, art, film as well as all the usual tourist traps (brooklyn bridge, statue of liberty, modern art museum etc).

I'm very much boggled by my research, NYC is huge and I don't know where to stay which is relatively cheap ($80 a night would be pushing it) and in a good location to get to all the areas. I know the US hasn't got the travellers mentality to hostels, so any recommendations would be excellent.

Would be great if someone could tell me if there is a sightseeing tour which can hit most of the tourist spots leaving more time to do the more unique, quirky stuff. I've been told the Lower East Side and Williamsburg are all good places to spend some time.

Remember the cheaper the better and bearing in mind I'm not of drinking age, so alternatives for night life would be really great.

emergency road trip on basically zero dollars.

SkylitDrawl — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:52:19 -0800

A friend has been in an accident and I need to get to where she is ASAP. Problem? I only have $150 to my name. Please help me figure out whether I can make this emergency road trip without (a) dying or (b) running out of money. Main issue: how much money will gas for this trip really cost? I know this question might seem dumb and a little bit, "duh!" but I am kind of freaking out right now, and need as much help as I can get.

One of my good friends has been in a car accident in a town around 400 miles away from where I am currently living. I want to go see her in the hospital. I hope to leave on Thursday morning. I am currently unemployed, have basically NO money at all, and am "mooching" off my parents (I feel horrible about it, but there it is). They are livid that I would suggest taking such a road trip when I have so little money, no matter the circumstances involved.

Here's the main issue: I currently only have $150 to my name. This is money I earned myself before my job was shortened from a 12-month job to a 9-month job. That's all the money I have right now. I managed to find a budget hotel in an area near my friend's home that is reasonably nice and only costs $50.00 (that's with taxes and fees added in). I will be staying in the hotel for a day, then going to stay at my friend's parents house for another day.

My main concern here is gas money. As far as food goes, I can eat cheap (fast food and can bring my own snacks). Food money really isn't THAT much of a concern for me, but I do know that I need to get to my friend's town and back with enough money left over to eat at least a couple of meals on. Online gas calculators suggest that I would have to drop around $70.00 round trip. Are these gas calculators accurate? (I need to travel approximately 392 miles, my car gets 25 MPG, and gas costs on average around $2.33-$2.40 both where I am living and where I am traveling to). My parents are claiming that making such a trip (to AND back) on only $70.00 is entirely ridiculous, and that it would really cost much more than that (they claimed that I would need $135 just for gas). I think they are trying to scare me (it's working because HELLO! I am asking this question) out of going on this trip and are not being honest with me.

Please tell me whether or not I can realistically make this road trip without dying or running out of money. Since I doubt my parent's sincerity, I need someone to be honest with me, so I'm relying on you guys.

Cheap, but fun Europe!

lattiboy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:19:10 -0800

Help me plan an October European vacation (starting/ending in Madrid) on the cheap! Since AskMe was SO helpful last time, I thought I'd try a bigger project:

I picked up a pair of airline tickets to Madrid for an incredible price about a month ago and now I'm freaking out about 10 days in Europe and the costs associated with that. I'll be traveling with my fiance and we're open to just about anything (we would like to avoid non-private hostel rooms). The travel dates are from October 1st until the 10th.

We'd like to see as much as possible (Paris and London especially) for as little as possible.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

PS The conversion rate being what it is, if EASTERN EUROPE is realistic, I'm all over that!

Globetrotting.

the NATURAL — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:54:08 -0800

TravelFilter: What are the cheapest (but best) travel destinations in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia (specifically, Southeast Asia)? Just got back from a two-week trip to London (which, incidentally, I loved) and Paris (which, incidentally, gets a big meeeh). Unfortunately, the trip cost somewhere between three arms and four legs not only because of the exchange rates, but also because of the pricey nature of our accommodations (not sacrificing quality for price, etc.). I'm thirsting for more... just as soon as my wallet recovers.

Now, obviously, the specific affordability of a trip to any nation depends on how strong the dollar is against the given currency at that point in time -- that much, I get. But past that, aren't there destinations that are, at their essence, cheaper to go to and stay at? You know, places that are off-the-radar but stunningly beautiful? (Sorry, I made it a little complex with that last one, I know.)

I dug a "previously..." up, and it was good... but centered around South America, and the consensus seemed to be on Peru. (You probably know the one I'm talking about.) Hence, the specific phrasing of my question.

Thanks!

City of Light on a light wallet

bricoleur — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:14:02 -0800

Care to share your tips and tricks for spending a week in Paris on the cheap? Accomodations: Clean and quiet. Open to anything from couchsurfing.org to short-term apartment rental.
Food: Cheap ethnic preferred, but I'm not picky.

Bonus points for stuff in the 13th and 14th (hoping to attend DrupalCon at Cité Internationale Universitaire).

Drinking in International Waters/ Cruise Recommendations?

slowcat — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:36:34 -0800

My sister and I want to take a cheap cruise over the summer. I'm 22, but she's 19. Are there cruise lines that let you drink at 19 in international waters? Also, does anyone have any recommendations for cheap-ish (doesn't have to be dirt cheap, just reasonable) and fun cruises?

Cheapest place in the world to live?

skwt — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:07:06 -0800

What's the cheapest place in the world to live that is relatively safe? Hi,

I currently live in Toronto.

I'm wondering what the cheapest place in the world is to live, that is also relatively safe, for about a year, maybe two. (I'm male, which I guess helps define 'relatively safe'.)

Please take into account only cost-of-living (spending), not local wages (earning). I'm assuming I would only spend money I've saved.

Cost-of-living is my main question but cheap travel suggestions (ie, other than flight) are welcome. Boats? Over-land legs of trips?

As a point of reference, the cheapest place I personally know of would be a small town in one of the more out-of-the-way provinces of China, where I know I could find an apartment for about CAD$50 rent/month + spend about $100/month on food. I'll leave entertainment/miscellaneous out of my budget/question. So about $1800 for one year. However, a brief search shows USD$1358 as cheapest round-trip Toronto-Beijing flight. So total about CAD$3400 for a year, but with the average/year falling off as I stay longer.

Is this as cheap as living gets in the world?

In particular, does anyone know about very cheap living in South America that might have much lower travel costs? (I'm pretty good at picking up languages so assume that's not an issue).

Visas are also an issue. I won't assume everyone knows what's available for a Canadian, but any information is appreciated.

Thanks very much.

(I found this but it was mostly US. Also this after I wrote all this, which was helpful, but was talking about $500/mo and I guess I'm talking about living even dirter-cheaper.).

(One more thing: I need electricity.)

Where to travel to on the cheap for foodies?

traceymariel — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:25:12 -0800

Where's the best place to travel to (from the U.S.) with a relatively cheap flight (definitely under $500) and good (but not terribly expensive or fancy) restaurants and other fun but relatively inexpensive things to do? My husband's friend is offering his time share for a week for free. We can basically stay for a week just about anywhere and only have to pay for the flight and food and shopping while we're there. I'm thinking that within the US or Mexico are probably our best bets for a cheap flight but I'm open to all suggestions. We mostly want to relax, eat some nice food and perhaps see some sights, but this does not have to be an incredibly cultural experience. That being said, we'd like to have enough to do for a whole week. We live in Philadelphia and have enjoyed traveling to Spain, Italy and Taos, NM together but would like to go somewhere new to us both.

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and Lyon singing in the wilderness.

mdonley — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:21:07 -0800

I'm going to Lyon this weekend and will be free from late Saturday evening to about noon on Sunday. I'm into food and photography but am on a super-tight budget, so I'm looking for both some cheap, tasty delights and some particularly pretty little corners of the city. I'm staying in Vieux Lyon, going to a concert in Villeurbanne, and can speak French.

I want to travel near Seattle but not to Canada or Portland. Where else can I go?

handabear — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:40:55 -0800

Last minute spring break starting from Seattle for under $500? Here's the deal:

We have $500, the evening of March 26 through morning of March 29th free. We live in Seattle and would like to get out of the city. We can drive, but not a lot - preferably not more than 4 hours. Portland and leaving the US are not options. We could possibly take a plane or train somewhere, but that would cut into our budget heavily. Boy, we're difficult! But we're open to suggestions. What have you enjoyed in the area? Any personal recommendations? Thanks!

Going from Philly to Cleveland. I have my reasons...

SansPoint — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:19:22 -0800

I don't have a car. Help me get from Philadelphia to Cleveland, and back, this August on the cheap. I'm going to Cleveland the last weekend of August for DEVOtional 2009. Last year, I bummed a ride out with the guy who drums for the DEVO Tribute band who perfoms, but I'd like to get out there my own way this year. I'd also like to avoid Greyhound if possible: I had a rather bad experience taking it back home from Cleveland.

What are my options for <$150 each way, and how early should I be booking?

Ideas on getting to Vienna from Sydney?

gttommy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:44:12 -0800

Things to consider on getting to Vienna, Austria, from Sydney, Australia? I'm planning to go to Vienna with 2 other people in around mid-May 2009 for 2-3 weeks.

I'm looking for some ideas on where I can get the cheapest airfare, when I should look out for travel bargains, when I should go, what I should prepare for, and anything that might be good to consider on getting to Vienna.

Cheers! Vielen dank!

more bang for my meager buck

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:35:50 -0800

I'm going to Rome for one week in February. How can I cheap out on lodging while there? I'm traveling with my boyfriend. The trip itself is only affordable to begin with because of the awesomeness of EasyJet. We're planning on trying to couchsurf but, if that doesn't work out, do you know of any hostels/hotels/monasteries where we can stay for less than 30euros/night total cost? (if you have any other advice on enjoying oneself in Rome while not spending much money, that's welcome too!)

Last-minute cheap travel tips?

pseudostrabismus — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:33:12 -0800

Me and my friends would like to go somewhere warm this February. We don't care where, and we would be fine with booking at the last minute. How do we get a great deal? February is coming and we're not getting caught off-guard. We're gonna need to get the heck out of Canada and give our S.A.D. some sun.

We don't care where we go as long as it's hot, sunny, and laid-back. A rented villa in a hot country, or an all-inclusive resort, or even a cruise would be fine.... we're not picky. Overall, we're looking for relaxation more than adventure (although local activities & food would be great).

Flying standby or getting a last-minute deal would be awesome. I've heard of people going all-inclusive (flight+room+food) from Canada to a Cuban resort for under $400/person, which would be a dream come true!

There are 4 of us- no couples, so we can all sleep in one room if need be.
Our outside dates are approx. Feb 14-22, 2009, for all or part of that time.
A rough budget might be around $600 per person, give & take.
We're all Canadian citizens with valid passports & no history of travel problems.
The catch: One person would fly out of Vancouver, the other 3 from Toronto.

Any resources, websites, stories of how you did this, or other advice would be much appreciated!

Where best to buy tickets from Calgary to Melbourne?

burhan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:19:54 -0800

What is the best way to book a cheap flight to Australia from Calgary? I have never traveled overseas before, and other than expedia, travelocity, and checking out Aeroplan's website (which shows NO flights between Calgary and Melbourne), how do I go about finding really cheap flights for 4 people to Australia?

Are there tricks? Some have told me to fly to LA, and then leave LA to go to Melbourne from there. Keeping in mind, I will have 3 children with me, what is the best plan of attack to save as much money as possible?

bang for the buck

cookie googleman — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:11:53 -0800

Where are the cheapest places to live/travel in Latin America right now?

Cheap travel from Delaware to NYC?

viewofdelft — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:23:54 -0800

What are the cheapest ways to get from Newark, Delaware, to New York City? I'm a research assistant at the University of Delaware and as part of a long and wonkish I-95 corridor project, we've decided to produce a map or informational pamphlet letting students know the cheapest ways to get from here (Newark, Delaware) to New York City.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Any mode of transportation is fair game (air, rail, highway, seaports, etc.), as is any type of vehicle (plane, train, automobile, bus, shoes, etc.).
2. Be creative, but within reasonable limits of safety (i.e., no airmailing oneself).
3. It's alright if many of the suggested travel methods begin in Philadelphia (and maybe even Baltimore) if these departure points are more familiar to you.
4. Cost is the most important factor, although I don't want to discourage that outlandish teleportation idea you've been waiting to uncork.

After we've completed the map or pamphlet, I'll contact each of the contributors about mailing them a finished product. Thank you.

Inexpensive awesome in Copenhagen?

jrb223 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:29:29 -0800

Inexpensive awesome in Copenhagen? I'm headed to Copenhagen for two weeks, and I have heard that the city can be quite expensive. To that end I was looking for recommendations of things to do, see, eat and drink that won't break the bank. Any recommendations of can't-miss spots that are easy on the pocketbook and might not be in the guidebooks?

Please help me overcome my aversion to staying in hostels.

jason's_planet — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:02:29 -0800

Please help me overcome my aversion to staying in hostels. I want to travel more. Unfortunately, funds are a bit tight, so staying in expensive hotels is out of the question. I understand that there are hostels serving the lodging needs of people like me, people whose horizons exceed their incomes but I'm not sure if those would be appropriate for me. I'm older than the usual age profile for hostel travelers. For that reason, I'm not sure if I would be welcome. I also have a fairly negative attitude toward hostels; I tend to view them as grubby, shady establishments filled with odoriferous, America-bashing hippies and iPod-snatching thieves.

But I recognize that my prejudices are not based on any real experiences, good or bad. I would like to open my mind a little bit and consider hostels as a possible travel option. I'd like to hear what your experiences have been and whether you would recommend them as places to stay for someone who isn't going to be making partner or winning the lottery anytime soon.

So what is it like to stay in hostels? Do they welcome people over the age of 35? Are they clean and safe? Is it possible to use them just as places to sleep? (I'm not really into the idea of hostel-as-party or hostel as a place to hangout.) I need a bed, access to a bathroom, and a place where I can lock up my stuff. Anything beyond that is gravy.

And in the event that you tried hostels and found them lacking, what sorts of budget alternatives would you propose?

Thank you very much for your time; I look forward to your answers.

stretching a nickel abroad

D-ten — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:54:35 -0800

I've got this ongoing fantasy about living cheaply abroad. Is it doable to live for $500 a month or so in some foreign locale? I read about people choosing to retire to inexpensive places. I've read of people finding homes in Mexican pueblitos, on the beach in Belize, or in Malaysia and living on not much per month, as in $500 or so in expenses and having decent lives, perhaps not full of consumer goods but still finding a place to live with all expenses covered.

I'm wondering if anyone has personal experience of this type of lifestyle, or where you could find more places that potentially could fill the bill?

Call it a midlife crisis. I''ve been wondering where I could stay for a substantial period on savings and spend $500 per month to get by reasonably. I know of people doing this in Mexico, for example. Where else might qualify?