Frugal Fridays: I'll Be Home For Christmas

Welcome to Frugal Fridays where we share money saving tips, discuss living frugally and generally talk about personal finance issues.

I am a terrible procrastinator.  (Or am I really good at procrastination?  Hmm, I'll get back to you on that.)  In any case, I have a list as long as my arm of things that I need to get done before we head out on our holiday trip tomorrow.  (No, it looks like we can't leave till Sunday.  OK, Monday at the absolute latest!)  Since all I can think about is shopping and traveling, and since I've already covered shopping here ad naseum, this week's topic is going to have to be "Hints and Tips for Frugal Travel."  And, since I have a few other commitments today (did I mention my list?) I am going to only be able to make this a bare bones diary and am depending  on audience participation to flesh it out.  So please help me out here and add your favorite ideas in the comments.  

Obviously the best way to save money is to plan ahead and research your options before you travel.  But I didn't plan ahead to do this diary, so none of that kind of advice is helpful to people who are leaving now and I'm going to skip that stuff.  If you really want to know how to find the cheapest fares and things like that, you can check out the diary I did on Vacation Planning a while ago.

Air Travel Tips
Here are some ideas to make your trip less stressful and less expensive.  You don't want to arrive at your destination a frazzled mess.  You'll be frazzled enough after the holidays, trust me.

Keep hydrated:  One good way to counteract the stress of air travel is to keep drinking plenty of water, which will help counteract some of the physical discomforts of being on a plane.  Rather than buying expensive bottled water in the airport, you can just bring an empty water bottle and fill it from the drinking fountains once you have passed through the security checkpoint.

Bring snacks:  One of the best ways to save money when traveling by plane is to avoid buying the overpriced airport/airline food.  Bring some snacks from home, or even from the corner deli on your way to the airport, and you will save quite a bit and be happier with your food selection.  Even if you are only going on a short flight, at least throw a power bar in your carry-on bag.  You never know when you will be faced with a delay either in the airport or on the tarmac.

Speaking of tarmac delays:  it seems like almost every year I hear some horror story about a planeload of people who are trapped in a plane on the tarmac for hours with no food water and diminished lavatory service.  Just in case you might possibly be stuck in such a situation this year, before you go, program phone numbers for news organizations, both national and local to any airport you are traveling through, into your cell phone.  If you find yourself being held trapped on a plane, I'm sure the reporters would love to get a first hand scoop and the fuss you cause may just get you released.  In addition, program in the airline customer service numbers.  These can also come in handy if you need to immediately reschedule some or all of your itinerary due to a flight delay or cancellation.  If you are wondering why and how these tarmac delays might arise, here's an interesting article that tries to explain the causes.  

Car Travel Tips
Whether you are driving your own car or a rental car, here are some tips to help you save money on the road.

Check your tires:  Before you head out, check to make sure your tires are not excessively worn and that they are properly inflated.  Under-inflated tires can cause a noticeable decrease in your gas mileage, while over-inflated ones can significantly reduce your road handling ability.

Gas up before you get on the road:  Gas stations located right next to freeway on-ramps can be much more expensive than gas stations in other business districts.  Gas up near your home and you may save quite a bit on that first tank of gas.  This is also something to keep in mind when you are returning your rental car.  Gas stations near rental car outlets are usually more expensive than stations elsewhere.

Stock up on food:  Rather than stopping on the road for food or drinks, stock up at your local grocery store before you take off.  You'll save both money and time.      If you do stop at a fast food place for a meal, stick to the dollar menu items and don't buy their drinks.  The markup on sodas at such places is astronomical.

Stop and get a motel room:  At first glance, this seems to be an anti-frugal suggestion, one that costs money rather than saves it, but if you are getting very tired on the road, it is far better to pull over and get some rest than to run the risk of getting in some sort of accident.  A $75 motel room is going to be way cheaper than the most innocuous of car accidents.

One More Tip
If you encounter a situation, whether it is with a hotel, car rental agency, airline, or whoever, where you think you are not receiving the goods or services you were promised, you should try your level best to get this resolved to your satisfaction at that moment.  Don't depend on the company correcting the situation later.  Be polite, and if the service agent you are dealing with can't or won't give you the compensation you think you deserve, ask to speak with a supervisor.  If you still can't get it resolved, call the customer service number for the parent corporation right there and then.  Your chances of getting a satisfactory resolution drop off precipitively as soon as you leave the business.  I can't stress enough, the part about "be polite, but insistent".  Customer service agents often have a lot of authority to issue refunds and discounts but they have very stressful jobs with irate people yelling at them all day about things they didn't cause.  If you can get them to sympathize with you, rather than subjecting them to your righteous indignation, they can often be very accommodating.  And if they aren't, then move up the chain to someone else.

•  Drive by tip jar

  Throw me some mojo as you zoom by.

  Next week there may not be a Frugal Fridays diary.  It all depends if I can carve out some time to write and post while visiting the in-laws.  If anyone else wants to volunteer, you can email me at: frugalfridays (at) gmail.com.

  by sarahnity on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:04:02 PM PDT

  •  I'd volunteer...

    If I knew I'd be able to spend time here on Friday. But since family will be visiting next week, I don't know what my schedule will be looking like. But still, thanks for helping us save money! :-)

    by atdnext on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:12:13 PM PDT

  •  I can fill in

    What about Frugal Fridays: New Years Resolutions? I can put together a list of tips and links to help us get our finances in order in 2008. I'll email you.

    by 1864 House on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 02:17:14 PM PDT

  •  Buy gas on an Indian Reservation

    Exempt from state taxes, and often significantly cheaper because of that.  Last place in the world for me to buy gas is near home.  An hour and a half away, in Santa Fe, it's 40 cents less per gallon.  Even lower than that at the Reservation stations along I-25 - particularly at Santo Domingo and San Felipe Pueblos.

    by Land of Enchantment on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 06:35:07 PM PDT

•  Another tip. If you are travelling by air,

  take public transportation to the airport. It's much cheaper than a cab or driving.

  by blue jersey mom on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:06:05 PM PDT

  •  Especially Tokyo airport where once

    I had to take a cab to town as plane was delayed from L.A. and ended up costing me over 150 bucks!

    I'm getting smarter, haven't flown a plane in almost ten years. I go by ferry, I went to Paris not long ago by ferry & car, less stressful and you get to stop whenever you want!

    by Asinus Asinum Fricat on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:24:41 PM PDT

    •  Hmmm,

      I don't think my brain can reconcile "car in Paris" with "less stressful".  Does not compute!

      by sarahnity on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:35:09 PM PDT

      •  Ah, but being French I can navigate easily

        among my co-drivers: I can shout obscenities they'd understand should they come too close to my vehicle!

        by Asinus Asinum Fricat on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:37:32 PM PDT

  •  OR

    check out flights from nearby cities to your destination.  Parking at LA is expensive, maybe drive to Phoenix, park and fly (better yet? have relatives in said city that'll let you park by their house).

    Driving?  Make sure your oil and fluid levels are up to snuff.  You'll need them.  Pack the icescrapers and boots and gloves.

    Make sandwiches before leaving and pack them with the seltzers or other drinks.  A little cooler in the backseat goes a LONG ways and may be vital in winter weather.  PB&J's'll cure anything.

    by kfred on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:20:17 PM PDT

  •  yes - for those of you coming to Austin

    the #100 will take you from the airport to downtown. Route:

    http://www.capmetro.org/...

    bus fare is 50 cents

    by anotherdemocrat on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 02:26:35 PM PDT

•  Since My Wife and I are Cold-Prone

  when we (used to) fly, we'd wear masks most of the time. It made quite a difference for me, and being self employed, it impacts the wallet too.

  by Gooserock on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:06:22 PM PDT

•  Some more hints

  Eat and drink on your own, not at a diner or fast food place. Especially if you are driving. We're heading up to Seattle tomorrow and plan to hit up Trader Joe's before we do, to get snacks (Clif bars are especially good) as well as some food - they have inexpensive but healthy and filling sandwiches, wraps, etc.

  If you travel often, consider buying a small cooler and a reusable icepack. This allows you to store sandwiches and such. You can eat at a rest stop, a beautiful spot overlooking a river (the rest stop on I-5 and Highway 96, just south of the Oregon border, overlooking the Klamath River, is a favorite).

  For motels, plan a route before you go. Use TripAdvisor to review motels. Some cheap ones are cheap for a reason - poor quality rooms should be avoided. An $80/night room is better than a $50/night room if the latter is going to give you a nasty case of bedbugs.

  Try to plan your fillups. I try to make it to Ashland, Oregon on a tank, as gas prices in Oregon are much lower than across the border in California. If I'm at, say, Redding with an empty tank, I might only fill it partway and then fill it at Ashland to save $5 or so.

  by eugene on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:09:56 PM PDT

  •  If you don't have the icepacks

    you can fill plastic water bottles with water and freeze them, then pack them around the food; as the water melts it keeps the food cold and then you have to water to drink as well.

    Motel 6's are reasonable and a lot better than they used to be -- haven't had a problem with one yet.

    by Cali Scribe on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:59:56 PM PDT

    •  I like the little nondescript...

      ...motels owned by Indian immigrants (from India).  Nothing matches (drapes, carpets, bedspreads).  TV and phone are minimal.  But in this age of cell phones, that doesn't matter so much.  But you are probably SOL so far as internet connections go.  It helps to have at least a terminal in the lobby where you can check the e-mail and get a quick google map.

      by Land of Enchantment on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 06:38:06 PM PDT

  •  Oh ! Check the state's tourism site!

    We picked up gas coupons for a trip to SoDak during a recent promotion.

    by kfred on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:22:16 PM PDT

    •  AAA

      If you've got one of those cards, and pull it out, it's often good for a few dollars off a motel room.  That and AARP.  In case you have a card from either one, might as well use it!!!

      by Land of Enchantment on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 06:39:08 PM PDT

•  Thanks for the tips...

  I'll remember next time I travel. But fortunately this year, I don't need to do ANY traveling! I'm staying home, and the relatives are coming to me. I don't have to spend ANYTHING on airfare... Yippee! ;-)

  by atdnext on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:10:52 PM PDT

  •  Heh

    That's because people would rather spend the holidays in sunny Orange County than colder climes.

    Last year we drove down to Tustin. Christmas morning we went down to the San Clemente Pier and soaked up the warm sun. It was divine.

    I loved OC Christmases when I was a kid. There's nothing like getting some neat toys...and being able to go outside and play with them. Christmas is, to me, always a holiday I associate with the sun.

    This year we're going north, to Seattle. No sun there. I sometimes question the sanity of this decision, but it will be great to see friends.

    by eugene on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:12:59 PM PDT

    •  Awww, I'm sorry...

      Well, at least seeing some old friends should be worth the drive up north. And yes, it is nice to actually go outside on Christmas Day without needing five layers of clothing and snow boots! But OTOH, it was nice when my dad and I got to take a special Holiday trip last December to Sedona. My dad hadn't been to Arizona in YEARS, and we loved experiencing "Red Rock Country"... Even if I did need 3 layers of clothing to go out. ;-)

      by atdnext on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:16:18 PM PDT

      •  Right

        My grandparents retired to Prescott, and we've gone out there several times. It's beautiful country up there in Yavapai and Coconino counties - and one year we did drive over to Sedona.

        The place I really like, however, is Jerome.

        by eugene on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:18:14 PM PDT

        •  Well, of course...

          No trip to Red Rock COuntry is complete without a trip to Jerome... And buying a artisan coffee mug while you're there (like I did), and getting some rhubarb pie over at that really old cafe (the one that supposedly has been operating there since the 1890s). Oh yes, and I hear Jerome's become quite the "gayberhood" in that part of Arizona... Too bad I couldn't find a hubby while I was there! hehe ;-)

          by atdnext on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:22:22 PM PDT

          •  Rhubarb Pie

            Mmmm, pie.

            If you get as far as Prescott, Jerome and Sedona, head down the 17 to Rock Springs Cafe for as many different pies as you can handle.

            by drdave on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:49:11 PM PDT

      •  We're sort of doing both

        We're driving, but only an hour away, to my sister's on Sunday for the holiday Open House (our family does it the weekend before Christmas so the kids can stay home and play with their toys on Christmas Day proper), then Tuesday it's only a 10-15 minute drive to the in-laws' for Christmas brunch (I've still got to figure out what sort of breakfast bread I'm bringing along...

        by Cali Scribe on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:02:06 PM PDT

    •  We're headed to Los Angeles

      But since we have to go over Donner Pass, we're leaving the dogs at home.  Don't want to have to eat the if we get stranded in the snow.

      by martydd on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 02:40:42 PM PDT

•  I Come From A Family Of Drivers

  I prefer to fly, but going up we drove everywhere, unless there was an ocean between where we lived and where we were going.

  1. Everything said above.

  2. Quick, basic tune up. Oil change, check all the fluids, etc. This is something too many people I know overlook and it will cost you a ton of money (I know from experience) and it can't hurt to spend $50 before you head out on a trip.

  3. Give the car a good cleaning before you head out (talking about inside more then anything) and it makes for a more enjoyable trip.

  4. Maps, maps, maps. As you pull into a new state there will be a welcome center with every map/trip guide you can find, all for free.

  5. If you have a AAA membership they can produce a trip ticket. Great detailed maps with everything from where there is construction and even where to stop for a bite to eat. AAA will also get you discounts at most hotels and other places.

  6. Small cooler is key IMHO. I usually bring bottled water. Some various types of fruit. I find this is where (next to gas) I spend the most money driving. You can pay two bucks for just a bottle of water.

  Nothing ground breaking there, but what has worked for me. And maybe other people have had other experiences but I've had AAA since I was 16 (now 38) and my yearly membership has been worth every darn penny many times over.

  by webranding on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:12:23 PM PDT

  •  Same here

    I too tend to drive whenever possible (although I am starting to change over to using trains as practice for the future when driving will no longer be possible). Your advice is excellent. I'd only add that it pays to buy a bottle - one of the Nalgene bottles or something similar that fits in your car's cupholders. We have three of them in our car, all full from the tap before we leave. Not only does that save money (we don't have to buy on the road), not only is that more environmentally friendly, but it's also good preparedness in case we get stuck somewhere.

    by eugene on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:14:57 PM PDT

    •  That And You Mentioned Something Else

      If you travel often, consider buying a small cooler and a reusable icepack. This allows you to store sandwiches and such. You can eat at a rest stop, a beautiful spot overlooking a river.

      That is how I roll (always wanted to type that). I never seem to have enough of the "real" stuff and end up buying it which is a total waste of money.

      Also I am a map guy, cause I am a guy and always get lost. If you up for one of the $20 maps of the US in a book format, not the fold-up type (which I can't fold back up) they'll last years and years.

      by webranding on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:20:01 PM PDT

      •  We're on the same wavelength

        I've always preferred the maps put out by Thomas Bros for the western states - their spiral-bound guides to California and the Pacific Northwest are permanently housed in the pockets behind the front seats.

        by eugene on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:33:24 PM PDT

        •  There are REASONS

          that the Thomas Bros. are revered in Southern California!

          Harry Turtledove had a Thomas Bros. Monastery in The Case of the Toxic Spelldump.  It was where the hero went to get the most accurate information available on the subjects he needed to research.

          by loggersbrat on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:48:11 PM PDT

  •  Those are all really good ideas

    One more I would add, is that if you are traveling by car into any region where you could encounter snow or other dangerous weather, put a small survival kit in your car.  Here are some of the suggestions from my Be Prepared diary a few weeks ago:

    • flashlight
    • first aid kit
    • Swiss army knife
    • bottled water
    • power bars or other food
    • signal flares
    • mylar blankets
    • warm hats (you lose a lot of heat through your head)
    • sturdy shoes
    • heavy work gloves
    • cell phone charger

    Sallycat had some more suggestions:

    I keep a neon yellow backpack...with a flashlight, spare walking shoes, warm socks, a warm jacket, and gloves. Women are notorious for wearing skirts and high heels to work. What if we have to walk somewhere after an accident...or because of an earthquake...etc.

    and so did 1864 House:

    Here in the upper midwest we carry mylar blankets, candles and matches in a coffee can, cans of sterno fuel, boots and hats, and high energy snacks (nuts, protein bars). I always have a supply of those "hot hands" things that heat up when you shake them to tuck into a shirt to warm the body core. You can melt snow in the coffee can for drinking water and use the sterno to heat the car - with a window slightly open for ventilation. We just bought a crank cell phone charger for each car so if the battery goes or we run out of gas, we can still make contact.

    by sarahnity on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:32:49 PM PDT

    •  Try to purchase a hand cranked flashlight as they

      use no batteries and are lightweight. Here you can compare prices!

      by Asinus Asinum Fricat on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:35:30 PM PDT

      •  I bought one at Walgreens

        for under $5. It was on sale last week, I think, but a great bargain, and I now have a flashlight that works when I need it!

        by MyBrainWorks on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:42:11 PM PDT

      •  Price is not the only consideration

        I just pulled out the re-gifting box that holds all the things we've gotten that we already have, so I  try to re-gift them to others and noticed that one of those crank flashlights, which has been sitting in the box for 2 years still in the package, wouldn't hold a charge at all.  The instant you stopped cranking, the light died.  I went and checked the ones we have sitting in our emergency drawer (same brand, "Illuminator") that we also got about 2 years ago and same thing, completely useless.  

        Check out some place like Amazon where you can get product reviews before you buy.

        by sarahnity on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:44:25 PM PDT

        •  Regifting

          Suggestions at Regiftable

          by drdave on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:54:41 PM PDT

          •  Thanks, kinda

            I just went over there and got intrigued reading those stories, but I really gotta start running errands!  So thanks for entertaining, me, but how dare you make me even later than I already am! ;-)

            by sarahnity on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 03:10:05 PM PDT

            •  Well Go !! n/t

              by drdave on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 04:35:15 PM PDT

    •  I was going to say that!

      But I guess I already did. There is snow predicted this weekend, and even if you think you're only going to be traveling on the main roads, you should still carry the winter emergency kit.

      Everyone is coming to our house, and the kids are driving north from Chicago and Milwaukee, so I will be keeping an eye on the weather.

      by 1864 House on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:59:36 PM PDT

    •  Actually I Should Have Mentioned That As Well

      but now everybody has a cell phone I don't think about it as much. Plus since I am a VW owner I have almost everything you mentioned in the kits that came with the car that I upgraded on my own:).

      But all those safety suggestions are fairly easy to obtain, don't take up much space, and it is better to be safe then sorry.

      The only thing I have that is really different is a Leatherman instead of a Swiss Army knife. Good ones are not cheap, but you are an outdoors person at all they are very nice to have.

      by webranding on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 02:22:04 PM PDT

  •  AAA comes in handy

    for emergencies too, like if you lock your keys in the car or leave the lights on overnight accidentally and need a jump. :)

    by Cali Scribe on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:03:38 PM PDT

•  Oops, you didn't include my answer in the poll

  I'm staying home with my immediate family and enjoying the chaos.

  by Wes Opinion on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:13:38 PM PDT

  •  How fun...

    Sounds almost as fun as having the family come to my home and enjoying the choas that will soon unfold. ;-)

    by atdnext on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:18:02 PM PDT

  •  Ah, yes, I did forget that

    Too bad I can't edit it.  

    I also left off "I'm staying home alone and miserable."  But I left that one off on purpose.

    by sarahnity on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:19:28 PM PDT

•  Just a day trip to mother-in-law;

  everyone else in my family is very far away.  

  Mother-in-law is being treated for cancer, and she just isn't up to traveling, so husband and I have to take her only grandchildren to her.  We are going up Sunday afternoon, back that night, and then stay home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  

  (I think my husband and son, who work at the same place, may have to work a half day on Christmas Eve, like Bob Cratchett.)

  Husband and I are on duty for the Christmas Eve midnight church services at our respective churches (he's Catholic, I'm Lutheran), and will be getting home in the wee hours of the morning; so present-opening will probably be after a big brunch on Christmas Day.  Our two sons are 18 and 21, so it's not the "I really, really, really have to open presents soon as I get up" scramble it was when they were younger.

  We used to go Christmas light hunting in nearby residential neighborhoods when the kids were little and gas wasn't $3/gal.

  by Dar Nirron on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:25:48 PM PDT

  •  We're still debating

    whether to hit the 5pm Christmas Eve service (warmer, and the kids are so cute in their pageant) or go for the late service (love the pageantry and the choir usually does something really special). Decisions decisions...

    We'll be doing brunch with the in-laws Christmas morning around 11 or noon, since the spouse has to work the next day...

    by Cali Scribe on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:07:43 PM PDT

    •  No debate here

      Daughter #1 is singing at the 7:00 p.m. candlelight service.  

      by 1864 House on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:17:33 PM PDT

•  Me? Laundry, cleaning, and throw-out time! :)

  Call me Scrooge, but I LOVE the time off to do these catch-up things! I'll see the rellies, too. :)

  by Blue Waters Run Deep on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:39:58 PM PDT

•  Poor, staying home and working.

  Plus, my husband and I are pagan. His scheduled day off happens to be on our holiday. He gets time and a half to work the majority holiday, plus double for overtime, and it's not likely to be that busy....plus, he lets someone with less seniority who is celebrating Christmas have the day off.

  Hopefully, I'll be able to get some writing done, and maybe some cleaning, that day, if my body cooperates.

  by Alexandra Lynch on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:48:39 PM PDT

•  Free, last-minute gifts (for yourself?)

  Would you like to have Photoshop, but can't afford it? Here is The GIMP, a free, open-source program that does almost everything photoshop does, but it's free.

  If you need a different kind of graphics program (vector based, or whatever,) check out the "Categories" listing at the bottom of the Wikipedia entry.

  by Leo in NJ on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:50:11 PM PDT

•  Budget Travel

  Is my forte.  I have been many places out of country, traveling with a single backpack.

  If you feel that you need to see the world, my advice is to go there over Thanksgiving or during "shoulder season".  Tons of people travel inside the U.S. during Thanksgiving, but, being an American holiday, you don't see a ton of travel outside the U.S.  Also, on Christmas day a lot of airlines have a 48 hour sale on their flights.  I have gotten some really sweet deals to Honduras, Belize, and Mexico during Christmas.

  Shoulder season is the month before and after "high season".  The weather is usually good but the hotels are cheaper and the sights less crowded.  May and September are excellent shoulder seasons for Canada and Europe.

  Even in the U.S. Hostels are abounds and some of them are in really interesting places.  Coastal California has a hostel in a lighthouse.  San Francisco has a great hostel walking distance from the Theaters.  Don't turn your nose up at traveling on the cheap...you meet interesting and adventerous people AND save money.

  by Sychotic1 on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:55:36 PM PDT

  •  Hostels and older folks

    What are US hostels like for travellers who aren't young?

    I'm cool with kids partying and making noise, but I don't like to feel unwelcome.

    I stayed in a hostel in NYC a few years ago (when I was in my mid-30s), and it was clear that I was too old.

    by SadTexan on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:00:37 PM PDT

    •  My Mother went with me in Europe

      And although it was full of twenty-somethings, she had a great time.

      She also used the San Francisco hostel three times when she was working there and shared a room with another older lady (50s).

      Some hostels are party-like, some are not.  I am in my 40s and I usually have a good time at the hostels.

      by Sychotic1 on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:05:37 PM PDT

  •  We got married in late September

    and find that our anniversary trips are the best time of year to travel. Weather is practically perfect everywhere in the world and "summer" attractions usually haven't closed up yet.

    Some years ago we spent a week in a cabin on Cape Cod, and we were the only people at the place... we had the beach to ourselves - at half price. The shops and restaurants treated us like royalty and there were sales on everything.

    by 1864 House on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:04:56 PM PDT

•  Use your network of friends

  We are strategically located just off I-90 on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border and frequently host friends and friends of friends who find our house to be a convenient stopping point on their travels.

  If you know someone along your route, don't be shy about asking if you can stay with them. And if someone asks you, say yes.

  by 1864 House on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:14:49 PM PDT