| A terrific friend of mine, whom I initially | | | | microscopic and I almost scratched delicate |
| met in a Paris train station, educated me on | | | | body parts by just turning around, but I was |
| the ways of cheap travel. At the train | | | | able to shower and shave without inflicting |
| station, we both found ourselves staring | | | | major injures. In the morning we scarfed down |
| dumbly at the French signs looking in vain | | | | fresh baguettes, strawberry jam and hot |
| for a clue of how to get to Paris. I noticed | | | | chocolate while chatting and sharing valuable |
| some English lettering on his backpack and it | | | | information with fellow travelers, including |
| finally came to light that he spoke English | | | | families from around the world. It was a |
| and was from South Africa. It also suddenly | | | | magical morning. All for about $25 dollars a |
| dawned on my caveman brain that I spoke | | | | day. There are two major expenses slashed |
| French, so I snatched up an information | | | | (lodging and transportation).The occasional |
| phone, bawled out the stuck-up French lady | | | | travel splurge can be make you incredibly |
| and proceeded to lead us to the city of | | | | happy.We saved a bundle and avoided headaches |
| lights. Here are some traveling goal setting | | | | in the Greek Islands by traveling at the end |
| tips for you to think about.Always plan your | | | | of the season (end of September). We found |
| trip well in advance.On my very first trip to | | | | incredible lodging deals on all the islands. |
| Europe (London, England) in my thirties, I | | | | Traveling to the Greek islands means taking |
| decided to fly to Paris after a few days of | | | | large ferries and at each island ferry port |
| London because, "Hey I'm right next door." | | | | dealing with the dozens of people offering |
| And I was already drooling over the thought | | | | lodgings. We had beautiful Aegean Sea views |
| of baguettes, pastries and condescending | | | | at three islands for rock bottom prices, |
| French girls. To prepare myself for Paris I | | | | sometimes $15 each. But no matter how hard I |
| bought a small Frommer's Paris guide and | | | | looked I couldn't find a metro or subway |
| settled down for a great read in London's | | | | system. Hence a cool little yellow dune buggy |
| Piccadilly Circus. Always get familiar with | | | | was rented. Zooming around a Greek island in |
| the city layout and transportation set up. | | | | a dune buggy was definitely the ultimate in |
| After that I found a discount travel shop and | | | | coolness. We visited all the quaint fishing |
| flew to Paris for a magical few days. A few | | | | villages and tasted many a local delicacy. We |
| years later, during a trip to the Greek | | | | also came a foot from driving off a cliff. |
| islands, I took more time preparing for the | | | | Lessons learned? Drive carefully. Ah, what a |
| trip at home. I was lucky to meet my friend | | | | blast thinking back to those Greek island |
| in Paris who really helped me slash costs and | | | | days. See? Splurging can be fun.In summary 1. |
| have a terrific time.Traveling on a budget | | | | Always plan your trip well in advance.2. |
| can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.Ok I | | | | Traveling on a budget can be more fun than a |
| take that back. Monkeys are more fun. There | | | | barrel of monkeys.3. The occasional travel |
| we were in Paris and my first lesson was to | | | | splurge can make you incredibly happy.Please |
| avoid taxis thus I purchased a snappy little | | | | consider this article for your website, blog |
| ten dollar Paris metro card, representing our | | | | or ezine. Permission to reprint if by-line |
| length of stay and how far we wanted to | | | | stays intact and |
| travel the city. The second thrifty lesson | | | | |
| was to try out a youth hostel in lieu of a | | | | links are activated on the Internet.Terry |
| cushy hotel or bed and breakfast. I always | | | | Vermeylen is one of those rare people that is |
| pictured a youth hostel as a bunch of | | | | passionately driven to help others unlock |
| scraggily teenagers lying around a bare | | | | their own barriers toward fulfillment, |
| wooden floor with MacDonald's wrappers strewn | | | | meaning and purpose. He is the founder of an |
| everywhere. I was pleasantly surprised to | | | | Internet value identification and goal |
| find myself sharing a small but pleasant room | | | | setting enterprise. His primary passion is |
| with three others. Sure the washrooms were | | | | wealth building using common sense. |