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