In the era of budget airlines and package tourism, getting a holiday through a high street provider like Thomas Cook is cheaper than ever – even with the current financial crisis. However, it’s the additional bits and pieces that you pay when you’re out there which can turn even cheap holidays to Tenerife into an extremely expensive spell of lying on a beach.

The biggest cost is usually money exchange. A lot of people decide to get cash – but this isn’t the safest, or the cheapest way of ensuring that you have spending money abroad. Some people decide to fall back on their debit cards which is an absolutely terrible choice and can cost £100s is repeatedly used.

The best option is to get a specialist card, these are often UK based credit cards that are great when used abroad offering really good exchange rates (important) and no withdrawal fees from ATMs. However, most people don’t want to get a credit card just to use it abroad, so a good alternative is to get a pre-paid travel card, these often charge per transaction, so it’s best to go an ATM once a day (at most) and get your money out for the day, however, they are safe, easy to top up, and have great exchange rates.

Transport is often also another expense and not just when you get to your destination. Simply getting to the airport can cost you a packet, so a good idea is to use a specialist service (if you’re driving to the airport) or look for other deals. Most airports have nearby pubs which rent out their car parks and save you up to 50% of the car parking cost.

When you get to your destination, in Europe public transport is usually the best and cheapest option, but there are cheap car hires if you’re going somewhere like Tenerife where you might want to explore by yourself, here a comparison website is the best option. Bear in mind, if you’re going island hopping renting a car is an expensive way to get around.

Another must is travel insurance, and you can end up paying over the odds for it. If you’re going for a long period, it’s better to get annual trip as this will save you more (in fact, if you’re likely to go on holiday more than once during the year, annual trip is a good idea). Or, if you’re going in a family, getting a group insurance deal can also be a good way of cutting back costs. The most important thing with travel insurance is the value of the deal, if you’re going backpacking and don’t know what activities you’re going to get up to, make sure that your insurance covers everything, that way you’ll never find yourself in too much trouble (at least not with the insurance company).

Travel companies generally cover most eventualities, and most of the major costs, but you can still find yourself spending more money than you had planned if you don’t do a little bit of quick preparation beforehand.

Learning a Country’s Language

On a standard ten-day holiday, you will be able to see a destination’s major tourist attractions, but you won’t have time to immerse yourself in the culture and vibrancy of the people. To experience the full potential of visiting a place, you need to find an activity that will keep you there for longer. Learning the country’s language is a great way to extend your visit and meet more people

Visa and accommodation

If you want to extend your stay beyond a standard holiday, you are going to need a visa and a place to stay. Work visas, which often have elaborate requirements, are more difficult to attain than student visas. An accredited language institute will help you with all the visa and accommodation admin. This perk makes it much easier to settle and to start exploring your surroundings.

Double benefit

Language learning programmes are popular because they offer the two-fold advantage of exploring a destination while learning a new skill. Living in a foreign country as a student allows you to explore further than the touristic safe-zones – meaning that you can scratch deeper than the surface of a country’s culture.

See more, do more

Most students begin their study abroad experience by visiting the standard tourist attractions, but this rarely takes more than a few days. As the language course progresses, you will have several months to explore the city’s unknown museums, bars, music venues and natural sites.

Find local spots

When you are on a short holiday, it’s easy to get caught up in the tourist traps, which locals avoid. Enrolling for a language course gives you the time to work out where the locals prefer to hang out. As your language proficiency improves, you will be able to make new friends and experience life from the perspective of a city’s local.

Many Options

Some people want to visit a certain country, but they want to learn a different language than that which is spoken there. In the past if you wanted to learn German, you had to go to Germany. Fortunately, due to globalisation, this has changed – today, if you’re looking for German lessons London, Zurich and Paris all have great schools with native language teachers.

Teachers as reference guides

At a language school, you will have reference guides at your disposal every day. The teachers, who live and work in the city, will give you honest advice – as opposed to the tourist agencies that only want to make a sale.

Language and culture

Language and culture are interwoven and they develop together over time. When you are studying a new language, you learn about the culture and it allows you to gain a better understanding of the people and the place. For students enrolled in French courses London with St Georges is a stepping-stone to understanding the food, art and culture of France. Many students who complete these programmes are often inspired to see more and explore further once they leave the school.

Keeping the culture in you

When you combine tourism and language learning, you will carry a piece of the destination with you forever. Learning a country’s language is a skill that no one can take away from you. When you hear the language spoken on television or in your hometown, the warm memories of your time in the country will always return.

For the Budget Traveler

This list of the cheapest places in the world will be an inspiration. These countries are worth visiting; they are deep in culture, history and much to see and experience. What makes them great tourist destinations is that you can survive an entire day in these countries for less than 20 USD! This list is based upon the countries where a private and double occupancy hotel room costs in each city, and the cheapest meal in each city. Other costs such as transport, entry fees at pubs and so on have not been computed in this list.

1. VANGVIENG, LAOS

Vangvieng in Laos has to be the cheapest place to head to, if you’re a budget traveler. Here you can manage your day’s expenses within $4.25, find double occupancy accommodation for two within$3.25 for a night, and enjoy a meal for two at $0.50! This works out to less than $10 for the entire day for two people, which is as cheap as it gets anywhere in the world.

2. GOA, INDIA

The beautiful, sunny and cosmopolitan destination of Goa is actually dirt cheap to visit if you are a budget traveler. With varied accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses, homestays, and even beach tents, Goa can afford to offer a stay for two per day at $3.50.  A meal for two, reasonably good and tasty Portuguese and Brazilian food will cost only $0.50. Best of all, you can manage your entire day’s expenses in Goa under $3.50

3. BANGKOK, THAILAND

With regular flights to Bankok, Thailand is the land of culture, dances, ethnicity and great food, has good news for the budget traveler. Though you might be tempted to go all out and shop for silver accessories and food here, if you stick to your budget, you won’t be spending a lot of money in Bangkok. For $6.23, you can manage your daily expenses, and under $3.73, you can find a reasonable stay for two and food for two can be availed at $1.25.

4. HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

The once almost destroyed Vietnam managed to pull up its socks to become a tourist destination for the budget traveler. Here in Ho Chi Minh City, you can enjoy a unique culture, enjoy arts and crafts, visit temples and tourist spots and still not hit the poor house. Cover your daily expenses under $6.86, find accommodation within $5.00 and eat a hearty Vietnamese meal for less than $0.93.

5. QUITO, ECUADOR

Quito is a fantastic destination to explore. Tourists like to cruise around the Galapagos, and enjoy the varied shoreline and the magnificent landscape of Ecuador. For the budget traveler, the good news is that daily expenses for two can be covered within $7.00, which a reasonable stay for two can be had at $5.00 and a warm meal for two at $1.00.

6. PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

Cambodia, an ancient land of culture, beautiful old stone temples and magnificent forests pulls the average tourists to visit each year. Cambodia is rife with snakes, mosquitoes and other critters but if you’re prepared, you can have a good time. The costs are low, though; two people can manage themselves admirably within $7.00 find accommodation for two under $3.00 and enjoy a meal for two under $2.00.

7. BALI, INDONESIA

Bali, Indonesia, is another popular tourist haunt. Bali is famous for its beautiful oceans, scenery and clean outdoors. The exotic dances, costumes and the great, natural food here are awe-inspiring. Bali, with all this, is still fairly cheap to travel, with daily expenses for two covered under $7.16, accommodations at $6.50 and a meal for two under $0.33!

8. ASUNCION, PARAGUAY

Paraguay now welcomes visitors with open arms but the turbulent history of this country has definitely left its mark. Visit Asuncion and enjoy its historical section, charming colonial plazas and riverside buildings. There’s much to see and do in this Spanish colonial city. Save a mean buck or two as well, with these numbers. Daily expenses for two at $8.00, accommodation for two at $4.00 and a reasonable meal for two within $2.00!

9. KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Kathmandu holds both the charm of a spiritual destination and a unique, high altitude point for adventure lovers. Nepal, though developing fast, has a wonderfully laid back and culturally ethnic feel that’s hard to find in other places. That apart, a trip to Kathmandu won’t clean you out either. You and your friend or partner can manage a day’s expenses in under $8.29, find reasonably good accommodation for two under $3.67 and enjoy a small meal for two under $2.31!

10. BEIJING, CHINA

China is fast growing into the next IT destination of the world. Chinese goods have infiltrated every market worldwide. This enterprising country has much to offer in terms of culture, history, sights, scenery and food for the traveler. China is also a fairly good deal for the budget traveler. A day’s expenses in Beijing will set you back by $8.50, while reasonable double occupancy room can be had for $6.50 a night, and a small but filling meal for two will cost you less than $1.00.

Teena Celis is an avid traveler and works as content writer for Adrenaline that provides a large range of flying experiences like helicopter rides, hot air ballooning, parasailing all across Australia.

While you travel to a new country, there is so much to take along and so much to leave behind. You may find your favourite stuff anywhere in the world but the love of your family is what you would miss the most.

Well, if distance is a concern then there are many ways to keep in touch. Make a call, send emails, chat online and do your bit to sustain the bond. You surely need to do a little of study like phone services, internet facility, etc and then you may connect to anyone around the world without going broke.

Phone Calls:

In the past, delays in communication were common. It was a huge expense to make a phone call to those travelling or living in other countries, yet people opted for this. Even today a phone call is believed to be the most suitable option for a personal touch.

Many companies have introduced different technology methods to make international calling easier and cheaper. So now it is certainly within your reach to pick the apt service, make cheap calls around the world and feel closer to your loved ones.

Online Calls:

You can download Skype for free and make calls via your laptop while you travel or at your home computer. Even most of the Internet café computers have it pre-installed. You also have the option of Google Talk and Yahoo Calls to make free calls. Register online; ask your family and friends to do the same, and just TALK!

Email/Chat:

If you have internet connection at your finger tips then it’s even simpler to keep in touch all day long. Fix a common time to be available online and login on Facebook Chat, Gtalk or Yahoo Messenger to chat with your family and friends around the world.

If they are not online, you can send emails of your experiences, plans, information, schedules, etc and this would surely make them feel good.

Upload Video & Pictures:

While you travel, create lots of memories to share them with your loved ones. Show them where you stay, places you visit, kind of work you do, your friend circle and the fun you enjoy. Put all of these together in videos and pictures and upload them on social sites.

If you are on Facebook, let your stuff go there! You can even upload your gallery on Flickr and Picasa or rather use youtube to host all your videos.

A guest post by Rebtel.