The Great 'Cheap When You Get There' Holidays

Andyc24_uk

Poland is very cheap and interesting, especially if you get off the tourist trail a bit.
The big tourist hotspots like Krakow are gradually getting more expensive, but a friend and I went to Gdansk at easter on a budget. It's a nice little city with some interesting museums and architecture and a good cultural/cafe scene.
Taxis are incredibly cheap - we were staying out of the centre and got taxis back and forwards several times a day at about £2 each time - and you can get a train to other attractions in the area such as the HUGE Malbork Castle (well worth a visit!) for about £7 return.

Top tip though has to be spending as much time as possible in the local cafes and bars - lots of very good coffee and tea for about 40p a pot during the day, and several rounds of beers and vodkas in the trendiest bar in town one evening cost us under £15.

katecheshire

Travelodge £15 rooms. Totally brill.

Visiting New York ? Look out for 'free' or contribution only nights at museums or art galleries We went to the Guggenheim on Friday night for a dollar each. Bit of a queue but saved a lot. Try the Grey Dog cafe on Carmine Street for huge sandwiches - one between 2 was more than enough for lunch! Also try diners which have a buffet - fill up your plastic box and pay by weight, like a supermarket salad bar but a massive choice of meat, fish salad, chinese, italian etc. Don't go mad at first till you work out what you get for how much . . .you can always go back again!

In Florence take your passport for reduced admission to over 60's (I think -could be 65) at tourist attractions . . . just looking old enough didn't work for my Mum:rotfl:

Gorwel

I live by the sea. When I take small god-daughters to the beach (Parents not well-off), they play happily, enjoy the special little treats I've provided in the picnic (like a tube of Ssmarties or fun-size Mars) and half way through the outing ask for the money granny gave them to spend on an ice cream.
When I take small friends to the beach, (Parents also not well-off) they start whinging after a few minutes. They want to buy tacky beach toys, several ice creams, crisps etc from the over-priced kiosk. After the picnic they whinge some more for money for a burger or chips and sulk some more if they don't get them.
I suppose I'm saying I notice how some kids are brought up to appreciate what they have and enjoy small treats. Fun doesn't depend on how much you can spend on passing fancies.

Gorwel

I live by the sea. When I take small god-daughters to the beach (Parents not well-off), they play happily, enjoy the special little treats I've provided in the picnic (like a tube of Ssmarties or fun-size Mars) and half way through the outing ask for the money granny gave them to spend on an ice cream.
When I take small friends to the beach, (Parents also not well-off) they start whinging after a few minutes. They want to buy tacky beach toys, several ice creams, crisps etc from the over-priced kiosk. After the picnic they whinge some more for money for a burger or chips and sulk some more if they don't get them.
I suppose I'm saying I notice how some kids are brought up to appreciate what they have and enjoy small treats. Fun doesn't depend on how much you can spend on passing fancies.

danthemoneysavingman

No doubt this has appeared elsewhere, but as its relevant to this topic... From now on I'll always try to put my holiday spending money in my Nationwide flexaccount and withdraw it abroad. There is no commission and no fee, and also the exchange rate is so much better!
As an example, in Barbados recently, the exchange rate from the best place near me was 3.50 Bajan dollars to the pound. The hotel there gave only 3.25, yet withdrawing the cash from my flexaccount gave an exchange rate of 3.96!!:j This is so worth it - 14% better than getting it beforehand! May not be s good for currency like the Euro, but def. worth a try.:o

jamescu

Just back from China, and I'd echo everything the first poster said. Also, you'll save a pacvket if you learn Chinese numbers and how to say 'How much?' and 'That's too dear'. If you're buying stuff from samller shops and stalls the price is never on anything, and the first price your told is always at least three times what the seller will be willing to take for it.
Also, if you need new clothes for your holiday, wait till you get there. Going out I took two pairs of pants and socks in a carry on bag - came back with the biggest suitcase I could buy full of new clothes - good jeans are about £6, casual cotton shirts are about £3
I also did the Xmas shopping for nine nieces and nephews for about £60

DUKE

I went to Luxor Egypt in June 2005 and stayed at St Joseph Hotel. You can get a meal voucher for 6 meals for just £20 and McDonalds is half price compared to our prices. If you do get the mummy tummy then just turn right at the hotel and the lovely man in the chemist will sell you some instant cure pills for 30p - Imodium doesn't work. Barter for absolutely everything and do it as if your life depends on it

Peggysboy

:eek: You work from 9am until 10pm EVERY day with 90 minutes off in the afternoon. You'd need to be desperate. Sorry I don't mean to be rude but give me a break.

Peggysboy

Sorry new to this my reply was to mummypirate re: the free accomodtion and meals post

redmandarin

mummypirate wrote: »

Last year summer I went for a 8-day break in La Alberca, Spain. The lodgings and food were free with 3 sittings - breakfast, lunch and dinner and as much red wine as you like to consume. All the holiday company asked in return was for me to speak English non-stop to the paying Spanish guests. I only needed to pay for my flights and stay in Madrid which worked out at less than £50.00. I highly recommend it, especially if you're a chatterbox!

In my view, the free board and lodging doesn't seem worth it, for all the hours you have to work (and you have to pay for your own flights)! It's a 12 hour day, (apart from an hour and a half off in the afternoon) none of your evenings are free (one would be nice!) and the evening meal isn't until 9pm. It doesn't stop there either - you're required to socialise with the students from 10pm onwards each night! Thanks, but no thanks, mummypirate!