The Traveler Guide

Adventure travel is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry, but it is often difficult to find good bargains when booking adventure travel. With so many people itching to go on the adventure of a lifetime, the prices in those travel brochures can lead you to believe that adventure travel is beyond your means. That does not have to be the case, however. The key to affordable adventure travel is to book directly from the providers of the adventure, instead of going through multiple layers of travel agents, tour operators and tour guides.

Booking a tour directly has many benefits besides monetary ones, including meeting wonderful local people and enjoying the local culture. Often the best way to enjoy a vacation on a budget is to book low cost airfare to the destination of your choice, take the local bus into town, and start asking around about the best adventure guides in town.

Local tour operators know the area, they know how to please their clientele, and best of all they are inexpensive. U.S. currency goes quite a long way in many exotic locations in Africa, Asia and elsewhere, so dealing with local tour guides is the best way to make your adventure travel dollar stretch even further.

Many inexperienced adventure travelers are unsure how they can possibly book an adventure tour on their own. For one thing, there is often a language barrier in far off locations, and you may be many thousands of miles from home in an unfamiliar location. What these first time travelers often don't realize, however, is that finding a tour operator is often the easiest part of the journey.

In many cases, the tour operators will find you as soon as you land, without you having to seek them out. And in most places, especially those frequented by American tourists, the guides will speak at least a little bit of English.

Listed below are some of the best tips for booking your own budget travel adventure.

Marina del Rey, with its close proximity to LAX and the famous southern California beaches, is often considered a popular destination for vacationers. The area boasts several different hotels that each caters to very different clientele. The key in planning your next vacation is to choose the hotel that best meets your needs -- with amenities and budget. Choosing a hotel that fits within your budget ensures that your family will be able to properly enjoy the rest of your trip. If you choose a hotel that stretches your pocketbook a bit, then most likely you will spend the remainder of your trip pinching pennies and worrying about your budget. Here are three different hotels to suit any budget:

Marina del Rey Hotels For The Budgeter

If you're on a budget, don't think you'll be spending a lot of time in your hotel room, or would just rather spend more money on attractions than a hotel, then choosing a budget hotel makes the most sense. For the budget traveler, there are two options from which to choose. Located on the water, the Best Western Jamaica Bay Inn offers up the views of the area while allowing the budget traveler to keep some money in their pockets. 

Expect to pay $135 a night and up depending on the season. If you're staying for a longer range, the Marina International Hotel and Bungalows are worth checking out. With rates starting at $93 during the week, this is one of the few Marina del Rey hotels that offers all of the comforts of home while still being close to all of the attractions the area has to offer.

Marina del Rey Hotels For The Mid-Range Traveler

If it's a city view that you're looking for, check out the Foghorn Harbor Inn, one of the Marina del Rey hotels that offers low rates while still providing a Marina or city view. For the mid-range traveler looking for a comfortable place to stay, while still being close to all of the action, the Foghorn Harbor Inn is the perfect choice with rates beginning at $129 depending on the season.

Luxurious Marina del Rey Hotels

For travelers looking for a package getaway, the Marriot is an excellent option. Offering up packages like "Escape! Romance in California," a package that offers views of the city, long stem roses, and a bottle of champagne, or "Glow," a package that includes visits to some of the newest night clubs in Los Angeles, the Marriot is one of the few lodgings in the area that takes care of all of your travel plans. If your trip consists of business or you're looking for luxury accommodations.

The Ritz-Carlton is right up your alley. You can choose from marina or city skyline views, visit one of the key-access only Ritz-Carlton Club level rooms, book an appointment at the newly renovated Boutique spa, or work out in the state-of-the-art cardio and weight studio. With prices starting at $325 a night, the Ritz is well suited for the traveler looking to be pampered. It's no wonder that this area is a prime vacation spot for both business travelers and vacationers alike. With stunning views and attractions for all ages, Marina del Rey is a travelers dream. And with a few choices for each budget range, anyone can afford to make this area their next vacation stop.

Many budget minded travelers like the safety, security and convenience that comes with booking a packaged or escorted tours. These tours can be particularly useful for those traveling to an unfamiliar or exotic location, as well as for those who want to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. There are tour packages to every conceivable destination, and for every possible budget.

There are package tours that specialize in budget accommodations, and there are those that use only the finest hotels and the best restaurants. When looking for a suitable tour, it is important to take your own tastes and budgets into account. There are several types of package tours available, and it is important to understand the difference, and to choose the type that best suits your interests, travel style and of course your budget as well.

Fully escorted tours

 
Fully escorted tours are generally the most all inclusive. In most cases, everything is included, from airfare and lodging to sightseeing and meals. In most fully escorted tours, the entire tour is tightly structured, and a full, highly detailed, itinerary is provided. Many people like the structured and all inclusive nature of this kind of package tour, but they are not for everyone. Many independent minded travelers do not care for the rigid structure, or the fact that there is often not time to explore a particular destination more in depth. Many of these more independent minded travelers prefer the next category, the partially escorted tour.

Partially escorted tours

 
As the name implies, partially escorted tours are not as all inclusive as fully escorted ones. These tours generally take care of transportation from one destination to another and lodging once you get there. Unlike fully escorted tours, however, these partially escorted tours generally provide more free time to explore on your own. With most partially escorted tours, meals, other than maybe a few, are not included.

The tour often stops at a particular restaurant or eatery, but the meals are generally at the expense of the traveler. Many travelers prefer the greater freedom this affords, while others prefer the all inclusive nature of the fully escorted tour. It is a choice each traveler must make for him or herself. Many partially escorted tours also include optional excursions, and these excursions are also at the traveler's expense. It is important for anyone considering such a tour to get a list of optional excursions, including the price, and to review the itinerary for less costly alternatives that may be available.

Lodging and airfare tours

 
A package tour that includes only lodging and airfare is the least inclusive, least structured, and generally the least expensive, type of package tour available. This type of package deal generally includes the airfare to your destination, transfer to the hotel, lodging for the length of the stay, and transfer back to the airport upon departure. In some cases a rental car may be included as well. While these types of packages can be an excellent deal for the adventurous traveler, it is important to take into account the cost of meals, sightseeing tours, etc., and to compare that cost with the cost of a more inclusive package.

It is also important to pay close attention to the location of the hotel, and its proximity to the sights you plan to see. Many tour companies keep the costs of their packages low by using out of the way or unpopular hotels, so it is important to consult a map of your destination and find your hotel before booking the trip. If you end up in a hotel that is far from the city center, you may end up spending lots of money on taxi far or rental cars. It is often better to upgrade to a hotel that is closer to town, even if that causes the cost of the package to rise.

They say you've never been to Europe, unless you've been to London. The largest and most populous city in the European Union, London is both a vast, urbanized metropolis and a city rich in heritage sites, among them Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower Bridge. London is the capital city of the United Kingdom, the country that gave birth to such legends as the Beatles, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare.

London's Bridge to the World
London is both a historical and business hub, so it comes as no surprise that the city plays host to millions of visitors each year. In fact, London is almost never without tourists. Travelers from different points of the globe pay homage to this magnificent city all year round. While the elite indulge in luxurious accommodations in London's many posh hotels, backpackers and students frequent very cheap hotels in London, also known as hostels. And because backpackers and serious travelers make up the bulk of the city's visitors, there are thousands of very cheap hotels in London.

Go Cheap in London
Of all the very cheap hotels in London, the most famous is the Generator London Hostel in Bloomsbury. Its proximity to some of London's great sites and train stations makes it ideal for the traveler on the move. The Generator is the only hostel in London that provides organized entertainment every night, and is a great place to meet people from all over the world. At only £12.50 a night, the Generator is indeed one of the very cheap hotels in London.

Astor Hostels London Group boasts of having five very cheap hotels in London. Astor's famous Hyde Park hostel is located right next to must-see trendy places like Notting Hill, Portobello Road, and Oxford Street. Also in the vicinity is the slightly pricier Astor Quest Hostel. Unlike the Hyde Park hostel, Astor Quest has en suite facilities. Located south of the river Thames, Astor's Victoria Hostel is perfect if you intend to do a lot of sightseeing. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the House of Parliament are within walking distance of Victoria Hostel. You can find Astor's Museum Inn Hostel only less than three minutes away from London's tube stations. It is also within walking distance of Covent Garden.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a little peace and quiet in the middle of the city, Astor's Leinster Inn Hostel is perfect because it is found in a quiet, leafy square in central London. Its location makes a popular choice among the very cheap hotels in London.

Another very cheap hotels in London is the Piccadilly Backpackers hostel. It is located in the heart of SoHo, just a few steps from the famous Piccadilly Circus. The London House Hotel near the Kensington Gardens is recommended for the traveler on a budget who desires a bit of privacy. Its location is central enough without being too crowded.

There are many very cheap hotels in London for young travelers. Most of these very cheap hotels in London are clean and comfortable, and they come with basic amenities. If you are in London for sightseeing and experience the city's pace and culture, be kind to your purse strings by staying at very cheap hotels in London.