VirtualTourist.com Announces Top 10 Money-Saving Ideas for Travelers

Travel experts at VirtualTourist.com reveal how not to go broke on vacation.

Los Angeles, CA (November 12, 2008) /PRNewswire/ — If necessity is the mother of invention, the current state of the economy is prompting a lot of creativity on the part of travelers this year. Giampiero Ambrosi, General Manager of VirtualTourist.com™ (http://www.virtualtourist.com), explains how tourists are seeing the world without going broke: "Yes, exchange rates are terrible, gas is outrageous, and you practically need a loan to cross the street, but with planning and caution, you can avoid staying home this year."

Convention and Visitors Bureaus-they're not just for maps and bathrooms. You'll find everything here from hotel coupons to two-for-one deals on things to do.
Exchange money at banks, not independent change stations. You'll get better exchange rates and probably get better service.
Volunteer. In addition to doing some good, you may even find yourself getting free or at least heavily discounted lodging and/or meals.
Before spending money on admission to things like museums or public buildings, check to see if there is a free admission day.
Make lunch, rather than dinner, the big meal of the day. If you're not big on daytime eating, check local pubs and restaurants for "happy hour" specials that run in the early evening.
Shop where "bargain" is both a noun and a verb. Rather than shopping at expensive department store chains, opt for flea markets or bazaars.
Keep exchange rates in mind when choosing a destination. Depending on where you go, you can either save or lose a lot of money.
Look into extended stay hotels that offer laundry machines and kitchen facilities. You'll save a bundle on food and have a stronger sense of having a home base.
Watch in-room hotel charges carefully. Things like mini-bar sodas, Internet fees, and phone charges really add up, so think twice before chatting up Aunt Alice every night.
Think 'burb. Rather than a major city, consider booking a hotel in a suburb where things will not only be less expensive, but most likely, easier to book. Before saying "no," remember that today's unknown neighborhood may be tomorrow's hot spot.

About VirtualTourist.com:

VirtualTourist.com, part of the TripAdvisor® media group, is one of the largest online travel communities in the world and a premier resource for travelers seeking an insider perspective on travel information. Boasting more than 1.6 million travel reviews and 3 million photos on more than 58,000 destinations worldwide, VirtualTourist (http://www.virtualtourist.com) attracts over 6 million unique visitors each month. Unbiased, user-generated content on Hotels, Attractions, Local Customs, Tourist Traps and much more is posted entirely by VirtualTourist's more than one million registered members from over 220 countries and territories. Among VirtualTourist's awards and accolades: 'Sites that Changed Our World,' The Guardian; 'Favorite Website,' Newsweek; '35 Best Travel Sites,' Travel Leisure.

VirtualTourist, VirtualTourist.com and the VirtualTourist logo are trademarks of VirtualTourist.com, Inc. TripAdvisor is a trademark of is a trademark of TripAdvisor LLC. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.