Cruise Excursions & Your Travel Dollar
As expected, some tour guides were excellent while others were not. However, in my experience, the satisfaction of a trip does not depend on whether one books cruise excursions from the cruise line or not. During my Viking Danube Waltz River Cruise, I spoke with some passengers who had paid for extra cruise excursions through the cruise line but were disappointed with their experience. This is what I call “cruise remorse.”
Cruise Excursions Avoiding “Cruiser Remorse “
My group and I chose to explore the places we visited on our own rather than take the cruise excursions offered by the cruise companies. This allowed us to save money and have more control over our experiences. For example, while in Vienna, we heard about a classical music performance that some people from the ship had attended on an excursion. Unfortunately, the venue was overcrowded, hot, and uncomfortable, which made the attendees unhappy. If I had experienced this on an independent tour, I would only have myself to blame.
Furthermore, the fact that I would have paid a fraction of what the cruise line charged would have made me feel less frustrated. Adjusting our expectations when traveling is essential, as things may not always go as planned. It is not like you are in your hometown and know the good spots from the great ones. Moreover, even the great spots have issues from time to time.
I advise against using the excursions offered by cruise companies since I have found that TripAdvisor offers similar excursions at a reduced cost. However, remember that if you opt for an off-book excursion and arrive late, there is a risk that the ship might leave you behind. But don’t let this scare you.
Do Not Let This Be You
We’ve all seen those YouTube videos of people standing on the dock, watching their cruise ship sail away without them. But that won’t be the case for you. Those individuals were likely not punctual and ended up missing their boat. However, you’ve researched and know precisely how long your excursion will take, so you can confidently return to the ship on time.
TripAdvisor is a platform that heavily relies on ratings, so excursion operators have a strong incentive to ensure their customers are satisfied. They wouldn’t risk receiving bad reviews, which would cause people to miss their boats. We’ve never missed a ship on a TripAdvisor cruise excursions.
For example, during our last Caribbean cruise, we booked an excursion to the Damajagua waterfalls in the Dominican Republic through TripAdvisor. Everything went smoothly, and we had a great time. Most importantly, we made it back to the ship on schedule.
Off – Book Cruise Excursions
We encountered the same people from our ship who had paid for their excursion through the cruise line. However, those who had booked through the cruise line spent at least forty percent more than us and did the same excursion. The only difference was that we had to exit the port-controlled compound to meet the tour van for our off-book excursion, which meant walking an extra mile. This was not a problem for us. We had as much enjoyment as those who spent more. In addition, we could sample local cuisine from a recommended restaurant by our guide.
When traveling in larger cities, there are many ways to stretch your travel budget. For instance, you can purchase all-inclusive venue and transportation cards. We first experienced the Lisboa Card on our trip to Portugal.
Buy All all-in-one city Cards.
The cards are sold in daily increments. If you plan to travel to a new city, you can get your money’s worth using an all-in-one transportation-venue card. This card offers access to public transportation, museums, and other venues. Even if you don’t use the card as much as you thought you would, the convenience alone is worth the cost.
There is no currency exchange or tickets to fool with. Think of the time and frustration that will be saved! For example, if you’re visiting a large European city for three days, it’s a good idea to list the places you want to see and the public transportation options available. You can jump from the subway metro to the bus to the light train. Most transportation abroad is stellar. In the Caribbean, not so much. A paid coach tour or minibus is the way to get there.
Most large European cities have efficient and reasonably priced public transportation systems. During my recent trip to Budapest, I purchased a public transportation ticket for seventy-two hours at around five dollars a day, using a senior discount. The ticket allowed me to use the metro and bus.
During that trip, I regretted not following my advice and purchasing a city card. Certain things we wanted to do would have required separate payments, which we couldn’t afford then. Sadly, we had to skip those activities with regret. On a related note, it’s worth mentioning that public transportation in many American cities is not up to par. Opting for train travel can be a more cost-effective option.
Sign up for Airlines Credit Cards
You can also save money on transportation by using airline credit cards that offer reduced fares and free travel miles. To make the most of these benefits, booking your flights well in advance and comparing prices across multiple airlines is advisable. Using frequent flyer miles can save a lot of money on your travels.
https://time.com/6307677/budget-travel-tips/
Train Travel Saves Time and Money
Recently, I rode a high-speed train from Venice, Italy, to Milan one way for under fifty euros in business class with a meal.
Other Cost-Saving Tips
Some restaurants off the main tourist trails have great pricing. Traveling in high season and low season can provide significant savings. Supply and demand are determining factors. Suppose you have more time than money; coach trips are dollar stretchers.
Save Money by Following These Tips, Recap:
– Book flights in advance to get the best deals.
– Use airline credit cards to accumulate free travel miles and save money.
– Travel on frequent flyer miles to get free flights.
– Use public transportation in large cities to save money on transportation.
– Eat at off-the-beaten-path restaurants to save money on food.
– Travel in low season, as supply and demand are determining factors that can provide significant savings.
– Take coach trips for big savings.
Planning and Research Go a long way.
I find that when I am forced into a quick decision, I often regret a purchase or experience. I am not saying not to be a little more spontaneous. Let’s say a little more thought; taking the time to plan and Research will pay dividends with greater satisfaction and dollars saved.
On my last trip to central Europe, I took a coach from Budapest to Venice, Italy, for under forty euros. A plane ticket was in the three-hundred-dollar range. Yes, the coach took ten hours, but I had the time and needed time to rest. If you work at it, you can save money by doing some of the things mentioned in this blog. There’s nothing wrong with being a little frugal.
More on Saving $ See Post Below
