Planning a vacation is one of my favorite things. Dreaming of perfect sunny days without anything more pressing to do than swing in a hammock with an umbrella drink and an ocean breeze. Ah, grand. But first things first. Before you can start lounging on the beach and summoning the waiter, you have to plan your trip, and planning entails purchasing airfare. Now, since you do not want to spend all your money getting to your destination, it would be best to find super cheap airplane tickets and then keep more money on hand for splurging once you arrive. So how to travel cheap?

Well there are a number of ways, and I would say the most popular nowadays is to buy your tickets on the Internet. And there are several ways you can go about this. First, you could just head on over to the airline website and see what sort of prices they have listed. Actually this is a good idea, and I recommend checking there first. But plan ahead, and buy your tickets at least 14 days in advance. The earlier the better really, in order to obtain the best deals.

Another good place to search is an online travel agency such as Travelocity. You should sign up for their farewatcher alert. This way you will receive an email periodically when fares drop, and I have found some sweet deals this way, really super cheap airplane tickets with no strings attached. But unfortunately what happens quite often is I receive the email, dash over to the site, and find that there is a very limited amount of seats available, none of which match the dates I plan to fly.

This leads me to another suggestion. Be flexible! I admit I am not always as flexible about these things as I should be. I will write my vacation dates on the calendar, ask for the days off work, and I am loathe to change. But if you can have a little flexibility, you can often find that your airfare can be decreased by as much as 25% just by adjusting your days. So try different combinations. If you originally planned on flying out on Wednesday and returning the following Tuesday, check prices for leaving on Friday and flying back the following Thursday. You may be surprised to find a cheaper airfare.

It used to be that you were required to stay overnight on a Saturday in order to get a decent price, but not anymore. That’s pretty much not the case, but flying midweek can sometimes help you on your way to super cheap deals. Try buying your airplane tickets to fly out and return on a Tuesday or Wednesday and see if that doesn’t knock a few dollars off the price.

If you don’t mind flying at night, great deals can be found on the “red eye” where you will fly most of the night. I don’t mind these flights too much, just curl up with a pillow and blanket and nap the whole way.

Finally, try a “brick and mortar” travel agent rather than online. You may pay just a few dollars more but sometimes they can find you a package deal that is super cheap and also includes not only airplane tickets but also hotel and rental car. Another plus in using these agencies is if you have any problems you will have an actual person to help you out.

I hope some of these tips will help you on your next vacation in your quest on how to travel cheap.

When you choose to travel, you take the risk of lost luggage, flight cancellations, reservation cancellations, theft and many other situations which may cause anxiety. Planning a vacation is stressful enough without having to worry about something going horribly wrong. Purchasing travel insurance will ensure that you are compensated if anything goes wrong on your trip. When trying to determine whether or not to purchase travel insurance, keep in mind the points listed below which may make your decision much easier.

Many forms of travel insurance will cover you in the following areas:

1. Medical Emergencies – Travel insurance will provide you with financial help should you encounter a medical emergency while traveling. If you become ill or are injured while on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you coverage in both situations.

2. Cancellations or Delays – If for any reason (beyond your control) your trip is cancelled or delayed your travel insurance will provide you with financial coverage. This includes coverage if your airline goes bankrupt or out of service. Your travel insurance will either compensate you for the money you lost or provide you with new means of transportation.

3. Theft – If anything belonging to you is stolen while you are on vacation, your travel insurance will provide you with financial assistance to replace the items which were stolen.

4. Damage or Loss of Personal Property – This is likely to happen while on vacation. If your luggage is lost or damaged while on vacation, your travel insurance will definitely cover at least some percentage of the property that is missing. Depending on the insurance plan, it may financially cover all the items that are missing.

5. Lost Passport – If you lose your passport or it is stolen while you are on vacation, travel insurance will provide you with the means to get a temporary one. Your travel insurance company will inform you on how to get in contact with your country embassy so that you can arrange to receive a temporary passport.

Depending on the insurance plan you choose, you may be fully or partially covered in the areas listed above. Choose your policy according to what you think the possibility will be that you will require the assistance on your trip.

For many vacationers, travel insurance eliminates any worry that an unforeseen circumstance may arise in which you do not have the money or means to take care of.

Travel insurance helps you relax and enjoy your trip without agonizing over things that may or may not go wrong. Relaxing and enjoying? Isn’t that why you planned the vacation in the first place?

There are many vendors who would try and convince you that going abroad without traveler’s insurance is downright foolish. However, most people going on vacation have already invested enough in their travel costs that they generally overlook extra costs they consider frivolous, at best. And there are arguments on both sides of the fence. If you have never encountered a flight or cruise cancellation, loss of personal property, or a serious medical malady outside of the United State’s borders, you perhaps have never seriously considered a travel insurance plan. But for those travelers who have had experience with the above, many experts agree that a well researched insurance plan may have helped.

Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Before you decide in favor of or against purchasing travel insurance there are some factors to consider. First, are you planning that amazing, once-in-a-lifetime vacation you’ve had on your To-Do list for the last decade? This type of trip might require some forethought when it comes to considering protecting yourself and your long awaited investment. Perhaps a little extra investment in flight cancellations, medical insurance, and luggage loss might pay off should something befall you on your travels.

Medical Travel Insurance

Traveling outside of U.S. borders? Make sure, especially if you are going for a long stay that your medical insurance will apply should a medical malady occur while you are in Tanzania, for example. You may be surprised to find when you actually ask your insurance provider how little coverage you have when traveling beyond the U.S. Many insurance plans only cover physicians and care within certain network areas. And a big reminder for seniors: Medicare does not apply outside of the United States. Also, make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel. And depending on where in the world you may be traveling, know what types of inoculations you may require above and beyond those you already have.

Most travel experts agree that travel insurance is not necessary for all travelers, but that for some it is definitely a wise idea. Long term stays outside of the United States would suggest some type of medical coverage. In the event of a medical emergency, you would want to secure some transportation back to The States. Your health insurance plan may cover the emergency medical care, but it most likely will not pay for your transportation back home for continued care.

Plans and Coverage

There are scads of companies just waiting to sell you all kinds of travel insurance packages, including insurance for terrorist events and accidental death. What you need to consider is exactly what could most likely go awry and plan best for that situation. Experts suggest you research a travel insurance plan thoroughly and make sure you are completely aware of the details of coverage before you pay. Comprehensive package deals will most likely cover a little bit of every major aspect of your trip including basic trip cancellation, luggage loss, and a basic medical and/or dental plan, but, once again, shop around and be sure you really are covered.