How to keep going while making your dollar stretch.

As consumers start to tighten their belts, getting a great travel bargain and making your dollar stretch will be top of mind for some travellers. Adventure trip operators Intrepid Travel have the following tips for getting through the tough times.

Before you leave...

Choose experience over luxury
Adventure holidays are great value, offering travellers a unique and up-close experience of people and places. In previous periods of an economic slow down, Intrepid Travel's sales have grown. The company attributes this to the appeal of its trips as consumers tighten their belts and look for travel options that provide real value for money.

Make the most of specials
Bargain hunters should check travel websites regularly for last minute specials. Many will have large discounts for remaining places on trips when the departure date is coming up soon.

Save up your annual leave and take a longer holiday
Instead of taking lots of small breaks that all require transport to a destination, we suggest travellers should consider taking longer holidays and spending more time in one area. This limits the need to purchase lots of flights, saving the traveller a substantial amount of money. It's also better for the environment as fewer flights are taken.

Stay close to home
Escape the bad news by holidaying in your own backyard and nearby. There are some great real-life travel experiences to be had here, saving travellers the expense of flights. Have a look at the options with Australia's nearby neighbours, including New Zealand, Fiji and Asia.

Travel around your city
Sometimes you don't even need to go on holiday to feel like you've escaped. Seeing and learning about new things in your very own city can give you that refreshed feeling. Some travel agents off to uncover hidden gems, backstreets and fascinating sights in some of our favourite cities. Ranging from two-hour to two-day adventures, these new city experiences are designed to showcase what makes a city tick.

Enter competitions
Try your luck by watching out for online travel agencies promoting themselves with competitions. Some may offer entire trips as prizes.

Book now, save later
Airlines often offer great discounts for flights booked in advance. Check their websites and sign-up to their newsletters to get the latest offers. A little forward planning can go a long way to saving money down the track.

See the travel doctor before you leave
It's a small price to pay for something that gives travellers peace of mind and could potentially save them money in the long run - it's much cheaper to avoid getting sick in the first place!

Chat to locals and get the inside word
Ask the locals for advice on how to get a great bargain without compromising the experience. They'll know the best eateries, entertainment and cheap things to do!

Travellers heading to Europe would do well to remember to:

• In Paris drink your coffee inside the cafe. It's cheaper than the footpath.
  
• In Spain eat your tapas inside at the bar. You'll rub shoulders with the locals AND it's cheaper than the same menu outside with the tourists!
  
• In Italy bring your own bottle to wine stores. They often have a barrel so that you can fill up at a low price.

Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper
Travellers should make the most of hotels that have breakfast included. A big breakfast will ensure they make it through a solid day of experiencing new people and new places. Another travel tip is to eat up big at lunch. Meals in the middle of the day can be up to 50 per cent cheaper than the same menu at dinner. And not eating a big dinner will leave travellers with more time to enjoy the night life!

Intrepid Travel can be contacted by calling 1300 364 512

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