If you’re wondering what kind of trip you want to take, you might want t consider a cruise.  Planning a cruise is actually a lot less stressful than planning any other kind of trip because there are fewer things to deal with.  For example, your travel and your lodging are one and the same, so need need for worrying about hotel rooms. There are plenty of cruise guides available.

Well, mostly.  One of the issues of taking a cruise is that you have to get to the dock.  Sometimes, they can involve extra travel.  Some people live so far away that they actually have to fly to catch their cruise, which adds in another very large cost.  However, if you live near the area from which the boat leaves, it’s a cost you don’t have to worry about.

Food is another non-concern on a cruise.  All of your meals are actually included in the cost of the cruise with the exception of alcohol (and sometimes limited alcohol is actually included).  Huge dining rooms providing all the food you’d ever want.

Some entertainment is provided, too, such as magic shows, musical performances, and games.  Many cruise ships feature casinos for those who like to gamble.  On-ship pools, shuffleboard, and more give plenty of entertainment options for adults and children.

There are also various shore excursions you can do.  These excursions are handled through the cruise company, but they cost extra.  Some examples include touring ancient ruins, swimming with the dolphins, and going para-sailing.  However, while booking these events through your cruise is convenient, you may actually be able to find a local tourist company that provides the same experiences for less, so do some research.

There are a few things to consider if you’re trying to save money on your cruise.  First, interior rooms with no windows are much cheaper but provide no view of the ocean.  The time of year makes a huge difference, too.  You may find it cheaper to cruise during the winter months, but be aware that many cruises run holiday specials that fill up quickly.

Going on a trip can be a lot of fun, but in some ways, it can also be stressful.  One of these stressful areas is your travel budget.  Unless you have a lot of money set aside or are independently wealthy, chances are, you’re not going to be able to throw money around.  Instead, you’ll have to pick and choose what you purchase.  However, there are some ways you can save some money and stay within your travel budget.

Purchasing non-perishables (donuts, bagels, bread, cereal, etc.) from a local supermarket can save you from spending money on breakfast and maybe even lunch.  You can also pick up snacks and drinks so you don’t buy things out of vending machines—they’re always more expensive than stores.  Even if your room doesn’t include a mini-refrigerator, some hotels do feature ice machines so you can cool down your drinks this way.  Always avoid room service if it’s an option because it’s always expensive.  You can usually eat out for less.

Another tip is to make a list of people you wish to buy souvenirs for and set a certain amount for each.  You may want to spend more on your sister, for example, than on a work associate, but if you don’t plan this out, you may end up impulse buying.  This can quickly lead to spending a lot of money and filling up any extra space in your luggage.

Speaking of luggage, some airlines now charge for checked baggage.  To avoid paying too much in fees, try to fit as much of your clothing as possible into one bag.  Also remember that you may be able to put your toiletries and other small items in a carry-on bag.  If you expect to purchase a good amount of stuff on your trip, you may want to fit a smaller bag inside your larger one.  On your way back, you can use the second bag to carry your purchases.  This way, you only pay for one checked bag on the way there instead of two.

Look for multi-admission passes or transportation passes.  Many public transportation systems feature weekly passes, and these usually come out cheaper than paying each time unless you aren’t going to use transportation very often.  Some city tourism departments also offer a multi-admission pass that lets you in to a number of different attractions for one price.  Again, if you’re going to visit three or four of these attractions, buying the pass instead of paying individually may be cheaper.

You may have it all planned out.  You’ve got your transportation books, your tickets purchased, your hotel room reserved, and you’re ready to go!  Then something happens—there’s a sudden illness in the family, a natural disaster strikes your home town, or some other uncontrollable event happens, and you realise there’s no way you can go on your trip.  When that happens, you have no choice but to cancel your trip.

You need to cancel your reservations as soon as you know you won’t be able to go on your trip.  Many hotels and forms of transportation have cancellation deadlines.  If you cancel after these deadlines, you may not be able to get all or even most of your payment back.  This may mean you end up paying for airline tickets or a hotel room that you don’t get to use.  If that ends up being the case, see if you can get credit for another time.  If you can’t, you may want to transfer your reservations and such to someone who can go out of town.  It’s better that one of your family members or friends make use of your tickets and reservations rather than spending money on something that no one gets to use.

Event tickets are often non-refundable no matter what.  In this case, you can either give them to someone else or attempt to re-sell them.  Some people put their tickets up on eBay or other online auction sites.  If you don’t have time for that and don’t have a friend to give them to, you may be out of luck and will have to accept the loss of your money.

Cancelling your holiday is very disappointing, but losing all of your investment is even worse.  While you may be dealing with some horrible event during the time, but try to find a few minutes to deal with cancellations so you can save as much as you can.

Travelling to a foreign city by yourself can be very exciting.  If you’re there on holiday, you can set your entire schedule.  You can get up when you want, go out when you want, and see whatever you want.  However, travelling alone can also be a bit scary since you won’t have anyone to turn to if an emergency occurs. For that reason, you want to be sure to do a couple of things.  First, you need to know your hotel’s contact information.  Program the front desk number into your mobile phone if you have one, and be certain to grab one of the hotel’s business cards (most have one) and carry it in your wallet or purse.  This way, you know the exact address and phone number in case you get lost or need to contact the hotel for any reason. Likewise, ask the hotel staff for the number of a cab company or for information regarding buses or trains.  If you get lost or find yourself sick or otherwise unable to get back to the hotel on your own, you will need to have some way of calling for assistance.  It’s also a good idea to know how to contact emergency services if you are travelling abroad since it is not always the same number. As a solo traveller, it’s also important that you be even more aware of your surroundings.  Don’t walk with your head down, and take note of anything that looks suspicious, especially if it is someone who appears to be following you. Of course, some safety tips are the same whether you’re travelling alone or with someone else.  Never carry a lot of cash in your purse or wallet, and don’t give out your room number.