Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune is a helpful resource for vacationers who want to make the most of both their vacation time and travel budget.
- The author offers insight into why travel costs more at different times of the year.
- The book includes useful website information that will help readers reduce travel expenses.
- The author uses examples from his own extensive, world-wide travel adventures to help you save.
- The book contains several annoying typos.
- This book may frustrate readers who don’t have computer access.
- Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune explains how you can save by choosing alternative travel options.
- Short guest articles, written by travel pros, offer insider tips, helpful background information and personal experience.
- The author compares travel costs by destination and season and provides real-life examples of successful “contrarian" travel.
- A helpful list of references makes this book a valuable travel resource.
I’ve read Tim Leffel’s articles in Transitions Abroad for years, and I really looked forward to reading this book. I’m familiar with many of Leffel’s suggestions for saving money, including traveling during “shoulder season,” eating in local restaurants and shopping for quality souvenirs instead of schlock. Still, I picked up quite a few new ideas from Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune. I think I’m finally ready to try Hotwire, now that I’ve read Leffel’s tips .
The author has traveled all over the world, both on his own and with his family. Along the way, he’s picked up quite a few cost-saving ideas. Rather than provide a lengthy list of tips and web links, Leffel has chosen to provide an overview of each major component of the typical travel budget.
In his section on lodging, for example, Leffel discusses how hotels set their prices and explains why hotel managers are often willing to cut last-minute deals. He encourages travelers to use Priceline and Hotwire to save money, but also offers suggestions for finding alternative accommodations.
Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune is openly biased in favor of locally-owned restaurants and hotels. The author believes that using public transportation, staying in family-run lodgings and eating off the tourist track not only save you money but give you a travel experience no tour operator can provide. He acknowledges that, for some travelers, tour groups can be the best way to travel, especially in remote locations where language differences can present problems.
