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5 offbeat paths to foreign travel deals |
| By Erin Peterson
• Bankrate.com |
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You can enjoy a unique style of foreign travel inexpensively -- or at least get a hefty tax break -- if you're willing to volunteer your time, your home or your knowledge.
With the lowered value of the dollar, many would-be international travelers are looking for ways to stretch their budgets. Discount hotels and cheap restaurants are typical places to save, but you can save big bucks and enjoy a really different vacation experience through a cultural organization -- or even the federal government.
There are hundreds of organizations -- many accessible online -- that provide valuable travel services, but it's important to do your homework
before you sign up, says Kam Santos, director of communications at Cross-Cultural Solutions.
"There are a number of questions to consider when you're choosing (an organization)," says Santos. Make sure you know about the organization's credentials and how fees are allocated, for example. Try to get references to see how other participants feel about the program.
For programs that include staying in other people's homes -- either with or without hosts -- safety and trust is important.
"You want to find out if the accommodations are comfortable and secure," Santos says. "Who will you be living with?" Some organizations do in-person interviews to vet all prospective hosts and travelers; others require you to do your own due diligence, but provide tools that allow you to talk not just with the hosts directly, but with others who have stayed with particular hosts or in particular homes.
If you're content with high prices, tour buses and impersonal accommodations, these trips might not be for you. But if you're looking for something new and are willing to give a little, you're likely to get back a lot, she says.
Here are five ways you can experience unique travel in a foreign land while minimizing your costs.
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| 5 ways to travel abroad for less |
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| Volunteer travel |
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Immerse yourself in a new culture with most expenses paid. |
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Sample organization: Global Volunteers. |
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Where: 19 countries on five continents. |
How it works:
Volunteers generally spend one to three weeks in one of about 20 countries. They participate in projects such as teaching English, providing health care or maintaining community buildings.
Benefits:
You don't have to fend for yourself: Meals, lodging, ground transportation, emergency medical evacuation insurance and other project expenses are all covered. Participants go because they hope to give back and experience a cultural immersion. They often return with a sense of accomplishment and new friends.
Drawbacks:
The work may be rewarding, but don't expect an easy schedule. Because of strict regulations required for tax benefits under federal law, you'll be busy. "Volunteers work 40 hours per week," says Judith Strobel, director of media relations at Global Volunteers. "The weekend and most evenings (are) free."
Costs:
Costs vary greatly depending on the country you visit and the length of your stay, but are often tax-deductible.
Other notes:
If you plan on taking a tax deduction, be sure you check with the individual organization you plan to use to make sure they meet the required guidelines. Among other things, the organization must be a registered nonprofit. You'll also be required to work an average of eight hours a day, five days a week.
Also check:
Cross-Cultural Solutions offers volunteer abroad activities in social services, education and health. Some options include caring for the elderly, working for women's empowerment and working with people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Habitat for Humanity: Help build simple homes for people in many countries. Some knowledge of construction is helpful, but not required.
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