Travel Spotlight: Thinking Outside the Box Brings Terrific Travel Deals

Watching the news and keeping up with current events can mean big time savings the next time you travel. While I wouldn't recommend diving head first into any sticky situations, I think it's a shame that most people will pass up an entire country if there's even a hint of trouble or unrest within a thousand miles of their destination.

Destination deals are available for reasons other than shoulder season or a bad economy. Traveling to certain places when it isn't necessarily popular to do so can save you major bucks, all without having to put yourself in any danger whatsoever.

The Middle East

Although things are heating up in multiple Middle Eastern countries, there are still a couple places that have managed to avoid any trouble. There are still amazing sites, phenomenal food and fantastic local hospitality to enjoy.

My girlfriend and I traveled in the region a few years back during the Iraq war, an entire country away from Jordan and Kuwait, and further still from Egypt and Israel. Our hotel near Petra, for example, which was just outside the Siq, came with breakfast and a serious head start over the other tourists each morning. We paid less than $60 per night to stay there and enjoyed a less than two-minute walk each evening to sip wine at a fun cave bar and review our photo haul from that day. 

I've seen current Egyptian travel packages, including a Nile cruise and air fare from New York City, for less than $1,300. A great deal for a chance to enjoy some of the oldest and most beautiful sights in the world.

Indonesia

Years ago, a friend of mine was living in Guam while things were heating up in Jakarta. She said that because trouble was hitting hundreds of miles away, the commotion resulted in dirt-cheap tickets and daily travel prices for a trip to Bali. There were no signs of trouble in the area, yet because of the trouble on a completely different island, tourist business was taking a huge hit. I enjoyed affordable stays at charming hotels with breakfasts of fresh papaya and pineapple pancakes, garden views and swimming pools. Three-hour spa massages at my favorite salon in Ubud were less than $12. Elaborate meals with a cocktail tab were well under $20 and private drivers were shockingly affordable. No risk, all rewards.

Mexico

While the media likes to focus mainly on the danger plaguing the country, Cancun remains a tame, safe travel destination for those looking for a restful and inexpensive getaway. If the beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere don't sell you, the incredible travel deals should do the trick. This year, both the Casa Magna Marriott and the J.W. Marriott in Cancun are offering prices between 30 - 50% less than rates from as far back as two years ago. And with world-class sites like Chichen Itza and various ecological and archaeological sites within day-tripping range, this means an easy, accessible family vacation is within financial reach for many this spring and summer.

Additional savings strategies

If you prefer to stay at chain hotels, make sure you are getting all of the rewards points you deserve. For safety and emergency purposes, it also pays to carry a credit card or two on trips like these, and with the right travel credit cards, you can save a great deal of money in the process. Look for a card with no foreign transaction fees to avoid the 1-3% surcharges on everything you buy.

When you get to your destination, maintaining a careful balance of cash and credit card usage will keep your costs under control. Making ATM withdrawals count and keeping an emergency stash of cash on hand are also good travel habits to develop.

Traveling to areas experiencing unrest doesn't mean you have to compromise your safety. For those of you who believe tourism is simply capitalizing on the woes of others, I'd offer the following for your consideration. Many of these areas rely heavily on tourism for their economic survival, and your vacation dollars can make a huge difference in the lives of people who may need it most.

And of course, Mark Twain said it best: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

Happy trails!