The Bottom Line
Pros
- The conversational style makes you feel as if you're listening to the author over lunch.
- Practical advice is offered that comes from the author's real-life experiences.
- The techniques are simple to remember and apply until they become habit.
- Leffel also offers insightful comments from 12 additional travel writers
Cons
- The advice might be a bit too basic for experienced budget travelers.
- This is a "big picture" view that will not apply to all travel situations.
Description
- Published by Travelers' Tales, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.
- Publication date 2006
- 176 pages
Guide Review - Book Review: Make your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune
At its heart, "Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune" is a tale of the Smiths and the Johnsons.
When they travel, the Smiths do minimal research and pay too much for everything. The Johnsons take a contrarian approach, finding better values away from the tourist crowds--and the Smiths.
There is a simple truth at work here: Many travelers just pay whatever price they find conveniently. When they return home, they'll complain about the bills and decide travel is a luxury they can't afford.
Those folks--the Smiths of this world--won't care much for this book.
Before he created these fictional families, Tim Leffel authored The World's Cheapest Destinations. There, he advocated choosing inexpensive places to visit. He said many offered scenery and surroundings as good or better than the pricey stops.
Leffel expands that argument here. He says as you find the best travel values, you'll also stumble across the best local restaurants, hotels and attractions.
If you are interested in seeing the world on a limited budget or creating more travel opportunities, this book is required reading. It will take whatever you have to spend and add value to your experience.
With this book, Leffel becomes an editor as well as an author. He includes short passages from 12 travel authors who offer their unique (and sometimes differing) takes on subjects as varied as travel warnings, luxury hotels and working abroad.
As with all books offering travel advice, there are limits to its usefulness. You can't always avoid chain hotels and peak travel periods. There are many pricey places that should be seen.
But at the end of this short read, you'll have to decide if you're a member of the Smith family or the Johnson clan. Just remember that the Johnsons will afford longer trips to more interesting places without breaking their budget.
