Brief hiatus in Europe: A single gal's experience traveling solo (part 1)

June 8, 5:29 PMHouston Singles' Guide ExaminerMegan Seitan

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After a much anticipated return to the United States as well as the Examiner, I have looked forward to sharing my traveling experiences as a single throughout part of Western and Eastern Europe. 

While the destinations in Europe that I visited hardly resemble Houston in any way, shape or form, I thought it would be interesting to travel overseas during this recession and see how inexpensive I could make the trip.

Surprisingly, at the time I booked my plane ticket (about two weeks before my actual departure date) a multi-trip ticket from Houston to Dublin, then Dublin to Venice and Venice back to Houston cost less than the price for a non-stop, round-trip ticket from Houston to Boston set for June 11th through the 15th. Who would have thought traveling to Europe could cost less than traveling a few states over to Massachusetts? The key is to know the best airlines, destinations, dates and times of year to travel.

Although traveling during tough economic times may not be at the top of anyone’s priority list, there are a multitude of travel deals circulating the tourism industry which may make it worth your while to get some rest and relaxation away from home – or even at some of the hot spots that you wouldn’t ordinarily explore in Houston. Today alone, I received emails quoting prices from Houston to Las Vegas at $218 for airfare and $55/night stay at the Luxor Hotel; flight and hotel to Chicago for approximately $349; and even a golf and spa getaway for four nights at La Meridien Cancun Resort and Spa for $636 (including airfare).

If you are truly adventurous and willing to get your hands a little dirty, then travel magazines such as Budget Travel and Travel & Leisure, as well as online e-zines (including the Examiner’s travel insiders) investigate alternative means of vacationing. For instance, did you know you could travel to any number of U.S. cities and in exchange for room & board, food and various accommodations, you could work for a couple of hours each day on a farm or ranch while acquiring new skills/trades as well? Have you ever considered bartering a free vacation by offering to paint a room or hang wallpaper? What about writing a review on locale, restaurants & dining or even hotels in exchange for free meals, rooms and tourist excursions? While few things in this world come free, there are tons of opportunities to go on vacation for cheap.

My suggestion: register for as many discount travel sites as possible (i.e., Travelocity, Orbitz, Cheapoair, Expedia, Priceline, Hotwire, etc.) and pay close attention to your emails. It is easy to become an expert in identifying the best deals offered by doing just a little bit of research. This is EXACTLY what I did when I made the decision to travel abroad. Traveling to Europe presently costs less than vacationing in the Caribbean, so I thought it would be the ideal time to journey to the land of my ancestors, as well as visit some friends and family in Slovenia and Croatia. Believe me, spending May in Istria or along the Dalmatian Coast can be a truly awakening and revitalizing experience.