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Traveling often is expensive when compared to the average person's income, and unless someone is fairly well-off, traveling regularly throughout a lifetime, is not a possibility until they master some important discount travel techniques. Discount traveling is an overall approach to travel, not just a one quick trick method, and should apply to every element of a trip. For example, exploring charter flights and last minute deals, etc. could get someone the cheapest airfare. After arriving in a foreign country, meeting some locals and establishing where the cheap places to eat and stay are can really save money. Although it takes many small things, the pending result means that people can enjoy large savings, and allow themselves more travel opportunities, even on a restricting budget.

Bargaining is a key concept when the goal is to stretch money when traveling in a foreign country. In most second world countries, bargaining plays a major role in their day to day economy, and participating in this even will save people from continually overspending on their vacations.

North American s are terrible at bargaining simply because it does not play a major role in our everyday economic transactions. Beyond large purchases, such as a car or a home, most North American s are not used to bargaining, and certainly are not willing to, or used to, haggling over small items.

The first thing to understand is that everything in second world countries is negotiable, and usually items are very heavily negotiable. Once a traveler begins bargaining, it becomes very apparent that their style of bargaining is vastly different from the North American style because people often begin with amounts that are double, or more, what their actual desired amount is.

Step one in successful discount traveling bargaining is to avoid being in a rush. Avoid committing to a taxi, hotel room, or item purchase too quickly. Step two is to do some research through the locals and get an idea of places with decent prices. Be thorough and patient! Step three is to always appear willing to walk away from a transaction or at least show a lack of interest. Often times, this 'lack of interest' will lower a price without any real haggling or bargaining.

With time and practice bargaining is rather easy, and in some cases extremely fun. The main thing to keep in mind when in a foreign country is that North Americans are usually labeled as wealthy to locals, even if it does not appear that way to the actual traveler. A key component in the overall strategy towards discount travel is bargaining, and unless travelers want to be charged double or triple for all activities, then they will want to master the technique sooner than later.