I have been asked numerous times what the best way to plan a vacation these days. With an economy that is still reeling from recession, my advice is, how to stretch your Dollar and still have a great Vacation.

South East Asia is a super destination in terms of Food, Accommodations and Sights. For example in Georgetown City in Penang for a mere USD20 a day you can settle all Meals and Accommodations. Use of the public transportation brings the commuting costs to only a few dollars a day. Some City Bus services have a weekly tourist pass, such as the Rapid Penang Tourist Pass.

For just USD6.00 you enjoy a week of unlimited travel on-board all rapid Penang buses. The Tourist Pass can be purchased at the Rapid Penang Booth at the Penang International Airport.

The above are some examples what can be achieved with some planning. I have put a simple guide on how to manage your budget and still have a super Vacation.

a) Plan your Vacation

• Research as much as possible on your Vacation destination.
• Give yourself at least three to four months for all planning activities.
• Check out the Hotel and in-country travel deals. For example within South-East Asia budget Airlines such as Firefly, Air Asia, Tiger Airways offer incredibly low Air fares if booked months in advance.
• Avoid School Holiday seasons if possible because Hotels charge a premium and Travel commuting can be difficult unless booked in advance.
• If possible travel off-peak period. In South-East Asia the peaks are School Holidays, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Songkran (Thailand)

b)  Work out a budget.

• This is very important to avoid nasty surprises during some activities you choose or possible purchases.
• Try to fill as much details of the Costs involved, so you have a good handle over the $$  requirements.
• Where possible Payment can be in advance from your Home Country, elect to do so.

c) Cash Transactions

• For Security Reasons where ever possible keep a minimum of Cash transactions.
• ATM machines are easily accessed in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Jakarta.
• Most Popular Credit Cards are MasterCard and Visa. Charge cards such as Diners and Amex are popular.
• On ATM machines that display the PLUS and Credit card logos, you can make cash withdrawals in local currency.

c) Use of Credit/debit cards

• Keep all your PIN numbers safely.
• During a transaction do not let your Credit Card out of sight.
• Keep all important PIN numbers and Contact Telephone numbers in a safe and handy place, Especially the Global Assistance Telephone numbers.
• Prior to departing on your Vacation, Inform your Card Company of your destinations and duration you intend to travel.

Having said that, about the use of Credit/Charge Cards, some Merchants discount  between 3% to 7% off the listed price if the transaction is paid in Cash. Bear this in mind. It is prevalent mostly in Thailand and in Malaysia.

When back at home scrutinize all transactions on the Credit/Charge Card Statements. If you notice anything improper or incorrect you must contact your Credit/Charge card issuer immediately.

Take note of these simple steps and be aware of the potential surprises.

Go ahead and Enjoy your well deserved Vacation.- Ian

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that in 2009 intra-Asia-Pacific travel had eclipsed the number of travelers in North America as the world’s largest aviation market. Asia-Pacific’s travelers numbered 647 million compared the 638 million who travelled within North America (including domestic markets).

“Achieving Asia-Pacific’s tremendous potential is contingent upon short-term efforts to battle the impacts of the economic downturn with cost reductions and efficiency gains. Longer-term Asia-Pacific must also face global challenges including environment, security and liberalization,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO at the start of the Singapore Air Show Aviation Leadership Summit.

“We live in a global world—global connectivity and global threats. Governments and industry must protect the connectivity and eliminate the threats. That challenge requires industry and governments to work together for effective and efficient security measures,” said Bisignani.

“To move liberalization forward, IATA took the extra-ordinary step of calling governments together with IATA’s Agenda for Freedom.  After a year of talks, in November 2009, seven governments, including the US, the European Commission, Singapore and Malaysia signed a multilateral statement of policy principles. These principles preserve a level playing field while addressing liberalization of market access, pricing and ownership. The challenge for Asia is to implement these principles in the region’s bilateral arrangement,” said Bisignani.

For more info:http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/2010-02-01-01.htm