Erica's Choice

Last week the local Milwaukee newspaper, the Journal Sentinel informed readers Wisconsin has just posted its largest job loss rates in recent history. I was shocked. We are in the midst of the worst recession in my lifetime and the effects of its impact are being experienced by millions across the country. The current economic environment is teetering on the edge of disaster and even those that currently do have an occupation realize that today and tomorrow may have a very different story to tell. As such, living a more conservative life, maintaining a budget and limiting unnecessary expenses such as dining, consuming wine and traveling has become a priority for the majority of us, including myself.

Therefore I feel inclined to write a post that can help you to limit unnecessary costs yet still allow the ability to enjoy life’s little luxuries, such as good food, classic wine and adventurous travel.

Over the past ten years I have traveled each year including several domestic trips and at least one to two international trips.  I’ve been fortunate but I have also learned that traveling is expensive. Over and above my travel habits  I have made a serious point not to limit my expenses on other main hobbies, which include wine, dine, running and golf as these bring too much flavor to my life. For the most part I’ve succeeded.  I’ve learned a few key tips through experience, sometimes the hard way, and these I’d like to share with you today.

Tip #1: Good wine is not necessarily expensive

Those of you that follow me on Twitter know my love for wine, but you may not be aware that I rarely spend more than $10-$15 on any a given bottle.  The wine industry becomes more competitive year over year which has caused in inter-correlation between quality of wine and wine prices. Overall wine quality has improved while prices are decreasing.  In addition, over the past several years wine consumption has steadily increased in the United States, which has caused wine producers to produce more wine at a lower cost.  Some of you may argue that the quality of the wine produced has steadily decreased as a result.  I disagree.  Due to newer technology used and improved methodologies followed as well as creative new blends by new world wine regions overall the quality has improved.  The quality is better in all areas, however a large jump is noticeable in developing wine regions such as Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand , among other.  Lastly, due to the current economic crisis wine prices are dropping even more.  Therefore when you purchase a wine, read the reviews, ask why one bottle is pricier than the other and use this knowledge to determine the true value of the wine.

Tip #2 – Buy wine in bulk and from wholesale stores

Having said this you must still be aware and conscious of where you purchase wine.  Make sure that distributors are reliable and ask opinons from those have previously purchased at the given location. I have found that in general wholesale liquor stores offer wines at very reasonable prices compared to the alternative small wine shops. In fact, on average wholesale stores offer wines at $3-$8 cheaper than what the same bottle will sell in a Mom & Pop wine store. Good places to look include Sam’s Club, which has an impressive selection of 88+ rated wines at very affordable prices and I’ve seen a similar variety at local Discount Liquor stores, which exist in every city. Some States have amazing on-line, free shipping options. If you qualify for free shipping in your State I recommend to shop on-line as prices are very reasonable overall. Even though I don’t regularly shop online for wine given shipping charges specifically required in my home state I like to review web sites such as wine.com, vinfolio.com and napacab.com as reliable sources. I also recently noted a great article by Food & Wine Magazine that lists their Top 10 picks for online wine shopping and I agree with their assessment.

As mentioned above, buy wine in bulk from websites or store locations.  Once you buy more than a certain number of bottles the wine store by default provides an additional discount of 10-15% on average. If you chose this option make sure that you store your wine appropriately to prevent it from losing its true potential.

Tip #3 Take advantage of free entertainment in your home town or city you visit

Every city has its quirks, you just need to do your homework and find these. Cities offer music, wine tastings, art shows; in fact much more than what you may imagine free of charge. Milwaukee, for example, has a weekly Jazz in The Park evening, where one can listen to great Jazz while enjoying some refreshments completely free of charge. Listeners can bring their owns snacks while wine & food can be purchased as well at reasonable prices. Some cities offer opera, other folk music. Various recreational activities exist as well.  As a test, I searched three cities and here are the results:

1. San Diego

2. Chicago

3.  Seattle

When I travel use this amazing site by National Geographic Traveler which lists 10 free things to do in cities around the world. It is a great reference and I found it very valuable.

Tip #4 – Have a glass of wine at home before going out for dinner

Not only do you share a more intimate experience, you most likely will enjoy a better wine and easily save 30% percent on the overall price by limiting alcohol consumption during the meal.

Tip #5 – Look for travel/accommodation on travel sites but book it on the carrier’s web-site

I personally prefer Travelzoo as it compares the prices of all other travel sites out there and provide the most affordable option. However, instead of booking my flight through the travel site I always check the price of flight/hotel on the airline/hotel carrier’s website first. Prices are generally cheaper as commision is not applicable. Also, in the event that one needs to cancel a flight/hotel, it is much harder to cancel if one used a third party provider vs. booking it directly with the airline/hotel. To summarize, implement a simple two step process: find the best flight/hotel on the travel site and then book it through the carrier’s web site.  In those rare instances that the third party option is more affordable make sure to read the terms of the agreement in detail in the event that you decide to cancel the purchase.

Tip #6 – Consider luxury downtown hotels as potential cheap, alternative options

To play it safe book your hotel for the trip in advance at the more affordable hotel on the outskirts of the city which was recommended by the third party provider used. If you remembered to book it directly on the hotel web-site your cancellation policy will allow you to cancel up to 6 pm the day of arrival. Then,  1 to 2 days before you travel make a call to the hotel you really want to stay in and confirm their current prices. If prices are still too high reperform this exercise on the day of arrival. Many times when hotels are vacant they’ll do whatever they can to occupy rooms and prices will drop like a magnet.  I have stayed in the Plaza hotel (before it was turned into Condos) in downtown NYC at a rate more affordable than our alternative, The Holiday Inn, by calling the hotel the morning of our arrival! This is just one example where I have stayed at my prime selection yet paid less than what I would have paid staying in quite the opposite.

Tip #7 – Consider other housing options such as Bed & Breakfasts, Youth Hostels, Couches, Apartments.

You know these options are out there yet you are hesitant to consider given some of the horror stories you’ve heard. My suggestion is not to ignore these but just to do your homework. Read and compare on-line; hundreds of ratings are out there and are reasonably reliable. Bed & Breakfasts represent a wonderful alternative which I find in many cases much better than yet another mundane hotel.

Also consider renting a home or apartment for the stay or sleeping on someone’s couch. During my trip to Shanghai I met several expats that took advantage of couchsurfing.org, an organization on which one can post your couch as a place to sleep for wandering travelers.  Even though I have not personally tried it the feedback was very positive. If couchsurfing is too adventorous consider the staying in a home/apartment rental. The prices for apartments are generally similar to hostels but instead of sharing a bedroom with other individuals you have your own space and usually other quirks such as a kitchen included.

Finally, Youth Hostels are and will stay a great way to travel. Yes, the horror stories are out there, but I and several friends of mine have had amazing experiences in hostels including Paris, New York, Italy. Check it out.

Tip # 8 – While traveling limit spending on two of the three meals daily

Buy cereal/granola for breakfast from the grocery store and subway for lunch, or just make lunch. You’ll strip at least $10/person off each of these meals which will enable you to either spend more on dinner or just keep the difference. Then, if you want, buy the local regional wine in the local wine store and enjoy a glass before trying the local cuisine at the exciting restaurant downtown. Wine in general represents approximately 30-50% of the bill when dining out. For dinner, if you are in a large city, look at fixed menu dinner specials abundant in places where theatre/music reigns. I recall one spring break in college where a friend and I ventured to New York, stayed in a Youth Hostel in Chelsea (which was pretty decent by the way), and took advantage of these three course menu specials  each evening. We never spent more than $30 a day on food yet ate like queens. What a blast.

Tip #9 – Ask Advice

When you decide to venture to a new destination take trouble to identify if any of your friends have been there and if they have ask for some tips! I have learned a significant amount by traveling with locals from a city or just asking a few key questions from friends that have been there. Find out about affordable forms of entertainment, what the locals do ( these options are in any case usually best and cheaper!), where the locals eat and where to stay. Alternatively, ask advice from bloggers such as myself. We are free, we are usually reliable and through experience we know a great deal about traveling.

Tip #10 – Venture to your favorite restaurant during their happy hour

As the economy continues its lethargic pace it appears that happy hours are becoming more abundant around town. People want to stay at home to save money so restaurants try all means to lure them back for a visit. As a result I’ve noted a sharp increase in happy hours in my home town, and I am confident, around the US.