So by now you have decided where you want to go, with a departure date, a return date and a rough idea of what you want to do in between. Dreams require capitalization — sad but true. So what about money?
5. The money side
Travel agents are the unsung heroes of our times. They essentially work for free, receiving only a small commission on the back end from the various suppliers — airlines, wholesalers, hotels and so on. Occasionally they may ask for a service charge, but only when the supplier doesn't offer commission. You can surf the internet till your eyes go blind, but there is no substitute for the knowledge and experience of a travel professional who's been there and makes a living dealing with all the ins and outs of getting there and back again while keeping the stress and expense to a minimum. As I mentioned in Part I, one advantage is that a travel agent can make all the arrangements and usually hold them for a small deposit. If you're planning for next year, you can book as much as a year in advance, giving yourself time to gather your nickels. Delayed gratification is one method: tell yourself that every $5 cappuccino you pass up here will be one more you can enjoy in Italy. The same goes for dinners out, bar tabs and all those incidental expenses that absorb our discretionary funds. Have a yard sale; start a special savings account. When I graduated from university, I sold my car and all my stuff and was gone for a year! It can be done — it just requires reminding yourself that the beer you don't have here is one more you can enjoy lying on a beach on the Riviera. Don't worry too much about spending the money. Five years from now the money won't make a bit of difference in your life, but the memories will last a lifetime. Ciao! Marko
