Summary: The credit crunch is causing many people to tighten their belts and cut back on non-essentials. It may seem to follow that we should all be travelling less in 2009. However, an economic downturn can be one of the best times to travel. When the economy is bad at home, living or travelling in a cheaper country might actually be a way to save money. If there aren't as many jobs to go around in your city, find one in a completely different part of the world; have a fantastic experience and escape the moans and groans of the financial analysts. If you don't want to work away, now's a good time to be a tourist too - since more people are cutting back on travel, many tourist hot-spots are experiencing a drop in visitor numbers. There are less tourists around, which means there are bargains to be had if you're brave enough to ignore the nay-sayers. Travel is possible on almost any budget, and in any economic climate, but you need to prepare if it's going to happen; now's the time to start planning your 2009 travel itinerary. Set goals, make a schedule, and sort out a budget to start the ball rolling. Goal setting First, dream. Think about what you'd like to do and where you'd like to go. Write everything down, and don't worry if it isn't realistic. Some of the things you write will have to be scheduled for another year, but many will be possible now. Next, plan a trip away for every month of the year, using the dreams you've just written down as a starting point. Plan at least one longer journey, but in the other months a trip away could be as simple as an overnight at Grandma's or a camping trip with friends. Going home for Christmas counts too. Sleep away at least once every thirty days, and if you're worried about accommodation costs, try couchsurfing. Join the network and you can stay on couches all around the world for free. Not only do you get free accommodation, but you'll be staying with someone who lives in the area you've landed in, and who will probably be more than happy to advise you about what to see and do. These mini-trips are easy to plan, mostly involving pulling out a map or checking a bus timetable. But plan at least one longer trip as well - it could be as short as a week or as long as the whole year. Either way, longer trips require more consideration and planning. You'll need to think about transport, accommodation and budget, as well as smaller details like insurance and vaccinations. Set goals and then create steps for reaching each goal. ....See more at http://indietravelpodcast.com
