Ask a budget travel expert: Beth Whitman here to answer your questions!

[Will]

For this entire week 3/2 - 3/8, travel expert Beth Whitman will be answering questions in our forum about budget traveling and cost-conscious dining!

As the founder and editor of the excellent traveling magazine Wanderlust and Lipstick, I'm sure Beth has tons of great tips on how to have frugal fun while expanding your horizons.

For more than 22 years, Beth has been traveling the globe as a contemporary Wanderer. She has trekked the Himalayas in Nepal and Bhutan, ridden a motorcycle solo from Seattle to Panama, helped build a playground for an orphanage in Vietnam; driven the AlCan Highway to Alaska – twice; and maneuvered the back roads of France’s Dijon region in a rental car. She’s had a hand grenade pulled on her in Cambodia, fought off giardia in Southeast Asia; been threatened by Nicaraguan motorcycle police; and been flashed by men from New Orleans to Saigon.

This interview is part of Wise Bread's spotlight on the Women of personal finance.

About Beth Whitman

Website: Wanderlust and Lipstick

Blogger: Beth Whitman

Subscribe: RSS

Beth always believed that we should tread lightly on the earth, whether in our own backyard or someone else’s. And that we all have a responsibility to act as ambassadors of our own country by treating other people and their village or city with respect. While traveling, she enjoys discovering new (vegetarian) foods and meeting the locals.
Check out some of her best articles:

• Sinking dollar - 5 destinations where your money is still good

• 4 tips for handling money while traveling

• The cost of travel - Is it worth it?

• Eco (nomic) travel - Looking on the bright side

• Best way to carry your cash while traveling

Come join the fun and ask Beth a travel question today!

[Myscha Theriault]

Hi Beth! Great to have you here in the forums. One thing I'm hoping you'll have time to address is selecting and finding affordable travel clothing. I had a list that I made work on our trip, but there were certain climates is was difficult to make the items work in. While certain regions are affordable to have clothing made in, they don't always have styles that work for a curvier figure. I'm always on the lookout for thinner items that dry quickly and can be packed with less room. You know, things that will work in layers. Do you have some favorite affordable and easily packed sources?

[Beth Whitman]

Oh I love this question!

My personal favorite line of clothing is ExOfficio. They have a wide variety of stylish and comfortable travel clothes that dry super quickly. I can wear a shirt all day, wash it in the sink at night and it's dry by morning. They also have underwear. I now carry 2 pairs of (purple) ExO underwear when I travel (and no more!) and wash a pair out each night. I wouldn't travel any other way. Many of their clothes also use BuzzOff Insect Shield and/or a sunscreen so you don't have to muck up your skin in oils.

There are several other lines out there but I'm just not as familiar with them. Royal Robbins, REI and Coolibar to name just a few.

You might also consider traveling with a favorite outfit (shirt, dress or skirt) and have it made at your destination. Particularly if you're traveling to a developing region (Asia, South America, etc.) you can find some GREAT deals on hand-tailored clothes.

[Will]

Hi Beth! Welcome to Wise Bread.

In one of your recent articles you listed India, Argentina, Vietnam, Panama, and Croatia as countries where the American dollar will still get us a good travel bargain. Would you mind expanding on that list? What are some of the worst countries for American travelers to travel right now?

[makepurple]

What is the country or spot you are highly recommended.

[belle2p]

Given today's economy most people consider traveling a luxury item that gets cut in the budgeting process. Do you agree with this? Or do you think traveling should still be an essential part of a family's plans? What are some arguments for keeping traveling in your plans despite the economy?

[gt0163c]

Originally Posted by Beth Whitman

My personal favorite line of clothing is ExOfficio. They have a wide variety of stylish and comfortable travel clothes that dry super quickly.

Where is a good place to buy ExOfficio, and similar travel clothing items for an affordable price? I've looked into some of these items and, while they look great for travel, they are much more expensive than other items. ($40 for a pair of shorts != affordable to me).
Are you aware of any travel clothing items that offer similar benefits and similar styles but at lower prices? Where can these items be purchased.

[Beth Whitman]

REI sells a variety of similar clothing under their own brand (as well as other brands) and that would be the best place to start. They often have sales where you can save 25-40% off. Look for end of season sales (for example, buy shorts at the end of summer so you're ready for next season).

In the Seattle area, ExOfficio also has an outlet store and they have a warehouse sale at least once a year with massive price reductions.

Having said that, the question was about "travel clothing" and inherently, travel clothes have different properties than a pair of shorts you are going to purchase from Target (no slam there, I love Target!). The material is such that it won't wrinkle, it will dry quickly and, as I stated earlier, many have sunscreen and/or Insect Shield impregnated in the material so you are not having to slop this stuff on your skin.

I'm a frugal traveler myself and I wouldn't drop $40 on a pair of shorts without pause. But, these are clothes that I'm going to be wearing for years to come, not just for one trip or one season.

[Beth Whitman]

@Will

Worst in terms of the economy? I think it depends on where you live, really, because your biggest expense is going to be your flight. If you live in the U.S., flying to Asia will be one of the most expensive places to get to. You might consider South America instead.

Even if the dollar is weak at your destination, there are tons of things you can do to save money. You can house swap, couchsurf and stay in hostels to save money on accommodations. It's easy to cut way back on your food costs by not eating at sit down restaurants for every meal. Go to the grocery store or a market for fresh food. Eat at a street vendor stall.

And take public transportation over taxis. You'd be surprised at how these little incidentals add up and you might find that you can extend your travels as a savvy traveler.

So, to answer your question more directly... there aren't places that I think are the "worst" for travelers. It depends on how creative the person can be with their finances! If you have a burning desire to travel to a destination, there are always ways to figure out affordable ways to do it and I wouldn't dissuade anyone from a particular country or region.

[Beth Whitman]

Originally Posted by makepurple

What is the country or spot you are highly recommended.

@ makepurple - I LOVE Vietnam. I've been there 7 times. It's a country that's easy to travel around because the people are so friendly. The landscape is beautiful and the food is fantastic. It's also very welcoming to solo travelers, women and men, and this makes it an affordable place to travel.

I also love India. It definitely has its challenges but if you carry some patience with you, it's well worth it.

Bhutan is tops, too. You can only get there with a tour (I'm leading 2 tours there this year). It's not cheap because the government has a required daily tariff, but traveling in this Himalayan country is very special.