I'm really excited that I'm going to Bali.  I leave in a few days and I'm almost ready.  I have done so much research that my brain hurts.  I bought some snacks for the long flight so I won't have to buy stuff from the airline and in the airports.  I got a new backpack and some new ligth weight clothes.  I went to the doctor to get some shots and some meds in case I get sick from drinking the water or from getting an infected mosquito bite.

I have the opportunity to take a two week vacation, but I wasn't sure where I wanted to go.  I spent a couple years researching destinations and trying to find the most value for my travel money.  When I looked into the south Pacific, I read online that Bali is a much better place to go to compared to Tahiti.  It is cheaper and easier to navigate. 

The main problem with Bali is that the round trip airfare was equal to my entire vacation budget.  I was sad that I wouldn't be able to go to Bali.  However, a couple days later, I saw an advertisement for a tour of Bali with Intrepid Travel.  The advertised cost of the entire trip was the same as one round trip ticket to Bali.  I'm not sure how they can offer hotels, guides, breakfast each day, numerous activities and the round trip ticket to Bali and back for such a cheap price, but I jumped on the opportunity.  A few days later, I was booked on the Bali tour and now I am set to go.  The price advertised was real with no hidden charges.  The only extra cost I am planning on is tips for my travel guides and lunches, dinners and drinks.

The main reason I wanted to share this story is to give you motivation to keep looking and researching your options.  I found a place I wanted to go, but it was too expensive to get there and back.  Then a couple days later I see an ad and off I go.  If I hadn't been researching the destination, the ad wouldn't have caught my eye and I wouldn't have realized what a good deal it was.