Budget Travel for the Genius by Cynthia Drake

Want to know what an ashram is or how to avoid costly tolls on your next road trip? Check out Cynthia Drake’s new book, “Budget Travel for the Genius,” a thirty-one chapter tome of steals, deals and practical advice for anyone planning a getaway.

Drake, a freelance travel writer from Texas, has structured her book in a similar style to the “Dummies” titles, using lots of bullet points, sidebars and tips to break up the text. With this accessible method, she also provides 26 pages of additional resources, guaranteed to guide travelers through the sometimes (oh, who are we kidding, always) confusing world of airlines, travel insurance and more.

Drake has painstakingly researched and reported on every aspect of planning and executing a trip and, even though I am a veteran traveler, I learned a few new things. (An ashram is a religious community popular throughout India that offers lodging in addition to yoga, meditation and cooking classes.)

The book at times was so packed with information as to be overwhelming, but the short chapters allow one to put it down and pick it back up if you feel the need to jump on the computer and further research shunpiking (the practice of taking alternate routes to avoid toll roads in favor of smaller, less-traveled scenic routes).

Chapters are laid out logically so you can skip a section that may not apply to you, or just skim it to see if there is something that may translate to your situation. It would have been interesting if the author had touched upon the ethics of budget travel – e.g. when is someone being frugal versus just cheap or how to prioritize safety over saving a few bucks. But the book provides more than enough information to get one thinking about what so many people say they would like to do more: travel.

Find her book on Amazon.com