One major setback to traveling, and traveling comfortably, would be the cost of a trip. A single trip might let a person say ?goodbye? to hundreds, even thousands of dollars, for a single trip.

So how can one travel, without resorting to setting up a donation box, joining the Amazing Race, or begging along the way?

Discount cards.

Say what?

A Discount Card is a plastic card, much like a credit card, that gives the card holder the opportunity to take advantage of retail discounts at stores, get freebies or some dollars off of meals in restaurants, get points and rewards for purchased items, or whatever savings or rewards incentives the card sponsoring companies offer.

Discount cards help a traveler save, by shaving off much-needed dollars off of shelf prices of products, menu prices off restaurants, and even room rental rates of inns and hotels. When your dollar is stretched, you get to travel further, as you money would be good for one more meal, one more night of stay, or one more train ride.

There are two kinds of cards: the hostel cards and the student/youth cards.

Hostel cards give discount for transportation and accommodations, while youth cards give discounts for passes to museums and tourist spots.

Don't let the label ?student and youth card? keep you from getting yourself a student and youth discount card, however. Even if you are no longer a student, if you are still under the age of 26, you can still get discount cards for youth, with the same perks.

Hostel cards, on the other hand, give you a way to be able to stay at affordable hostels, at a cheaper rate than if you paid full price. Budget Backpacker Hostels discount cards allow you to save at least $3 per hostel, per night, that a card holder stays in the hostel. The card is worth it, at $40. At that price, it already comes with phone call access worth $20; important for those emergency calls you may need to make.

The BBH (Budget Backpacker Hostels) network is available only in New Zealand; it's worth it, however, as New Zealand is home to breathtaking sights and sounds, and the exotic flora, fauna, and the interesting culture should compel you to keep New