2010 Winter Olympics - On A Budget

Coming up fast are the 2010 Winter Olympics - this time scheduled for Vancouver in Canada.

Vancouver, British Columbia is located on the Canada/U.S. border. It's a prime location for both Americans and Canadians to catch what may be a once-in-a-lifetime event opportunity.

Those who don't want to miss the rare opportunity to see the Olympic Games needn't let cost deter them. It's possible to take in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics even on a budget. Here are eight ways for travelers to make the most of their dollars while taking part in history:

1) Drive instead of fly. Travelers from within the western half of North America can save money by driving to Vancouver. Driving is still less expensive than flying, even with the rising price of gasoline. Opting to drive can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in travel costs.

2) Take public transportation. Taking a bus, train or the Skytrain during the games can save money in gas. Plus, Vancouver parking fees (which are usually expensive) can be avoided when you opt for public transportation. Additionally, direct shuttles will be running between many of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic event locations and other important Canada ski destinations within the area.

3) Stay in the suburbs. Hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts get less expensive the further from the heart of Vancouver that you travel. The city is surrounded by smaller cities and towns. Areas such as Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Langley, Port Coquitlam and others are still an hour's drive or less from many winter Olympics venues. They feature many places to stay at considerably cheaper prices.

4) Choose economical accommodations. Avoiding hotels in favor of less expensive accommodations can often save travelers a significant amount of money. Bed and breakfasts and campsites are scattered throughout the greater Vancouver area. They tend to run five to fifty percent less in price than hotels.

5) Look for private accommodations. Internet-savvy travel bargain hunters may be able to find economical deals for accommodations online. Many greater Vancouver locals are offering rooms, condos, apartments and homes for rent during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. These deals can be significantly cheaper than staying in hotels or motels.

These kinds of accommodations often come with access to a kitchen/cooking facilities. This means that travelers can save even more money by cooking their own meals instead of eating out in restaurants.

6) Attend less popular sporting events. The official Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games website boasts over 100,000 events tickets at a cost of just $25. Half of all events tickets that are available are less than one hundred dollars each. Many of the more popular events (including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies) have already sold out.

However, many Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics tickets are still available for less popular sports. Some of these events include biathlon, luge, curling, freestyle skiing and skeleton.

7) Opt for cheaper seats. It's possible to see even some of the more popular sports for under one hundred dollars. Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics events tickets are priced categorically according to seat location in each venue.

Category "A" tickets are for the best seats and tend to run over one hundred dollars each (or more) for every event. Choosing seats from categories B, C and D can mean significant savings. A vast number of tickets in these categories are under one hundred dollars each. It may be well worth it to be a part of history, even if you have to bring your binoculars.

8) Stick around for the Paralympic Games. The 2010 Paralympic Games take place immediately after the Winter Olympic games. Tickets for these events are considerably less expensive, and feature as much excitement as the Winter Olympic games.

It isn't often that the Olympics come to North America. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games offer the rare chance for North Americans to see some of the world's best athletes. Americans and Canadians need not even leave the continent to enjoy this great sporting event.

Information for skiing in Europe including an Andorra snow report are at yourandorra.com/canada_ski

Ski holiday companies include Crystal ski