Budget travel seems to have something of an image problem. There’s a school of thought that suggests that cheap holidays should be dull, boring and stark. Since most people don’t want to think about their holidays in this way, it’s clear that there may be reasons why we all end up spending more than we need to.

So what are the implications of this? Firstly, let’s consider those images. It may be true that budget holidays once involved cheap deals to locations that were rather unappealing. You may have joined other families in poor quality accommodation too. But times have changed and it could be said that the Internet has been the key driver behind many of these changes.

It’s no longer so easy for travel companies to sell holidays that reflect those negative experiences of old. This is simply because most of us have the ability to check out our options online. We can read reviews, ensuring that we know exactly what awaits us. This is a clear advantage.

There’s another fundamental change that has an impact on our approach to making travel arrangements. The reality is that fewer of us now rely on travel companies. Instead, we’re able to show independence. We can come up with unique travel experiences that really meet our needs. This is certainly to be applauded.

We can decide whether we’re going to head off to a campsite, or maybe even hire a cheap campervan and drive around Scotland. The choices are endless. We are, in many senses, empowered. If we have a poor travel experience these days, it’s most likely to be caused by a lack of research.

In effect, we have the ability to create trips that reflect our wishes.

This has opened up a whole world of options for those on a budget. Indeed, it might be said that the amount of money that you have available to spend actually has minimal impact on your ability to enjoy the experience. If you have the right people with you and you’re prepared to approach things with a positive mindset, then it’s clearly possible to have a great time.

Those who grumble about budget travel arrangements may be those who simply haven’t experienced cheap holidays lately. Alternatively, it may reflect the fact that some people simply aren’t prepared to spend much time carrying out suitable research. This is unfortunate, but it shouldn’t worry you.

Instead, you can concentrate on thinking about your own needs. What do you want to get from a holiday? How can you go about achieving this? Concentrate on your goals and you won’t go far wrong.