wales60 Perhaps they should have been called the UK 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Though we know that the Olympics are “held” in one major city every four years, what many don’t know is that events are held in many surrounding areas, not only in the host city. This summer’s games take place in venues from London to Wales to Scotland and in places between. Wales, in particular, has quite a role to play this summer. 
 
The Olympic Games officially begin in London on July 27, but Wales will kick things off, literally, on the 25th with the first women’s football match. Eight matches, in total, will be held in Wales’ Millennium Stadium, including the bronze medal match for men on August 10th. Aside from holding football matches, Wales is also integral in one of the most well known aspects of the Games: the medals! 
 
All 2012 Olympic medals are being made in Wales. Approximately 4,700 medals will be made in bronze, silver and gold at the Royal Mint, headquartered in Llantrisant. Will any local athletes earn a right to keep a few medals in their country of origin? It’s possible; five Welsh athletes won medals in the 2008 games and there are high hopes for a repeat this season. 
 
Visiting Wales during the Olympic Games is sure to be exciting but don’t spend so much time at the games that you neglect all that Wales has to offer. Spend at least a day touring Cardiff, the country’s capital, and visit some of the over 600 castles in the beautiful countryside. Not sure how you’re going to get there? Easy! 
 
Start Saving Now 
If you begin putting $50 a paycheck into a savings account, or even an envelope in your drawer, you’ll have saved over $600 by the time it’s time for you to leave. If you can afford more, by all means, sock away more. Remember that you’ll need to exchange your money so that $600 may equal less depending on the current conversion rates. 
 
Rewards Cards 
If you’ve already got a card with great travel rewards, start using it for your daily spending to rack up your points. Use your credit card for things you would ordinarily spend cash on and pay off your bill at the end of the month. By doing this, not only will you have a ton of points to use for your trip, but also you won’t go into debt building them up. 
 
Cheap Nights 
The average traveler doesn’t consider staying in a hostel when traveling to the UK, but a room in a hostel can often be had for a quarter of the price of a hotel. Hostels have many modern conveniences and are particularly suited for people that want to meet and converse with other travelers. Remember that staying in a hostel doesn't always mean you have to give up amenities! 
 
Eat Like a Local 
Rather than putting $200 into your food fund, consider shopping at the local grocery store and cooking in your room. This can shave hundreds of dollars off of your budget. Research some local eateries now or talk with locals once you’ve arrived. Use your money for the fun stuff! 
 
Wales is a beautiful country to visit any time of year and will be especially entertaining during the Olympic Games! If you aren’t able to secure tickets to the games, it doesn’t mean you can’t go and bask in the atmosphere. Even if you don’t get to see an event, you can still say you were there!

Author Andy Trace is a money consultant and content contributor for Finance Choices a site offering detailed comparisons for the top providers, and offering bad credit cards for those who've experienced an unfortunate hit to their credit score.