Travel
We all love to travel, but sometimes we can't find room in the budget to afford a great vacation. Well, with just a little extra preparation on your part you can plan a budget-friendly trip.



Use the Internet to find the best travel deals with our favorite travel websites!
Kayak.com - We love Kayak.com and listed it as our #1 site because it can search hundreds of travel sites at once making it easy to compare current travel deals. Kayak will search Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and Airfare.com, among others. Vayama.com is also searched. Vayama is a great website for international vacation packages. Kayak can search for airfare, hotel, cruise and rental car. You can also sign up for their fare alerts which helps you track their latest travel prices.

Travelzoo.com - Travelzoo is a close second to Kayak.com. We love Travelzoo because of their weekly Top 20 e-mail of the best travel deals. By signing up for this weekly e-mail, Travelzoo will send you the best travel deals that include vacation packages (both domestic and international), airfare, rental care, hotels and even deals on Broadway shows. Sign up for their weekly Top 20 e-mail by clicking here.

Priceline.com - If you are somewhat flexible with your travel plans, Priceline.com allows you to "Name Your Own Price" where you can submit a low-priced bids on flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages. You also have the option of shopping for discount travel if you want to purchase low-priced travel deals without having to bid (of course these deals will cost you a bit more compared to bidding). We like Priceline.com for a couple of reasons. First, Priceline has no booking fees on their purchased-priced airline tickets, rental cars and vacation package services. Most online travel agencies charge you these booking fees. We also like using the "Name Your Own Price" feature for hotels and rental cars. Many people feel uncomfortable being too flexible with their airfare purchases (who wants to make extra connections or travel at 5am when they don't have to?), but when bidding for hotels you can place restrictions on what types of hotels you are willing to accept - 3-star or 4-star hotels only, etc. You can also place similar restrictions when bidding for rental cars. Finally, you can also sign up for inside track on Priceline which provides price drop alerts, latest flight price trends and provides you with information on which days will be cheapest for you to fly.

Europeandestinations.com - This is a very user-friendly site that helps you build packages for trips to Europe.

IgoUgo.com - This site was recommended by another SuperSavingTips.com reader who was trying to book a specific up-scale hotel in Holland for a trip she was planning. She was having trouble finding a good deal on the traditional travel websites such as Expedia and Travelocity. When she tried IgoUgo.com she was not only able to find a room at that specific hotel, but the price was about 30% lower than what other websites had listed. This site can also help you find deals on common travel destinations, but we like the fact that it also gets you deals on less-traveled locations.

BudgetTravelOnline.com - This site is the online version of the magazine Budget Travel. It offers up-to- date travel deals and vacation planning advice. Check out the "Four Hotels We Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In" and all of the real-life tips from fellow travelers.

Entertainment.com - The Entertainment Book is filled with hundreds of coupons and travel deals that will help you save 50% or more on local attractions, travel, hotels, rental cars, dining, movie tickets, shopping, groceries, car care and about anything else you can think of. Each area of the country has their own book. Purchase a book before your trip for your destination of choice and bring it with you on your vacation. You'll be happy with how much you can save. You can also buy one for your home town to use for yourself throughout the year for extra savings.

Frommers.com - Frommers offers great budget-friendly tips and vacation ideas for destinations all over the world. We recommend signing up for their free newsletter and checking out their "Deals & News" tab for great articles that can help save you money.

Other Helpful Tips
Book your travel ahead of time
This may be common knowledge, but it has to be mentioned. The further in advance you can make your travel reservations, the more you will save.

Travel at off-peak times
Different days of the week are typically cheaper to travel than others. Traveling during the summer and around holidays is usually more expensive than the rest of the year.

Use public transportation instead of taxis or rental cars
Using buses, subways and trains when possible (especially in large cities) can save you a lot on transportation.

Choose a hotel that offers a free breakfast
Why spend extra money eating out when you can fill up on breakfast for free?

Get a hotel room with a small kitchen area and microwave
By purchasing some inexpensive groceries at the local supermarket you can save money on some meals and snacks by making them right in your own room.

Traveling in Europe? Stay in a hostel
You can save a lot of money by staying in a hotel. Many college students love this option.

Try camping!
This can be done for free or you can book a campsite for as little as $25 a night at ReserveAmerica.com This website will be a gateway for you to camp in beautiful state and federal parks. Bring a tent, rent a cabin or RV.

When traveling in a foreign country use your credit card for purchases.
You will get the best exchange rate using a debit/credit card.

Shop for your souvenirs away from main tourist areas
Prices are inflated around tourist attractions. Shop for souvenirs in other areas such as open markets/flea markets where you can negotiate prices with the merchants.

Carry snacks with you
Bring granola bars, fruits, etc so you have something inexpensive to snack on when you get hungry throughout the day.

Eat Fast Food and/or bring coupons
Fast food is generally inexpensive and is a quick choice when you are hungry. You don't have to eat fast food all day, but by saving on one meal by eating fast food may allow you to use the extra money you saved by treating yourself to a fine dining experience at another point during your day. Also, always be on the lookout for coupons in the local paper or other publications. You can also purchase the Entertainment Book (listed in the above information) which is full of coupons for meals.

Take advantage of discounts you may be eligible for
Don't be afraid to ask if discounts are available for seniors, military or students.

Other Useful Links
"Atlanta tops Hotwire's Top 10 List for Best-Valued Cities"
"Five Easy Ways to Fly First Class...Without Paying For It" By Sarah Pascarella
"Summer Travel '09: Freebies Across the USA"