Getting Away From It All–On a Budget

Even if you’re on a tight budget this year, you can still take a vacation if you plan it right. There are plenty of ways to save money no matter what your travel plans are. Here are some great ideas for saving money:

•  If you have flexible travel dates, consider booking at the last minute. Hotels, airlines and cruise ships often drop rates a week or so before departure to fill available space.
•  Try to travel on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when rates are usually lower.

•  Consider traveling to popular locations during the off-season. For example, Cancun is a popular beach destination, but while rates are sky high during the winter, they’re quite affordable during the warmer months.
•  Mix business with pleasure. Save on airfare by booking a vacation around business travel.
•  Stay at hotels that offer mini-kitchens. Even if you just have breakfast and snacks in your room, you’ll be saving money.
•  Bring along essentials such as sunscreen, diapers, books, and pool supplies. These are usually more expensive at resorts.

•  Limit kids to just one souvenir. Mementos can be costly at popular destinations.
•  Scour the Internet for coupons before you go. Chambers of Commerce and visitors’ bureaus often list coupons, and sites like SuperCoolCoupons.com offer discounts on rental cars and hotels.