Plan your vacation ahead of time to find better deals. The earlier you plan, the higher the discounts will be on transportation and lodging costs. Having an itinerary makes it easier to prepare for your vacation expenses and will enable you to stick to your budget.
Make a budget for your vacation expenses and stick to it. Put a little extra in the budget for unexpected expenses. No matter how well you plan, inevitably something will come up to cost you a little more.
Check for deals with travel agents and online travel companies such as Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline. Package deals can sometimes be cheaper but not always. Online auction websites, such as Ebay, are good places to shop for deals. When people have to cancel travel reservations, they often will try to sell tickets and reservations on line to recoup at least part of their money.
Prepare for your vacation by packing all items that you anticipate you many need while you are gone. Having proper clothing for the weather and bringing all medication and personal items with you saves from having to buy the items from convenience stores, which often have huge markups.
Find a basic hotel that is clean and comfortable. Extra accommodations are nice, but not always a necessity. You can save a lot of money by sacrificing some of the bells and whistles.
Pack a cooler with sandwiches, snacks and drinks to take with you in the car. Having food with you will save money by not having to stop and eat. Buying food at restaurants and convenience stores will cost much more money.
