Plan travel well in advance and take advantage of early buyer discounts. Decide where and when you want to go and start looking for special offers. Search the Internet and travel publications for advance purchase specials and watch for package deals, like air fare or car rental bundled with hotel room and tickets to special attractions. Check auction sites for people selling tickets they bought and can't use. Be flexible enough to change dates or departure times slightly to grab bargains.
Compare real costs. Two people can sometimes fly point to point as cheaply as they can drive, when motels, meals and other expenses are added in. Consider alternatives -- flying to a destination and renting bicycles for local transportation, for instance, rather than driving. Use public transportation when visiting big cities. Consider public transportation between cities -- bus lines operate in most areas with reasonable fares. Budget bus companies like Megabus have seats for as low as $1 if you book early. Some areas have train service and some offer excursion trains which may be a cheap vacation.
Look at group travel. Group tours may offer much lower costs, especially to popular tourist destinations, and usually include a lot of amenities. Some companies offer cross-country bus tours which visit a number of spots and last for many days. Other tours are to specific destinations, like theme parks or national parks. Check out special opportunities, like paid transportation or lodging for some work in a park or public area. Churches and other organizations often offer work vacations with plenty of time for sightseeing and relaxation after work.
Research fuel and motel costs ahead of time for an automobile trip. Get any auto maintenance done before departure to avoid emergency repairs. Fill up at cheaper rates if headed into a national park or similar popular area where fuel prices will escalate. Choose basic motels -- skip the amenities like free morning coffee. Stay at motels just outside the popular destination, where rates will be lower. Avoid peak times, like July Fourth or Labor Day, when crowds and rates both go up.
Share with friends or relatives. Plan a cross-country trip to include a night or two with old friends; it's a good way to catch up and save money at the same time. Travel with friends -- four people can ride in a car as cheaply as two. Two couples may share a motor home (and cook meals) for far less than two motel rooms a night with restaurant charges. Split meals when possible -- many restaurant meals are too big for one person anyway.
