Tips for Saving Money on Budget or Luxury Vacations

My idea of a vacation does not include camping or extended visits to obscure family members with lots of extra space (both of which ARE very frugal choices) - I'm more of an Orlando or Las Vegas kind of vacationer. I also like a little bit of luxury while I'm on vacation, so I need to really work hard at saving as much money as possible on every aspect of my vacation if I want to keep it within my budget.

My very first tip is to figure out what your vacation budget will be, and start looking at destinations that fit that budget. Trust me, that is a lot easier than picking a destination and trying to find a way to budget for it. While exotic places are really wonderful, there's almost always something a little closer or a little less expensive that will still be fun for you and your family.

You should also start planning as far ahead as possible, particularly if you are visiting a popular vacation spot or will be traveling during prime vacation time. The more time you have, the more research you can do, and the better able you will be to recognize the best deal when it crosses your path.

My next tip is don't do the work that's already been done for you. There are entire websites devoted to particular vacation spots, and even more public forums out there with people who are virtually experts on a specific vacation area. These websites and forums can be invaluable resources for finding other bargain websites specifically related to your destination.

If flights are involved, find out which carriers fly out of your intended airport, and check to see if there are smaller airports close by. Sometimes, these smaller airports attract budget airlines and can be significantly cheaper than the bigger airlines. And some budget airlines (Southwest, for example) only post fares on their own websites so you can't rely on a big travel site to have all the fares in your area. Do this in the reverse, too - check to see if there are smaller airports close to your intended destination.

Bookmark the airlines that fly to your destination, along with at least one search on a major travel site (Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia). You'll want quick and easy access if you hear about a major sale or break in prices.

Search the general travel site's airfares every day - preferably several times a day. Fares can drop unexpectedly at any time, and the cheapest fares sell out fast, so you want to stay on top of trends so you can catch the best price when it hits.

Have a (general) target price so you don't pass up a 'good enough' fare. Sometimes, the fare games can be dangerous-you could not only miss the best price, but end up on the wrong end of a fare trend and end up paying far more than you had to. After watching fares for a while, you should have a general idea of a good price, so pick a goal price that fits in your budget and when you find that price, grab it and don't look back. Almost every bargain fare is nonrefundable, so don't torture yourself by continuing to look at airfares to see if the price goes lower. Just write the amount you've paid into your vacation budget, and move on!

Consider a "suite" hotel or condo rental - dollar for dollar, you get far more room plus you can use the full kitchen (or, in a suite, a fridge and microwave) to save on meals.

Even if you stay in a hotel, you can usually conserve your meals budget by eating a simple breakfast of granola bars, pop-tarts, or bagels. A small jug of milk or juice can easily last overnight chilled in an ice bucket!

Take advantage of cheap or free activities in the area - visit a National park or museum, go to a beach boardwalk and people-watch, check with your hotel or resort for activities they offer guests. For example, my children and I have been to Walt Disney World several times, and we can easily spend half a day or more just using the free transportation system and exploring the many themed resorts Disney has on property.

Check online for discount tickets or see if there is a reputable discount ticket dealer for shows, events, theme parks, etc. Most cities with an active theater district have same day/half price tickets for shows that haven't sold out. Be cautious about buying tickets through Ebay, craigslist, or from any private sellers because you may end up with expired or counterfeit tickets and could lose not only your money, but the opportunity to see the show or do the activity you had your heart set on.

For one (or more, if you really dig it) night, order delivery pizza and get some soda or beer and hang out at the pool until dark - no matter how you slice it (ahem) delivery pizza and self-bought beverages are going to be cheaper than eating out, plus it'll give you time to really relax and socialize with either your family or other vacationers.

It can seem like a lot of work, but it can also really pay off in the end. There's nothing better than knowing that you've planned and paid for every aspect of your vacation beforehand and eliminating those fiscal fears so you can truly relax and enjoy yourself.