Travel Tips for the Budget Savvy Traveler

Every year you promise yourself, "I will travel more this year," but feel you must save up mega bucks first. Maybe before you tackle the "dream vacation" you should start small in an effort to sharpen your travel shopping skills. Today we will discuss how skipping that daily latte and brown bagging most of your meals, can easily turn into a weekend trip to Chicago or New Orleans - yes, it is possible check out the example below.

Instead of buying...Save...For...

16 large lattes @ $4 =$64 or A hotel room for one night at a nice hotel.

16 dinners/weekend lunches @ $12=$192 or A Roundtrip Airline Ticket

16 workday lunches @ $8= $128 or Spending money for shopping and dining.

TOTAL SAVED $384 for a relaxing weekend out of town

OK you have done the hard work - discipline - you have the money in the bank and a couple of days off from work. Time for the payoff - but when you call the hotel the rooms is $150 and the airline wants $350 for a roundtrip ticket. Not! Hotel chains are rapidly expanding and they need warm bodies in those pillow top mattresses everyday, not just holidays. The key is registering with the major hotel and airline websites and they will email their hot deal alerts weekly into your happy little email inbox.

Still don't believe you can get that perfect trip for under $500 in Chicago. Call Southwest Airlines and see if they have the 21 day in advance $39 fare each way special going ($78 roundtrip). For a hotel you can book it now via priceline.com or hotwire.com if you find a really good rate [note with these sites you pay upfront and it is non-refundable] or book a room directly with a hotel.

The week of your trip comes, Monday morning you receive the Marriott eBreaks weekly newsletter, their version of American Airlines Netsavers which offers last minute specials, and they are offering as little as $52 per night ($104) in Chicago and surrounding cities. So cancel the room booked at a higher rate and now you have a plane ticket and hotel room for two nights for less than $200 in CHICAGO! How do you feel about that latte now?

Of course if you can be more flexible and decide on the spur of the moment - like Friday mornig - and do not mind driving to your destination you could just go on a whim when you receive your eBreaks. For example, while Marriott listed nearly 20 properties in and around Chicago ranging from $52-$119 this weekend (March 30^th) they also included nearly 15 locations in Houston ranging from $59-$103. Keep in mind if you sign up for their reward program you also earn points toward a free night or other specials at the same time you save money. This is true for airline, car rental and other hotel reward programs.

Fun on a budget with a few perks is more than possible. It simply takes planning, using a little strategy and being in the know. Put down that latte and start packing!