Take a Budget Vacation

• Step 1 Look for online deals

  • Internet travel sites like Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com, and Priceline.com offer cost-saving bundles (hotel plus air fare and/or car rental, for example) and an array of budget-friendly vacation packages. If you want a 3- or 4-star hotel in a given city but don’t care which one or if you’re willing to use any car rental company in the area, these sites’ name-your-own-price bidding tools can save you more than 40 percent off advertised hotel room rates, air travel and car rental fees.
  • Shop around on airlines’ websites. If you sign up to receive email or Twitter notices, you’ll be the first to know about great deals on upcoming and last-minute flights.
  • Be flexible when you book your flight or hotel reservations. Play with different dates — pricing is often tied to key travel dates, with weekends usually the most costly. Altering your flight and hotel arrival from a Sunday to a Monday or from a Friday to a Thursday could save you money.

• Step 2 Make budget-savvy choices

  Pack lightly. Many airlines are charging $25 or more for each checked item — on departure and return trip. Try to fit everything you’ll need into a carry-on suitcase.

  Make budget-savvy dining choices. With its less expensive menu items, lunch is cheaper than dinner, so make lunch your largest meal of the day. Opt for a hotel that offers complimentary breakfast. These ideas could easily cut your vacation food bill in half.

  Don’t splurge. When it comes to hotel rooms and rental cars, book the smallest that meets your needs. Ask for the economy sedan rather than the upgraded sports car. Book a basic room without a view because at most hotels, rooms with a scenic view come with a premium price.

• Step 3 Take advantage of free or low-cost activities

  Wherever you're planning to go — whether a premier city like New York, San Francisco, or Paris, or a sunny seaside resort or national park — take advantage of all the free things to do. Most mid-size cities have museums, parks, cathedrals, boardwalks, and cultural and historical sites with enough activities to fill part or all of a day — usually for free or low admission. If you’re traveling to a less urban area, take a hike or rent a bike for the day — both are great ways to see the sites.

  Look for discount passes. Many cities, including New York, Atlanta and Chicago, offer a city pass that provides admission to marquee tourist attractions for far less than it would cost to purchase individual tickets.

• Step 4 Travel in the off-season

  Consider a trip to a Colorado ski resort in May or June. You won’t find snow, but the mountain trails offer plenty of hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.

  If you don’t mind the heat, plan a Caribbean vacation in June or a trip to a Florida beach in July. Traveling in the off-season can save you 40 percent or more on hotel rooms, flights and cruises. Many resorts throw in incentives like free dining or spa and entertainment packages to lure off-season travelers. By avoiding peak travel times, you have the added advantage of uncrowded beaches and restaurants.

• Step 5 Stay close to home

  Enjoy the amenities your own state, or a nearby state, offers. State parks are a great option for budget-friendly travel. Many have lodges with reasonable room rates that offer easy access to hiking, horseback riding, boating, swimming, fishing and more. You’ll spend less on gas and get all the fun of a big vacation, without the big price tag.

• Step 6 Plan a staycation

  Stay home. Plan a week of small, inexpensive activities nearby that will keep your family entertained on the cheap. Fly a kite or go fishing. Go bowling or ice skating. Catch a discount movie. Play in the backyard. Read. Or just relax and do nothing. You just may return to work or school more refreshed than if you’d hustled to the beach and back during the week.

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