Everyone loves taking vacations – But often puts them off or skip them entirely simply because they think it costs too much. The reality is that if you’re willing to put a little more time into planning, you can save a lot of money while on vacation. It doesn’t have to break the bank and it’ll be just as fun.

Here are a few tips for enjoying a fantastic vacation – Without spending heaps of money.

Visit Countries With Many Neighbors
If you want to go country hopping, do it without flying. For example, don’t fly from Ireland to Iceland to England to Germany. That’s going to be an extremely expensive vacation.

Instead, fly into one country, then travel by land through the others. For example, go to Poland, Germany, Holland and France. Or go to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Avoiding flights allows you to visit several countries and cultures without having to pay for expensive tickets.

Stay Somewhere With a Kitchen
While traveling, make it a point to stay somewhere with a kitchen. Marriott Residence Inns always provide kitchens, or you can find smaller motels or hotels in the area that offer cooking amenities. Being able to cook your own meals means saving a ton of money, especially if you’re not traveling alone. It’s often the difference between spending $5 a meal and $15 a meal – Per person.

Stay Away from Tourist Districts 
The areas where tourists frequent are always going to be the most expensive. A meal that would cost you $8
anywhere else in the city could easily cost you $20 or more in the main tourist district.

Also, people are going to constantly try to sell you things when you’re in the tourist district. As strong as your willpower is, sometimes you just won’t be able to resist.

The tourist district is designed to extract as many dollars from tourist wallets as possible. Stay away at all costs.

If You’re Traveling Alone, Consider Hosteling
Staying in hostels isn’t realistic if you’re with kids or a significant other. If you’re traveling alone however, staying in a hostel is a fantastic way to save money.

A room in San Francisco might cost you $80 to $120 a night. Stay in a hostel however and you can easily find a place for $20 to $30.

Sublet Your Apartment
If you’re going on vacation, put your apartment up on Craigslist or Air B’n’B. Even if it’s just for a week or two, the extra money makes a difference.

If you’ve never tried to sublet your apartment before the prospect might seem a little daunting. In reality, subletting your apartment is really quite easy. Just put the ad up a week or two in advance and meet people who’re interested in person.

Vet them and make sure you trust them before you give them your keys.

Bargain
In many countries all over the world, the price you see isn’t the price you should ultimately pay. Often time’s sellers will quote high prices to tourists, only to lower them when they get a counter offer.
Learn to bargain. Learn to say what price you’re willing to pay and walk away if they won’t match it. More often than not, they’ll come running after you to try and win your business.

Buy a Guide Book
Buy a guide book, like the Lonely Planet. If you really want to save money, you can buy one used, though you do want a guide book that was written in the last 5 years. Guide books will have details on where the locals eat, where cheap places to shop are and other important tips for saving money and having a great vacation.

Be Careful With Debit Cards
Before you leave, check with your bank about what they charge for international transactions. Most banks charge 2% to 3% for withdrawing money from foreign ATMs. In addition, they’ll sometimes charge a per-withdrawal fee. Some banks will also charge for credit card transactions, but some don’t.

If you’re not careful, these expenses can really add up. Once you know your bank’s policies, you can work around them. For instance, if your bank charges 3% for money withdrawals but no extra surcharges for credit card transactions, make it a point to pay for everything with credit cards.

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to have the vacation of a lifetime. Stay in cheap places, cook your own food, don’t fly, bargain and stay out of tourist districts. Do these things and you’ll have a fantastic vacation on a shoestring budget.


Image Credits – Free Digital Photos

About the Author:
This article has been written by Dillon Michaelson, who works for Insanely Cheap Flights. For some amazing travel deals and cheap tickets on JetBlue flights, make it a point to visit their travel portal today.