Vacation planning should be done carefully, with much research conducted to help you put together the best vacation package for the least amount of money. In tough economic times, vacation plans are often quickly dashed, but you know that getting away does you and your loved ones a world of good.

To that end, finding discounts can help you stretch those vacation dollars, allowing you to go away in style instead of settling for a truly budget package. The following tips can help you save money while enjoying a truly relaxing vacation:

Package Deals or Book Separately – One of the easiest ways to arrange a vacation is to buy a package deal, a plan that includes airfare, hotel, and car rental. While some package deals can offer tremendous value, you may do much better booking the various parts of the trip separately. Visit Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline and similar sites to find the lowest prices. If you are making a last minute trip, call the hotel directly to get their lowest available rate.

Choose Alternate Accommodations – If you want 5-star accommodations, then you’ll pay a golden rate to stay at these hotels. Consider three and four star hotels which often offer all of the amenities you want, but for less. If you really want to stretch your budget, consider staying at a youth hostel or at on-campus housing to maximize your vacation dollars.

Be Flexible – If you begin your vacation on a Saturday and end it on a Saturday, you’ll pay more money than a vacation that is begun midweek. Sure, if you are renting a beach house, you have little choice when you can start your rental, but if you are staying at a hotel you’ll pay less for Sunday-Thursday stays then for a Friday-Tuesday visit.

Eat a Big Lunch – Most hotel stays include a continental breakfast, meaning you’ll only have to fend for lunch and dinner each day. But, meal costs can wreck any budget, making it difficult to save money. One way you can cut food costs is to have your largest meal of the day at lunchtime and save the smaller, lunch-like meal for dinner. You’ll can have the same dinner entree during the middle of the day, while saving 20-40% off of menu prices.

Skip the Rental Car – If your hotel is conveniently located, you may be able to do without the rental car, but if not for the whole trip at least for a portion of it. Consider a daily rental to take you to faraway places, but find out from the concierge what other transportation options (taxi, bus, train) are available for you.

Secure a Vacation Guide – Wherever you are planning to stay, secure a vacation guide for that area before you begin your trip if possible. Most guides will help you find museums, restaurants, art galleries, train depots, and other tourist destinations. Use the included coupons to save money off a visit to a favorite tourist spot or to learn about other discount offers.

When you’re on vacation you want to enjoy your time away from home without worrying about money. By planning a good portion of your trip in advance, you can save time and money, allowing you to get the rest and relaxation you and your family deserves.

Adv. — If you are looking for discount travel deals, why not visit nBuy.com to help you begin your research into leisure oriented savings?

Tags: discount travel, hotel, rental car, vacation guide, vacation package

A topsy-turvy stock market has a lot of people concerned and for good reason: no one is quite certain what the impact of these movements will be. Given that a new president and Congress will be running the country in January 2009, consumers have additional reasons to wonder what the future holds for them.

But, life goes on and we can’t let events that we have no control over dictate our lives. We need to go on living and one of the ways we enjoy our lives is through entertainment pursuits. As you know, entertainment can take up a significant chunk of your budget and is often the first thing that gets cut back when the economy sours.

Fortunately, there are ways for you to still enjoy a movie, an afternoon playing putt-putt with the kids, or even take a family vacation without busting your budget. Let’s take a look at several wise moves you can take to save on entertainment costs without cutting out the fun:

Watch A Movie — Heading to the theater when matinees are being shown can save you two or three dollars off of the price of a ticket. Even better, is to wait until the movie comes out on tape and pay $4 for your Blockbuster rental. Best: rent the movie from your public library where it is either free or will cost you a nominal fee (usually $1).

Get The Discount — Zoos, parks, museums, art galleries and other public venues usually have at least one day per week where you and your family can get admitted for a discount. Check out their website to look for specials which may include a printable discount coupon. Some of the larger regional theme parks print their discounts on locally bottled cans of your favorite soft drink or snack.

Go With A Group — Your large family may not qualify for a group rate, but if you have a friends and neighbors who are interested in visiting the same theme park or want to take in the same show at the coliseum, you could ask for a discount. Send a large enough group to a baseball game and your group could be recognized on the home team’s scoreboard!

Use Your Membership Wisely — People who are members of AARP, AAA, or some other large and well known association are often extended discounts when they flash their card. Professional associations can sometimes bring savings your way too, so before you book your next room, rent a car, or take a flight, see which card opens doors for you.

Last Minute Planning — Planning ahead can yield big discounts, but so can waiting until the last minute, especially if you are flexible with your plans. Having young children in tow can make this difficult to do, but if you are looking for a discount on a flight, some airlines will give to you their best price if you are at the airport and willing to fly standby. Hotels want to fill beds while theater houses will often cut ticket prices at the very last minute.

Find Free Events – Spending time at a public park, heading to your local college campus for a public event, or visiting a state run art museum usually means one thing: your time there is free. In some cases you’ll pay a nominal fee to enjoy a college presentation, which can be quite good, but with free parking available, you’ll find the savings to add up compared to a night out on the town.

Your weekly community newspapers can be a treasure trove of excellent information on free or discounted events in your area. Many are free and some offer prizes, one more incentive to bring your family to a fun event.

Adv. — Does your college student need a credit card? Shop around to find and compare the best offers, deals that can benefit your student and help them as needed. Please visit SayStudent.com for the information you need to find the credit card that is right for you adult child.

Tags: budget, college, cost savings, entertainment, event planning, movies, parks, plays, sporting events, stock market, theater, university

When the economy turns sour, do people cancel their vacations? Absolutely not. In fact, when families are feeling stressed, they’ll often escape the confines of their homes and businesses to retreat to a favorite destination in a bid to forget their troubles, at least for a little while.

What many families do change when the going gets tough is where they vacation and how much they’ll spend. Maybe instead of that all expense paid trip to the major cities of western Europe they’ll switch to less expensive cities of central Europe, knowing that the dollar goes further and they can see hundreds of years of history and pay far less than excursions to London, Paris, and Rome.

Saving Money On Your Next Vacation

So, how do people save on their vacations? That’s easy, by doing some research particularly via online travel sites which provide helpful decision-making information to make traveling anywhere fun and much less costly. Specifically, when looking to make travel arrangements the following points should be kept in mind:

Airfare — Most travel involving any long distance involves getting there by airplane. As we all know, traveling today can be a major hassle due to long security lines and high volume. Many passengers complain about the lack of decent customer service when flying, but they’ll settle for fewer amenities if the trade off means lower airfare.

Lodging – We would all love to stay at a four- or five-star hotel, but nobody wants to pay upwards of $500 per night for the privilege. Fortunately, special lodging deals can be had where prices as much as 70% lower can be found if you book direct or go through select online sites to find the best deals available. No Holiday Inn for you — next week we stay at the MGM Grand!

Car Rental — Wherever you travel, having use of a car while there can be beneficial, especially for stateside excursions. You’ll pay a lot for gas and you may have to pay an insurance surcharge (check your auto insurance policy to see if you are covered), and you may not get the car you want. But, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to renting a car, so shop around for the most favorable deal available.

Cruises — Maybe you want to take a trip where you can leave the driving to someone else. In the case of shipboard fun, you’ll leave the steering of your cruise ship with the Captain. Cruises continue to provide all around vacation fun and at prices that many families find quite affordable. Besides, who wouldn’t want to travel from island to island to see the local color and find unmatched shopping deals? Great food, constant entertainment, and relaxing sea breezes provide just the R&R you need.

Staying Local — Perhaps an extended time away from home isn’t something you can manage right now, but a quick trip to the beach or mountain is. Maybe even a night on the town doing something completely different is the best way to relax, offering you a chance to enjoy each others company without traveling far from home. If that is the case for you, then check out local events and tickets to find what plays, sports events, or other culturally uplifting activities are available.

Of Special Note To You

When booking a vacation, always pay with a credit card to ensure that you are protected in the event of a cancellation or other change. Read the fine print of any contract you agree to, learning what your responsibilities (and costs) are in the event you must make a change. Some credit cards offer special protection for you too, so acquaint yourself with your member agreement to see what they cover.

Your vacation should be enjoyed and you don’t have to trim out the fun when budgeting your trip. Careful research by you will uncover the best offers out there, allowing you to maximize your vacation enjoyment.

Tags: adventures, airfare, car rental, cruises, hotel, lodging, travel, Travel Tips