A Mintel study reveals vacationers are embracing the practical while eschewing the expensive.

Five star vacations are a thing of the past. At least that is the conclusion of a recent Mintel survey which revealed that vacationers this year are more likely to visit with family members and take road trips then they are to head off to the islands or visit some other exotic destination. As the Independence holiday weekend approaches, travelers are hitting the road instead of flying away, reversing a pattern that seemed to take hold when the economy was humming along.

Getting Away, Paying Less

Mintel’s survey revealed that people are still getting away, but they’re looking for ways to save money including staying with friends and family members while away from home, staying closer to home, taking shorter trips and relying upon cheaper forms of transportation. The latter category, transportation, means that many travelers believe driving the family car is their best mode to help them “get there” while cutting back on air travel.

“The recession is undoubtedly making more Americans shop aggressively for travel deals and cut corners,” states Chris Haack, senior analyst at Mintel. “As people try to save money, we see a rising trend towards simpler, more ‘homespun’ vacations. We’ve even seen an increase in zoo and local theme park attendance. People can justify shorter trips with fewer excesses, as long as they still have the opportunity to relax and have fun.”

Simple Stays Seem Important

Most vacationers have cited “rest and relaxation” as their chief reason for getting away. Mintel discovered that having a “high standard of accommodation and facilities” as not being a significant requirement as they travel, perhaps underscoring being satisfied with whatever arrangements they have while traveling as being a priority.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Mintel survey was this particular revelation – 40% of those surveyed didn’t travel domestically, citing financial reasons for staying put.

Source: Mintel International

Adv. – Are you planning to hit the road this summer? One of the biggest expenses you’ll have are your hotel stays followed by visits to historical or amusement sites, food, fuel and souvenirs. You can save money on your accommodations if you shop around. Why not let SayFunTravel.com help you find the perfect place to stay at a reasonable price?

Tags: airfare, flights, hotel stay, Independence Day, Mintel, travel, vacations

If you're looking for a fun way to rest and relax, a cruise onboard a world class ship may be the best medicine for you. Save money by planning ahead -- we offer to you seven tips to help you keep your expenses under control.

Cruise ships provide some of the best opportunities for rest and relaxation of any kind of vacation option.  Meals, entertainment, cabin services and trip planning is handled by the crew and cabin staff, allowing passengers to turn over almost all of their cares to someone else the moment that they set their feet on deck to when they disembark for the final time.

According to cruise industry officials, the period extending from the new year through the middle of March is the busiest time of the year for cruise lines. With many ships porting at tropical destinations, winter weary travelers see a cruise vacation as the perfect time to escape, forgetting seasonal chill along with freezing rain, ice and snow.

7 Ways To Help Save You Money

As with any vacation planning, careful consideration of all your options can provide for you and your family a fun and relaxing trip with good savings too. You can save on your next cruise by considering several money saving ideas:

Plan Ahead – If you’re planning to take a cruise next winter, start planning now. The sooner you book, the better the deal. Also, consider taking your cruise during those times of the year when travel is down. You might not imagine yourself spending Christmas on-board a luxury liner, but it could yield significant savings for your family.

Join A Tour – Your favorite charity or community organization may be sponsoring a cruise. If so, consider taking your cruise with them. Group travelers get a discount whether they reserve the entire ship for themselves or pull together a handful of friends to go together.

Avoid Package Deals – It sounds great to book a cruise package especially if you need to fly into another city to meet up with your ship, perhaps also wanting to spend a night at a local hotel the day before you set out to sea. Cruise regulars will tell you that this is a bad idea as you’ll pay more for the flight and hotel stay then had you booked them separately.

Interior Cabins Are Cheaper – Some passengers demand a room with a view, which is fine. But, if you think that all the scenery you need is when you are on deck, then book a windowless interior cabin for a deep discount.

Get A Discount – Some cruise lines will readily give you a discount if you ask. Military personnel, whether active or retired, may be eligible for a price reduction. You will have to show proof of service which may mean sending your separation papers to the cruise line in order to secure their low rate.

Find An Agent – Should you book your cruise yourself? A website such as SayFunTravel.com can help you compare prices, but would you do better searching for rates or should you find an agent that specializes in cruises? Try the “super agent” to see if her rates and deals are as low as what you might find online – you don’t have anything to lose, except some money if you don’t explore your options!

Avoid The Tourist Traps – As your ship pulls up to various ports, you’ll be greeted by all kinds of people who will want to separate you from your money. If the port has a reputation for safety then walk a few blocks away from port to see whichever other retailers are in the area. Shop like a local and you’ll get local prices; shop like a tourist and you’ll pay top dollar.

Ask Around For Advice

Of course, consulting with cruise veterans is perhaps the best way to save money as the pros will tell you which cruise line they prefer, what their favorite itinerary is and offer their own money saving tips. Find a message board community of like-minded travelers and you could come away with ideas for your next trip.

Photo Credit: Emre Nacigil

Tags: airfare, cruise, cruise line, cruise ship, hotel, travel, vacation

Air fare costs are back on the rise after many months of decline thanks to lower jet fuel costs. However, rising fuel costs are partly to blame for the most recent increase as are any number of the fees being added to by the air carriers in a bid to recoup some of their costs. Are low fares a thing of the past? No, but you have to know where to look for special deals.

Let’s take a look at some surefire ways you can save big bucks on your next flight:

Use The Internet – Let’s face it, the internet is the best place to find real savings on your next flight. The airlines have cut back on reservation workers because it costs them less money to have you do at least some of the work for yourself. Use a trusty travel portal such as SayFunTravel.com to search for deals which should save you a minimum of ten percent on your next flight, perhaps much more.

Read The Fine Print – You may have found the “deal of the century” but is it still a deal after all fees have been calculated? Look for taxes, Homeland Security fees, internet ticketing fees and other miscellaneous charges which can pad your bill. Lots of airlines are charging extra for luggage and food, so make sure you know what you can bring before taking flight.

Show Some Flexibility – If you want to leave at a peak time, let’s say 8 am on a Monday, expect to pay more for your trip. Airlines operate on supply and demand, so if the flight is going out full, expect the least amount of discounting. On the other hand, if you can leave on a Sunday afternoon and return on a Saturday morning, you may realize the greatest savings. Off peak travel offers the best flying deals.

Consider A Package Deal – Booking airfare alone may not yield the best savings, but booking your airfare with a hotel stay and car rental may trim your overall costs the most. Lots of airlines offer package deals because they know you’ll be shopping for other things especially if you are going to a vacation destination.

Consider Group Travel – If your destination is Romania, Albania, Croatia or some other are not usually well traveled by American tourists, consider going with a group. Group travel means you’ll be with the same legion of people during your time abroad, but you’ll also save on your entire package as the per person rate is lowered with a greater number of people make the trip.

Finally, take your time putting your trip together because the more you rush, the greater the chances you’ll miss a deal sitting right underneath your nose, including a last minute discount!

Tags: airfare, airlines, flight, group travel, internet, travel packages

See The USA And Save!

Rising gas prices won’t be keeping a lot of Americans from traveling this summer, although analysts are expecting that many travelers will be looking at visiting destinations closer to their homes. Carrying that plan one step further, you can expect that most vacationers will be shopping wisely when it comes to finding a place to stay, which parks and resorts to visit and how much to pay for food, transportation and related costs. People still want to have some rest and relaxation, but they want their money to go further for them.

All New Travel Portal Gets Started

Just in time for the peak of the travel season SayFunTravel.Com has been launched, a colorful all-new information packed travel portal. SayFunTravel.Com is a member site of the SayPlanning.com Life-Event Network which is operated by nBuy Associates, the same company which owns this site, SayEducate.com. SayFunTravel has been designed to make traveling easier, enjoyable and more affordable, bringing together information from many different sources to one site.

Among the leading features of SayFunTravel are its travel guides, featuring information listing places where vacationers might be interested in staying. Click on the link for the United States and you’ll find a state by state break down of 36 states along with Washington, DC with the remaining states being added over the next few weeks. Links to helpful information beyond the United States will also be released soon thereafter.

Making Your Travel Arrangements Online

On SayFunTravel you can find national and state parks; lakes and beaches; historical sites; hiking, biking and skiing; amusement parks; zoos, aquariums and gardens; plus so much more. Each state lists detailed information with accurate and updated Google maps supplied.

For example, if you’re planning a trip to the Keystone State this year, click on Pennsylvania to find information to key destinations. If your plans take you to the northeastern part of the state, get keyed in to the Lake Wallenpaupack website. If you’re planning to be in Philadelphia, learn more about the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall Park. Wherever you’re planning to travel, SayFunTravel.com has the information you need without worrying that you may get stuck on an endlessly looping search engine.

In addition to the comprehensive travel guides, SayFunTravel.com provides ways for you to book a flight, reserve lodging, set up a car rental, take a cruise, plus find hot deals and last minute savings on most every travel plan imaginable. Just the right tools to help you find what you need while bringing important financial savings to you!

Tags: airfare, car rental, cruise, hotel, travel guides