By planning ahead and using common sense, you might find yourself traveling to places you never thought you could afford to go.
Bring or buy snacks.
When walking around through tourist destinations, especially with children, it's a good idea to purchase snacks at a regular grocery store ahead of time. Having a backpack with some fruit, granola bars and crackers is a cheaper and healthier alternative to purchasing snacks at every vendor cart along the way.
Plan your daily budget ahead of time.
If you only have a certain amount of money to spend, plan out your activities for each day and allot a certain amount of cash for that day -- and then only bring that amount. Once you're out of cash, it's time to head back to the hotel for a swim in the pool and a game of snake and ladder.
Avoid traveling on busy days.
Most people fly the day before a holiday and the day or two after a holiday. For example, many people fly on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and return on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. If you can leave on a Tuesday and return on a Friday, Saturday or Monday, you may find a cheaper flight.
Obtain a frequent-flier credit card
Use it for flights and other purchases. This will help build up miles that will allow you to obtain free flights
Save more by paying more.
That luxury room with concierge service might seem really pricey, but it may also come with access to special events, free breakfast and lunch, unlimited snacks and other amenities you couldn't have gotten if you paid for just a regular room.
Cook for Yourself Most of the time and save a lot of money.
A box of cereal and gallon of milk in the hotel will be a lot cheaper for breakfast than everyone sitting down in the hotel restaurant. It's fun to try out restaurants at your destination, but by eating light meals at the hotel, you can splurge on restaurant meals a few times while you're away.
House Swap
If you have time before your vacation, look into saving money by swapping your home for someone else's. A number of travel sites list "house swaps," but you can also place an ad in the paper of the place you'd like to go and ask if there is anyone who wants to go where you live. Except for a security deposit on the part of both "swappers," there is no accommodation fee.
Join Priority Clubs
Join hotel group "priority" or "frequency" clubs well in advance of your planned vacation. The club might have credit card rewards or you may be able to earn a free night after staying for three or four. Look at the hotels you like in the place you wish to go and start building loyalty credit with them.
Package Deals and Discounts
Disney offers a wide range of discounts that can save you money if you qualify. You can generally save between 10 percent and 20 percent on resort hotels with a AAA discount, according to Mousesavers.com
Buy the tickets at least two weeks in advance to find better deals.
The best time to buy cheap, domestic flight tickets is three weeks before the plane leaves. The best rates for international flights can be found about 30 days in advance of the flight's departure.
Stay flexible when setting dates for travel.
When using sites like Travelocity, Kayak or Orbitz to find a cheap flight, select the "Flexible Dates" box, which lets you find the dates that have the cheapest flights
