Taking an affordable vacation is a possibility. Are you dreaming of white sand beaches, rustling palm trees, and a frozen drink? Or perhaps your idea of fun is a night at the casinos in Vegas or a wine-touring trip to Napa Valley. Whatever your pleasure, you can find a deal for just about where ever you may want to go!
1. Figure out where you want to go
Flexibility is key. Rather than pigeon-hole your plans to Aruba, for example, be open to any beach location in the Caribbean. Or rather than just Las Vegas, maybe consider Reno or Atlantic City.
2. Decide on a budget
You should come up with a budget ahead of time. Give yourself a little flexibility, but figure out what you can afford and stick to it. Vacations aren't any fun if you have to worry about money the whole time.
3. Search the sites
There are a number of sites that are excellent for searching for good deals. Search them all. Some of my favorite sites include Hotwire, Orbitz, Travelocity, Kayak, and Last Minute Travel. I also like Travel Zoo because it gives you the option to search multiple sites.
4. Check regional airlines
Many times, regional airlines are not listed on the major travel sites. For example, Southwest has some of the best deals in the industry, but you won't find them listed on travel sites. The best way to find which airlines service your local airport or the surrounding airports is to go to the individual airport Web sites and find the listing of airlines it services. Once you have your list, go to the individual sites and search for flights from there.
5. Consider your accommodations
After you've booked your flight, you'll need to find a place to stay. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to look into bed and breakfasts. Sometimes, they have the best deals. Also, with B&Bs, you will often get extra amenities such as a bottle of wine, a full breakfast, or a hot tub.
