So what does the committed traveler do? Research is a huge help. And take a look at the tips in this article. You'll definitely find ways to get to where you want to go without spending more money than you budgeted.

1. Don't follow the crowd. Not only will you pay more for everything, the places you want to go will be really busy. Be adventurous! Or go in the off-season.

2. If you're flying, do everything you can to lower the cost of transportation. Air travel, fcan make up a large part of your costs. When looking for airfares online, check prices for different times of the day, and different days of the week. Or fly in the middle of the week, rather than on a weekend. Even when you check prices can make a difference - try logging on after midnight, or on different days.

3. Check out the alternatives to flying. You can definitely be creative, and try something you've never tried before. Cruises are fun, and you can sometimes get good deals. Traveling by bus can be an option if you have additional time. And train rides are a great experience.

4. Remember your car. Even with high gas prices, traveling by car might be a good, inexpensive way to go in comparison to flying. Just make sure to be prepared for all possible costs. And get your car serviced before you leave, so you can avoid having to do emergency repairs far away from home.

5. Check for bargain hotel rates. It never hurts to ask if you can get a discount for a room. Hotels like to be full, so if there are too many empty rooms, often you can negotiate a better room rate. A hotel that does a lot of business conferences, for example, is likely to be less busy on weekends.

6. Check out cheap accommodation alternatives. Bed and breakfasts are charming and may be less expensive than hotels. There are also retreat centers, hostels, timeshares, house sitting or even home exchanges. During the summer, many colleges and universities will lease out dormitory rooms and apartments.

Traveling definitely doesn't have to be expensive. Just make sure you do your research, follow the guidelines above, and you'll be well on your way to your destination with extra pocket money!