The Budget Diet

Remember The Budget Diet’s motto when it comes to saving money on travel – Deal First, Destination Second! If you get your heart set on a destination, and then start searching for deals, you might not find them. Be open-minded, and you’ll find the best travel deals!

Groupon has partnered with Expedia to offer great travel deals!
Discounted travel deals launch every Tuesday on Groupon Getaways, and deals will be live for seven days. You can always find these amazing travel deals on the right side of this page, and they’ll automatically update! One of the best deals this week is a one night stay for 2 at the West Sonoma Inn & Spa for just $159! Package includes 2 wine tasting passes and a bottle of wine!

Carnival Cruises from $169. Get FREE upgrades on select cabin categories!
Carnival Cruises from $169. Get FREE upgrades on select cabin categories! – Expires 2/15/12

4 -5 night Western Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Millennium from $349. Plus, save $100 when you book oceanview or higher!4 -5 night W. Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Millennium from $349. Plus, save $100 when you book oceanview or higher! – Expires 2/15/12

Last Minute Deals in Orlando! Packages from $287!
Last Minute Deals in Orlando! Packages from $287! – Expires 2/15/12

Buy Your Walt Disney World Park Hopper Ticket Early! Starting at just $288!
Buy Your Walt Disney World Park Hopper Ticket Early! Starting at just $288! – Expires 3/31/12

Earn FREE travel in as few as 3 trips with Expedia Rewards!
Earn FREE travel in as few as 3 trips with Expedia Rewards! – Expires 3/31/12

Sweet savings for Valentine’s Day! Hotels from $64!
Sweet savings for Valentine’s Day! Hotels from $64! – Expires 2/15/11

Paradise at a discount… Save up to 50% on hotels on Kauai’s Royal Coconut Coast!
Paradise at a discount… Save up to 50% on hotels on Kauai’s Royal Coconut Coast! – Expires 2/29/12

Save up to $75 on Hertz Prestige Collection Rental!
Save up to $75 on Hertz Prestige Collection Rental! – Expires 3/31/12

Save 10% on a Bed & Breakfast Gift Card + enjoy FREE Godiva Chocolates – Perfect for a Valentine’s Day getaway!
10% Off a B&B Gift Card + Free Godiva Chocolates

Who wants to travel more and spend less this year?

The Budget Diet girl has 5 great ways for you save on travel!

Deal First, Destination Second – This is The Budget Diet’s motto when it comes to saving on travel. It simply means don’t get your heart set on a destination, and then discover the deals don’t exist. Instead, be open-minded about a destination and get excited about great deals. Each Saturday, The Budget Diet publishes the Top 10 Budget Travel Deals.

Discounted Travel Gift Cards – Do you know that discounted gift cards exist for travel? Recently, Costco had $300 American Airlines gift cards for only $269.99! How’s that for instant savings? Take a moment to peruse the huge selection of discounted gift cardsat Plastic Jungle and save up to 35%!You’ll find discounted gift cards for airlines, restaurants, shopping and more.

Cruise Savings – One of my favorite sites for incredible cruise deals is VacationsToGo.com. You’ll love their 90-day ticker for huge last minute discounts! Today I found a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Conquest from New Orleans for 75% off…just $419!

Home Exchange Programs – Consider a home exchange program like HomeExchange.com or AffordableTravelClub.com. They work just like the name says…you stay in my house, I stay in yours. Click here to learn more about home exchange programs.

Road Trip – A good old-fashioned road trip will fit any budget. Plan a road trip to please everyone – you set the budget and distance parameters, and each member of the family plans a day!

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Image courtesy of: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

While vacations are suppose to be fun, they can also be extremely hectic and stressful. Between connecting flights at the airport and language barriers, an out of the country trip can really fry your nerves. You will want to prepare for any roadblocks that may occur while traveling. Especially if you are traveling out of the country you will want to plan in advance for any potential problems.

First, consider how you will pay your way in a foreign country. It is nice that most European countries now use the Euro, so if you are traveling amongst these countries you will be able to use the same currency. However, you will first have to convert to the Euro or whatever form of currency you will need. The best way to convert money and get the best rates is to use a free currency converter, since airports and banks may charge a fee for the process.

Second, you will want to familiarize yourself with any foreign languages you might be using to communicate on your trip. This is not to say you must learn the language and become fluent, but rather know the basics. Be sure to learn key words that you will use on your trip. Also, carry a language dictionary to help with any phrases or words you may need.

Finally, expect the unexpected. Nothing ever goes as planned, so being prepared for hiccups along the way will ease your nerves and ensure a more pleasant adventure.

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written by: James Hethway

James Hethway is a guest blogger that when not writing, loves travelling the world.

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sponsored

Did you know that our National Parks offer FREE admission days?

The last free admission days of 2011 are coming up November 11 – 13. Go out and enjoy the autumn colors!

Don’t miss a moment of free fun or a cheap date!

Visit nps.gov to find a park near you!

Everyone loves a vacation right?

And wouldn’t you love to be able to go on more of them?

I’m sure you would.

It’s just a shame they are so expensive… but wait, why do they have to be so expensive?

Let’s see how you can save money traveling.

Travel Light

Airline baggage fees can really add up, so pack only a carry-on bag. This also saves you time at the airport!

Freebies

Look out for freebies, such as samples of sunscreen and travel size toilietries that are perfect for your carry-on bag. There will almost certainly be a freebie online somewhere, so before you go shopping, see if you can’t get them free in return for some feedback and an email address.

Price Per Day

Short vacations are relatively expensive per day. Sometimes all you want is a short break, but if you can save your vacation days up, you’ll get a lot more for your money.

I once spent a whole month in India for about $400 per week. That’s probably cheaper than your average vacation, and so much more exotic. Most of a vacation cost is in travel, so you might as well take your time once you get there.

Take the Path Less Trodden

Certain parts of the world are cheaper than others, and certain areas of each country are cheaper too. If you go to the main tourist hot spots, you will pay higher prices for things, simple.

How to save money on vacation? Consider travelling to a lesser known area, get some real culture, get away from the crowds and get cheaper accommodations.

Fly When It’s Cheap

If you can be a little bit flexible about vacation dates, you can often save money traveling. Flights can be as much as 30% cheaper the week after summer vacation has ended. Equally, certain countries are more popular at certain times. Try to avoid visiting a country during its peak travel season.

Next time you’re planning a vacation, try these 5 tips to save money traveling.

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guest post by Alex

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Image courtesy of: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Summer sunshine and heat brings thoughts of getting away from it all for a week or two, and what kind of trip is more fun than a road trip? Road trips are about the journey, not the destination–if you even have one in mind. While gas is expensive these days, you can still take that summer road trip, whether it’s a romantic getaway for two, old friends getting together, or the whole family- kids included.

1. Skip the major summer holidays. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are going to be the busiest and most expensive times to travel. Gas and hotel prices will go up for the holidays. Schedule your road trip to avoid those holidays and save money.

2. Avoid resort-style hotels and theme parks. While tempting for an all-inclusive family vacation, these places are money-suckers and destroy the spontaneity that is the fun of a road trip. Stick to hotels with a pool and a continental breakfast. If you’re going to be traveling with Fido and Fluffy, research ahead of time to find out which hotels are pet-friendly.

3. Try camping. While not for everyone, camping out can be fun and less expensive than staying in hotels. Camping doesn’t have to mean a tent in the middle of nowhere and no facilities. There are family campgrounds with electricity, bathrooms, and showers. Camping can be great fun for the kids because it’s a break from being inside all the time and provides automatic, mostly free activities, such as hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Camping can also be a great romantic getaway for the more adventurous couple.

4. Pack non-perishable snacks and reusable water bottles. Eating on the road can be expensive and bad for the stomach, especially after one too many fast food pit stops. Bring along healthy snacks, such as fruit, granola bars, cereal, and apple sauce. Toss in a few bags of chips for tasty treats. Refill your water bottles rather than buying expensive bottled water and accumulating a car full of trash that will end up in a landfill.

5. Visit historical sites along the way. The expense is often small to visit museums, lighthouses, memorials, and battlefields. Stops like these keep the kids learning while on vacation and satisfy the adult history buff.

6. Take the scenic route. Plan your road trip to take advantage of scenic parkways, beaches, and overlooks. This is a dream vacation for the photographer in your family.

With a little planning and research, you can have a fun, memorable summer vacation and still stay within your budget. You might even discover that you can afford more than one trip spread out over the course of the summer.

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Written by:  Nicole Rodgers

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for three years; she encourages everyone to study hard for the DMV written test so that a summer road trip can be made possible.  She also wants everyone to find the best online insurance quote so that you can spend more money on your trip and not on your auto insurance.

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Image courtesy of: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Summer is right around the corner and the kids are almost done with school. Amazingly enough, summer is one of the more expensive times throughout the year for a few reasons.

In today’s article, you’ll learn how to make summer memories and enjoy summer fun while saving money!

Pay Cash – A huge mistake people make on vacation is to pull out the credit card to create their summer memories. Ultimately, they may buy the toy or eat at the expensive restaurants while traveling, but a few months later, their interest charges are rising. The very best vacations I’ve taken with my family were low budget, paid in full trips. Camping in beautiful mountain areas, and day trips provide lots of great summer memories at a huge reduction in cost.
 
Make it Age Appropriate – Several of my friends have spent thousands of dollars on vacations their kids will never remember. Think about all the strollers you see at Disneyland or any of the theme parks. If you want to take your kids on vacations like that and spend thousands of dollars to do it, at least wait until they will remember the experience. In addition to the lack of memory, you’ll pay extra for the strollers, car seats, and extra baby gear to travel with you.
 
Maintain Your Car – The hot weather in the summer is tough on vehicles. Make sure to keep your fluid levels checked and changed regularly. Keep your gas tank full. When your tank falls below half way, the mileage is greatly reduced. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and in good shape to help with gas mileage. These few tips can help you save at the pump when gas prices rise in the summer months.
 
Eat at Home – Remember, you probably have kids at home eating you out of house and home. They are normally at school eating lunch. A good rule of thumb to save during the summer is to eat your dinners at home as well. Cut down on the excess food expense of eating out when you’re also providing lunches. This can save you hundreds per month.
 
Season Passes – Yes, there may be a higher outlay for to purchase a season’s pass for the local theme parks or zoo, but these can give your kids hours of entertainment value saving you hundreds. If you shop for the passes in the off season, you may be able to get a special rate or savings due to their seasonal revenue short falls.
 

The most important thing in the summer is to have fun. Be safe. Spending money doesn’t always mean better memories!

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Joshua Christensen is author of Consider the Ant: 3 Keys to Biblical Prosperity. His current project includes a personal finance program for teens. For more information about this, please visit http://Easyantsteps.wordpress.com

Image courtesy of: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net