Tips for saving while you travel

It's summer time and you're probably thinking about a vacation, but in our turbulent economy you may be reluctant to outlay the funds for a vacation the way you used to spend. I know I'm thinking about this, so I did my usual Internet search and found some great money saving tips for traveling abroad on gogalavanting.com:

Understand airfare pricing cycles. Airlines change their rates on a pre-determined cycle. Be sure you are looking at rates at the best time to buy. Also -- consider traveling through a different close-by city. That on top of being flexible on departure and return dates may help you save some serious cash.

It traveling abroad with a group, consider renting an apartment or swapping your house. You'll have more room, you'll get a better sense of local culture and you'll probably save money in the long run.

Learn to say "no" to tour guides. Be sure you take control of your experience. It's illegal in most places, but sometimes unscrupulous tour guides will take you to restaurants, shops and sites where they receive kick backs. If the prices you are seeing seem higher than your expectation -- insist on a location a few storefronts down to see what's really going on.

Speaking of storefronts. It's always best to shop locally for souvenirs when abroad. This way you are more likely to get items truly crafted in the area you are visiting. A new idea for souvenirs/gifts: think about buying prints from local artists.

Finally, consider leaving your travelers' checks at home. They can end up being more costly in the end, and you don't always get the best exchange rate. You'll get better exchange rates using your debit card in a local ATM. Using credit cards for purchases also helps with getting a better rate of exchange. Be sure to have your bank/credit card company information in a safe place. Always good to have the info you need on hand should you lose your cards while on vacation. Just don't keep the info in your wallet. Also -- per gogalavanting and my own personal experience, it's a good idea to have a little local currency on hand before you depart. That way you're not scrambling when you arrive. Your local bank branch can help -- just factor in a few weeks in case they need to get the currency from an out-of-state source.

A lot of these principles apply to domestic travel as well. Be sure to check out local shopping websites before heading to a new city. Much like this site -- you may find some great local deals before you even leave home. Shopping local really is the way to go!

-reenie