Does the thought of your yearly vacation and make you cringe because of all the money you know you're going to have to spend? It is actually possible to have a very enjoyable vacation and still get some great budget travel deals at the same time. While it's true you may not be able to travel in the lap of luxury, there are some great money-saving tips out there that will allow you to have a super vacation on a budget.
First, as far as your method of travel goes, you might consider traveling by bus or train instead of by air as these methods of travel are most often cheaper. Traveling by train can be a very enjoyable experience as long as you're not going too far. If you are traveling quite a distance you may want to go ahead and try and find some bargain airfare deals. You might want to check with a travel agent to see what kind of excellent package deals they may have available.
Once you get to your destination, one great tip for the budget minded traveler is to eat your largest meal in the middle of the day. The reason for this is many times you can find lunch specials and all-you-can-eat buffets at a much reduced price over what they will charge at dinner time. For your other meals you can either choose to carry snacks with you or eat your lighter meals either in your room or at a budget-priced restaurant.
As a budget traveler, familiarize yourself with the different modes of transportation which will be available in your destination city. Many times you can avoid renting a car and simply use the bus, subway, or other public modes of transportation to get around. A lot of times you can even get a pass for the week so that you don't have to pay daily. This can really save you a lot of money over the course of your visit.
Shop and eat where the locals go rather than the touristy areas. You will not find very many budget travel deals in the tourist section of town, as they exist to make money off of you. Mainly you will find a lot of overpriced items and food that you can easily get cheaper if you will do a little research online before you go and find out where the locals hang out. The local residents will also be able to tell you where the best places are to eat for the most discounted prices where you will still get great food.