TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

If your travel dates are flexible at all, always try looking a few days before and a few days after both your departure and return date.

You'd be surprised at how much airline ticket prices can fluctuate from day to day. Sometimes you can find a much better deal just by flying a day earlier or later than you originally planned.

If you're looking to save some money while traveling, you might want to think about bunking down in a hostel on your trip. Be forewarned that you'll be getting pretty bare-bones accommodation and will likely have to put up with other budget travelers who are less than considerate. But you can really save some big bucks.

Most hostels have dorm-style rooms, so don't expect too much privacy. If you do intend to stay in hostels on your trip, you need to pack a good lock. Hostels do typically offer lockers for your bags, but you'd have to rent a lock if you don't have your own.

The idea of staying in a hostel may be a little unappealing, and though some can be real flea-bags, most hostels are clean and safe. There are many websites were you can find ratings and reviews on any given hostel before you book a bunk.

You can often get cheaper plane tickets by searching for flights to and from airports that are near your destination. For instance, if you are flying to Orlando, look for flights that fly into Tampa and vice versa. Orlando and Tampa are only about an hour apart, but sometimes you can get a cheaper price by flying into or out of one instead of the other.

This is especially true for major cities like New York, London, etc. You can then get a bus or train to your final destination.

Many flight search engines allow you to select "search nearby airports" - so make sure you hit that button!

It's the hip thing to do these days, usually because people can't afford to go on real vacations anymore. Regardless of the economy, you could consider a staycation this year.

A staycation is when you take your holidays, but stay home. I'll bet there are lots of attractions right in your home town you don't even know about. Or sights you visited when you first moved in, and haven't bothered with again. Take a tour around your home town, and see the sights with a new pair of eyes. See the attractions that you take for granted because they are just a 10 minute bus ride away. Eat in new restaurants and spare yourself having to do the dishes.

You'll save a bundle, and probably have fun doing some stress-free exploring. Don't forget to send your friends a postcard.

There are many ways to save when you are going on vacation. The more you save on mundane things like airfare, train tickets, and hotel rooms, the more you will have for the fun things. Below is a list of the most common things you can do to save money when you vacation.

• Vacation in the off-season. Going on vacation when it is not the busiest time for a particular location is the number one way to save cash. Everything will be cheaper including dining costs, hotel rooms, and attraction prices. Not only will you not spend tons of money, you will also not wait in long lines.

• Use budget websites to get the best deals on airfare, hotel rooms, and car rentals. Don’t be afraid to shop around. The more sites you visit, the more likely you are to get a great price.


• Whenever possible, book vacation properties or hotels with kitchens. You can often find deals on rental properties that match hotel prices. This will enable you to make home-cooked meals instead of splurging on restaurants. You will also have more room to enjoy.

• Use economical transportation while on vacation. While abroad, a rail pass is a good option. Cheap fights can also be found in Europe to get from place to place.