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Want to get away from it all, see new places and escape your responsibilities for a fun-filled vacation? Most likely your answer is yes, but the bigger question is if your pocketbook agrees with you. If you can't get your budget to sign off on the vacation of your dreams, see if these tips on saving money while traveling can change its mind.

The easiest place to cut your travel costs is in your food budget. Start with breakfast. Many hotels offer free breakfast with your stay. Another idea is to visit a local market and pick up some muffins, granola bars, fruit, etc. to start your day with. This has the added benefit of getting you out the door quicker so you can see more of the local attractions.

It's just as easy to reduce your costs on lunch and dinner. If you are traveling in the U.S., go www.entertainment.com to see if they have a coupon book for the area you will be visiting. Depending on what time of year you are buying the book, it will cost from $12.50 to $25.00. In the coupon book, there will be numerous buy one get one free or money off coupons for restaurants, attractions, and museums. An added benefit is that you may discover some local restaurants that would otherwise have gone undiscovered.

You will also want to look at all your available hotel options. One little known fact is that you can find very reasonable rates if you stay in downtown hotels on weekends. Since most of their guests are business travelers, they often find themselves empty on the weekends and are willing to reduce their rates in order to fill rooms. You should also check out various travel websites like Travelocity.com or
Expedia.com. Once you get an idea of rates, go directly to the hotel website or call their 1-800 number to see if you they will beat that rate. If you will be flying, you may also get a good deal by booking your flight and hotel through the same travel website. Of course, you could always couch surf as well. Just plan your trip around areas that friends and families live in and see if they will let you stay with them during your visit. Just don't forget the age old adage that says both fish and guests start to stink after three days.

Finally, souvenirs can be another big cost during your trip. Instead of buying them while you are traveling, take note of the t-shirts, mugs etc. that you like and order them off discount Internet sites when you get home. Actually, when you get home you will probably realize that you really don't need them and save even more money that way. Instead of buying lots of things that will just clutter your house, focus on taking lots of photos by which to remember your trip.

Traveling can be a very costly proposition, however if you plan well, you can reduce many of your expenses. This will lead to a trip that creates a lasting indentation in your memory and not your wallet.

Learn more about this author, Tamara Brown.
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