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Summer vacation time is approaching. The economy is down, and your budget is tight. Even though driving to the shore is more affordable than flying to Bermuda, the thought of doing it again makes you sick. Here're ten hints in finding affordable vacation deals to whatever destination you choose.

1. Check websites such as travelzoo.com for cheap deals. Travelzoo.com offers vacation packages from a variety of websites at very affordable rates. My family went to Croatia for ten days for $800/person. This price included air, transportation while we there, a guide, accommodations, and one meal per day. The website highlights the best deals each week, so if you browse for a month or so, you'll likely find what you are looking for.

2. If you are headed to a popular summer retreat, such as Cape Cod or the North Carolina beaches, book a condo or beach house over a hotel. You often save money by googling "Wilmington, North Carolina beach house" rather than doing a hotel search on a website. Private renters are more open to negotiation and more reasonable in their rates.

3. Buy your meals at the grocery store, especially breakfast and lunch. While ordering lunch at the pool or beach is easy, it is also expensive. Bringing your own sandwiches and snacks can save two hundred dollars or more during a week's vacation. Eating a bowl of cereal in the morning is much more cost efficient than the breakfast buffet at the hotel. If you like to cook and have a stove, eat your dinners at home, too!

4. Buy things such as sun screen, beach towels, sunglasses and swimsuits at home. When you travel to popular summer vacation destinations, they raise the prices on beach essentials. All beach essentials should be bought from home.

5. If booking a hotel, do not book through the hotel's website. Instead use hotels.com, kayak.com, travelocity.com, or your favorite discount travel internet site. These websites will provide you with the best deal. Compare each of these websites to make sure you are actually receiving the best rate.

6. When booking airfare, the same applies. Book through travelocity.com, expedia.com, kayak.com or et cetera to find the best airline prices.

7. Do a coupon code search for the hotel, rental car or airline you plan on using. You'll be surprised. There are websites dedicated to finding coupon codes that can apply to your purchase. I saved two hundred dollars on my last vacation because of a coupon code website.

8. Talk to the locals in your vacation town. Find out where the best affordable restaurants are. They live there. They know the best deals in town.

9. If driving, plot out your gas stops from a website such as www.gasbuddy.com. This website provides the most cost-efficient gas in a certain area. Filling up along a highway is always more expensive than taking an exit into a town.

10. Make sure to ask all touristy attractions that you are visiting if they offer discounts, such as AAA. Many places do not advertise the discounts they offer, but nonetheless, still offer them.

Most importantly, have fun! Enjoy your vacation!

Learn more about this author, Jen B..
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