Some budget vacations include Mexico, Canada, Slovenia, Hungary, Peru, Puerto Rico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. [2] X Research source

Want to save even more with hotel booking services? Check out wikiHow’s coupon pages for Hotels. com, Hotwire, Booking. com, Travelocity, Expedia, and TripAdvisor for some great savings.

The worst time to buy a ticket is within two weeks of the trip. On average, the best time is around 3 and a half months prior to the trip. However, the market is volatile and the price changes of individual trips vary considerably from these averages. [5] X Research source Skyscanner is an online application that predicts how airfares are likely to change over time. This can give you a better sense for when would be a good time to buy. [6] X Research source

Generally rental car agencies will also charge more if you return your car at a different airport.

Sometimes you can negotiate for lower rates with small hotels by offering to stay for a certain period of time or paying in cash. For this you will need to contact the hotel directly instead of going through an online service. [10] X Research source

Hostels can be a great place to meet other young people who are traveling and interesting to socializing. Hostelworld. com is the best resource for searching through hostel options. [11] X Research source

These websites will feature reviews of previous customers, who can tell you a lot about the condition of the property and the friendliness of the proprietor. Examples include Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway. [12] X Research source

The leading site for this sort of exchange is homeexchange. com. [13] X Research source

It is customary to give some sort of gift anyone you stay with. Couch surfing can also save on daily living expenses, because your host likely has groceries and transportation. Couchsurfing. com connects you with strangers who might be interested in housing you. Members are reviewed to establish that they are good guests and hosts. If you use this service to stay with someone, it expected that you will reciprocate by allowing others to stay with you. [15] X Research source

Restaurants advertising that they speak English are typically designed for tourists and will cost more. [17] X Research source

Many places also have seasonal diets. Living like the locals and eating food when it is in season, will generally save you money.

Call your bank ahead of time to warn that you will be out of town—so if you use your card it won’t be shut down—and to ask about exchange rates with local banks. ATMs have better exchange rates, but typically charge for each transaction. That means it’s smarter to take out a lot of money at one time. [23] X Research source

Consider leaving some empty space in your bag so that you don’t need to buy additional luggage to bring souvenirs back. Alternatively pack old clothes that you no longer care for. You can dispose of them at the end of the trip, opening up additional space in your bags. [24] X Research source

When calculating expenses, remember a rental car will mean that you need to pay for hidden fees, gas—which can be expensive abroad—as well as tolls and parking. [25] X Research source European countries often have multiday rail passes that allow you to travel further for much cheaper. If you are making a long trip during your vacation, consider an overnight train. These will usually be cheaper and you can save on hotel expenses. [26] X Research source

Traveling is full of unanticipated expenses. Experts recommend that you multiply your expected daily expenses by 10% to 15% account for additional costs. [29] X Research source It can be hard to keep track of how much your spending in a foreign currency. To ensure that you don’t exceeded budgeted daily spending, stick to cash and divided your cash up into separate envelopes for each day of your trip. [30] X Research source