What are your "affordable vacation" secrets?

Are there certain airlines, hotels, rental car agencies, cruise lines, etc. you always book because you get more value for your money?

Certain travel seasons/dates to try for or avoid?

Locations you prefer to vacation at instead of others because the price is better?

Do you pack differently to avoid excess luggage charges? Drive instead of fly? Go for all-inclusive vs. booking everything separately (or vice versa) to get the best deal?

What things do YOU do to have an enjoyable vacation without breaking the bank???

Re: What are your "affordable vacation" secrets?

Book your airline tickets on Wednesday. I use Kayak.com to see what days of the month will have cheeper tickets.

I look at orbitz to see what trip deals (hotel and air are offered).

Right now, Vegas is etremely cheap - you can stay at the Wynn for $109 a night.

I also have a fantastic travel agent. She got us to disney for a week, air, delux hotel, food, tickets, and all transportation for $2000 for DH, DS and I last year.

We are going to Tampa for 5 days in May for $1000 - including, air, rental car, and 4 start hotel. I figure entertainment and food will be about $500 because I got discount ticket offers for all the area attractions.

Re: What are your "affordable vacation" secrets?

i start looking for deals in the beginning of the yr so i can see the average cost of flights and hotels...that way when it goes up or down drastically i will know it...

i sigh up for all hotels/airline/cruise alerts..

i love traveling in septemeber, usually the first week or two...pple go back to school or work and the destination is usually emptier..

i went to wdw the 2nd week in septemeber for 5 days and there were times when portions of the parks were EMPTY!!!

2 yrs ago we got alerts to bahamas and the atlantis..we went with flight/hotel/dining plan for 5 days at the atlantis for 2K total!!!

for me research is truly key and half the fun of making it all happen...

Re: What are your "affordable vacation" secrets?

Disney has free dining from the middle of August to the beginning of October this month. It is saving us over $650!!!

Re: What are your "affordable vacation" secrets?

farecast.com tells you if the airfare is likely to change in the near future...