Spend Your Vacation Money Wisely

There are ways to scrimp and ways to splurge when planning your dream vacation.

First you have to decide what's important to you. Whether it's crystal clear water and dreamy white sand or a view just a strip off the beach front. When it comes to your vacation, it pays to splurge on places that have a little something for everyone, from the parents to the kids.

Save but still enjoy the creamy white sandy beach.

You can splurge on a high-dollar hotel, but get a room without a view and save 10 to 15 percent. By negotiating the perks, almost anyone can get a free breakfast and free Internet.

To land a great deal on airfare, grab a map, circle towns within 150 miles and then search for cheap deals out of those airports. Save on your ticket by booking between October and December or January and March - those are the cheapest times to fly. And remember, if you collect frequent flyer miles, look at each mile as a dollar. Spending 25,000 miles on a $200 ticket is considered a loss.

Finally, don't let food costs send your vacation budget overboard. You could stay in one of the moderate accomodations and get the meal plan, that would be a value to you.

So the important travel tip here is: scrimp on the little things so you can splurge on the fun.

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