Creative Ways to Save Money on Your Summer Vacation

A YourMoneyCounts® Exclusive by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

Memorial Day marked the unofficial start to summer, and that means individuals and families everywhere are anticipating summer vacations. And make no mistake about it: recession or not, Americans do plan to travel this summer - even if that means sticking closer to home, and forgoing more expensive overseas travel.

According to a recent survey, more than half of us are planning a getaway of some sort during the busy summer months. Most people taking a summer vacation (89%) will remain in the U.S. Only 11% will venture out of the country.

No matter where your summer travels take you, there are some smart ways you can cut vacation costs, without cutting out fun in the process.

Consider these ideas on how to slash the following three most common - and costly - vacation expenses.

Transportation

Let's face it: air travel these days is more hectic than ever. There are long airport lines to navigate, beefed up security procedures to contend with, and the very real possibilities of airline delays. Plus, the cost of buying airline tickets isn't cheap - especially if you're hauling a family of four. The average domestic fare for summer tops $300, industry statistics show.

To save on airfare, you could consider driving to your vacation destination. AAA reports that 32.1 million travelers took a trip away from home over Memorial Day, a 5.4% rise from 2009. Even more vacationers are expected to hit the roads from June through August, particularly over the July 4th holiday.

With gas prices averaging $3.00 a gallon, AAA says it could be a lot cheaper (about $800 total) to gas up your vehicle than takeoff from your local airport.

If you must fly, or need to because of time constraints, try these tips for nabbing a great airfare deal.

• Sign up for alerts and frequent flyer programs

Many airfares offer discounted prices and email alerts first to their most loyal customers: those who sign for a frequent flyer program or who requested to be notified about sales.

• Try different airlines and airports

Many people tend to stick exclusively to the five major "legacy carriers," - American, Continental, Delta, United and U.S. Airways. But in some markets, discount carriers such as Frontier, JetBlue or Southwest or Spirit Airlines offer better deals.

Additionally, don't rule out traveling out of or into a gateway that you might not normally use. And be sure to comparison shop the prices at airports within close proximity of one another. For instance, if you're heading into the Washington, D.C. area, check prices at both Reagan International and Dulles.

• Travel during off-peak days and times

When you travel and at what time will greatly determine the price of airline tickets. According to airline experts, the cheapest days to travel are (in this order): Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Also, the first flights of the morning (yes, those 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. flights, so you have to get up early) are usually the most affordable, followed by mid-afternoon flights and late evening flights.

By being flexible about your airlines, airports and travel dates, you can save big bucks.

Lodging

Savvy travelers looking for hotel discounts always leverage the power of the Internet. So research the prices of the hotels you may be interested in online and then also call to see if they have any special deals for the time you want to travel.

Also, if you aren't tied to staying at a particular hotel chain, try your hand at using Priceline.com's "Name Your Own Price" program to get a deep discount off a hotel in the city you want. Priceline users often report saving up to 50% of the published rates.

For adventurous travelers going overseas who are looking to save money during a vacation stay, why not think about forgoing the hotel routine altogether? Services like HomeExchange.com and Home-Swap.com let you enjoy free international accommodations by using someone else's home during your stay - and letting them use yours at the same time.

Recreation

Assume you have an Orlando getaway planned. Nothing against the big theme parks (I've taken my kids to such places), but do parents always have to make theme parks the focus of a Florida trip? Not necessarily.

Consider free or low-cost entertainment alternatives such as local parks, museums, street fairs, zoos or other kid-friendly attractions that are light on the wallet.

Lastly, for any city you're considering traveling to, reach out to the local tourism bureau ahead of time and inquire about whether there's a city visitor's card. These often offer widespread discounts of 10% or more off everything from popular local attractions to restaurants and hotel accommodations.

By using these money-saving tips, and doing a bit of pre-planning, your summer vacation can be fun and memorable, and you can rest assured knowing that you didn't blow your budget.