Let’s take a look at five benefits of using your credit card when traveling.

#1 Rewards - Frequent flyer miles are the most significant reward you can receive when using your credit card for travel. You can really rack them up when you’re traveling and they’ll eventually end up in a free flight. Additionally, many credit cards offer rewards for using specific rental car companies and hotels. The rewards can add up to free merchandise or cash back.

#2 Security – While there is a risk of identity theft when using your credit card, most credit cards offer instant cancellation and you’re not responsible for purchases you haven’t made. When traveling this is a much more secure option than traveling with cash. If you lose cash or are pickpocketed or robbed, the cash is gone. If your credit card is stolen, you cancel it and it can be replaced within 24 hours.

#3 Budget - Believe it or not, using a credit card while you’re traveling can help you stick to a budget. When you use a credit card you have instant online access to your purchases and your balance. This means you can stay on top of what you’ve spent. Additionally, if you get a prepaid credit card, say with $2000 on it, then you can commit to only using that card and not going over your budget. Your vacation is already paid for because it’s a prepaid card and you can rest easy.

#4 Insurance – Many credit cards offer travel insurance. This can really help you out of a bind. And some of the concierge services offered by some credit cards can actually help you plan your vacation, make reservations and find package vacation deals.

#5 Finally, the currency conversion rates for many credit cards can help you get a fair exchange rate. It can help you actually save a bit of money. And you don’t have to worry about figuring out the exchange rate each time you make a purchase. The credit card company does it for you.

Traveling can be a harrowing experience or it can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. A credit card can make all the difference. Before you head out on your next vacation, consider using a credit card to manage your trip.

Here are some ideas for finding last-minute Labor Day getaways for less.

* Check out expedia.com. Expedia.com lists last-minute deals and offers for travelers looking for a quick getaway. When you find a trip that appeals to you and is in your budget, be sure to book it right away. Their great deals are often scooped up almost as quickly as they are posted.

* Tell your friends. Spread the word that you’re looking for a last-minute Labor Day getaway deal. They might know someone else who isn’t going to be able to make theirs, and connect the two of you. They also may have heard of other getaways you haven’t.

* Check for seat sales. Airlines often have last-minute deals for travelers on some of their flights. If you’re flexible as to where you travel to, you may be able to fly there at a much cheaper rate than normal. You may not be able to travel on the exact date or at the exact time you want to, but if you can pick up a seat sale, you can travel for a lot less than you normally would.

Call your local airlines to find out if they have any sales and what their destinations are.  Your savings on the flight could mean you have more money to spend on fun once you get there.

* Read the newspaper ads. If your local newspaper has a travel section, start scanning it for ads for cheap travel packages. As Labor Day approaches, you might start seeing some of these. When you find one you like, be sure to book it right away as they are usually booked quickly by other savvy frugal travelers.

* Call your favorite hotel chain. They might have a sale on room bookings. Call and see if they have any special sales on for Labor Day. Again, you might not be able to be picky about where you go, but the savings could make it all worthwhile.

* Search on the internet. The internet is always a great source of last-minute information. Search for cheap trips to your destination and see what comes up. Remember to research any opportunity thoroughly before sending any money.

The Labor Day weekend is summer’s last hurrah! Make the most of it by booking a last-minute getaway without breaking your budget.

Using the internet is one of the top ways to save money on your next trip. Not only are the prices the cheapest, but it can be smarter than booking months in advance where if your plans change, you are out all that money. Here are four last-minute tips to help you save a serious amount of cash:

#1) Get on travel sites’ email lists

If you are really flexible, this is a great option. These companies will often times send you last-minute deals. And don’t forget about the airlines themselves. Getting on their mailing list is another great way to find the top deals.

While this can offer great savings, you have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. And you have to be flexible about the location. Since most people are unable to do this, you have little competition for these deals. This is one of the best ways to save money if you are completely flexible.

This can be a really fun strategy in addition to saving you money. Often times over-planning takes all the fun out of a trip. This strategy will force you to keep planning to a minimum. You just claim the deal and leave.

#2) Book your trip 1-2 days prior to leaving

Remember, airlines and hotels hate empty rooms and seats. Therefore, they often lower the prices for short-term travel if they have vacancies. Most people mistakenly think you need to book months in advance to save money, but this is not the case.

Where should you book?

Orbitz and Expedia are great places to start. And to get further savings, try to plan your trip between Tuesday and Thursday. This ensures you avoid the long weekend price hikes.

#3) Use auction sites

After you’ve looked on the traditional sites, consider bidding on auction sites like Priceline.com and others. Often times this enables you to save even more money.

#4) Do not go during peak times

Avoiding the weekends is your best bet. Consider going offseason as well. In most instances the fall, spring and early winter are the least busy times.

One of the best travel dates is the first week of December, because this is the time the fewest people travel. Therefore, going then will save you money.

The bottom line is, last minute trips can be great deals when done right. It won’t work if you are going to Disney World during Christmas Break, but if you avoid the peak seasons you will save a lot of money.

#1) Stay at hostels

This may not be as nice as a hotel, but it will save you a lot of money. Of course you do not want to stay in a dump, but you can save some serious cash using this method. The truth is, hostels are nicer than they used to be, and you can have an enjoyable stay at one.

In many instances the rooms are $30-$50, compared with $100 or more for a decent hotel. Just about every big city has a number of hostels to choose from. If you are unsure of which to go with, just read reviews of the one you are considering.

#2) Use the Lonely Planet Magazine

This will often help you find better prices. In many instances you can locate great hotels for real bargains. These are generally little-known gems that are off the beaten path, and therefore are still high quality but without the premium pricing. In many instances they are just as nice as hotels that cost two to three times the price.  

#3) Do a home exchange

This is one of the best strategies for saving money, and many people do not even know about it. How does it work? You allow someone to say at your house while you stay at theirs.

Both parties will be going to the others’ city. You do not even need the same priced house. You might end up staying in a 2000 square foot home, even though you only gave up a 1000 square footer. As long as both parties are happy, that’s all that matters.

Where do you find home exchanges? There are plenty of online sites that will connect you with other travelers looking to come to your city. This is one of the simplest but most effective strategies for massive savings during the holidays.

#4) Book early

This is no big secret. The earlier you book, the more choices you will have. For instance, if you are going somewhere on Christmas break, do not wait until December 18 to start looking for hotels. Do so months in advance. The choices will be much greater, and since there are more options, you will save money.

The bottom line is, you do not have to pay top dollar when travelling during the holidays. Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy a great trip while saving a lot of money.

Want to know the best way to use your money while travelling? This is important not just for saving money, but also for the sake of security. Here are the pros and cons of the three major methods of carrying travel money:

1) Credit cards

Pros
They are incredibly easy to carry around, much more so than cash. Also, in many instances credit card firms offer car rental coverage. This can save you a lot of money. If your car insurance plan doesn’t cover rentals, you will have to get it from the company itself – which is extremely expensive.

Cons
You run the risk of overspending. This is always a danger when using credit cards, but it is even more of an issue when traveling.

2) Debit cards

Pros
Like credit cards, they are easy to carry around. Also, they prevent you from overspending. This is because once the money is gone from your bank account, you cannot spend another dime. This prevents any surprises when you get home and look at your bill.

Cons
They are riskier than credit cards. If they get lost, you might be held liable for any money that is spent. With credit cards, you just call up the company and let them know your card was stolen and to not allow any unauthorized charges. You will never be on the hook for any unauthorized spending. However, with debit you might be liable. The final decision is up to the bank.

3) Cash

Pros
You cannot spend more than you take. This is the biggest plus. With credit cards, it’s easy to lose track of your budget, but this is impossible if you do not bring more money than you need.

Also, with cash you do not have to worry about locating banks or automatic teller machines for money. And it tends to have a better exchange rate. Often times, credit card firms charge very expensive fees when using them abroad.

Cons
The main negative is that that cash is hard to bring around. Also, it is the most easily stolen of any of the three methods. If it gets taken, you have no recourse for getting the money back.

Conclusion: So the bottom line is that every method has its pros and cons. Which you choose just depends on your personality. For instance, if you are someone prone to overspending, you might want to bring cash to avoid this. However, if you are more disciplined, then a credit card may be acceptable.

The most important thing is that, no matter which method you use, you have a budget and stick to it at all costs. This will prevent overspending and ensure you have no surprises when you get home and look at your bill.

Going on holiday can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  There are plenty of ways for people to book and plan their holidays cheaply, but what about when you’re actually at your destination?

Things can easily get very expensive very fast, with travel, activities, eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. But it doesn’t have to be so bad – there are many ways to reduce the impact on your wallet. Here are some various ideas, suitable for all kinds of holidaymakers.

Youth Hostels: Despite the name, many youth hostels have family rooms!  If you imagine cramped and noisy accommodation, get those ideas out of your head.  Youth hostels are definitely no-frills, but if you do your research ahead of time, you will find many are clean, well-located and at very least with good sound proofing!

House-swapping: This system have been around for a while now and there are many sites set up to cater for those who would rather switch houses with other travelers than fork out for a hotel room.  Make sure you choose who will swap with you based on good reviewers and trust your gut feeling.

Couchsurfing: Fantastic for the single traveler, not so much for families. Couchsurfing is a relatively new phenomenon.  The idea is you get to know people through the website and they will offer you accommodation in their home.  Usually it is free, although sometimes people exchange services or gifts in exchange for sleeping arrangements!  It is also possible for couples to find accommodation, although it is trickier.

Budget hotels: They are certainly not a romantic or special option, but if you plan to use your hotel room only for sleeping, then why pay extra? Big hotel chains often have locations in many countries across the world and offer very cheap rooms.

Haggle for hotel rooms: Try calling a hotel to ask about room availability.  Then leave it a few weeks and call them again – if the room is still available, there is a strong possibility they will be willing to haggle.  You can also do this by email if you hate talking on the phone.

Picnic: This is the easiest, but probably the most work. Just head into any cheap local shop and buy food you can prepare easily. It will definitely not be a gourmet meal, but it’s cheap and easy and you can eat outside enjoying some people watching. If you find little local delis, you can also make it a bit special. Imagine a brie and baguette picnic with a bottle of vin rouge in Paris, for example.  Yum!

Research: If you do your research ahead of time, you can find out which restaurants and bars locals prefer and hopefully which have the lowest prices. Local knowledge is really important if you want to save money, because otherwise you are unlikely to find places unless you stumble right across them. In addition, I’ve always found that the best places are usually tucked away and you’d need someone to tell you they are there!

This guide for family travel is a must-have for both parents and grandparents. I wish I had read it prior to a recent spring break visit from my son and family. We went to Disneyland. What a mob scene! Many of the suggestions in this book would have been fun and more meaningful to all of us, as well as less costly and much less stressful.

Authors Judith Waite Allee and Melissa Morgan draw on their own experiences traveling with families plus much research. Their ideas can turn a cross country trip into daily adventures and take the stress out of travel with children. It is overflowing with ideas and resources to make travel educational and fun, whether a long trip or day trips around your own town.

Practical tips for all aspects of travel, from planning and budgeting to extending the memories and learning after the trip are included. Involving children in the planning stages of the trip is in itself a learning project and helps bond families and create a shared history. The book is packed with ideas on where to start.

Allee and Morgan discuss funding your trip and traveling on a budget. Children can participate and learn from this experience too. Budget travel does mean you can have rewarding experiences and lots of fun. Another chapter covers earning money on the road to extend family travel.

Grandparents will find many ideas for traveling with grandchildren, creating special memories without spending a lot of money. The authors mention a couple with an RV taking their young grandchildren across town to a park for the night. The boys still talk about that “camping trip” ten years later.

Even adults traveling without children will get some excellent ideas for enriching their travels. For example, the authors mention that Lake Champlain has a bike path that goes all the way around it. What fun to park your RV or car, head out on bicycles and see museums and historic sites around the lake or do sections in a series of day trips. The area is rich in history; the French and Indian War, the Revolution and War of 1812 were all fought in this area.

Both families and individuals can find volunteer experiences of all types. Some take less than a day while others are longer and could even involve travel overseas.

The Resource Section is extensive. Educational Travel on a Shoestring makes an excellent gift for families. While you are at it, get one for yourselves, both for ideas when the grandkids visit and ways to add interest to your travels.

Get it now – Educational Travel on a Shoestring: Frugal Family Fun and Learning Away from Home

Taking a vacation is supposed to help alleviate stress, not add to it. But for those of us who do not have unlimited funds to work with, it can do just that. Planning fun for the whole family and providing for transportation, meals and accommodations can be tricky, and paying for it all can be even trickier.

We all know how important it is to have a household budget. But we tend to forget about budgeting when it comes to vacations. If we can create a vacation budget and follow it closely, it can help us enjoy our getaway without worrying about money.

How Much Can You Afford to Spend?

In order for a vacation budget to work, we must first determine how much we can afford to spend. If you have money set aside in a vacation fund, this might be the easy part. But if you’re working with money from general savings or a tax refund, it will require some thought.

Spending every penny you have that isn’t required for bills on a vacation is not a good idea. Having an emergency fund is important for any family. If you already have plenty of money put away for emergencies and the bills are paid, using your tax refund for a trip isn’t such a bad thing. Otherwise, take care of the more important stuff before you allocate funds for vacationing.

If you just have a savings account but haven’t decided how you will use the money, resist the urge to spend it all on a vacation. Setting some money aside for a rainy day will do you a lot more good than hitting all of the hottest spots on your trip. The general rule is to have at least enough money put back to pay all of your expenses for at least three months. If you’re nowhere near that point, try to keep enough to at least have a good start toward that.

What to Include in Your Budget

Vacation expenses have a way of sneaking up on us. And that’s exactly why a budget is so important. It forces us to consider all possible expenses and account for them so that there are no surprises. Here are the basic expenses you’ll need to account for:

* Transportation – This could be airfare, bus, or train fare, or gas for a road trip. If you’re not taking your own vehicle, you’ll probably also need to rent a car when you reach your destination. And then there’s the gas you’ll use while you’re there.

* Accommodations – Unless you’re doing an at-home vacation or staying with a friend or relative, you’ll have to pay for a place to stay.

* Food – You have to eat while you’re on vacation. Some packages include a meal plan, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to budget for your meals. You can save money by taking your own food to prepare if you rent a place with a kitchen.

* Entertainment – This is a biggie. You have to pay to get in to the beach, amusement park, or whatever other attraction you’re visiting. But there may be times when you or other family members want to do something else, so be sure to account for that as well.

* Shopping – When most people go on vacation, they come home with souvenirs. So it’s important to set aside some money for them.

Money should not be a constant worry when you’re on vacation. It will be if you do not set a budget.  So, if you set a budget and stick to it, it doesn’t have to be.

Meet the Author
When we think of meeting our favorite authors, the first place that we probably think of is a bookstore. But did you know that libraries often host events featuring famous authors too? But instead of just signing books, the authors often lead discussions about their work and issues pertinent to it.

If there’s a particular author that interests you, see if your local library has plans to invite him to speak. If they don’t, it’s quite possible that they’re open to suggestions. Libraries rely heavily on donations, and they usually jump at the chance to host a speaker that will generate interest.

Activities for Kids
Some kids love to visit the library and borrow books, while others would rather stay as far away as possible. But most libraries offer some activities for children and teenagers. Many have such events year-round, but they are the most common during the summer.

One of the most popular events for young children is storytelling. Many libraries host a storytelling session once a week, or at least once a month. Whether they’re reading from a popular book or weaving a tale of their own, good storytellers know how to keep children’s attention and make them laugh.

Some libraries also have movie showings from time to time. They are usually educational in nature, but many are geared toward the younger crowd. Your librarian can tell you which ages particular movies are intended for.

Crafts and Classes
Some libraries even offer crafting sessions. Participants may have to bring their own materials or pay a fee, but the instruction is usually free or very inexpensive. One-time events are common, but you may even find that your local library offers ongoing classes.

For those who are not comfortable with computers, some libraries provide free basic computer classes. They may have age limits or be designed for the unemployed, but often they are available to the general public. If you or someone you know needs to brush up on computer skills, check with the library before paying for classes.

The activities available vary from library to library. But nearly every library has something to offer besides books, magazines and newspapers. If you find yourself suffering from boredom but don’t want to spend a lot of money, see what’s happening at your local library. You might find yourself wondering why you didn’t do so a long time ago.

Want to more ideas how to spend your summer with your family without spending too much money? Click Below:

1. Have a picnic in your local park. Prepare a great lunch for the family, and bring a soccer ball, football, or Frisbee. You can spend quality time with each other and engage in healthy exercise as well.

2. Spend a day at the beach. Pack up a great lunch, bottled water (preferably tap water from home), pails and shovels for the kids, radio, beach blankets, and all the necessary items you will need for the day. This is another inexpensive way to spend quality time together.

3. Attend a free concert at the park. Most cities offer concerts either during the day or early evening. This can be a learning experience for kids who haven’t been exposed to certain types of music. Plus, you can bring blankets and listen to the music as you gaze at the heavenly stars. Pack a snack and drinks for the kids.

4. If you have a hiking trail in your home state, plan on spending a day there. The kids can commune with nature. Discover plants and flowers along the way or make a list of things your kids have to look for along the route – similar to a scavenger hunt.

5. Sometimes the best time a family can have is in their own back yard. Make a day of it by setting up the pool and have some fun splashing around. Then set up the barbecue for lunch and dinner. Make a homemade tent that will accommodate the family for sleeping. You can even toast marshmallows on the grill and tell ghost stories.

While these are just some suggestions, just being with the family is always an enjoyable time. Think back to when you were a child. What did your family engage in during the summer that didn’t cost a dime? Improvise on those memories and plan in advance so that your kids will not only be surprised but will want to hang out with mom and dad more often.

One of the things most kids love to do is dress up. Why not put on a play in your backyard. The kids can write the script and the family can browse their closets to see what outfits they can wear to epitomize the characters. Wear silly hats or scarves you may have put away, use make-up just like the celebrities, and perhaps dad can build a stage from items he has in the garage.

Kids love being with their parents, no matter what activity is selected. Everyone has a grand time just being together. Don’t forget the camera; these are memories that will need to be placed in the family scrapbook(Get Your 500 Scrapbooking Sketches Now… Click here!).

Check out this 101Staycations book to get more ideas….

We just couldn’t afford our usual vacation this year. Instead of feeling stuck, we used 101 Great Staycations to find ways to have fun as a family while staying close to home.
Liz E. – Ohio