I am back from acation and slowly getting back into the swing of my ordinary daily life.  But before I get totally immersed in the ordinary, I wanted to share a few strategies I used during my recent vacation.

Before you go, check out the places you plan to visit on the Internet.  By doing advance research online, I was able to save on hotel rooms, attraction tickets, and food costs.  You can also try googling the place you are visiting with the word "discount" but most of the links will take you to places trying to sell you vacation packages.

Once you arrive, check out your a travel center or your hotel for discount coupon books.  You are likely to find coupons for local restaurants.

Another great thing to do is to talk with the people you meet who live in the area — for example, the people who work at an amusement park or a museum.  Ak them where locals go.  I've had some of my favorite travel meals that way.

Finally, when planning your vacation, decide what you are willing to splurge on:  location, trabnsportation, food, accommodations, things to see and do, souvenir shopping, etc.  Unless you are independently wealthy, you likely can't splurge on all of those.  (If you are independently wealthy, please call me.  I have a business proposition for you!) Pick what matters to you and spend money on that.  Maybe you really want to visit someplace that has high admission fees.  Save money on food or stay in a less expensive hotel.  If you want to stay in a nice place, maybe you go off-season or you don't travel as far.  As in most of life, the point is to decide what you really want and plan to get it.