Many of us have put our traveling dreams on hold during these uncertain times in our economy, but sometimes a good vacation is just what we need in order to make it through a tough time.  With that said, traveling doesn’t always mean draining what little money we have left out of the bank.  Here are some tips and websites you might find helpful as you plan your budget vacation.

Start with a Travel Search Engine

Be sure to check the travel search engines for the best rates on airfare, hotel, vacation packages, cruises, and car rentals.

Booking Buddy – With this website, you can enter in your search criteria (i.e. your dates, destination, etc.) and then use the search buttons to search on over 140 different search engine sites, including but not limited to all the popular travel search engines such as Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, Orbitz, and Hotwire.  Instead of visiting each travel search engine website separately and reentering your entire search criteria each time, you can simply enter it all once and start comparing prices easily.  This will not only save you money, but it will save you precious time, something we all have very little of these days. 

Visit the Visitors Bureau

Research ways to save money while on vacation before you leave.  Many times, we are very conscious about ways to save money on airfare and hotels, but once we start our actual trip, the budget flies right out the airplane window.  One way to save money is to use coupons at different restaurants and attractions.  Check the Visitors Bureau website for the city to which you are traveling for helpful links, calendar of events, maps, and yes, money saving coupons.  Most cities offer free travel guide books that include coupons and deals which can be ordered right from their site.  And who needs to buy one of those expensive guide books at the bookstore when you can get all your information on the city’s website or sent directly to you?  You might even find a coupon for an attraction you would not have even thought of visiting.

Read Reviews

There are a number of great websites and blogs that give great reviews, tips, and ideas for travel destinations all over the world.  Here are some that are geared especially for the budget traveler that you might find helpful while planning your trip:

• Frugal Traveler – On this blog, Matt Gross of the New York Times has chronicled his budget traveling adventures.  He shares his tips, ideas, and experiences along the way.  Here you can learn how to budget travel from an expert budget traveler.
• Budget Travel – You can subscribe to Budget Travel Magazine ($20 for 20 issues) or you can visit their website for free.  On their website, you will find a lot of helpful budget travel ideas, tips and deals.  You can also sign up to join and be a part of their budget travel community where you can participate in their forums and share travel ideas, photos, and journals.
• Independent Traveler – On this website, you can participate in travel message boards, read great articles about budget traveling, and best of all, utilize their free travel budget calculator which will help you make the most of your travel fund.

Summer is here and the great outdoors are calling you.  If you haven’t already planned your great outdoor summer vacation, here are some top destinations to consider:

Yosemite National Park, CA

Yosemite National Park, nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, is an outdoor lover’s dream with its 1170 square miles of trails and meadows showcasing some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls, high sequoia trees, and stone peaks including the well known Half Dome.  Whether you are an avid backpacker, a leisure trail hiker, or just a sit back and enjoy a great view kind of person, Yosemite National Park has something for you.  There are a number of free shuttles that will tour you around the park and many trails that will lead you to the natural beauty of the great outdoors.  There are a number of lodging options to suit any needs.  You can choose to be one with nature and pitch up a tent for a true camping experience, rent a small cabin with minimal amenities to show that you can survive without your television, or live it up at the Ahwahnee Hotel with its rustic but very luxurious atmosphere.  Whichever you choose, you are sure to have the best backdrop an outdoor vacation can offer.

Juneau, Alaska

Alaska offers the most picturesque outdoor landscapes in the world with its beautiful glaciers and wilderness expeditions and Juneau is one of the top destinations when planning your trip to Alaska.  The Mendenhall Glacier is one place that should be seen in your lifetime as many of the glaciers are on the verge of melting down and will one day be a vision of the past for those visiting Alaska.  Once you have seen the glacier, you will have a hard time fitting in all the exciting outdoor adventures Juneau has to offer.  Some day excursions include whale watching, dog sledding, visiting a salmon cannery, and sports fishing.  And of course if those don’t suit you, you can do some hiking, wildlife sightseeing, or biking.  Your days in Juneau can definitely be filled, but some of the best days are the ones that are full of relaxation, just sitting back enjoying the beautiful Alaska view.

Yellowstone National Park, Montana

Not much has changed since Yellowstone National Park opened over 135 years ago which makes this outdoor vacation destination a timeless United States attraction.  With over 300 active geysers, the most famous being Old Faithful, many flock to the park to witness the eruptions of water a steam, a sight that if you have not witness before, you will want to add to your list of things to do in your lifetime.  The geysers are not the only thing you will see while mountaineering and meandering throughout the 3,472 square miles of the park; you will also see some of the most pristine waterfalls and lakes as well as some untouched wildlife sanctuaries.

Hana, Maui, Hawaii

One of Hawaii’s most isolated towns, Hana, Maui is a tropical paradise for those trying to escape from the tourist scene filled with overpriced souvenir shops.  In Hana, you can hike to some of the most secluded swimming holes, view many tropical waterfalls some located just off the highway while others may take some adventures to find, and relax at some of the most beautiful beaches the island has to offer.  The most famous way into Hana is via Hana Highway, a 52 mile winding drive along the north shore of Maui.  The “Road to Hana,” as it is known in Hawaii, will lead you to either a nice little day trip or a complete camping experience.  Either way, Hana is a must see when visiting the island of Maui.

Zion National Park, Utah

If you want to be truly amazed by the geographical makeup of the land, Zion National Park is the place to be.  Being in the middle of Zion National Park is like being in the middle of the largest sandcastle with its brilliant desert scenery of natural canyon structures and formations.  This land is a geologist’s dream with sandstone shapes and patterns that are unbelievable and almost unexplainable.  The colors that make up this desert sandcastle are full of brilliant and vibrant reds, pinks, and creams all complementary to Utah’s brilliant blue sky.  Hiking through this wondrous land will make you truly appreciate Earth’s creation.

The United States is home to an array of great outdoor vacation destinations some that might even be in your own backyard.  Whether you want a solitary outdoor exploration or an exciting family adventure, all that matters is that you get out there and make a memorable experience of our beautiful country.