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Summer vacation on a budget - Money Talk$ - travel budget: suggestions

We all know how vital rest and relaxation are to our bodies, minds and souls. It's no wonder then that when the weather gets nice and the children (or college students) are out of school we get the urge to travel. We want to visit places in exotic locales or historic places down the highway. We want to check out the new water theme park up the street or head to the beach "down the shore."

In short, we want the vacation of our dreams, or, at least, the best weekend getaway that we can imagine.

You may be willing to pay more than others for that little slice of fun, but you don't have to break the bank to make your trip happen, experts say. If you plan well enough and know what you want, you can make your dream of a warm-weather getaway or travel adventure an event worth remembering--and not just for the bills that pile up afterward."

For the most part, experts say, travel prices are pretty reasonable, provided you know when, how and where to look. The summer travel trends have been three- to four-day cruises to Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean, says travel agent Val Slayton, owner of TraVal Services in Chicago. Also, as in previous years, Las Vegas and Florida are popular destinations.

"The prices area bit lower than last summer because people tend to not want to go to Europe as much," Slayton says. "They're looking for something closer to home."

That sentiment is echoed throughout the travel industry, but you'd better get on board quickly because the low prices are starting to inch up. As airlines, resorts and cruise lines try to recoup their losses from last fall, and as demand for those deals increases, the prices will go higher. Blockbuster bargains are more the exception than the norm now, experts say. (Unless you can be a little flexible and are willing to consider other options.)

One recent report showed that last-minute vacation bookings are on the rise. With the Internet at your fingertips, merry travelers can log on to find the best deals at the best times. Nowadays, with busy work schedules and the difficulty of coordinating schedules with travel mates, many people are booking about a month in advance.

But if you do want more choices and do have less flexibility, it's important to book in advance, Slayton says. She suggests that you begin planning your trip at least a year ahead of the time you want to take your trip. That's not only for the sake of trip planning, but also for the sake of financial planning. Many travel agencies will put you on a payment plan where you pay for your trip each month rather than in one big chunk. And there are dangers to last-minute bookings, too.

"Sometimes you wait until the last minute and the rate is unavailable," Slayton says. "If you're on a vacation schedule and you need to get your time off and lock in a date, you have to plan your trip in advance." If you don't want to take a big trip this year, consider traveling within the United States. Many airlines offer special weekend rates for travelers, but those prices are getting higher for the summer peak period. Plan to spend more than you thought you would if you have to fly this summer. You may even want to skip the airport altogether.

"Traveling within the U.S. still continues to be a big trend," says Kenya Lewis of San Francisco, spokeswoman for Joie De Vivre Hospitality, an independent hospitality company in the Bay Area. "There are so many great places to explore in this country, and many times they are just a road trip away."

Joie de Vivre's portfolio features 21 boutique hotels, four restaurants and bars, one full-service spa and a luxury camping resort, so Lewis knows a thing or two about getting great lodging rates.

"Be sure to ask for the lowest rate. It sounds obvious, but often people will call for hotel reservations and give the dates, and accept that the first rate they are quoted is the lowest," says Lewis. "When you ask for the lowest rate, the reservations agent will find it for you."

Lewis also suggests that you be flexible. The hotel may not have a room at the location you desire, but may be partnered with another hotel in the area. It helps to be flexible with your travel dates, too, so if that rate is sold out over one set of dates, you can plan your travel for a time when it is available.

By the same token, find out as much as you can about your destination before you get there. If you want a quiet getaway for two, you may not want to go to a rowdy party place. If you're traveling with children or pets, find a place where they are welcomed with open arms.

"Back in the day, we were more dependent on the travel agent or the concierge once we got to our destination," Lewis says. "Now you can look at whatever destination you're into on the Internet. It's not such a mystery anymore. You can design whatever vacation you want."

Lewis also suggests searching for lodging via the Internet, but expanding beyond travel Web sites. She says if you do your homework and identify a hotel or group of hotels you like, go directly to their specials page. It is hard for smaller hotel companies to spread the news about their great deals via other sites, so go straight to the source!

10 Budget Tips For Summer Holidays

1. Become a tourist and discover your city for the first time. Rent a convertible for the day or the weekend and travel to new places in your home city. Now's the time to visit all the African-American historical sites in your area, cheek out that art museum you've always wanted to visit or see a play at the theater that just opened. Also, contact your vacation city's tourism bureau for free information. They can tell you about great hotel rates and free or low-cost summer festival information. Be nice to travel personnel you encounter on your trip. Compliments and patience pay off. Some may reward you with upgrades, complimentary drinks, rides, etc.

2. Many vacation cities offer day-of tickets to theater and other events at half-price. In Chicago, for example, the League of Chicago Theatres' ticket center offers half-price tickets to more than 125 Chicago area theaters through Hot Tix. There ate similar offers in New York for Broadway shows.

3. Tailor your destination to the deals that are available. Springtime in Paris is generally a higher-cost proposition than a cruise to the Caribbean during the summer off-season. Lower airfares and hotel rates can be found if you know when to look.

4. If you want to travel out of town, consider a short car trip rather than a flight. Find a destination within two to four hours away where you and your vacation mates can kick back, relax and have a good time. Investigate state parks and campgrounds. They are often low-cost and filled with many popular things to do, such as swimming, hiking, kayaking, canoeing or camping out.

5. If you are considering air travel, sign up for an online fare-tracking service such as Travelocity.com or Expedia.com. They can monitor price changes on selected routes for you. Also, many airlines offer discounts of up to 10 percent if you book your flight online.

6. If you do decide to fly, consult a travel agent to seek those hard-to-find deals and vacation packages. Some airlines will let one child or senior fly free with the purchase of one ticket. Those deals are also sometimes available if you're traveling by train or bus.

7. Consider planning your trip around summer festivals in major cities. Not only is the entertainment value exponentially higher, you may even be able to find inexpensive hotel stays as part of a package. Chicago has the annual Taste of Chicago and the DuSable Museum Arts and Crafts Festivals. Cleveland holds Culturefest, a celebration of African culture and heritage, every summer. Detroit has the Ribs 'N Soul Festival, Indianapolis has the Indiana Black Expo and Los Angeles is home to the Old Pasadena Jazz Fest.

On the East Coast, New York plays host to HARLEM WEEK and Brooklyn is the home of the West Indian Parade. Miami hosts the popular Zo's Summer Groove, an annual event sponsored by Miami Heat basketball player Alonzo Mourning. And Toronto is home of the Caribana Festival.

8. When considering lodging, think outside the box. You don't have to stay at an expensive hotel. Consider renting a house or condo for your stay, especially if you are traveling in a group of five people or more. Another benefit to staying in a home is that you can save on meals by eating in occasionally. And if you do want to stay in a hotel, find one with amenities that you're actually going to use, and shop around to get the best rates. Try to stay in a smaller hotel, inn or bed & breakfast, rather than a huge resort, especially if you want to get more of a local flavor of the town or city you're visiting. In addition, some college and universities rent their rooms during summer at modest rates. You may also want to consider joining a home--stay network, where you swap lodging with someone in a city you'd like to visit.

9. Understand that timing is everything. Many travel agents would suggest that you plan your trip as early as possible. You'll often get better deals on airfare, car rental rates and hotel stays. However, in some cases, if you decide to wait until the last minute, some airlines are looking to sell tickets at a lower rate for those seats that haven't been sold.

10. Plan your vacation budget and stick to it. If you must use a credit card, pack one with the lowest interest rate, so that you can pay it off quickly. Some places still welcome traveler's checks, but others have abandoned the practice because of the high incidence of counterfeiting. If you're traveling with children, give them a budget, too. Don't go overboard buying gifts and souvenirs.

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