I like to think of myself as one among many of the queens of cheap. I buy clothing, food, homes and cars, and I even travel inexpensively. I find attitude is everything and think finding a bargain is fun.

Bargains are everywhere when you travel. It is absolutely essential to check all travel sites for the best rates on flights, rental cars, cruises, hotels and activities. It is easy to do a search for travel sites but some of my favorites include: Expedia, Travelocity, CheapTickets, and Orbitz. I highly suggest you price out each piece individually, and then put it all together as a package. Sometimes the differences are amazing.

After checking these sites and finding the best rates, you should still go to the site of the airline, hotel or rental car company you have chosen. Sometimes they offer an even better rate or offer coupons off an additional item that you may need.

I want to share two pleasant experiences I've had using these sites. I needed a hotel room overnight for an upcoming dance competition. I checked all of the sites and the home site of the hotel I had in mind. I was SHOCKED to discover the most expensive rate was on the home site, and the rest varied greatly. The most expensive room was $89/night. I found the best rate at $44/night on Travelocity. I immediately passed the information on to others and approximately 25 families grabbed the best deal and thanked me profusely.

One year I took a trip to Florida with my daughters, two friends and their daughters. I spent a couple hours on the Internet and found deals on flights, hotel, meals, Disney tickets, airport parking and airport transportation. Oh yes. I also went to Aldi, my favorite grocery store, and loaded up on transportable food and packed a suitcase full! I found the best prices on Disney park tickets at the Disney site. I have now found an even better deal at a car rental agency! There are many sites that have tips on trips to Disney, but two of my favorites are MouseSavers and All Ears Net. They give you codes for Disney hotel deals, as well as recommendations and coupons for other services you may need; such as airport transportation – who really wants to ride a bus????

Like I said earlier, I really believe taking an inexpensive trip is all about attitude. Think of it as an adventure--not a must do. Some of my best memories are the long drives going to wherever we may be headed. The sights we see and places we visit are incredible. It is obviously much cheaper to drive than fly – if you have the time. I also tend to take my little portable grill and some quick light charcoal to make a quick meal on the road. Food is a huge expense. Just eating one or two meals out of your own stash will save SO much money. By stopping at a small grocery store and eating out of their deli, you can meet local people and find local hot spots.

My husband and I once took a trip to Germany and France and were able to stay with our friend, Host Tisha. She gave us a great tip on inexpensive flights; and, by splitting hotel costs and getting groceries in France (as well as pastries – yum), our costs were very low. We had plenty of money left to ride the train through the beautiful countryside and have a beer or two at Oktoberfest. Traveling with friends is really fun and an inexpensive way to see the world.

Travel bargains are everywhere. You just need to keep your eyes open. I recently found a coupon for my favorite campground at a camper show. I cannot wait to give them a call and set my dates.

There is a travel forum here at Womens-Place, the Where To Go, Where You've Been Travel Board. Stop by and let’s talk bargains.

~Deanna, a/k/a Deek, is the budget conscious Mom of four kids. She enjoys hunting for a bargain and coming up with new ways to save money. She hopes you, too, can take a wallet-friendly vacation this year!