GROUP TRAVEL TIPS

What does traveling have to do with the recent economic crisis? As long as you know how to get the best deals, you can make vacations something you can do often enough. It's all about being smart and doing the right research so you can make the most of what you're getting and stretching your budget down to the very last dime. Here are a few suggestions that could save you:

For the Ride

• If you can take the car instead of the plane, go for it. You can all chip in for gas. Plus, the road trip gives you the privacy that you need and enough time to plan and bond before reaching your destination.

• Apply for frequent flyer miles. With enough trips under your belt, you could actually accumulate enough points that allow you to go to far-flung areas.

• If you're going on a cruise, check if they offer group rates and see if you can get bigger discounts when you have more people signing up for the trip.

For the Hotel and Accommodation

• No doubt, five-star hotels are way more expensive, but like anything, it becomes cheaper when you have two or more people staying in a room.

• You don't have to limit your choices with the ones in the area. If you have a car with you, you can actually get a room in a nearby town. If you want to head for the beach, you just have to give your group fifteen or thirty minutes leeway. That's not really much when you see how much you can save.

• Camp out instead. While the planning can be more of a hassle, the time you'll spend outdoors can be just as rewarding.

For Your Meals

• Forget about those expensive restaurants. Ask a local where you can get the meals for a fraction of the usual cost.

• Forget the usual fare of fast-food as well. Instead, make friends with those who live in the area. Who knows, they could actually invite you to feast in their homes instead and show you some local hospitality. This ought to be safe as well if you go in a big group.

• You can also bring canned goods and easy-to-prepare meals with you. Some inns offer a mini-kitchenette where you can do the actual cooking. When you get things in bulk and do the preparation yourselves, you can spend the extra money you'll save on other luxury items instead.

For Souvenirs

• Prepare a list of people you need to give to. Otherwise, postcards will do.

• You can also just take your camera along and just put them all in an album that you can always access whenever you want to reminisce. Plus, you save yourself from all that extra junk because chances are, you really won't get that souvenir that you've purchased.

Follow these tips and stretch your money. You'll see that vacations are more special because of the memories you get, and not the amount you've purchased.