Can't Afford A Vacation? Yes You Can. 5 Ways To Save For Travel.

“I’d love a vacation, but I just can’t afford it.”  

I hear this often. I’ve said it myself. But even as the words are rolling off my lips, I know it’s a lie.

Do I really need $4 lattes? 700 TV channels? Another pair of shoes?

Could I pay my monthly bills with an airline credit card and use points to fly free?

Are there off-season deals, vacation packages, or wallet-friendly destinations I’m not considering?

Talk to travelers - wealthy and not, employed and unemployed, boomers and backpackers - and more than likely they’ll tell you that saving for travel is easier than you think. 

Think you can’t afford to travel? Think again. Check out these insider tips in my recent article: 5 Ways to Save For Your Next Vacation. 

Better yet, how do you save for travel? Share your advice below. 

Great Sale Fares To Beach Destinations

Beach Destinations On Sale Now!

Dozens of picture perfect destinations are on sale right now. Book airfare for your beach retreat on American Airlines and turn up the heat this fall!

Hurry, these sale fares must be purchased by September 15, 2009.

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Cheap Travel Made Easy

Do you slave away 50-weeks-a-year dreaming about the 2-week ski vacation, cruise, beach holiday, or trip to the islands you’re going to take only to discover that getting out of town isn’t really affordable? Well maybe it is more affordable than you think!

I recently discovered this ebook jammed packed this book with 150 pages of in-depth information about making your dream trips a reality by teaching you how to make any trip affordable, and how to plan so that you can travel more than you ever thought possible.

Divided into three sections, the first part of the book uncovers the secrets to affordable travel; the second part teaches you how to be your own travel planner; and part three shows you how to find the best deals on airfares, cruises, car rentals, trains, buses, hotels, hostels and more. It even gives you a section on how you can stay all over the world for free!

Click here to learn more.

Dive St. Vincent and the Grenadines on a Budget

DIVE THE DEPTHS OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES WITHOUT GIVING BUDGETS THE BENDS

photo courtesy Dive St. Vincent

Dive St. Vincent and Mariners Hotel Launch “Summer/Fall Dive Special” With More Dives and a Bonus Hotel Night for Less

Dive St. Vincent and Mariners Hotel in St. Vincent beckon cost-conscious travelers to explore this diver’s mecca with their enhanced “7 Nights/10 Dives” package featuring special savings of US$106 per diver. The best value “Summer/Fall Dive Special” package is only US$999 per person and includes two extra dives at no cost, plus the 8th night free. Offer valid for travel through November 30.

Dive St. Vincent is the only dive shop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that specializes in critters. In fact, the owner and PADI & NAUI certified instructor, Bill Tewes, is the very person who put St. Vincent on the critter diving map of the world. Joining Bill at the dive shop is another PADI instructor and two NAUI certified dive masters who offer full certification courses for ages eight and up, advanced open water excursions for diving connoisseurs, and the introductory “learn to scuba dive” lesson for novices. For more information, visit www.DiveStVincent.com or call 1 (784) 457-4928.

Mariners Hotel is a beachfront boutique property, situated on the pristine Villa Beach. Its 21 guest rooms that are decorated in vibrant Caribbean colors all feature private balconies and air-conditioning. Following a strenuous day of diving, the French Verandah Restaurant, conveniently located on the property of Mariners Hotel, serves superb French cuisine with Caribbean flair. For more information, visit www.marinershotel.com or call 1 (800) 223-1108.

Dive St. Vincent and Mariners Hotel’s “Summer/Fall Dive Special” is US$999 per person, for travel through November 30, and includes: 12 dives with Dive St. Vincent; 8 nights at Mariners Hotel, including daily full breakfast; and roundtrip airport transfers. For more information or bookings, please e-mail bill2s@DiveStVincent.com or call 1 (784) 457-4928.

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Book an Escape From Your Cubicle With AirTran Airways' New Sale Fares

Travel to Various Destinations with Fares as Low as $39*

AirTran Airways has launched another great sale for travel to all of the airline’s destinations with fares starting as low as $39*.

Sale fares are available for purchase through July 28, 2009, and are good for travel through December 16, 2009. Lowest fares are valid for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday and additional sale fares are valid for travel on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Like all AirTran Airways fares, prices included in this sale are available for one-way travel and do not require a roundtrip purchase or an overnight stay.

Following is a sample of the one-way sale fares. All fares are valid in either direction:

Check Out These Sample Fares: Off-Peak Peak

Allentown/Bethlehem - Ft. Lauderdale $64 $64
Asheville, NC - Orlando $44 $44
Atlanta - Akron/Canton $59 $89
Atlanta - Cancun $79 $109
Atlanta - Charlotte $39 $59
Atlanta - Houston $69 $99
Atlanta - Los Angeles $119 $159
Atlanta - Minneapolis/St. Paul $74 $104
Atlanta - Orlando $59 $89
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) - Boston $39 $49

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Ten Great Theme Parks and How to Save

With summer fast approaching, many travelers are itching to find the ultimate in entertainment with a theme park vacation. Don’t let a hurting economy and expensive entrance fees stand in the way. Discover 10 of the country’s top theme parks that offer summer fun on a reasonable budget.

Click Here for Full Details

Source: SmarterTravel.com

Last-Minute Summer Steals on Greek Cruises

Variety Cruises’ last-minute sales to Greece are perfect for savvy summer vacation shoppers waiting for the best deals to roll out. And airfare finds to Greece make it an enticing season to travel.

Here are three great reasons to set sail and cheer “Opa!”.

CLASSICAL GREECE:
Summer Offer: $750 reduction per person; two free nights at a four-star Athens hotel (room only); free ½ day sightseeing tour of Athens. Starting at $1,540 per person, per week.
Perfect for first-timers to Greece! Discover the best of the Aegean Islands, Crete and Continental Greece with seven nights on the fabulous Harmony V or G mega yachts. Available for select sailings through October 30, 2009.

AEGEAN ODYSSEY:
Summer Offer: $750 reduction per person; two free nights at a four-star Athens hotel (room only); free ½ day sightseeing tour of Athens. Starting at $1,540 per person, per week.
Seven nights on the mega yacht Harmony G or Harmony V in the breathtaking Cycladic Islands, including sites of Kusadasi, Ephessus and the lesser known island gems of Patmos and Samos. Available for select sailing dates through October 16, 2009.

JEWELS OF THE CYCLADES:
Summer Offer: $300 reduction per person on select sailings. Starting at $1,150 per person, per week.
This thrilling cruise heads southeast of mainland Greece on the M/S Galileo through a collection of off-the-beaten-path islands, including Poros, Kimolos, Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, Kea and Sounion. Available for select sailing dates through October 23, 2009.

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$50 Gift Card with 2 Nights at Renaissance Hotels

Check out this new stay-n-shop promotion from Orbitz…

Stay 2 nights at Renaissance Hotels and get a $50 Nordstrom gift card

Reward your sense of style and get a $50 Nordstrom gift card when you book 2+ nights (Thursday – Sunday) at participating Renaissance Hotels and Resorts.

Book and travel by May 25th, 2009.

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