Who doesn’t love to go on vacation? Flying away to the next big travel destination is always so much fun. But one thing that a lot of people often forget about vacations is how expensive they can be. The initial excitement of arriving at your vacation location can fade fast when your wallet goes negative as you experience sticker shock. Here are some tips to keep you from going into financial panic mode while on vacation or from spending too much money before you ever even leave home.

It’s summer time! If you’re reading this from outside of the US, congratulations on making it through another year in what must be a very cold winter. While we’re fortunate enough to have a long, relaxing summer ahead of us, many people aren’t as lucky. They’ll spend the next few months working and stressing out over bills, but the good news is that there are ways to enjoy some time off without breaking the bank. The key is planning ahead and trying new things. Looking to go on a vacation but tired of going to the same old destinations? Have you ever considered vacationing in Alabama? I know, most people have never even heard of it, but that’s exactly why you should consider it! By following my simple tips and tricks in this article, you’ll be able to find and plan a vacation that won’t break the bank.

How To Go On Vacation For Cheap

If you are looking for a low cost vacation alternative then there are a few things that you need to do before you start pricing up your vacation. Go on the Internet and search for travel agencies near your home. Contact these travel agents and find out what deals they have for non-credit card holders. Never set foot on their property until you have received approval from your insurance company that the health insurance wouldn’t get cancelled as a traveler abroad. The assessment of the car is much easier than when transporting planes. You will also be offered cheap car hire fares with many luxury cars if any, including jet airplanes and helicopters if available. You may want to know who is responsible in the case of accident or theft of personal items when using any other form was not mentioned in their policy. The bottom line is that you should make sure that he or she gets enough rest before departure.

The Cheapest Ways to Travel: 15 Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation

These cheap travel tips can help you save big on your next getaway.

Booking flights well in advance, traveling to a destination in the off-peak season and taking advantage of credit card benefits are just a few ways to save on travel.(GETTY IMAGES)

If your primary travel goal is checking destinations off of a bucket list, you’re likely going to need to know how to stretch your funds. This list of travel tips aims to help you see the world without wrecking your finances, covering everything from scoring free trips to paying less for common travel budget busters.

Use Airline Miles to Cover Flights

The most expensive components of travel tend to be airfare and lodging, but earning enough airline miles allows you to erase the cost of flying from your budget occasionally. Check out the U.S. News ranking of the Best Airline Rewards Programs to find the rewards program that best suits your needs. Also, consider picking up an airline credit card or a flexible travel credit card to begin netting points or miles on all of your purchases.

For example, you may be able to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points and occasionally even Delta SkyMiles earnings for flights within the U.S. or to the Caribbean for less than 10,000 points or miles one-way. These are just a few examples, but keep in mind that you can use airline miles to fly anywhere in the world, often paying only the cost of government-mandated taxes and fees.

Consider an Inexpensive Family Cruise

Cruising provides an excellent opportunity to visit numerous destinations, and a single price covers nearly all of the trip’s expenses. The benefits of an upfront cost make budgeting for a cruise especially easy for families, since all food, lodging and entertainment come included. For families who live within driving distance of a cruise port, these potential savings compound, as it becomes possible to avoid the cost of airfare altogether.

While there are plenty of discount cruise lines, families should check out MSC Cruises, a budget-friendly European cruise line that also offers Caribbean cruises departing from Miami. Not only are MSC Cruises ideal for all ages, but kids 11 and younger cruise free on many itineraries.

[Read: The Best Cheap Vacations in the USA.]

Book Rental Condos Over Hotels

Airbnb and rental condos are growing in popularity for a reason: They grant you the space to spread out and live like a local in nearly any destination. What’s more, many options can be considerably more affordable than booking a hotel, especially if you have family in tow.

The best part? Condos with their own kitchens make it easy to prepare your own meals, meaning you can save big on food costs.

Fly a Budget Airline

Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant Air offer a no-frills flight experience for as little as $50 one-way. The catch? Discount carriers don’t usually provide any complimentary extras like in-flight drinks or snacks. In fact, you should be prepared to pay more for just about everything, from seat assignment to carry-on luggage. For example, Allegiant Air charges up to $80 for seat section, while printing your boarding pass at the airport could set you back another $5.

However, if you forgo extras like seat selection, remember to print your boarding pass at home or use the airline’s app to access it when traveling, and make sure to pay for luggage when booking rather than at the airport, then you can often snag an extremely affordable ticket on these types of carriers.

Redeem Rewards for an All-Inclusive Hotel

Some hotel rewards programs, including IHG Rewards Club and World of Hyatt, let you redeem points for stays at all-inclusive hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico. This option is far from free since you’ll need to fly to your destination. Still, all-inclusive resorts can be a godsend for your budget because all of your lodging, food and activities come included in your (now nonexistent) room rate.

As an example, you can stay at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun or the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Jamaica for as little as 25,000 points per night.

[See: 30 Cheap Beach Vacations for Travelers on a Budget.]

Watch Out for Flight Deals

If you’re eager to travel far and want to save big on airfare, keep an eye out for short-term airfare offers on websites like The Flight Deal and Secret Flying. Both sites offer details on deals that usually last only a few days, meaning you have to be ready to strike while the iron is hot. But if you check often enough, you’ll find international deals from the U.S. to destinations like Japan, Italy and the Philippines for less than $500 round-trip.

Travel Off-Peak

Booking a trip outside holiday weeks and peak travel season for your chosen destination is one of the best ways to travel on the cheap. Not only will pricing likely be lower during shoulder and off-peak seasons, but thinner crowds mean shorter lines at attractions and museums, and less drama and stress throughout your whole trip.

Peak travel season varies by destination, so make sure to read up on your desired vacation spot ahead of time to find out the best time to save. Off-peak season in the Caribbean starts in April and ends just before the holidays, for example. In Europe, October through May is typically considered off-peak season.

Go Camping

Camping is inherently frugal, provided you don’t book a luxury cabin or buy your own recreational vehicle. Campsites surround many of the top natural attractions in the U.S., so travelers are sure to enjoy excellent views and memorable hikes. You can easily borrow or buy a tent and essential camping supplies, then pack a cooler for a weekend of frugal fun at an affordable campground nearby.

If you aren’t aware of an inexpensive campground nearby, make sure to explore state park options. Many state parks offer basic camping spots for less than $30 per night.

[Read: 11 Campgrounds With the Best Amenities for Families.]

Get Free Travel Perks

Some travel credit cards offer benefits that can help you save money on travel. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers free trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary auto rental coverage, trip delay insurance, baggage delay coverage, emergency evacuation coverage, travel accident insurance and more. While this card comes with a $450 annual fee (with a $300 annual travel credit), these coverages can help you recoup your costs should you encounter a variety of travel mishaps.

If you want similar benefits with a lower annual fee, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which charges just $95 per year and comes with a similar selection of coverage and perks.

Don’t Pay Foreign Transaction Fees

Some credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee on all purchases made abroad. This fee can typically be up to 3% of each purchase you make, or up to $3 for every $100 you spend.

Since paying this fee is akin to throwing money out the window, it’s best to avoid foreign fees altogether. Make sure you have a credit card in your wallet that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and you won’t have to worry about paying for the privilege of using your card overseas.

Book Flights Early

While you can often score cheap flights when you can book at the last minute, the opposite is also true. Booking airfare early is a great way to save money, provided you can plan your trip at least six to nine months in advance.

Most airlines let you book around 11 months ahead of time, making it easy to compare pricing early on. When it comes to airfare, you can use Google Flights to search for flights to different destinations or regions of the world using flexible dates. Start tracking prices so you know on average about how much the flight costs on whatever dates you’re looking to travel. Then, when you see a flight deal to your desired destination, have your credit card ready to boo