Travel Savings Tips

If there's one thing that stops folks from taking all the road trips they deserve, it's money. Vacations can cost an arm and a leg but they don't have to. ING Direct is a great place to stash your dimes and being the bank with the highest APY around, they know a thing or two about savings. See their tips below for making sure you get the best deal on your getaway.

Looking to escape your everyday routine? Wondering where to find the best travel deals? We have some savings ideas that could get you packing for destinations all over the globe and keep your savings account balance from heading south.

Great rates for getaways can be found in unexpected places:

• Check out online auction sites like eBay for discounted timeshare weeks—people who own them frequently can't use the weeks and sell them, sometimes for real bargain prices.
• Don't depend strictly on large vacation and travel websites—some of the discount airline carriers like Southwest and JetBlue do not participate, so it pays to check each carrier's website.
• Take advantage of the not-for-profit program called Elderhostel —you can book adventures all over the world and use hotel and local university housing for your accommodations.
• Looking for a deal on a summer cruise? Even during high season, last-minute deals are possible since most boats are not filled up, up to 72 hours before departure. It also pays to look for cruises that let you take advantage of ports within driving distance of your home so you can save the price tag of airfare.
• If you live in a great tourist town, think about swapping your home for a vacation home in another part of the world—there are companies such as Hideaways International that can help you do just that.
• Rent a house or villa rather than paying for hotel rooms—you'd be surprised what that could save you.
• Use your local newspaper—or newspapers in major cities—to find beach condos rented by owners. You could find better deals and eliminate the upcharge from vacation rental companies.
• Check out travel reviews and reports online to learn about the best deals in certain countries—you'll get great local advice and even see real traveler photos to know just what you're getting.
• Book side trips before you leave home so you can shop around for the best "adventures" and best prices.

While you're vacationing:

• Look for restaurants where kids eat free or where you can split meals.
• On cruise ships, buy a soda card—for a flat fee you'll drink sodas all week instead of paying the usual $3 per drink.
• Think about buying an entertainment coupon book for the area you're visiting—there's one for each state. It could add up to big dollars on dining and entertainment savings.
• Get a fridge in your hotel room to hold snacks and drinks.
• Heading out of the country? Buy a prepaid phone card to keep in touch while you're gone.

Don't miss getting travel reports and reviews before you book— tripadvisor.com and cruisecritic.com are great resources for information about destinations, ports and accommodations. For discounted travel, try Site59.com, lastminutetravel.com, 11thhourvacations.com, or Google's Directory of Travel Auctions and Bids.