If you are looking for some smart ways to save money while planning your vacation and traveling, look no further. Here are some tips to apply when it comes time to plan and book your summer getaway this year!

If you are looking for ways to get the lowest airfare possible, try http://itasoftware.com/. They offer some of the best rate comparisons, which can help you save a substantial amount of money. With the cost of airfare continually going up, saving money on flights is one of the smartest things you can do.

While flying on long flights, are you tired of being crammed into a terrible seat, unable to even see the movie playing? This is no longer your problem. Check out the site http://www.seatguru.com/ to know which seat is the best choice before you book!

Looking for the right credit card to get you the most points possible for travel redemption? Try the Starwood AmEx Card for their amazing point system. You can redeem these miles and points with thirty different commercial airline companies. You can earn at least one point per dollar, with lots of handy bonus points in there as well.

Check out these tips the next time you book a flight! You will certainly be glad you did, as will your wallet.

If you are planning a summer getaway for the family, going on a cruise can be the perfect option for the whole family. There is plenty of opportunity for the adults to relax and indulge, and the kids can keep as active as they want to be with countless activity options. When it comes time to choosing exactly what kind of cruise best fits your needs, it is good to have a few tips to help you narrow down your selection.

When it comes to cruising, consider these different specifications:

While you may see one price on the internet, make sure that you research any additional costs that may arise. Some cruises will have very high hidden fees, making their final price the same as a more prestigious cruise line that you may have ruled out.

Think about how much stops the given cruise provides. If you do not want to constantly be waiting in line, and shuffling on and off the ship, you may want to consider a line that provides fewer stops.

If you are prone to seasickness, be sure to research the weather conditions for the areas that you are visiting. No matter how large your ship may be, if there are rough seas you are going to feel it. Make sure that you are cruising during the most calm times of year, with little to no weather conditions in the forecast.

If you are going on a longer cruise, consider upgrading your room to a larger one. Most economy cabins are very small, and may seem to cramped on longer trips. Upgrading to a larger space will be well worth the money if your cruise line provides the option.

Consider what kind of activities you may want to participate in. While some cruises cater to relaxation, spa treatments, and luxury, others are geared toward fitness, sports, and more active lifestyles. Research what options are going to be available, and choose the best fit for your family.

If you thoroughly research all of your options and consider the kind of vacation that you want, you will be sure to find the perfect cruising opportunity for your summer vacation.

Many who have caught the travel bug have created different social networks available for those who want to visit different states or countries but do not have the money to take a traditional vacation. “Couchsurfing” is one trend that is popping up all over the world, in tourist and more remote locales, alike. It is an online network of individuals who open their homes for free to travelers or lodgers and let them stay on their couch or in an extra room.

Those that are part of this trend usually notify potential visitors of the option through the website CouchSurfing.com. When you visit the page, you will feel like you are taking part in a strange mixture of a social networking and vacation rentals site. Individuals can create their own profile and “request” couches to stay on in different locations.

Other ways to travel cheap are to backpack, making use of hostels and cheap lodging. Traveling by plane is expensive, so try to utilize trains and buses as the majority of your transportation. The more you use your ingenuity, the easier it will be to see new places without having to go over your budget!

Thailand is the land of smiles.  It is also the land of traveling on the cheap!  We’ll see just how low cost Thailand really is.

The airplane tickets are going to be your biggest expense to anywhere is Asia, between $700-$1200 per ticket.  But once you’re there, you’ll be surprised at how much you dinner will cost.

When eating on the street, you’ll find a meal for $.66.  My wife and I often ate 3 or 4 course meals for $25 total; this was a life I could get used to.

I was surprised at the cost of a Taxi in Bangkok.  It seemed to round out to about 1USD per mile.  If you’re willing to take the bus, you’ll be paying around $.10 per ride.

If you’re going, everyone will tell you to head to Kao San Road.  For the most part, this is true.  I would hop in the taxi and tell them to take you there.

There are plenty of guesthouses, and you’ll find one easily. BUT, and this is a big BUT, I would only book 2 or 3 nights, and go to find something elsewhere.

Kao San Road is expensive compared to other parts of the city.  Even the roads around Kao San will be cheaper.

Personally, I’m not into the party scene, so I didn’t mind being away from Kao San Road, and still found plenty of cultural restaurants, museums, and sites to see.

The trick is getting out there and really exploring.  I had a guide book with me at all times, and was able to find things worth seeing, no matter what part of the country I was in.

Thailand really is as low cost as they say, and is worth checking out!  I would definitely set aside a good 4 weeks to get all the exploring that you want.

So, you heard right, the low cost Thailand really is worth it.

In a few instances, some places that you would only have been able to dream of visiting have now become affordable through the recession. One such case is a vacation to Iceland. Their currency value of their kronur has recently dropped about 51%, cutting vacation fees immensely from what they were a year ago.

Iceland also used to be one of the most dreamed of, luxurious, and fantastic vacation locations in Europe. One of the most famous tourist attractions in Iceland is the blue lagoon. The blue lagoon is a beautiful geothermal seawater and mineral-enriched pool. The steam rising from the water adds a romantic and mystical effect.

Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park features beautiful natural landscapes and has very interesting geological and historical value. This park is the original meeting site of the longest lasting parliament in the world. It is also the location where the North-American and European continental shelf plates are separating.

Of course, this is a spectacular location to view the northern lights and many other beautiful parts of nature. Take advantage of the low prices and visit the scenic wonders of Ireland!