Vacation Like an A-lister On a D-lister's Budget

I by no means have baller funds. But I love to travel, and try to take one big trip per year. So, I have to be smart. I'm always looking to stretch my dollar further. The less money you spend per day = the longer your trip.

My bf and I always do a really great job of this, so I thought I'd share some of our secrets in case you're looking to book a trip this holiday season.

Whit's Cheap Travel Tips

1. Travel on the cusp of the"off-season." 

During peak seasons, usually summer and school breaks, hotels and flights cost significantly more. But no one wants to travel during the cold and rainy season. That's so not chic. 

If you time your travel perfectly though, you can position your trip to land at the very end of an off-season, right as the beautiful weather is rolling in. 

For our recent trip to South Africa, we chose to go one week before their official sumer time. The difference meant half price at many hotels, and less crowds, meaning better service at restaurants. You have to be willing to accept that the weather will be hit or miss, chilly some days...

...and fabulous others.

You can easily find out when the off-season is for your travel destination by looking up rates online for your preferred hotels. They will usually list two prices, one "on," one "off." Book your trip for the last week of the off season.

2. Always pick up the phone.

Our tech-savvy generation has become so handicapped by texting, emailing, and G-chatting that actually picking up a phone can often produce anxiety in even the most social butterfly. I get it. I avoid the telephone like the examination table at the gyno.

But a lot of the time, picking up the phone makes a huge difference. The prices listed on hotels websites are often subject to change. They may have a secret deal, a cancellation, or a last minute booking price. These are things you'll only find out if you call.

This works better with ma and pa type operations where you can bargain, but it's worth a try at any establishment. On our trip, we managed to score a suite at a 5-star safari lodge that we wouldn't have known about had we not called.

When you call tell them, "I know your rates are x, but my budget is y. Is there anything you can do?"

3. B&B's are better than hotels.

Not only is the staff usually friendlier at a B&B, the price is so much cheaper than at a major hotel. In Cape Town, we stayed at the emaculate guesthome Auberge du Cap for about $200 a night and got our own penthouse overlooking the entire upscale area of Camps Bay. Similar accommodation at the nearby hotels was going for anywhere from $400 to $750 a night.

Our suite had it's own private deck and whirlpool spa, but that wasn't the only fabulous part.

The home's owners Mike and Morgan made us a 5-star breakfast every morning, complete with our requested no-oil egg white omelets.

Now that's service.

4.  Be your own tour guide.

Rent a car!

If the area you are traveling in is safe, and you can check on the State Department's website, then you should always drive yourself. We've also drive when it's not safe (but that's another story).

Rental cars are often very cheap. In Cape Town ours was only $34 a day, the price of one taxi.

You'll save money on activities that you can easily do on your own, instead of paying a tour company to cart your lazy butt around. You'll also be able to pack more fun into each day, instead of deciding what to do based on a tour companies' schedule.

You can also use public transportation, which we did a lot in Thailand last year.

Get all the info you need about the best things to do in the area on Lonely Planet, or from the lovely B&B owners you stay with. Before every big trip, I always buy a Lonely Planet guide book and read it cover to cover, to make sure I don't miss any off-the-beaten-path adventures.

5. Get busy in the kitchen.

Another plus of not staying in a hotel is that many guesthomes and condos have their own kitchens. When we were in Belize, we caught our own lobsters in the ocean and made them at our resort. The whole thing would have cost over $100 at a restaurant and we made it for under $20.

Bon Voyage!

Weigh in:  What are your best travel tips? Where's the coolest place you've been? Where do you want to go next?

If you like the blog, follow me on Twitter @WhitneyLEnglish or email me with any questions, comments, or suggestions.