Accommodations
One of the biggest expenses on a vacation is your hotel accommodations. It is easy to overspend on the cost of your accommodations. A nice hotel can range from $60-$100 per night. It is easy to take a look at the hotels a book a hotel that can cost you $150 or more a night. Take a look at your vacation and decide how often you will be in your hotel room and if you can get by in a Holiday Inn instead of the Radisson. You should also consider staying with family or friends when you go on vacation. Staying with family or friends is free versus the $100 or more a night you would spend at the hotel. Even if you can only stay with family or friends for one or two nights of a six night vacation, you will still save on the overall cost.

Discount hotels are a great way to reduce the costs of your vacation. Never pay full price for a hotel reservation. There are hotel discount web sites such as hotels.com or priceline.com that can compare hotel rates and find the best one for your budget. Again, consider lowering your expectations from the Radisson to the Holiday Inn. Many two-star hotels aren't as bad as they sound and can easily save you $50 or more per night.

Another option to look for when arranging your accommodations is for online coupons. If you know where you would like to stay, do a search for the hotel and the word "coupon code". Some hotels will have online coupons that pull up and can book you a two bedroom suite for the price of a regular room.

Transportation
With gas prices on the rise, many people are searching for ways to cut back on their travel expenses. Airlines have begun charging people for extra bags to help offset the cost of fuel. Depending upon where you are traveling to, the transportation costs will be the largest portion of money spent from your vacation budget. Here are a couple tips to help you reduce the transportation costs if you are flying:

Be flexible with your travel dates. Airline prices change during peak travel times and often change for each day of the week. Online ticketing services will allow you to compare different travel dates and decide which dates are the least expensive. Consider a lay-over. While a lay-over is inconvenient, it may save you a few bucks. Some airlines like Southwest will even have online specials if you purchase non-refundable tickets. If you choose to purchase non-refundable tickets, make sure your travel dates are set in stone with everyone going or else you will lose out on that money.

Many large cities have multiple airports and sometimes the cost is cheaper to fly out or into a different airport that may be out of the way. For example, flying into the Oakland, CA airport is often cheaper than flying into the San Francisco, CA airport. If you are traveling to San Francisco, you should consider flying into Oakland and driving a short distance to get to the city. It may save you enough money to be worth the extra gas expense.

Frequent flyer miles are another great program that will help you save on travel expenses. Point.com allows you to keep track of your frequent flyer miles and will allow you to swap points between different programs. You can also transfer points from one person to another, allowing family members to use your points.

Rent a car if it is needed. Many hotels will offer shuttle services and will pick you up from the airport. You should also consider the use of public transportation. Large cities also have shuttles that will take you to nearby attractions so you may find it easier to go on foot than in a rental car.

Consider driving instead of flying. It can offset your vacation costs tremendously, especially if you plan to fly a family of 6 or more. The gas prices are much higher than they have been in the past, so here are some tips to help you save on transportation costs if you are driving:

FuelEconomy.gov has reported that fuel efficiency decreases rapidly as speed rises above 60 miles per hour. Each 5 mile per hour over 60 adds about $0.20 per gallon to the cost of driving. When you are traveling long distances, slow down to save on fuel. Set your cruise control so your car maintains the same speed during your drive, it will also help you avoid speeding tickets and auto accidents.

Before you set on the open road, have your car in for a check up. Proper auto maintenance is one way to reduce the cost of fuel because it makes sure the engine is running properly. Having your car tuned-up before a trip will also help you avoid a costly repair job at some unknown location on the road. When you are traveling, your risks for being ripped off by an unethical mechanic are much higher than when you are using your local mechanic.

Plan you gas route in advance. Search for the cheapest gas prices before you leave and plan which gas stations you are going to stop at. GasBuddy.com allows you to view the current gas prices at the stops along your travel path. This will help you map out your gas refills in advance and avoid paying extra at a gas station off the side of the road. Some clubs like Costco and Sam's Club offer discounted gas rates for their members, you check your club membership to see if you have any gas discounts that are available to you and are on your travel path.

Food
Another large chunk of change on your trip is the cost of food. Before you head out the door, check on your options to help you keep down the unnecessary spending on snacks and other food. If you are driving, buy all the food you need and keep it in coolers. It is much cheaper to purchase soda and other snacks from your local grocery store than it is at the gas station on the road. Planning ahead will help you make snacks that are healthier as well.

You should also pack meals that can be eaten on the road. Try to reduce unnecessary stops by packing sandwiches or other meals that can be eaten in the car or at a park. You want to avoid the drive-thru eating temptation. A packed lunch will be a cheaper, healthier option for you as you are traveling.

If you are flying, consider eating a large meal before you get on the plane. The cost of food in the airport is much higher than you will pay anywhere else. If you must eat at the airport, go light on food. Yogurt and fruit can hold you over for a couple hours if you have a short flight. Also, some flights will provide snacks and meals for longer flights.

As you are traveling, take a good look at the hotels that offer "free" food. Many hotels will offer a "free breakfast", for a higher room rate. Many free meals typically include cheap pastries and juice. If you are traveling with children, pastries will not fill them up and they will likely be hungry within a couple hours. Purchase some cereal and milk to keep in your hotel room and eat in there versus at the free breakfast or the Ihop. If you do go to a restaurant, watch out for the "kids eat free" sign. Many of these marketing ploys will only allow one free meal per family or one free meal for each paying adult. As you are traveling, keep some healthy snacks and water bottles handy. Having a granola bar in your purse will soothe your hunger craving when you see the ice cream in the window.

Attractions
Another place you need to look at when searching for ways to save money on a vacation is your attractions. Many places will offer discounts if you are a member of AAA, AARP, or other groups. You may even be eligible for a discount from your employer, child's school, or your insurance company. Bring the necessary documentation so you can get the discount when you are traveling.

You should plan less time visiting every attraction and more time at the beach, hotel, campsite, or park. If you are staying at a hotel that offers swimming, use their facilities instead of paying for a water park. Plan out all the attractions you want to see before you leave on vacation so you don't overwhelm yourself trying to visit attractions every day of your vacation. Look for discounts to attractions from your hotel. Many hotels have partnerships with local attractions and will be able to get you a cheaper rate than if you were to go at it on your own. Planning ahead and taking advantage of discounts will help you save quite a bit on your vacation.