Although it's empirically wiser to pay down debt instead, vacations have their psychological benefit

When you re a broke 20-something and long to travel, you might find that your heart says yes while your wallet says no . But with a little work, you can find ways to travel cheaply. Here are five tips to get you started towards your next frugal vacation.
Before you read any further, let’s make one thing clear: If you’re having trouble paying for your housing, food and utilities, don’t go on vacation! Instead, to get a little R R, try out these ideas for a staycation .
Although it’s empirically wiser to pay down debt instead, vacations have their psychological benefits. Research shows vacation improves your mental health and spurs creativity . Also, what’s the point to working hard if you don t have fun with your money occasionally?
In my 20s, I used to travel up to six times per year. And they weren t little getaways. I once spent a week in Nice, France because I found an air/hotel package for $699. I conveniently overlooked the fact that I’d be spending hundreds more to eat, drink, and get around.
These days, I still indulge in vacations a few times per year, but I m smarter about my choices. I never come close to spending $ 1,145, the average amount an American planned on spending for a summer vacation last year .
Every locale has an off-season, a few months when the weather isn’t so great or famous attractions are closed. For most of North America and Europe, off seasons run between hotels in brussels belgium fall and spring. In Latin and South America, and warmer US locations, summers are generally off-season, due to high temperatures and periods of rain.
Lodging is cheaper hotels in brussels belgium too. “Traveling in the low-season hotels in brussels belgium provides the opportunity to take advantage of lower hotel rates at some locations,” says Leslie Stachowiak, Communications Leader hotels in brussels belgium in Public Relations for the American Club , the  Midwest’s only AAA Five Diamond Resort Hotel located in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Last winter, I visited the American Club a few weeks before Christmas, when their rooms are over $200 less expensive than their high season. Beyond saving money, my husband and I practically had the sprawling, Shining-esque (sans the scary) resort all to ourselves. One night, we were the only couple sitting near their massive Christmas tree, which was decorated in hundreds of lights, while carolers sang in another room.
Hotels are cheaper mid-week too. On that trip, for instance, we stayed at the Emerson Resort , a picturesque lodge in the Catskill mountains that discounts rooms $50-100 during the week. “Right now we have our Stay Ski Package that starts at $53.00 per person, hotels in brussels belgium per night,” says Kaite Brady, an administrative assistant at the resort. “We recently also had a promotion hotels in brussels belgium that was stay two nights, get the third night free.”
Whenever I hear about a hotel I want to check out, I follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for email newsletters. I do the same for the certain. It takes five seconds to do, and has saved me hundreds over the last few years.
For example, when I was pregnant, hotels in brussels belgium I found out that the Abbey , a luxury resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, has a hard-to-find pregnancy massage table with a hole in the center, so that a mom-to-be can get a face down massage to relieve lower back pain (usually, pregnant hotels in brussels belgium women get massages lying on their side).  When you’re pregnant, a day at this spa beats a week in Hawaii. Trust me.  I started following them on Facebook, and was alerted whenever they ran a sale.
These kinds of social-media-only deals can lead to substantial savings. “Our Facebook page is great for last minute deals, especially at the Spa,” says Sara Schmitz, Marketing Manager at The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa. “We have a Facebook offer for this week with a 35 percent discount off regular prices.”
Airlines hotels in brussels belgium often use social media to alert people to limited time, limited availability fares. For instance, JetBlueCheeps on Twitter recently advertised a $79 flight from Boston to Los Angeles. The first 25 people who clicked on the link scored the deal.
The Points Guy blog is a good place to start, although it s just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of blogs and forums discuss the intricacies of earning rewards quickly and getting the most value when you redeem your miles.
If travel is your thing, the right travel rewards credit card can start you on the road to a free flight , especially if you sign up for one that offers a bonus after your first purchase . Sometimes that s enough for a free flight right off the bat.
The trick is to strategize figure out which card(s) will earn you points the fastest based on your spending habits. It should go without saying, but only play these games if you re free of credit card debt.
Patty Lamberti is a freelance writer and Professional-in-Residence at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches journalism and oversees the graduate program in digital media storytelling. If she doesn't know something about money, you can trust she'll track down the right people to find out. You can learn more about her at www.pattylamberti.com . And if you have any story ideas, or questions about money etiquette that you'd like her or an expert to answer, email her at moneymannersqs@gmail.com.
The biggest hotels in brussels belgium tip I ve found for saving money on travel is to pick your destination based on where the sale is rather than setting your heart on a certain location. For example, this week I saw sale airfare from New York to Ireland at $425. Great price! Once you ve locked in that low price, you can still look for ways to save on hotels, food, tours, and ground transport. Compare that to the idea of falling in love with Italy and paying full price on a ticket ($1200?). Without even trying, hotels in brussels belgium you ve saved hundreds and still got a European vacation.
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