Traveling is probably my favorite pastime. I know you can't really categorize it as a hobby, but for me, it really is. I love discovering new cities, it's cuisine and culture, and all the fun attractions there are to take in.
As I've said before, I take a lot more pleasure in spending my hard earned money on experiences, rather than on material possessions. This is not to say that one shouldn't indulge in a nice pair of shoes - just not what I plan my own personal budget around.
Airfare
One of the most important things to learn about airfare is to be loyal. If you've been able to fly a couple of different carriers over the years, decide which one you like best and enroll in their frequent flyer program. The benefit of these programs is that for every mile you fly, you earn a mile that can be used to pay for a future flight (so, for example, a flight to New York will get you roughly 3,000 miles each way posted to your account).
Most domestic flights require 25,000 miles for coach and international flights start at 50,000. I am a member of American Airlines' AAdvantage program - truth is, I know there are far better airlines, however, I have been flying AA since I was born and I am a creature of habit.
On the plus side, AAdvantage has many ways in which you can earn miles aside from actually flying. They have the AA Dining Rewards Network where restaurants in your area offer 5 miles per dollar spent on your bill (including tax and tip). I also have the AAdvantage Mastercard which gives me 1 mile for every $1 I spend. With these offers combined, I usually get 300-500 miles a month for purchases I was going to make anyway.
Hotels
Again, loyalty pays off for booking hotel rooms. Vegas is one of my frequent destinations (I won't even tell you how many times I've been there since I turned 21 for fear you might think I have an addiction), so I am a member of the Total Rewards Player's Club offered through the Harrah's group. It's one of the largest casino groups in the country and has casinos in Vegas, Atlantic City, and Lake Tahoe. Specifically, in Vegas, they have over 10 casino/hotels including Caesar's Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood and The Flamingo. If you're a member, you can usually get rooms for 10-20% off the lowest printed internet price.
Another site I like is Hotels.com. Not only are their prices pretty competitive, but for every 10 nights you book with them, you get one night free! They average out what you spent over the 10 nights and credit your account with the averaged amount to spend on the hotel of your choice. 10 nights might seem like a lot, but when you're planning trips with your friends and splitting costs of rooms, or if you travel for business, it adds up quickly and turns into a free night for you!
Hilton and Starwood Hotels also have rewards programs you can join that work just like freuqent flyer programs. For every dollar you spend on hotel reservations, you get points that can be redeemed for a future stay. Both these programs (including AAdvantage from American Airlines) has deals on car rentals, too!
Dining/Attractions
When you check-in, don't be afraid to ask the front desk agent if there are any coupons or promos being offered by the hotel for local attractions or restaurants - especially for deals within the hotel (happy hour, anyone?) Or take a look at the displays of booklets usually found in the lobby for local attractions - most have coupons for discounted admissions or special BOGO deals.
Like with any other big purchase, researching your trip is crucial. Scope out the neighborhood you'll be staying in and what inexpensive or free activities there are to do. If you're planning some museum visits, look into the days that are sponsored so you don't have to pay admission.
I mentioned Restaurant.com in an earlier post and it's an amazing tool in planning your trip. They have a database of over 25,000 restaurants across the U.S., so chances are they have some in the city you're headed to.
One of the things I also try to do is as soon as I get to the hotel, I visit the local drugstore or supermarket and buy snacks that can be kept in the room. That way, I'm less tempted to buy marked up food while I'm out and can save my money for splurging on a nice lunch or dinner. Since most hotels have a coffeemaker in the room with free coffee, you could also pick up some granola bars or muffins and have breakfast in the room.
The most important thing to remember is to BUDGET! You don't have to get crazy and itemize every single thing on your trip down to the dollar, but have ballpark figures about how much you want to spend everyday on dinner, attractions, transportation, etc. All of these expenses add up really fast and if you don't account for them, you'll be caught off guard with a huge bill at the end - not fun.
A vacation is also a perfect goal to have for your fun fund. Save up so your relaxing trip doesn't come crashing down when you get your credit card bill when you come home.
