Culture, night life, warm tropical beaches; Mexico has it all and you can travel on a budget.

And while premier tourist destination in Mexico such as Acapulco, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas aren’t as cheap as they used to be, you can still travel to Mexico on a budget if you do your homework and plan ahead. Read on to learn a few tips on traveling cheap in Mexico!

Least Expensive Mexico Travel Destinations

The coastal resorts in Mexico cater to travelers who are short on time and want a nice warm place to relax beachside, but the most popular resorts can also be expensive, especially during peak season from December to May, when everyone wants to go south to escape the colder climes of the north east and Pacific northwest!

Look online for Mexico resort packages off season when rates are lower. Less known beach areas such as Tulum can be a bargain versus those such as Acapulco, Cabo or Puerto Vallarta.

Traveling in Mexico brings many great memories like this sunset on the beach!

The pre-colonial civilizations of the Toltecs, Mayans, and Aztecs are spread across a large area, so you don’t have to stay in the most popular tourist areas to visit the ancient temples and other historic sites; look for smaller towns that are within easy driving or bus distance of the sites you want to visit and you can find much less costly accommodations. Food and beverages also tend to be less expensive in these smaller cities and towns; just be sure not to drink the water!

Rent a car or use the bus system, which is extensive in Mexico and can get you almost anywhere you want to visit. It helps if you speak enough Spanish to get by when traveling by bus or car in Mexico, so you might want to brush up a bit before your vacation.

Saving Money on Flights to Mexico

Unless you are fortunate enough to live in Southern California, Arizona or elsewhere in the American Southwest, driving to Mexico won’t usually be a good option unless you are planning an extended Mexico vacation. Flights to major Mexico cities and resort destinations are plentiful and you can get good prices on your air travel by following these tips:

• Travel off season to get the best airline rates and be travel about what times you are willing to fly in order to save money on airfare.
• Flights with 1 or 2 layovers can save money if you have a little more time to get to and from your Mexican travel destination.
• Compare Flight Rates to Different Mexico Airports; try flying into the smaller Mexico international airports including Guadalajara, Mexicali, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey or Tijuana.
• Book a Flight with a Budget Mexico Airline; the cheapest flights to Mexico are often found on value-oriented airlines suck as Aviasca, Avolar Airlines and Interjet.
• Use an airline with flights to and from Mexico when you travel on business to save up those frequent flyer miles!
• If you are traveling to the U.S. Southwest on business, try tacking on a long weekend and make a quick trip to Mexico while you’re already close; for a couple hundred bucks you can add Cabo or Puerto Vallarta onto your flight itinerary!
• While you can sometimes save money by making flight arrangements a couple of months in advance, you can also find deals on empty seats by waiting to the last minute to purchase airline tickets; this is a good strategy if you have the flexibility to travel to Mexico on a somewhat “impromptu” basis.

Shop for package prices if you want to stay at a Mexico Resort like Cancun, Cozumel or Cabo San Lucas.

Another good way to save money can be to shop for all-inclusive Mexico travel packages. Especially in resort areas such as Cancun, some of the resorts offer several night deals that include lodging, food and beach activities such as snorkeling, boat rides and horseback rides.

How to Save on Accommodations in Mexico

Depending on what you’re willing to accept when it comes to travel accommodations, you can find Hostels and budget hotel alternatives in Mexico; for the more adventurous traveler these venues can also add interest to your trip since you will be closer to the real action rather than staying in a resort designed to make the American or Canadian traveler feel “at home” as much as possible.

Budget accommodations are still plentiful throughout Mexico if you’re okay with staying in a dormitory-style hostel; you can find a place to stay for less than $10 a night. Even a private double room with shared bathroom facilities can cost at little as $25 a night. These might not be the nicest hotel you’ll stay in, but you will enjoy the real flavor of Mexico and come home with some great stories to remember!

Remember that a lot of the fun of traveling abroad comes from going outside your comfort zone and truly experiencing the culture and lifestyle of the people who live in the place you are visiting!

Finding Cheap Food, Drink and Night Life in Mexico

Some of the best and least expensive meals I’ve enjoyed have been at local market stalls and restaurants in Mexico. A simple and affordable fare of corn tortillas, rice, beans, eggs, and chicken or pork can be found throughout Mexico, with spicy peppers and sauces that are uniquely Mexican in flavor! Visit the local mercados (marketplaces) to stock up on fruits, vegetables and other food items, which will enable you to eat out in more expensive restaurants during your trip.

Activities like parasailing, diving, fishing and other water sports are a favorite part of many mexican vacation trips.

In Mexico, the alcohols of choice are tequila, rum, and beer. Wine is beginning to become more widely produced in parts of Baja California especially, although wine is not a specialty in general. If you are traveling Mexico on a budget, look for local bars and clubs where you can still get beer or tequila at reasonable prices. Resort area bars that cater to tourists will always be on the pricier side.

Since “machismo” is a prevalent theme throughout Mexico and local bars and clubs are predominately frequented by males, it is best for women to go with male companions. Check out the bar before you go in and always drink in moderation to avoid problems you would encounter in the bar scene most anywhere!

Visit these Mexico travel resources and websites for more info:

• U.S. Department of State – Mexico travel info and advisories
• Travel Mexico – Offers city and hotel guides, Mexico Vacation information, beach and night life activities and more
• Lonely Planet – Mexico guide for travelers
• Hotwire – Find great deals and package prices on vacations in Mexico
• Side Step – Find a last minute deal on “impromptu” Mexico vacation packages
   

Use credit card rewards points on your next vacation.

My family almost cut out our family vacation, until I realized credit card rewards program could pretty much foot the bill for the majority of vacation expenses!

Read these tips on how to save money on your next vacation by using your credit card rewards program to help pay the costs:

• Sign up for a credit card that’s offering a free companion airfare to all new account holders. This basically gives you a buy-one, get-one on your flight tickets, allowing you and your partner to travel for the price of one.
• Stay two to four nights for free in a hotel, by using a credit card with a hotel rewards program. You may have to use this card for several months to build up enough rewards (remember to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest and finance fees!) or you may be able to obtain one of the many credit cards that gives you two or more nights for free after making your first credit card purchase (of any dollar amount).
• Use the car rental rewards, as well as car rental insurance coverage offered from the majority of credit cards. Check your credit cards, most of the travel rewards cards offer free or discounted car rental. When you use the card to book your car rental or other aspects of your trip, you’ll also probably be entitled to car rental insurance, which means you don’t have to pay for it through the car rental company.
• Don’t forget to take advantage of dining and restaurant discounts and rewards. Another common reward offered by credit cards includes the ability to receive discounted meals in certain restaurants. In addition to these rewards, you can save on your food bill while on vacation if you stay at hotels that offer free continental breakfast!
• Emergency roadside assistance coverage saves you if you break down! If your idea of a great vacation is one in which you hit the open road and drive whichever way the wind takes you; you’ll want to have a credit card that includes emergency roadside assistance. If you break down, you’re covered. They’ll come fix your car at the location, or tow you to the closest service station to make repairs. Depending on the card, you may also receive a night or two free hotel stay while your car is worked on; making this common credit card “extra” benefit invaluable for road trip travelers.
• Using credit card rewards and incentives to make a vacation affordable is a good strategy that many people have learned to use. It’s extremely important, however, that you don’t run out and apply to every rewards credit card you see in order to increase the reward’s options you have available to you. Instead, check the credit cards you already own to see what rewards and incentives you may already be entitled to (and perhaps even unaware of!); and decide what sort of trip you’d like to take before applying for a rewards credit card.

Vacation destinations such as disneyland often give special discount offers that can add up to big savings.

Take advantage of all the discount offers, package vacation deals and reward points programs you can when going on vacation and travel happily, knowing that you’re saving money every time you take out your wallet.

Debbie Dragon is a writer for Creditorweb.com, where she writes about credit card offers, rewards programs, and personal finance topics.

Flying on a less crowded flight is so much more relaxing!

Storage space and elbow room are usually at a premium, and the environment often interferes with sleeping or working simply because there’s too much going on.

If you don’t have the cash available to purchase some first class peace and quiet, consider the following tips to help you book a less crowded airline flight and make for a more pleasant trip.

• Reconsider your flight times. No one wants to get up incredibly early to catch a plane or fly late at night, but the fact is that these flights are usually less crowded than daytime flights and they’re a lot more affordable as well. You’re also more likely to avoid families with small children, since most early morning travelers are business people.
• Reconsider your travel dates. By booking your airline tickets to an off-season destination, you’ll pay less to get there and you’ll have a lot more space on the flight. Certain days of the week may also be better, depending on your destination.
• Call the airline, and ask when their peak times are, and whether or not certain days of the week are better for airline travel to this destination than others. They not only can give you peak times overall, but they can also tell you how full your particular route usually is and the best times to book your airline tickets.
• Fly out of a smaller airport when possible. These airports have fewer flights overall, and generally their planes are less crowded as well, since there are generally fewer passengers waiting for connecting flights. However, these smaller airports are also more likely to have cancellations in bad weather, so realize that you are running a slight risk if you’re traveling in the middle of winter.
• When it comes to larger hub airports for connecting flights, compare their load factors if you can. Load factor is the average percentage of full seats per flight originating at that airport. Select the airport with the lowest load factor you can get; it’ll mean less crowded flights and a less crowded airport. Load factor information for larger airports can be found at http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/airtravel/flight-plan/index.html.
• Try to book a flight on a smaller plane. On the surface it doesn’t really make sense, but there are more available seats on average on a commuter plane or regional jet than there are on a large jet. You also have fewer seats per row, which means that you’re less likely to be sandwiched between two strangers if you’re traveling alone.
• Ask for an upgrade. Depending on the flight, it might be cheaper than you realize, and politeness can go a long way toward helping you get into those first class or business class seats, particularly if it’s the last minute and they’re not full up.

You will have more fun on vacation if you know you arent spending more than you can afford. Learn how to plan a cheap, fun summer vacation.

Unfortunately, they can get expensive fast, especially if you have a large group to plan for and you may find yourself quickly over budget if you aren’t careful.

Too often people either neglect to take summer vacation or decide to splurge and use their savings to take that big summer vacation trip they’ve talked about for years.

But you can travel without spending a small fortune if you plan wisely and budget accordingly.

Consider the following options when it comes to cheap travel in the summertime.

1. Make a list of the activities you’d like to experience. Maybe you’re interested in horseback riding, canoeing, golf, or swimming. Look for a facility that includes as many of those activities as possible free of charge or allows you to buy discount passes. If you’re interested in free activities like sightseeing or museums, try to find lodging as close to the activities as possible so you won’t need to pay for transportation.
2. Make your reservations for hotels and airline tickets as early as possible. The later you wait, the more you pay.
3. Check out special summer fares for airline tickets. A lot of airlines offer them, but there’s a limited selection of destinations and travel dates. You can also get summer specials on cruises if you look hard enough, but they tend to sell out fast, so you’ll need to book right away if you find one that you like.
4. If air travel isn’t to your liking, you’ve still got options. If you plan to take your own car, make sure to have the oil changed and the tires inflated to maximize your gas mileage. Or consider renting a car; many car rental companies offer summer deals. You can also get deals on train and bus travel; just check the websites.
5. When it comes to driving, planning is the key to cheap travel. Take the time to map out your route and figure out where you will stop for gas and food. Mapquest offers a feature that will help you find areas with lower average gas prices to target your stops and save money. Just make sure that you’ll be stopping in safe areas.
6. Look for discount vacation packages. You can search online or get a travel agent to help you. Vacation packages are particularly good if you plan to do a lot of activities; many will include excursions or activities as a part of the package with no additional cost. However, some packages do charge more for activities, so make sure you know exactly what your package includes.
7. Consider something different. Instead of traveling to a hotel, try a voluntourism opportunity, go camping, or stay at a bed and breakfast. Voluntourism allows you to stay in exotic locations at a significant discount in exchange for volunteer hours. You could find yourself building houses, painting murals, or cleaning up a park. If you don’t have a tent, you can still find affordable camping trips with lodges or cabins. Cabins are a particularly good option if you have a large group; they’re often cheaper than renting individual rooms for a lot of people, and you can save on food if you take the time to bring your own food.

Tips on traveling cheap!

It’s so easy to you; you have a lot of things to consider and often don’t have a lot of time to put together cheap travel plans.

Luckily, there are some simple steps that you can follow to put your budget travel dreams into motion.

• Take the time to do your research, and be flexible. Saving money may mean moving the dates of your trip, dealing with layovers or early departure times, or buying a vacation package that uses a different hotel than you originally intended. Consider each option carefully and decide if the cost savings is worth the compromise.
• If you’re driving, take the time to make your car as fuel-friendly as possible. Simply adding air to the tires can improve your gas mileage and save you money.
• If you’re going to fly, consider booking airline tickets right after midnight, when unbooked reservations are released. You can also follow the tips for booking cheap airline tickets found here.
• Reconsider your destination. Instead of going for larger cities with higher airline ticket costs and more expensive lodging, look for a nearby medium-sized city. You can take a day trip or two into your original destination to see the major sites, but you’ll ultimately pay less.
• Leave a little wiggle room in your schedule. If you plan to travel for a week, take a few extra days off of work. This allows you to wait for last minute discount vacation packages or cruise deals, so you’ll spend a lot less than you would if you booked it well in advance. However, you won’t know your exact schedule until the last minute, so you’ll need the extra time just in case. You can also volunteer to be bumped from an overbooked flight and save money on airfare.
• Carefully consider what’s important to you. If you plan to spend a lot of time in your hotel room, then it makes sense to spend a little more for a nicer place to stay. If you plan on being out on the town or working during most of your stay, then why spend the big bucks just to sleep there? Minimize your expenses on the less important items. Sure, you’d like to park in the garage next to the airport, but if you walk from the lot, you’ll be able to afford a nice dinner out.
• When traveling internationally, planning ahead is the key to saving money. Research your currency exchange options. While exchanging your cash in the airport might be convenient, you’ll pay more in fees. Travelers’ checks are becoming more and more expensive. You’ll usually pay fees to purchase and to redeem them. Debit cards are handy and can save you money, but you’ll generally need to make a minimum purchase, so you’ll still need some cash. And don’t forget that in many countries, money exchange facilities are closed on the weekends. A little advance research can help you to decide the best approach for the country you’re visiting.

With a little patience and persistence, you can find lower rates on your ariline tickets by following these tips.

One of the best solutions used to be taking car trips; you could get the entire family away without paying a fortune.

Unfortunately, steep gas prices make road trips less and less attractive.

Is it possible to take a plane trip without breaking the bank? Of course it is.

You can get cheap airfare if only you know where to look and how to ask.

Follow these tips to get discount airline tickets for your next trip.

1. Take the time to do a little comparison shopping to find out what the average price is. Look around for promotional fares or travel packages to save on the total travel cost. For example, you might be able to get a nice hotel room at a discount by booking on a particular airline.Note that these options may require you to fly out on certain days or stay a specific amount of time, so make sure to do this before you make your hotel reservations. You may need to be flexible about your schedule to get the best deal.
2. Don’t forget about your frequent flyer miles. Many airlines are now offering new options regarding their use, so you don’t have to have as many miles saved up to get a cost savings. If you’ve got some miles saved up, check out the airline to see what your newest options are.
3. Consider flying a different airline. Find out what smaller airlines run out of your airport and check their websites directly. Often, they won’t list their tickets on the larger travel sites like Priceline or Travelocity or with the travel agencies, but you can book cheap airline tickets right on their sites. You’ll also avoid the fees associated with using an agency or travel site to book the tickets.
4. Don’t fly at peak times. While it’s no fun to get up ridiculously early in the morning or fly late at night, it’ll mean lower costs in the long run. Or try flying on lower volume days. Often, you’ll be able to get comparatively cheap airline tickets if you fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday than on any other day.
5. Be willing to make a stop. Airline tickets for nonstop flights are always more expensive than those with layovers.
6. Reserve your tickets as early as possible. By getting them more than 21 days in advance of your flight, you’ll pay less.
7. Try using an airline consolidator. They buy airline tickets in bulk and pass along the cost savings to you.