Sometimes it’s better to travel as a group when you’re holding your birthday, your anniversary, your post-graduation party … or even your wedding! Right now, destination weddings are trendy again because travel packages are so cheap.

Now, if you’re planning a weekend party for several people, what are the first steps? First, you need to find out where they want to go, then look for the ideal hotel or villa.

It’s easy to choose a party venue if you can visit the location, but destination parties (especially weddings) can be tricky. You need to coordinate with the hotel staff, or the booking agent (see Westgate) so you can decide which hotel offers the best amenities at a lower cost.

That last bit is important. The worst thing that could happen in any situation is not having enough cash to accommodate everyone’s needs. Yes, I know everything’s covered with the downpayment but little things can crop up (there aren’t enough flowers, the ribbons are in the wrong color, there are no umbrellas and it’s raining, the wedding song is all wrong, etc).

It’s particularly embarrassing for the host or hostess to ask the guests to pitch in for this or that expense. When push comes to shove, you might even need to shell out a hefty portion of your cash-on-hand to fill the need. The thing is, you shouldn’t attempt to organize a destination wedding if you’re not prepared.

One of the things that gets cut off the family budget when it’s time to tighten belts is traveling. I, myself, have always told people to stay put while the recession is upon us. But what if your family prioritizes travel? Are there ways to save even while indulging your travel whims?

Here are some ways to save money when you travel

1. Free Stay or Discounts for Kids

Budget-friendly traveling means bringing the kids along at no extra cost. Look out for these deals and avail of these when you can. You may also go to the nearest travel agency and ask about kid-friendly promotions or deals.

2. Get Cheaper Travel Insurance

Being insured has become more important nowadays. If you feel that you’re being fleeced by your current company, check out some other travel health insurance deals so you can cut costs.

3. Don’t go far

Explore your state or the surrounding cities. You may be a stranger to your own locality and now is the time to correct that.

4. Research events and observances

There may be certain times during the year when traveling to particular countries is cheaper. For example, you may want to avail of cheaper hotel rates during off peak seasons (it’s raining in the tropics and it’s way too hot in mid-Asia).

If you have been thinking of something to do with your family during the school break, packages that include Vegas vacations may come in handy. However, something might hinder you from really going for it: your budget. Is there a way to still have fun even with the looming threat of losing jobs and increasing interest rates? If you are content with really having fun, socializing with your family and simple meals in quaint cafes… YES.

A summer family vacation to Vegas will make you wonder what kid-friendly amenities are available in the “City that never sleeps.” Usually parents go to Vegas to play in casinos, and it isn’t widely known that this city is filled with attractions for children. Done right, this could be the perfect travel destination for kids? Here are some Vegas-related activities you can enjoy as a family.

1. Spend a day playing catch with dolphins
2. Sit around and really enjoy the view of the spectacular dancing fountains
3. Look for restaurants that offer kids’ menus prior to your trip so that you have a set itinerary. Once you and your kids have browsed the web for the best and most reasonably priced restaurants, you can go restaurant hopping, deftly avoiding those that offer expensive meals.

Some vacationers book themselves a resort vacation without taking into account the benefits of leasing vacation rental cottages. There are some vacation rental leases that could turn into purchases if you love the site enough (see Outer Banks rental homes). Resort rentals are often expensive and a bit limiting compared to spending your holidays in a vacation rental cottage.

Imagine being in a fully booked resort hotel and as guests who booked early, you feel lucky enough to have found a vacant hotel room. However, the bad news is that you do not have the option to change rooms when you realize that your next door neighboor is more than a bit noisy. Food in hotels is expensive because hotel restaurants offer “luxury” comfort food that are presented well and cooked by a professional chef. Wouldn’t you rather bring your own groceries straight to the cottage and cook your dinner yourself, all the while enjoying the beach scenery?

However, there is one aspect of a resort hotel stay that you could be missing if you decided to lease a vacation rentals cottage. Room service. A chambermaid cleans your room daily, and replenishes your towels and toiletries. If you are having an all-nighter party (and being the noisy neighbor to someone else) late night room service can come in handy. You can call for meals and a few drinks at any time.