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+Have economic jitters got your rethinking your summer vacation? Well, you might want to take another look at it, but not because it's a bad idea. In fact, as morbid as it sounds, a recession is often the cheapest and best time to hit the open road.
+
+But it pays to do some research, if you leap blindly into a resort package-trip you could end up spending a fortune, which is no good in any economic climate. 
+
+To help you out we've put together this handy guide to cheap travel tricks with a little something for everyone, whether you're looking for a cheap two week escape with the family or are a recently unemployed vagabond looking to circumnavigate the globe.
+
+== Find Cheap Airfare ==
+
+Buying plane tickets is a nightmare. If there's a more complex and downright idiotic way to sell things, we don't know about it. 
+
+But within the maze of prices and ticket restrictions there are some loopholes and the occasional killer deal, so how do you find them?
+
+=== Go Local ===
+
+The first thing to do is check out the budget airline options. The large carriers have brand recognition, while the low cost carriers can only really compete on price so if you're looking for cheap tickets, small, local carriers are often a much better deal. 
+
+The trick is to find those flights, many of which never make it in the larger search engines like Expedia or Kayak. 
+
+That's where [http://www.whichbudget.com/ Which Budget] comes in. The Which Budget search engine is a bit different than a traditional airfare search engine, it doesn't generally list prices, but it does tell you about loads of airlines you've probably never heard of before. 
+
+Just plugin in the cities (or even countries) where you're looking to fly and Which Budget will show you roundup of cheap, regional airlines available for your route. Follow the links to the actual sites and compare them with results from Kayak and its ilk.
+
+=== Be Flexible ===
+
+Another great airfare tool is [http://farecast.live.com/? Farecast] (now part of Microsoft Live Search) which can predict whether the price of your flight is likely to go up or down in the future. Along the same lines, try searching for one-way tickets or by flexible dates. Some airline websites will highlight cheaper days around your dates that can save you a bundle. And remember, while it's not 100 percent true, it's generally cheaper to fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
+
+=== Pick up the Phone ===
+
+Great as the web is, sometimes the better deals can be found by calling the airlines directly. For example, we recently saw tickets from Atlanta to San Francisco for $129 each way. That sounds like a good deal right? Well, we couldn't get them for the dates we wanted so we called Delta and the agent told us that while that fare was sold out, there were tickets available for the same flight at $109. Uh, okay. Why didn't the cheaper fare show up in our search? Well it did, but only after the agent explained how to make it show up by searching at specific times of the day. Crazy, but true.
+
+It might sound old fashioned, but picking up the phone can be a great way to save money on plane tickets. Be sure to tell the agent that you're days are flexible so they can let you know if there's something cheaper available around the same time.
+
+
+=== Frequent Flyer Miles ===
+
+
+Another excellent way to travel on the cheap is using frequent flyer miles. Although it's not for everyone, world traveler extraordinaire, Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Non-Conformity recently outlined how he got [http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/the-5-million-frequent-flyer-mile-challenge/ just under 300,000 frequent flyer miles] in a few short weeks. The trick involves opening a few credit card accounts, so make sure you're comfortable with that before you dive in. Your success will of course depend on your credit score and a number of other factors, but Guillebeau has been tracking how his readers do and together they've managed to get close to 2 million miles earned. 
+
+== Cheap Accommodations ==
+
+Hotels will eat up a travel budget in a hurry, which has always left us wondering why more people don't use alternatives. Here's four ways to avoid the high price of a hotel:
+
+# Rent -- It's almost always cheaper, even for a short vacation, to rent an apartment, condo or house than to stay in the hotel. The added benefit of being able to cook your own meals can also save a bundle. The trick is again to do your research -- sites like [http://www.homeaway.com/World/r1.htm Homeaway] and [http://www.stayrentals.com/ Stay Rentals] have extensive listings to suit most any budget. [http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/home_exchanges/home_rentals_worldwide.shtml Transitions Abroad] has a comprehensive list of other rental sites specializing in specific countries, and even craigslist has a plethora of short term rentals, though the usual craigslist cautions apply -- beware the scammers.
+
+# Hostels -- hostels aren't just for backpackers anymore. In fact, many hostels have gone upscale offering private, tasteful rooms and upscale amenities -- call them boutique hostels. And since many of these, especially in Europe, have adopted a bed and breakfast approach, you can save a bit of money on food. Check out [http://www.hostelbookers.com/article/hostel-types/flashpacking-hostels/ Hostel Bookers for more details (hint: the keyword to search for here is "flashpacking" -- for those comfortable with backpacking, but looking for a bit more, um, flash).
+
+# home stays -- Another way to stay on the cheap is to stay with the locals. Many areas of the world have hospitality organizations that can put in touch with a host family. [http://www.worldwidehomestay.com/ Worldwide Homestay is a site specializing in connecting visitors with local hosts. Other options include [http://www.homestaybooking.com/ Homestay Booking] and [http://www.homestayfinder.com/CurrentRates.aspxHomestay Finder]. Also be sure to search for possibilities in your destination of choice.
+
+# House Swap -- Site like [http://www.homeexchange.com/ Home Exchange] and [http://www.homeforswap.com/ Home for Swap] are dedicated to people that want to exchange house for a period of time. If you live in SF NY or a major city, there's bound to be plenty of options at your disposal.
+
+# Caretakers -- If you aren't keen on strangers traipsing through your house, there's still ways to get free lodging. Many home owners (especially those with second homes) like someone to be around when they aren't -- to care for the garden, feed the animals or just perform some basic maintenance. [http://www.caretaker.org/ The Caretaker Gazette] is the granddaddy of housesitting opportunities. Unfortunately it isn't free, but you can browse online listings to see if there's anything that interests you. 
+
+# Couch Surfing -- What's better than free? Couch surfing has taken what was once the sole province of your annoying uncle and turned it into a worldwide phenomena. Not only do you get free lodging, you get to meet people around the world, make new friends and get a personal view into the life of the locals wherever you're traveling. It's clearly not for everyone, but if you're an adventurous traveler, it's definitely the cheapest option.
+
+== Cheap Destinations ==
+
+Now that you know some ways to get cheaper flights and alternatives to traditional, expensive hotels, it's worth considering where to go.
+
+Because currency rates fluctuate and deals come and go it's hard to definitely say that one place is cheaper than another. For example Asia is generally cheaper than Europe once you land, but factor in the high cost of airfare from the U.S. to Asia versus the deals available to Europe and the total costs get much closer.
+
+Still, there are some obvious places to avoid -- London is a good example of somewhere that's almost impossible to visit on a budget.
+
+Perhaps the best way to find a cheap location is to ask yourself what you want to see -- looking for beaches? Well, The Caribbean is rarely a bargain, so consider Eastern Europe, particularly the coastal towns in Bulgaria, along the shores of the Black Sea. Not only will you escape the crowds, the beaches are beautiful and the prices much better than what you'll find in the Bahamas.
+
+The point is to get off the beaten path, not only is cheaper, you'll get see and interact with a world less overrun by tourist hordes.
+
+== Alternative ways to travel ==
+
+Finding great deals isn't the only way to travel cheap. Sometimes it's worth changing your whole view of travel by doing something well outside the mainstream of travel -- like a volunteer vacation. While not all volunteer opportunies are free -- and even with the ones that are, it probably isn't the best reason for doing it -- they generally offer cheaper lodging and food in exchange for helping out with local projects.
+
+Volunteer opportunities abound, whether teaching English in rural villages, helping third world entrepreneurs learn business skills or helping to dig a well, there's an endless need for volunteer labor, especially skilled labor, abroad.
+
+However, this is probably best not viewed as a way to travel cheaply. If you heart isn't in it, then don't do it. But if you'd like to help, there are plenty of ways you can.
+
+College students can check out [http://www.alternativebreaks.org/ Alternative Breaks] which is focused on helping you do something more than tequila shooters during your spring break or summer vacation.
+
+Travel site BootsnAll has a [http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/volunteering-abroad-travel-guide/ Volunteering Abroad Travel Guide] that makes a good starting point for the rest of us.
+
+
+== Conclusion ==
+
+Travel need not be expensive, it just takes a little DIY effort and some creative thinking to come up with a trip that's cheap, fun and memorable.
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