*Look for accommodations in your price range – You may have to stay a little in a less touristy area or stay in a more basic hotel.

*Take public transportation, if available, instead of taxis or ride shares.

*Look for free or low cost activities such as museums or free walking tours. Wandering the neighborhoods of some areas can be an amazing way to experience the city.

*Find hiking trails to explore.

*Relax at a beach, explore tidepools or rent snorkeling equipment.

*Rent a kayak if there is a bay or river nearby.

*Research restaurants and eat outside of the major tourist area.

*Go to a bakery for coffee and a pastry in the morning or hit up a grocery store and buy easy breakfasts.

*Bring a reusable water bottle with you and buy or bring 1 gallon jugs of water to refill your bottle. This will prevent those expensive drinks at convenience stores or lunch stops. Airports have water refill stations and many other tourist spots do too.

*Don’t order drinks at a restaurant if water is free. This can add a lot to your bill. Similarly, don’t order appetizers. Your meals will most likely be more food than you can eat.

*Pack smart –make sure you pack essentials so you don’t have to buy them on vacation, often at a high price. For example, sunscreen can be very expensive at beach destinations.

*Buy sandwich or picnic foods at a grocery store for lunch or find a street vendor for a cheap meal on the go.

*Eat where the locals do. These places tend to be off the beaten path and less expensive. Check menus ahead of time for prices and selection.

**Save your change. Put money aside –skip coffee or lunch out and stick that money in a jar. Watch shopping spending –do you really need that? Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account every month. Can you get by with $100, $200 or more less per month? Shop sales and coupons at the grocery store –plan your week of meals around what’s on special that week.