The tourism promotion agency recommends Intervac (www.intervac.com) as a home exchange program that offers a “diverse selection of apartments, country houses and cottages in England, Scotland and Wales.”

Green Theme International Home Exchange Holiday Service (www.gti-home-exchange.com) specializes in “eco-friendly homes” which may have solar panels, fluorescent or LED lights and sometimes even bicycles or hybrid cars.

HomeExchange (www.homeexchange.com) offers house swaps as well as hospitality exchanges, where you may stay with your host family.

Self-catering apartments such as Club Suites (www.sloaneclub.co.uk) and Soho Square (www.londonapartmentservice.co.uk) can also help you cut down on dining out expenses. Self-catering apartments have full-service kitchens with cooking utensils so you can buy food at a local grocery store and cook your own meals.

Budget. When you travel overseas, you generally know how long you’ll be gone and where you’ll be staying. I don’t keep a budget for daily life, but I did for our European vacation. Before I left, I saved $2100 for the three weeks we’d be gone. I spent some of that in cash, and charged some to a credit card. When I returned, I used the remaining cash to pay the credit card balance. By planning in advance, I knew exactly how much I could spend.

Carry a guidebook. A travel guide is worth its weight in gold. You’ll pay $20-$30 for a good one, but ultimately the book will save you money. Travel guides feature information on tourist Attractions, local customs, and cheap places to eat and sleep. They can give you the inside scoop on the best days to visit museums, or tell you how to find seldom-visited free events.

Pack light. Experienced travelers always offer this advice, but rookies seldom heed it. Even if you’re staying in the same hotel for three weeks, packing light can prevent headaches. My father-in-law brought six bags for our three weeks of travel. He overpacked. Within days he had to pay to ship things home. Even I took too much: a small suitcase and a knapsack, both of which were crammed with stuff. In the future, I’ll take the knapsack, but when I use it as a carry-on, it’ll only have the essentials: a change of clothes, a book, and my iPod.

Pack smart. Take items that serve double duty. Don’t carry stuff you can buy at your destination. (You can buy shampoo in London, you know.) Leave room in your bag to bring home things you purchase while on vacation. Don’t neglect your sanity — there are a few items I like to have with me at all times: earplugs, an eyemask, my iPod (with noise-canceling earphones), a book, and comfortable shoes. Armed with these essentials, I can be happy almost anywhere — even when stuck for eight hours in an airport terminal.

Manage your money. Know which money source is best for each situation. I didn’t understand this, and was dinged with unnecessary fees. For example, you should know that Visa charges a 1% overseas usage fee regardless of whether you’re using debit or credit. Some cards waive this fee. If I had understood my accounts better, I would have used my credit card for most transactions — I would have received the best exchange rate and avoided a common fee. But because my credit card charges 3% to withdraw money from an ATM, I should have used my debit card to obtain cash. Some of this you learn with experience, but it never hurts to review your account policies before making a trip.

Carry a moneybelt. You’ll hear conflicting advice on this one, but I believe a moneybelt is cheap insurance. On our trip last summer, one member of our group had some cash in her purse when we reached London. The cash was not in her purse when we reached our hotel. (The thief had unzipped her purse, unclasped her wallet, and stolen the cash.) I had a few moments of panic in Ireland when I thought I’d lost my knapsack (which contained my credit card and some cash). Fortunately, I found the bag again, but it was nice to know that I had backups in my moneybelt.

Sleep cheap. My wife’s parents paid for us to stay in centrally-located hotels. This was great, but if I were traveling on the cheap, I’d explore other options. When one of my friends traveled to England a few years ago, he used The National Trust to obtain moderately-priced lodging. He loved it. Another friend kept costs down by staying in a hostel. The best way to find a cheap place to stay is to plan in advance. Research. Ask questions.

Eat cheap. Of course you’ll want to try good restaurants. But for many meals, you can save money by picking up food at the grocery store. We stocked up on our first day, and were able to eat light-and-easy meals throughout our trip. We didn’t have a fridge, so we purchased things that didn’t require one: fruit, crackers, etc. This food was especially handy on the days we were rushed.

Relax. Don’t be a slave to an agenda. Some places will be more interesting than you expected; others will be less so. For example, in England we only allocated half an our for Avebury, a prehistoric stone circle, yet I wanted to stay much longer. On the other hand, we allocated two hours for Stonehenge, but were done in twenty minutes. In retrospect, we ought to have allowed our schedule to be more fluid.

One final note, if you’re planning to travel overseas, then in the earliest planning stages, consider the exchange rate. For example, if you were currently choosing between traveling from the U.S. to either London or Argentina, you’d get the most bang for your buck from the latter. I realize there are other considerations, but if you’re in a position to leverage the exchange rate, do so.

Eat breakfast where kids eat free and split meals. This can mean an enormous saving for a family of four or larger. Children are many times too excited or tired to eat much at a time. Restaurants that are kid friendly are more than happy to accommodate special requests for extra plates.

Eat lunch in your room. You’ll be surprised how good a peanut butter sandwich, chips, and fresh fruit tastes away from home, and everyone gets a needed break from the heat and crowds of tourist destinations. If you get a fridge in your room you can eat like a king for weeks!

Take advantage of Coupons. Whether it is for lodging, food, or Attractions – Coupons SAVE money! Find them everywhere… online, in local newspapers, at convenience stores, motels, etc. Always read the fine print carefully for terms of the coupon.

Bring your own stroller. This can save $7 to $10 a day at some of the Attractions. It is also handy to have when you are not at the main Attractions.

Bring along individual refillable water bottles. These can be refilled at the hotel and at attraction water fountains. A family of four could easily spend $20 or more a day buying water.

Take advantage of multi-day passes at the Attractions. This is especially a good deal when they can be used anytime. Sometimes you can get a yearly pass for the same price as a two-day pass.

Make your own reservations. Many hotels and airlines offer additional discounts and specials for booking online. Click here to view the latest travel specials and deals from our Carefreetrip.com and our third-party travel partners.

Give each child a set amount to spend. You can tame the “gimmes”, and your pocketbook at the same time, by giving children a pre-set spending limit for souvenirs. Also, invest in an autograph book (about $6 at most Attractions) and watch the fun as the children collect the “autographs” of their favorite characters. About once a week my son shows me Goofy’s signature and can’t stop smiling about it.

Spend the day away from the Attractions. You’re paying for that hotel swimming pool… use it! Spend the day at the beach or a nearby museum. The Shopping areas near the major Attractions have children’s play areas, providing an inexpensive day of fun for the little ones.

1. With the high cost of gas, this is the summer to explore the small towns, state parks and lesser-known Attractions that lie close to home. Most people can think of 10 places within a three hour drive where they have always wanted to go, but have never been. Stay close and save.
2. Maximize your fuel economy by heeding the speed limit. It takes 20 percent more gas to travel at 65 mph than at 55 mph and 75 percent more when driving 75 mph than 65 mph. Slow down and save.
3. Don’t forget to use discounts that you might already have, such as AAA. If you are going to multiple national parks, you could save significantly by purchasing an annual pass. Buy bulk and save.
4. If you are renting a car - Shop AROUND! Rental prices so much it will be well work your time. Shop around and save.
5. Skip eating out and picnic. The kids can run, stretch their legs and you save money. Picnic and save.
6. Leave early in the morning or late at night to avoid traffic jams and conserve gas. By the way, the kids will sleep making the ride a little easier on you. Leave early/late and save.