When most people think of vacations, “cheap” isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind. Fortunately, this stereotype won’t exist forever as airfares, cruise ship prices, and hotel rates become more affordable. It is now possible for the average person to access cheap vacation deals simply by typing information into a search engine.

No matter what kind of vacation you’re looking for, or when you plan to go, there’s bound to be a deal out there somewhere. Use cheap online travel sites to search for flights and hotels on the dates you plan to travel. If you’re flexible, play around with the dates a bit to see which are the cheapest deals. There will be an option for you to book airfare and hotel accommodation separately or together. You can also throw car rentals into the mix and reserve all three at the same time.

For tips from the experts, there are usually themed vacation packages to investigate, such as “Vacations Under $500”, “Long Weekend Getaway Deals”, “Family Vacations” “Last Minute Deals”, etc. Sometimes cheap vacation deals are only available at the last minute, within a week of your travel date.

Where should you go? Interested in a popular US destination like Orlando, San Diego, Seattle, New York, Chicago, or New Orleans? An exotic beach vacation in the Caribbean or Hawaii? A cruise? European cities like London, Dublin, Paris and Madrid? How about exploring Japan? Traveling internationally has never been more affordable or easier. Just grab your passport and check out the latest deals.

Subscriptions for cheap vacation deals

Many of the online travel sites now offer memberships that include opportunities to earn points for every dollar spent on flights, hotel rooms, cruises, packages and more. These points can be redeemed for free travel after accumulating as many. If you plan to travel a lot in the future, whether for business or pleasure, becoming a “Plus” member is a good idea.

The hotel and airline industries often team up to encourage people to travel more by offering reduced prices. People are more likely to buy a plane ticket if they can get a significant discount at a good hotel, and vice versa. As mentioned above, car rental companies are sometimes involved in these deals as well.

Many cheap vacation deals only last for a short time, as there are few hotel rooms and seats available on a plane, so if you find some amazing deals, make a decision quickly.

When looking for cheap vacation deals, read online hotel reviews to find out what others are saying. Also look at a map to know exactly where the hotel is located. For extra savings on your trip, use an online coupon.