Summer’s almost here and it’s time to start making your plans for whatever vacation you might want to take. If you’re a student or don’t have a job to get in the way of whatever trip you might want to take, Summer is a great time to get away for a prolonged trip to Europe or a long tour of Yellowstone, a trip to Hawaii or anywhere else you’ve been wanting to go. If you’re working full-time or money is a little tight, a shorter trip to New York or an Orlando theme park vacation might be more reasonable. Either way, there are plenty of ways to go about saving money on whatever type of trip you want to take this Summer.

One way to save some money this summer is to look for places that will have free attractions that you can visit. Consider destinations that might have free museums that you can visit, such as a trip to Washington, D.C. where you can visit monuments, memorials and other places that are free of charge to visit. If you’re interested in a tour of Los Angeles, see look into free art walks or free concerts, which are very entertaining and won’t strain your pocketbook.

Another way to save some cash is to look for discounts on travel to get there. Sometimes, finding a means to get to where you’re going can be the most expensive part of your trip. Make sure to compare prices to get the best deal possible on any airline tickets or rental car prices, if you’re planning on driving. Also, if you’re renting a car, get a vehicle that will save you money on gas, so ask how many miles-per-gallon the car you’re renting will get so you can limit the amount of times you’ll have to re-fuel.

Yet another way to save some funds for your fun is to consider transportation when you get there. If you’re taking a tour of New York, then you’ll simply hop aboard a bus and let the guide take you to all the great locations that New York has to offer. However, you might have to find a way to get to your hotel from the airport once you land. If that’s the case, find out if taking a bus, taxi, shuttle, limo or even subway can save you some money. On one recent trip, one of our travelers actually found that reserving a limo from the airport to his hotel on his trip to Washington, D.C. was much cheaper than taking a taxi because of the set rates the limo service offered. And certainly, curling up in the back of a limo sounds a lot more alluring than attempting to do so in a taxi.

And finally, before you set foot in your travel destination, do some research so that you can avoid falling into tourist traps. Find great restaurants that are also reasonable, look for affordable things to do with your children (if you have any and are bringing them) and make sure to ask for recommendations from locals that you might trust, such as a tour guide.

Following all of these steps will help you to not only have more fun on your tour, but also save some money while doing so as you prepare for whatever trips you have planned for this summer.