Too many people have the notion that if you are going to travel for anything besides work, you have to be rich or famous. Traveling expenses add up fast and can be extremely high, but that does not mean that the average Joe can't travel and have fun with a little forethought. The following are some tips for budget travel. Pay less, and have more fun:

Transportation tips:

One of the biggest expense in travel is the transportation, whether you take a bus, drive, fly, or even take a boat, this cost is going to be a big part of your expense. To save money in this area, let's take a look at some tips:

Tip one: Save money on flights by getting bumped, flying courier, flying on bad flights, purchasing your tickets at a discount broker such as Expedia or Travelocity, or use coupons, sky miles, etc.

Get bumped
Expert bumpees, are those who have more time than money for traveling. If you want to get bumped make sure you get a reservation only if a flight is almost full. If there are less than eight seats available, some people will most likely be bumped. Look for flights on heavily traveled days, but on small-bodied aircraft like 727s and 737s. This gives you the highest chance of getting bumped. Then, when the airline asks for volunteers, speak up. The compensation could be as little as a $50 voucher or it could go as high as a 100% free ticket. Just remember, if the airline can get you on another flight for the same destination within the hour you probably won't be compensated at all.

Fly courier
This is when you fly overseas as a courier for a company, meaning you deliver a package for them, and in exchange they pay for all or part of your ticket. This is usually at least 50%, so it can save you a lot of money.

Fly on bad flights
If you want to save money choose flights in the middle of the day, middle of the week, red-eye flights, or any flight people will not want, this usually gets you a discount.

Use a discount broker
A lot of times you can get last minute deals, or bulk purchase type deals by purchasing your ticket through a ticket broker online, such as Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, etc.

Coupons or Sky Miles
If you have a coupon, or can get a hold of some sky miles, this is a great way to travel on a budget. Some people who work for airlines have vouchers for flights that they are not using and will sell for a discounted price, or sometimes will trade for services or items. Check your local classifieds to see if anyone has these to offer, as it can save you a bundle.

Tip two: Save money on car rentals by using coupons provided by existing clubs and memberships, or use an online car rental broker that can get you a good deal.

Existing Memberships
If you are a member of AAA, a motor club, or even if you own some sort of travel program, like a time share, you can often use those memberships to get a discount on car rentals. So, look into before paying full price.

Online Car Rentals
If you were to arrive at your destination, and then rent a car, you are bound to pay almost twice the price, and for an inferior car. However, if you go to a site like www.carrentals.com, you get a great deal. For example, you can rent a car in Hawaii for a whole week for under $200. If you try to do this at a ticket counter after you arrive you will pay closer to $350.

Lodging tips:

Tip one: book online through a broker.

It may sound funny that you can get a better deal booking through Expedia for a hotel room then calling the room directly, but places like Expedia get a discounted rate for selling bulk hotel rooms, and that discount is passed on to you. In fact, if you use such a site and combine your hotel room with a flight and a car rental, your savings can be exponential. For example, I flew to Dallas, TX in October of 2007. When I booked my plane tickets the cost was about $270 a person. I added a hotel for 3 nights, and my cost became $282 a person. So, essentially, I paid $4 a night per person (there were two of us) for a hotel. While it was not a five star hotel, it fit the bill, and cost almost nothing. So, for $24 plus tax my husband and I got a hotel room with a kitchenette for three nights.

Tip two: If you travel often, stay in the same brand of hotel. Often hotels will give you discounts for multiple stays in their chain. You just have to ask.

Food Tips:

Tip one: Try to stay in a hotel or condo with a kitchen, or at the very least a microwave and fridge.

This is going to save you a whole ton because you will be able to take leftovers from eating out back to your hotel and eat them later to cover a meal, you will be able to buy a box of cereal and a jug of milk to cover breakfast, or something similar. Being able to buy food at a grocery store and prepare it yourself is going to save you a fortune while you travel.

Tip two: Use coupons when you do eat out.

No matter where you go, you are going to be able to find coupons that will make your meal cheaper. You just have to be willing to swallow your pride and actually use one. Visit the local city buildings for a welcome office. They can give you coupons, or you can find them in local papers and more.

Tip three: Buy drinks at the grocery store.

If you want to save money when traveling, one of the best ways to do that is make your own coffee in the morning, and take a long a cooler for your sodas or juice throughout the day. You can buy a whole six pack of beverage for the price of one drink at a fast food place or gas station.

Entertainment tips:

Entertainment when traveling is part of what makes traveling fun, but it can also be extremely expensive, one theme park, or one show can cost as much as your food for your trip, so what can you do to cut costs here and still be entertained when you are on a budget?

Tip one: look for package deals.

Package deals are always the best way to spend less and still get entertained when traveling. If you are visiting a major city, you can probably find a Go card. For example, if you are visiting San Diego, you can buy a GoSanDiego card that you pay for by the number of days, and can get you in to any number of fun events and places. This card will run you about $100 plus tax for three days, but would get you in to all the major San Diego attractions including the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Lego Land and much, much more. In addition to that, the Go cards also offer food and merchandise discounts. Look at http://www.gosandiegocard.com for this awesome card.

Tip two: Get group discounts.

If you are traveling in a group, call the place you are planning to visit for entertainment before you go and ask what their group rates or discounts are. You can usually save up to 10-15% by purchasing a group package.

Tip three: Use coupons.

A lot of times you can get discounts on cans of soda, fliers that come in the mail, brochures for attractions and more. You won't get the discount if you do not ask for it, or if you do not use your coupons, so look for coupons and use them.

Tip four: Attend a presentation, like a time share.

If you are visiting a popular resort destination, one of the best ways to get lots of entertainment on a budget is to visit a timeshare presentation. There is always some sort of incentive to visit. This might be cash, a discount on activities, or even free activities. So, take advantage of it. You might be in the presentation for two hours, but if it means you get $300 of free entertainment it can be well worth it.

Other budget travel tips:

Last but not least, if you are traveling on a budget, then the best thing to do is to avoid peak seasons. Hotels, car rentals, entertainment, and even dining are going to cost less if you during off seasons, or during the middle of the week instead of on weekends.