Firstly, I have to point out that sometimes the travel agents themselves really do have some fantastic deals, especially last minute trips that they want to fill because of cancellations or unsold slots etc. But the problem with these types of bookings is that many folks are restricted with times and durations due to school and work commitments and are therefore not usually able to snap up a these late bargains.

If you have the time to do a little research yourself, you will also see that many package tour holidays are extremely overpriced, as there are the agents, the middle men, and the destination vendors all taking a cut from your holiday cash. With so many of us having access to the internet these days, it really is easy to arrange your own affordable travel. In fact, such are the savings sometimes, you may find that you are able to visit places you only dreamt about or perhaps add a few extra days onto your trip with the money saved.

For example, a package deal may only be able to offer you a modern 4 or 5 star hotel whereas you could find a clean smart, friendly well run place just meters away at a fraction of the cost. This way, you are still where you want to be, have clean rooms, nice food, and all the rest of it, but without the man in the corner playing a grand piano, or a saluting doorman at the front entrance. Alternatively, should you prefer the luxury of a fine hotel, check out its rates online and you may find you can still book in at a reduced cost compared to that of an agent.

Another tip for affordable travel is to reduce the traveling itself. Why is it that we feel we need to go so far in order to have a great vacation? Just a few kilometers away from where we live could offer undiscovered travel treasure troves that we had no idea about. Take a look at you immediate region and you could dig out places you never knew existed right on your doorstep. We don't have to fly or drive hundreds of miles just to get away from it all. There are places in your own back yards that are worlds apart from what you're used to. Simply go to an online search site and type in something like 'vacations in + state, town, or city'. Honestly, you'll be amazed before you're half way through.

Affordable travel deals can be had using a multitude of different avenues but there are a few golden rules to arranging your own.
1. Know your budget.
2. Know where you want to go and what type of holiday i.e. outdoor, beach, countryside, city etc.
3. Know your preferred accommodation type i.e. camping, caravan, guest house, cabin, hotel etc.
4. Know your method of travel i.e. car, train, ship, flight.
5. Know your activity i.e. adventure travel, beach holidays, sightseeing trips etc.

Make a simple check list, sit at the old PC, and start to price up and tot up the individual components. You may want to grab a holiday brochure too, so that you can make the comparisons.