Follow 6 steps for cheap summer travel

If you can afford to travel this summer, you’re likely to find some good deals with a little planning. Gas prices, while on the rise, are still much lower than they were last summer. Airlines, reeling from the global recession that has shrunk passenger and cargo demand, are likely to cut flight schedules to cut costs — but hold the price of fares steady. Hotels have more rooms than demand for them. So if you’re planning on heading to the beach, the mountains or the lake, minimize the cost of your trip with these tips.

Set a travel budget: First things first: Set a travel budget and stick to it. Just as you wouldn’t think of taking a car trip without a map (at least, we hope you wouldn’t), you shouldn’t think of making travel plans without the guide of a travel budget. It’s not just a random number; a travel budget is money with a plan. Once you have decided on the dollar amount, set a goal of beating your budget by 5 percent or 10 percent, and use the money left over to further treat yourself.

Pack smart: If you’re driving, carrying extra weight will result in lower gas mileage. If you’re flying, transporting that luggage will likely cost you extra. (Check your airline’s policy.) You really don’t need to bring everything but the kitchen sink with you. Use the 80/20 rule to winnow the items in your suitcase; you’re only likely to wear 20 percent of the clothes you’ve packed, so remove all but those essentials.

Schedule smart: Ask for vacation days only after you’ve planned your schedule. If you’re traveling by air, you’ll get much better deals if you’re flexible on departure and return dates. If you’re traveling by car, you’re much less likely to waste time and gas sitting in bad traffic if you travel on nonpeak days. After Wednesday, the cheapest days to book flights are Tuesday and Saturday, and the cheapest time to fly is typically the first flight out in the morning. Next-best times are flights during/after lunch and flights at the dinner hour.

Educate yourself: Use technology to your advantage in every way you can. Sign up for e-mail alerts from airlines, hotels and travel sites. Check out historical pricing data and information on trends before you book. The more you know before you book, the smarter you’ll be about finding deals.

Try an auction: Auction sites like Priceline.com let you set your own price for airfare, hotels, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. The most effective way to use an auction site: Be informed before you bid. Check out the market rates on a site like Orbitz or Hotels.com and find the lowest cost for the days you will be traveling. Then go to Priceline.com and make a bid for less than the listed price. It’s great if you need to get or stay somewhere cheaply and don’t care much about the details of time and comfort.

Eat smart: Eating while on the road can balloon into a considerable expense if you’re not careful. Unless you’re staying in a hotel that includes breakfast in the cost of the room, find an alternative place to eat. This meal can break the budget if you insist on eggs and ham in places where pastry is the norm, so be sure to adjust eating habits to destination habits. Before you arrive, find a bakery and plan to eat there. If breakfast was pastry, consider assembling a picnic lunch purchased at a deli or market. Bread, cheese and fresh fruit make a filling lunch for a fraction of the restaurant costs.

If you follow these steps, you should have the bulk of your daily budget remaining for dinner. Exceed that figure some nights, and stay below on others. That way, you can eat “splurge” meals and still stay within budget. Another technique that works for many budget travelers is to spend most of the daily budget at lunch, when menu prices are often lower.