New England is known for its fall foliage, festivals, and apple picking. For an inexpensive trip this fall a visit to New England is a must.

Anyone who lives close to the area can plan an inexpensive trip to see the changing colors or take part in the exciting festivals New England has to offer. Even if you are not in New England, you don’t need to miss out. The Pacific Northwest often experiences breathtaking foliage leading to beautiful hillside panoramas. One thing to consider when visiting there is that a wet autumn can cut the fall foliage season short.

A great way to save money is to plan to take your trip during the week. A weekday trip can often save you a lot of money compared to a weekend trip. This is due to fewer people traveling during the week.

Driving is one of the best ways to see the foliage and to gain the full festival experience. When driving you will have to plan for gas, but you will save money compared to flights or trains. It is easier to see the foliage in a car, as you can stop and enjoy the countryside. Also what would a festival be without the ‘Road Trip’ beforehand?

If you have children, consider stopping off at some of the fall mazes, or at apple orchards for a tour. Children often enjoy mazes created by hay or corn. As it gets closer to Halloween, pumpkin picking is also great fun for children and adults alike.

When you shop for fall packages, use hotel discounts to find the perfect inexpensive trip. Restaurant coupons are also easily found if you want to dine out.

If you are planning a trip with your family in the near future, you’re likely looking for ways to stretch your vacation dollars. Planning ahead and researching online is essential to maximizing a great trip while minimizing the expense.  Here are some of our favorite strategies for vacation planning on a budget.

1. Drive to interesting destinations close to home

Reconsider all the locations within a three or four hour drive from your home. If you live on a coast or near a Great Lake, the beach is always a great idea. A state park or campground is also a beautiful place to relax and connect with nature. Amusement parks such as Six Flags or Sesame Place are good options for a few days’ getaway. Skipping a flight can make all the difference in terms of a vacation’s affordability.

2. Search online for the best all-inclusive package deals

If there is room in your budget to take a flight, take the time to search out all-inclusive package deals offered by many resorts. The Caribbean is the most popular all-inclusive vacation destination, but many other locales offer these kinds of deals, where all food and drinks are included in the price. Many cruise lines also offer this kind of deal. You can also seek out cash back sites like Coupon Cactus before making a purchase, because many vacation sites offer cash back.

3. Seek out a refund on airline tickets if you find a better price

A little-known fact of the airline industry is that price matching on airline tickets is available. According to the First Class Flyer, an air travel website, http://www.firstclassflyer.com/tips/domestic/airline-price-match-refunds_332-1.html, “the airlines don’t publicize it, but many airlines have a “refaring” policy much like the price match guarantee offered in electronics stores. If you find a lower price after you’ve bought your ticket, the airline will refund the difference. However, the way that’s done in practice varies by the carrier.” Further, “the general rule is that you need to have purchased the tickets from the airline itself, either by phone or Web, or through a travel agent. (Online services such as Travelocity or Orbitz have their own policies.) Refund requests can be made either by phone or via the airline’s Web site.”  Be sure to check as to whether you might be able to get this refund by inquiring with the airline as soon as possible.

4. Take a standby flight if your schedule permits

If your schedule is flexible (and you’re not traveling with young children), consider taking a standby flight. This is when an airline will sell you a ticket on a flight departing that day or night that isn’t completely full. You may be able to get a drastically reduced ticket price for this kind of spontaneous trip.

5. Consider the exchange rate of currency if you are traveling overseas

If you are traveling internationally, it makes sense to review the currency exchange rate trends for each country you’re considering. If you travel to a country where the dollar is especially strong against the local currency, you’ll be able to upgrade everything nicely without spending any more. Use credit cards to get the most favorable exchange rate for each day, and be sure to review your credit card’s policy on international transactions prior to leaving for your trip.

We checked many travel sites and found the least expensive flights were $434 for round trip from Sioux Falls, SD to Las Vegas, NV on Sun Feb 6 2011 – Thu Feb 10 2011. You can quickly access the different times they have available by using one of our Hotwire Coupons and make sure you sign up for 1.5% cash back.

If you enjoyed this Personal Shopper Alert you can always save some time and money and let us do the work for you. Send your Personal Shopper Alert requests to PSA@CouponCactus.com.

The cooler fall temperatures are sneaking up with every passing day. The vibrant orange, red and yellow leaves that adorn the trees are a constant reminder that summer fun has come to an end. In a blink of an eye, a harsh winter chill and snow covered streets will be what most US residents will be seeing. If you are like me, the warm summer months are just too short and I am forever searching to a warm retreat to escape to when the winter blues set in. The perfect answer to great sunny traveling deals can be found at Cheap Caribbean on Coupon Cactus.

Stop by Cheap Caribbean to find incredible deals on cheap tropical vacation alternatives in the Caribbean, Bermuda, or Mexico. Cheap Caribbean makes booking your travel plans easy by offering all inclusive hotels, non-inclusive hotels, resorts, villas, cruises, flights, and luxurious vacation packages that will make you wish you never had to leave the island! Cheap Caribbean has partnered with some of the fanciest hotels in the Caribbean to make sure that your stay is fabulous each time you travel. At Cheap Caribbean you can pick from top travel destinations or find a quiet out of the way villa to relax and recharge your spirit.

Be sure to stop by Coupon Cactus to see the current Cheap Caribbean coupon codes that are being offered before you decide on your Caribbean destination. Coupon Cactus members will also receive 2.00% cash back once they have completed their course of travel, not at the time of making a reservation. No matter the type of vacation you are interested in taking; Cheap Caribbean offers fantastic deals every day that will be hard to beat!

Summer is sizzling and so are the smokin’ hot deals on Mexicana Airlines. Take advantage of special low, low air fare rates to Puerto Vallarta and Cancun this weekend only! Spend the July 4th weekend celebrating on beautiful white sand beaches under blazing blue Mexican skies. With Mexicana coupons on Coupon Cactus air fares to Puerto Vallarta start at just $198; just $234 to Cancun! Hurry and book your Mexicana flight now as this special Independence Day travel deals expires July 5, 2010.

Can’t cut loose in time to take advantage of Mexicana’s Independence Day deals? You still have time to book an unforgettable summer vacation on Mexicana.com. Through July 6, 2010, use the money-saving Mexicana coupon on Coupon Cactus to book special, low-priced Mexicana vacation flights starting at just $193. Mexicana know how to treat its passengers right. Start relaxing the moment you step on the plane with Mexicana’s scrumptious free meals and generous open bar.

Mexicana offers fabulous vacation get-away packages to some of the most breathtaking vacation destinations in the Americas and Caribbean. The most exotic beach and jungle vacation hide-aways are just a click away on Mexicana.com.

Mexicana Airlines offers some of the hottest air fare and vacation deals on the Internet, particularly for flights into and out of Mexico. You can’t beat Mexicana’s executive class service from London to Mexico City! Use Mexicana coupons on Coupon Cactus to get the very cheapest flights to fabulous Puerto Vallarta. Remember to check Coupon Cactus frequently for the latest super-saver air fare and vacation deals from Mexicana.

The holiday season is fast approaching and even though you might have already booked your trip away to Grandmas house for Thanksgiving, you might still be in need of a fantastic getaway for Christmas or New Year’s this year. CheapOair offers a full line of travel services that are sure to meet all of your travel needs.

From the convenience of your own home or business you can easily book your personal or business travel plans with CheapOair. Whether you are searching for great deals on flights, hotels or cars, CheapOair always has fantastic alternatives to choose from. At CheapOair you will find hosted and non-hosted premier cruise service to popular destinations in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Bahamas, and the South Pacific, to name just a few.

CheapOair also offers some pretty cool guarantees to their customers that make them stand out among other online travel booking sites. Simply put, if you find a lower price on the exact flights or hotel room that you book through CheapOair, they will refund you $10 per person for each flight and/or hotel room booked. If your flight happens to be delayed for more than one hour or your baggage is lost or delayed, CheapOair will give each ticket holder a $5 coupon for future travel bookings. Now those are some fantastic bonuses for booking with CheapOair!

Coupon Cactus can help you save a ton of money with fantastic CheapOair coupon codes this holiday season. Not wanting to fight the cold and crowds the day after Thanksgiving? You can begin your day on 11/27/09 with the Black Friday Airfare Sale and take advantage of super low deals at CheapOair. Coupon Cactus also has coupons for $10 Off Flight Tickets to Anywhere in the US, $10 off Flight Tickets to the Caribbean and Mexico, $10 Off Flight Tickets to Asia, Additional $10 Off Flights, Additional $15 Off Hotel Booking, Up to 50% Off Hotel Rooms at Top Vacation Spots, all expiring on 12/31/09. You will also find coupons for Airline Flight Deals and Hotel Deals-Up to 50% Off when you stop by Coupon Cactus. For additional savings, Coupon Cactus members will receive $2 cash back on car rental transactions or purchase of Airfare Insurance, $6 cash back on a hotel purchase and $3.20 cash back on an airfare booking. Cash back will not be awarded at the time of booking and will be awarded once travel/rental is completed.

Priceline is a fantastic way to book your travel reservations. They have incredible deals on flights, hotels, cars, vacation packages, cruises, tours, and even attractions available for everyone. There are two ways for you to benefit from using the Priceline services. You can either pick your own exact travel details from their very low published rates, or you can have some fun and try their “Name Your Own Price” services. Either way you choose to participate, you are sure to find that you can plan the perfect leisure or business trip with great ease.

Priceline is so certain that they offer the best travel prices online that they back their services with their “Best Price and Quality Guarantee”. If you find a better published price online, for the exact product and itinerary within 24 hours of booking your travel plans, they will refund you 100% of the difference and give you a $50 coupon that is valid on your next travel booking at Priceline. Now that’s a cool deal!

Always stop by Coupon Cactus first to pick up great Priceline coupon codes before you make any travel decisions. Coupon Cactus has great coupons for Flight Deals that can save you up to 40% off airline travel and Hotel Deals that can save you up to 50% off your hotel reservations. Coupon Cactus members will also receive 2.8% cash back for retail hotel via merchant, 2% cash back for retail hotel via agency, 1.2% cash back for name your own price airfare, hotels, or rental cars, vacation packages, retail rental cars, retail cruises, $2.80 flat cash back for retail air via merchant and $2 flat cash back for retail air via agency. Cash back is awarded upon completion of the travel and will not be awarded at the time of reservation. Book with Priceline and you will save money each time you travel!

I know it is against the rules, but we recently pulled our children out of school to take them on a quick trip to Disneyworld. I can tell you first hand that our Marriott hotel was top notch. We were able to purchase Disney tickets directly from the hotel and they provided a free shuttle service so we avoided the parking nightmare at the parks. The breakfast buffet was simply divine and made for a perfect start to our busy days. The indoor and outdoor pools provided additional entertainment for the children, and the complimentary high speed internet access allowed us to catch up on what we were missing at home. Simply put, it was a perfect escape for the entire family.

If Disney is not your cup of tea, no need to fret, when you stop by Marriott, you can view a wide variety of vacation packages that are sure to please even the pickiest traveler. Whether you are looking to take a romantic trip to one of the world’s finest beaches or explore a unique new city, Marriott has wonderful vacation packages to choose from. Marriott also offers special discounts for Government, Military, Seniors, American Express Cardholders and AAA Members.

You will definitely want to stop by Coupon Cactus to pick up the fantastic Marriott coupon codes before you make your travel reservations. We took advantage of the $50 Off Your Next Weekend Stay Worldwide (expires  12/31/09) when we traveled. At Coupon Cactus you can also find coupons for 15% Off Select Destinations with Senior Citizen Discount, 5% off Any Order with Amex Business Card, Great Hotel Deals, Marriott Gift Cards, Marriott Air and Car Packages, Marriott Golf Resorts and Hotel Packages, and Free Night + Breakfast at Caribbean and Latin America (expires on 12/11/09). Additionally, Coupon Cactus members will receive a 2.00% Cash Back Rebate. Coupon Cactus members will be awarded cash back after completing their stay. Cash back will not be awarded at the time of reservation. See how Marriott and Coupon Cactus can help you book a trip of a lifetime and save you bunches of money at the same time.

My sister lives on one coast and I live on the other. With 3000+ miles separating us, it is only on rare occasions that we get to spend time together. Since our children are getting older, we both decided that it was time to do something crazy and selfish, something neither of us has ever done before. We are leaving our kiddies with our husbands and taking a much needed trip together. With so many amazing travel destinations at the ready, it has been hard deciding where we would head off to. Thanks to Hotwire and the coupons that are available on Coupon Cactus; we found some great deals and finally decided that a fantastic 7 night Western Caribbean cruise would be the perfect place for some sister bonding time. Now we just need to tell our husbands that we are actually going!

You can always find amazing travel deals at Hotwire. They have special rates with top hotels, car rentals and airlines that just can’t be beat. Hotwire also offers many vacation packages and last minute deals for your traveling pleasure. If you are looking to take a trip to the ocean, the mountains, or hot spots like Disney or Las Vegas, you can always find great rates available at Hotwire.

Be sure to take advantage of the Hotwire coupon codes that are available at Coupon Cactus before you book your travel reservations. Coupon Cactus currently has coupons for 4-Star Hotels at 2-Star Rates and Last Minute Flights where you can save up to 40% off your ticket price. Additionally, Coupon Cactus members will receive a 1.00% Cash Back Rebate for airline tickets, hotel reservations, rental cars, & vacation packages. Coupon Cactus Members also receive $0.80 flat rate cash back for retail air purchases. Cash back will post after travel contract is fulfilled. When traveling for business or pleasure, always stop by Hotwire for fantastic travel deals every day of the week.

Not being very computer savvy, my father-in-law called last month and asked for my help in finding him a flight to come and see our family. Without hesitation I turned to my favorite online discount travel site where I book my own travel reservations. Since he was somewhat flexible with his arrival and departure date, I was able to use the Hotwire Flexible Date Search to find the least expensive flight that was available in a matter of seconds.

Hotwire always has fantastic travel rates on flights, hotels, cars, cruises, vacation packages and special deals. When you use the coupon codes that are available at Coupon Cactus, you will be able to save even more money than the already reduced rates.

At Hotwire, you can even become your own travel agent when you sign up for Hotwire Trip Watcher. It’s fun and easy. Just tell Hotwire where you would like to travel to and an approximate time period of when you want to travel. Hotwire will watch the dates for you and let you know when the lowest prices become available so you don’t need to search over and over for the best deal. This great service not only saves you money, but time too!

Be sure to visit Coupon Cactus for great Hotwire coupon codes before you book your travel dates. Coupon Cactus has a coupon for 4-Star Hotels at 2-Star Rates where you can save up to 60% off your room reservation. You can also find a coupon for Last Minute Flights where you can save up to 40% off your airline ticket. Coupon Cactus members will also enjoy the additional savings when they receive their 1% Cash Back Rebate.  Cash Back percentage rate for airline tickets, hotel reservations, rental cars, & vacation packages. Coupon Cactus Members also receive $0.80 flat rate cash back for retail air purchases. Cash back will post after travel contract is fulfilled. For business or pleasure, Hotwire is a great way to book your travel plans.