At first, this seems like a huge sacrifice. Who wants to visit Venice in February?

Consider this: the crowds in places like Venice are a fraction the size of high-season mobs. The same is true of prices for rooms, food, and even admissions in some places.

Airfares in the off-season can be half the price of in-demand periods.

If you've always dreamed of European vacations or a trip to the Caribbean, going off-season could make it affordable. The sights and sounds will be the same. The prices will not.

Would you set sail on a freighter? How about spending the night in a convent? Would you let someone else have your baggage allotment for an overseas flight to London?

Many travelers turn up their noses at such suggestions.

The freighter will cost you far less than a conventional cruise, and show you ports-of-call not available on some itineraries. Staying in a convent could cut your Rome hotel bills in half, with no inconvenience whatsoever. Courier flights to London go for as little as $100 USD one-way. Here are a few other alternative travel tips:

Spend some time in the coming year trying to keep one or all of these resolutions.

Perhaps next year at this time, we'll pass on more suggestions. Each will be aimed at enhancing your trip and saving you money at the same time.

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