Many people don't like New Year's resolutions for two reasons: They tend to point out weaknesses and they've usually been broken by about the first week of February.
But the following five budget travel resolutions don't require a daily dose of strong will. Since most of us fall short on all five, no one should take the list personally.
Because that is true, budget travel resolutions have been more popular than their cousins in, say, the weight-loss arena.
This annual project began in 2002. Success that year led to more resolutions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The suggestions that follow, in no particular order of importance, might not be quite as practical as more traditional and specific promises for improvement. But if two or three of them find their way into your tool box of tactics, you'll enjoy better budget travel in 2007.
Resolution #1: I will look not just for discounts, but free things to do in a given destination.
We get so wrapped up in finding the cheapest way to do things that we often overlook a very simple principle: Free attractions often become the highlights of a trip.
It costs nothing to visit the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The same is true for the spectacular view of Paris from Sacre Coeur or the Changing of the Guard in London. No one charges you to see the sunset in Key West, Fla., but I guarantee when you see it (and the accompanying nightly street festival that celebrates it), you'll remember it longer than the discount admission you found for some other attraction in town.
It's important to find out about these free attractions in each destination, and then spend that precious commodity of time enjoying yourself.
Click "next" and consider another planning strategy that could save you money in 2007.
