Hey all- I did a guest post over at CheapOAir that I thought you might be interested in reading. In the post I offer five tips on saving money this year so you don’t have to get rid of your vacation just because of the economy! Check it out here!

Oh the economy. How I have grown to despise that word. Even more so since it has been affecting me personally. And while it’s scary- there can be a lot of opportunity as well. If you are feeling the economy blues- it may be time to take a quick vacation to forget your troubles for a few days.

It’s important to look for some bargains when your pockets aren’t as deep as they used to be. Here are some tips for traveling cheap and in style.

Sign up for e-newsletters: As annoying as they can be- signing up for discount traveling sites newsletters can help you save money when you are very flexible on your plans. Updates will come to your inbox informing you of awesome Las Vegas hotel deals, and cheap airplane tickets to Orlando (and more- those were obviously examples).

Sign up for Airline’s e-newsletters and download widgets: Along the same lines as the above tip, many airlines also have a newsletter that will ping you when they have can’t miss deals. Delta and Southwest are both known for last minute deals that can be found by their newletters or widgets. However with those deals you must act fast- they disappear as quickly as they come.

Be flexible: While many places are slashing prices to be competitive others are raising prices to keep afloat. If you are dead set on a location then try to be flexible on timing. For example many hotels are cheaper during the week then the weekend (depending if they are a tourist location- you will find the opposite if they rely on business travelers). If you are set on your timing then try to be flexible on location.

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Ok not really, but wouldn’t that be amazing? In preparation for my upcoming Europe trip, I have been keeping my eyes open to articles that will offer me advice on how to save money while I am overseas. I came across this really great article that gives tips to alleviate a tight wallet when visiting Paris. I found it really helpful as the author Gaelle Faure talks about ways to save money visiting the museums, where to stay and eat as well as how to get around. It’s worth checking out. My favorite tip- the Louvre and all other major museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, I actually rearranged my trip so that I will be in Paris on a first Sunday! Plus I love the idea of renting a bike for only 1.50 and going on a self-guided tour of Paris. It’s also good to know that Paris is a truly connected city offering Wi-Fi free all over town, gives peace of mind knowing I will be able to blog while I am in the city of lights.