Happy Healthy Families

Have summer vacation plans this year? Before you start packing, check out these money-saving tips :

1, When making hotel reservations, always call the actual hotel site, not the hotel chain's 800 number. The reservation agents for the 800 numbers are usually in different states or even countries, and may not know about local deals.

2. Call for your reservations on a Sunday afternoon; most managers usually have this day off, and the front desk may be able to give you a better deal.

3. Check for vacation deals at STATravel.com ( they offer great travel deals usually geared towards students, however, you do not have to be in school to get the discounts.)

4, You will find the lowest prices on vacation deals during the couple of weeks before the start of the main vacation travel season, and at the end of the season. Booking your trip before June 15th or after Labor Day can usually save you extra money.

5. Try using Priceline.com or Hotwire.com to rent a car. These sites can negotiate low rates for car rentals from major companies with extra inventory.

6. You might want to think about skipping hotels altogether and try switching houses with another family on vacation. Try sites like Digsville.com and HomeExchange.com to find other vacationers interested in swapping homes. Annual membership fees on these sites may run from $50 to $100, but they can save you much more money in the long run!