Most of us look forward to our dream vacation. Some prefer exotic destinations like the Bahamas, Miami, Maldives, others frequent their favourite hill station or beaches, while some of us just stay home, chill out and relax. An increasing trend is to take a packaged trip to Europe or an expensive cruise in Southeast Asia. Regardless of where you want to go, you can make it the holiday you want it to be -- without burning a hole in your pocket -- by paying attention to the following simple tips:

Plan in advance
Keep a little money aside every month rather than tapping into your savings to pay for the whole vacation at once. Start building your vacation fund about four-six months in advance. Availability of these funds makes your life easier by softening the financial blow. Planning in advance also means you are more likely to find bargains on hotels and travel and at the same times it's much easier to get the vacation time sanctioned by your boss.

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Calculate how much money you need to cover all of your basic expenses like food, accommodation and transportation, and then allocate some extra cash for souvenirs and unexpected expenses. It's worthwhile to do some research about the cost of vacationing at a place.

Sticking to your budget is much more important than creating one. Once you get to your destination, you have to stay focused as you come across numerous temptations to splurge.

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Let's face it, credit cards are the biggest culprits when it comes to overspending but at the same time they are great saviours in times of need. They can be your best friend and also your worst foe.

Don't take your cards with the intention of using them. If possible avoid keeping them in your wallet, instead keep them secure in the hotel room or safe. This serves two purposes: first, you won't be tempted to buy more gifts and souvenirs to take home with you; and second, it ensures that you'll have backup funds in the event of a real emergency -- such as if your wallet gets stolen.

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Searching the web goes a long way in grabbing great deals on hotels and transportation or even packaged tours. Use the internet to look for recommendations and feedback from other travellers. There are numerous websites which offer ratings and reviews for destinations, hotels and sightseeing. You will be less fearful of trying something new and be better prepared.

You can also contact the person and get more details about your dream destination. For example, a friend of mine called a hotel directly and received a 20-per cent discount based on a user's experience posted on a hotel review site.

For air travel, compare prices to find the best deal. Booking three-four weeks in advance can save you up to 40 per cent in some cases.

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The best way to be in control of your expenditure is to pay in advance. Pay your hotel and travel bill in advance rather than paying in cash when you get there. If you are using the services of a tour operator, read the fine print and see what exactly you have paid for. It will help you decide how much money to carry for extra expenses.

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If you want to have a vacation on a shoestring budget and still have a ball, camping is the way to go for the adventurous types. It eliminates two of your biggest expenses viz. hotels and travel.

Look out for a forest/national park in your state or close to your city and find out more about it. Most of these destinations offer budget cottages. It can be cost effective and lots of fun especially if you are with a bunch of like-minded friends.

By following these simple yet effective tips you can get the most out of your vacation and not be bogged down by financial worries. Go out and enjoy!

www.investmentyogi.com is a one-stop personal finance website which helps in managing finances, investments and taxes through services like financial planning, online tax filing, budgeting and 'Ask the Expert'.