Top 5 money saving travel tips:

1. Be flexible – this applies to dates for flying and accommodation as well as location. Try sites such as www.lastminute.com.au, www.wotif.com or www.statravel.com.au (especially for flights)
2. Join loyalty schemes – this applies for accommodation, travel stores and flights.
3. Use the internet – check out websites such as www.expedia.com.au and www.tripadvisor.com for information such as which companies to trust when booking through destination offices where you can grab good deals.
4. Think outside the box – this applies to getting around (walk, cycle, take the bus/metro/train and live like the locals), looking for accommodation (negotiate a better price, book a townhouse/boutique hotel, go for B&Bs, short-let apartments, univeristy campus such as CLV Smart Stays (clvsmartstays.com.au) offers accommodation in student residences in Christchurch, NZ, and Australian cities from $45 per night during university holidays or check out the hostel)
5. Read a local listings magazines – many of these magazines are free and list events that are free or where you can get discounted tickets.  The Louvre has free entry on the first Sunday of each month and on Bastille Day (July 14). The Taj Mahal is free on Fridays, as is New York’s MOMA, and museums in Berlin are free after 6pm on Thursdays. Check websites.