If it’s a cruise or group tour that you and your family have their eye on for the family vacation this year, some of the best savings on both are available at the last minute when these kinds of companies are vying frantically to fill unsold packages. So, if you can you have the luxury of waiting till you’re close to leaving on vacation, such as a few weeks prior to your departure, you can receive more than fifty percent off the regular price. And, where cruises are concerned, you can get even greater savings if you book your trip a whole year in advance when they offer the cheapest cabin rates to smart and thrifty shoppers.

If museums are a must-have when you travel, the prices in some of the top cities might shock you. Paris’ Louvre will cost you and your family 15 Euros and Chicago’s Field Museum will set you back $36 for an all-access pass. Consider other cities for museum-hopping after you save a bundle with your Travel Set Go membership on hotels and visit cities like Washington, D.C., where many most museums are free like the 19 Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo. And, in London, the British Museum, National Gallery, and Tate Modern are free as well.

Another great way to save on your vacation is to sign up for a solo travel group trip. On tours like this you can meet other travelers to share additional expenses such as cab rides. Several companies offer solo travel groups that cater to 30 to 45-year olds and others that focus on activities for those who are 50 and over.

Free walking tours have been popular in Europe for many years and started with guides who operated by receiving payment based on a traveler’s budget. Cities like Stockholm, Lisbon, Quito and Rio, and in the U.S., Savannah and Austin, offer free walking tours with the added benefit of getting a local perspective and more genuine cultural experience.

Another savings advantage of traveling solo is purchasing single seats at concerts or shows. Single seats are offered at a lower rate in many cities because theater companies and concert venues want their seats filled.