Travel isn’t cheap. And, travelers from every corner of the world face this reality. Expedia’s 2014 Vacation Spending Index showed that 71 percent of the world’s travelers began saving for their trips a year in advance and 87 percent diligently searched for deals and discounts before finalizing their bookings.

Alternative Accommodations

Think beyond big hotel chains and local motels when booking your trip. Find websites that expands the lodging landscape by offering home-sharing at rates which are often cheaper than hotels. There are also websites that allows you to swap houses with other travelers and provide a unique opportunity to stay in local homes for free.

Don’t Forget Discount Sites

The list of discount sites is growing and it’s no surprise. With sites like TravelSetGo offering wholesale pricing on hotels worldwide, GrabOne offering deals on whale-watching trips in New Zealand and others, like Groupon, securing discounts on catamaran sailing trips in Hawaii and a massage at a local spa, they’re worth the time it takes to sign up.

Frugal Feasting

Dispel the idea of a $50 meal for two or shelling out $100 for a family of four. Dining sites like LivingSocial and Restaurants.com have become some of the most popular places for culinary adventurers and cost-conscious family travelers to score two-for-one coupons and sweet percentage-off meal discounts.

Fly Right

According to a report by Fly.com general manager, Warren Chang, the average cost of a domestic flight is $380. And that doesn’t include additional fees or rates for international flights. But there’s a strategy that can help. Chang suggests flying on light travel days such as Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday and checking travel websites’ and airlines’ low fare calendars so the lowest fares are revealed.

Staying in Touch Without Going Broke

Anyone who’s crossed the border into another country, texting in every town they stayed in, then returned home to discover a huge phone bill brimming with roaming charges can appreciate this tip. Thankfully, sites like Facebook provide travelers with free voice and video communications and others, like Google Plus, allow up to 10 people in a free video chat anywhere in the world that has a Wi-Fi connection.

So, now that your equipped with the latest in thrifty travel tips, you can explore the world like a savvy nomad and have money in your pocket when you get home.