Travel is regarded as one of the most enlightening activities; people who make a hobby out of traveling frequently are often considered uncommonly worldly and spiritual. Eventually, youthful backpacking and stays in hostels give way to a desire for relaxing vacations. The adventuresome wanderings of young people tend to transition into an enjoyment of more slow-paced trips. People start to view vacations as relaxing times with no obligations as opposed to occasions for activities.

But plane tickets, hotel rooms, restaurant meals and car rentals can quickly add up.

Seven ways to afford a luxury vacation

1. Travel in the off season

Instead of traveling during spring break or over the summer, do a little research to find out when plane tickets and hotels are at their cheapest. Statistics show that booking flights exactly seven weeks ahead of time maximizes savings, as does scheduling departing flights for Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.

2. Book two one-way flights

Sometimes it makes a difference to book a trip as two one-way flights instead of purchasing one round-trip ticket, so look into all options and do the math before submitting your payment.

3. Grab a layover

If you aren’t bothered by a layover, consider accepting one if it will significantly lower the cost or your ticket. Compare prices between different airports, factoring in the costs of luggage, transportation to and parking at those airports.

4. Package deal discounts

Package deals have a bad reputation, but they can sometimes save travelers a lot of money and take some of the guesswork out of the planning process. There are several websites that offer major discounts on plane tickets and hotel rooms if they are booked at the time same. This limits travelers to hotels and airlines that are affiliated with the websites, but the convenient price comparisons and travel itineraries make these sites worthwhile options to consider. Travelers who don’t have a specific destination in mind, and are looking more for the best deal, should sign up for travel specials on sites like TravelZoo.

5. Go all-inclusive

One of the best ways to experience a luxurious vacation is to stay at an all-inclusive resort. While staying at a five-star beachfront hotel in a highly popular destination like the Riviera Maya may sound out of your price range, all-inclusive properties like Barcelo Resorts make it an affordable option. When you pay for everything up front, budgeting becomes incredibly simple. All meals, drinks, entertainment and amenities are already covered, so the trip will not be ruined by surprise fees at checkout. All-inclusive resorts have additional benefits in cities that are especially tourist-friendly. The food and entertainment in these areas are always overpriced, so paying a flat fee at the hotel beats going to restaurants for every meal.

6. Unconventional destinations

Traveling to unconventional vacation spots is another way to save money without scrimping on luxury. For example, traveling to Montreal is less pricey than flying to Paris, but it still has all of the romance and history of France. Any number of small cities provide the same rush of energy as New York without the crowded streets and dirty subway system. Traveling on a budget works well when posed as a challenge to try something new, and that is accomplished by deciding to visit new places that are not yet known as hot vacation spots.

7. Hire a local

Hiring a local tour guide is often a lot cheaper than a full tour bus or American-based tour company. We listed all the pros and cons of hiring a local tour guide here.

So give yourself plenty of time to book a vacation, be open minded about your destination, consider staying at an all-inclusive property, and explore up and coming spots and you’ll be well on your way to experiencing a luxurious vacation on a budget.

Where are you going this summer?