Want to travel cheap and still have the time of your life? It's entirely possible!

Most of us are buttoning down the hatches when it comes to our travel budgets. You might well say, “Travel is a luxury, one I can't afford this year!” This dismal economy opens the door wide to the nay-sayers, who quickly and determinedly shut out this enjoyable prospect. The ones walking the fence are the 'travel gypsies', who just can't get enough of exploring new and different places. If this phrase describes you, you're absolutely itching to take a trip, but can't see how you can do it. The answer? Travel cheap! Here, we offer some strategies that allow you to have your cake and eat it too – deliciously and cheaply.

When you aspire to a travel cheap itinerary, be prepared to spend some time planning your trip, implementing a budget and saving towards your upcoming trip on a monthly, or even weekly basis.

Let's say you want to spend your two week's yearly vacation exploring New Zealand. How much does it cost now to fly to New Zealand? Of course, you've got to realize that prices may go up or come down by the time you're ready to book your flight. Nevertheless, you can approximate a ballpark figure today. Scour the travel search engines now, looking for today's best prices. Subscribe to every travel newsletter, particularly those with a Down Under focus. You'll come up with a reasonable average dollar cost for your flight. Put the highest average dollar figure into a spreadsheet and go with that. This way, your travel cheap plan won't be disappointing – in fact, you may come out ahead, with some extra dollars for shopping and sightseeing.

When you want to travel cheap and maximize those vacation dollars, don't neglect to experiment with different departure, return dates and airports for the best price. You'll get the best rates on the 'red-eye' flights and so-called 'unpopular' travel days, such as midweek flights.

If your goal is to travel cheap, you'll certainly want to contemplate combining work with pleasure. In our sample case of travel to New Zealand, what sort of exploration might be used as a business write off? Real estate, imports for a business venture, or research which may be used to generate income upon your return home are all legitimate business expenses. Maybe you'll investigate unusual accommodations available and write a book. Brainstorm and see what can enhance your business, or a prospective business. Being able to write off some of your travel expenses goes hand in glove with a travel cheap itinerary.

Keep on top of currency exchange rates, which vary from day to day. When exchange rates are favorable, that's the time to withdraw cash to fund your trip in local currency. You can save a bundle by paying close attention to this factor.

Arranging your transportation here in the states is almost always most cost effective. This includes both car rentals and rail tickets.

Packing light is an essential component of any travel cheap itinerary. Take my word for it, you can travel for at least a month with a single carry-on. You won't have lost luggage, nor will you pay extra fees for checked baggage. You step off the plane, free as a bird, on your way in no time. Now, some airlines are charging a fee to use the in-flight restrooms! You need to minimize these add-ons as possible!

As for eating out, here's a smart travel cheap tip: when you enter a restaurant, explain that you're writing reviews of New Zealand restaurants, either to be compiled into a travelogue, or sold to U.S. newspapers. More often than not, your meal may be free! If you intend to use this as a business write off, be sure to follow up with an update on your venture and a clip from the publications or websites with which you place your review.

If you want to travel cheap, there are so many ways to coordinate a dream vacation at a bargain price.