Going on vacation can be one of the most exciting times of the year, but rising costs of travel-related expenses are keeping many families home during the summer, or causing people to borrow money to go on vacation. But don’t let rising costs discourage you! It’s actually surprisingly easy to travel inexpensively if you dedicate some time to researching your options.

Step 1: Decide on your destination(s) several months in advance.

The first sub-point to this step is understanding why you’re going to where you’re going. Are you going to an amusement park like Disney World? Are you going to a conference of some kind? Or perhaps you’re going to visit family/friends? Whatever your reason for going to your destination city, make sure you know the exact purpose of your trip.

After you know exactly what you plan on doing while on vacation, you can determine how long you plan on spending there. You’ll want to have a general travel itinerary set up anywhere from three months before your trip at the earliest, and seven weeks at the latest.

It’s most important to follow these guidelines if you plan on flying anywhere along your trip. The sooner you can book a flight, the cheaper it’ll be. If you plan on taking the train, study the timetables so you know exactly how long the trip will last, and how expensive it’ll be. (When traveling a long distance by train in the United States, it’s good to assume it will take at least a day to get there and a day to get back, which will affect your vacation time.)

Step 2: Figure out the best/most cost-effective way to get to and from your destination.

This step will vary greatly depending on who you’re traveling with. Obviously, your trip will change if you’re traveling with small children, as opposed to by yourself. When I travel by myself, I like to use public transportation as often as I can so I don’t waste money on taxis or long Uber trips.

A few months ago, I traveled from South Bend, Ind. to Seattle. My flight was set to depart from Chicago Midway and arrive at Seattle-Tacoma. I had people who were willing to drive me the two hours from South Bend to Chicago. But rather than have them spend that money on gas and tolls, I had my mother drop me off at South Bend International airport, just 20 minutes away from home.

From South Bend, I took the morning commuter South Shore Line (the train service from South Bend to downtown Chicago), and arrived in Chicago about 7 a.m. CDT. I then walked two blocks to the Chicago "L" (the elevated rail system), and took the Orange Line to Chicago Midway. The entire trip cost me $16 to get from South Bend International to Chicago Midway using the trains, as opposed to how expensive a car ride directly to Midway would have been for the driver.

When traveling by car, factor in travel time, gas prices and tolls, and think about if your vehicle is tuned for such a trip. When traveling by train, study the timetables and know the price. When traveling by plane, get to the airport several hours before your flight departs (at least two hours), and have a way to get there.

The most important takeaway from this step is that there is almost always more than one way to get to your destination. Make sure to find the right balance of price and feasibility!

Step 3: Have your lodging ready to go.

On a multiple day car ride, it’s not too difficult to pull over in a hotel hub for the night. You can obviously sleep on a train/plane when you get tired enough (not to mention you won’t stop traveling while you sleep). The most important aspect of lodging is deciding how you’re going to set up once you get there.

If you’re going out of town to a conference, which are often held at hotels, it may be easier to stay in that hotel, which means you’ll want to call and make reservations as soon as possible. When the specific hotel doesn’t matter, websites like Trivago can help you find the most affordable option for the room you want.

If you’re going to visit family, then it may be possible that you’ll have a free place to stay while on vacation. Plus, you’ll get quality family time, so it’s a win-win for everyone! If you have good friends in your destination city, they may be willing to put up with you for a few days. That way, you save on a hotel room and get to spend some time catching up on life. Side note: when a friend puts you up on vacation for free, it’s customary to do something nice for them, like buy them dinner, or help them around the house (even if they insist you relax the whole time). After all, you’re a friend, not a freeloader.

Step 4: Figure out transportation while you’re in your destination city.

If you drove to your destination spot, then you obviously have transportation with you. If you’re like me and take public transportation to and from vacation, then you’ll have to figure out a different means of getting around town.

You could always give Uber a try, and many big cities have a taxi service. If you’re staying with a friend, they may be able to take you where you want to go, but don’t expect them to chauffeur you everywhere. After all, they can’t halt their lives just because you’re in town.

When I go to big cities, I like to use public transportation (as you could probably guess). One of the drawbacks to using public transportation is that you can’t stay out too late, lest the day’s service ends before you’re ready to return to your room. Otherwise, public transportation is often cheap and convenient to use.

For example, in the second half of my Seattle trip, I used the buses to get around. Each ride cost $2.50, so I would often ride to where I was going, spend the day around there and then ride back. If you’re staying in Chicago, for another example, you can buy a multiple-day CTA pass to ride on the trains, which will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go in the city.

The most important trip you want to have worked out is, of course, the trip to go back home. If you're flying or taking a train back, you’ll want to have a way to get to where your vessel departs. If you’re driving back, then decide when you’re going to leave, and when you need to be packed up to leave.

Step 5: Do laundry while on vacation, and anything else to pack as little as possible.

I know it’s vacation, and you probably don’t want to do any work, but doing laundry is going to save you packing space. If you’re flying, try to get everyone to pack in one carry-on bag, if at all possible. You can then check in for your flight online, and go straight to TSA, making your wait for your flight shorter.

Even if you’re taking the train or driving, try to pack as minimally as possible. Having one bag to keep track of will not only save you money, but it will also save you time and energy. This is especially true if you’re only going for a week or two. Don’t try to pack your entire life, it’ll still be here when you return.

Step 6: Research, research, research.

I usually know where I’m going to go on vacation about a year in advance. So, needless to say, I have a lot of time to research ways to get there and what to do while I’m there. The more time you have to research, the better. Oftentimes, I can write out an itinerary down to every 15 minutes because I spend so much time researching my trip.

You don’t have to have that detailed of a plan, but the point remains: nothing compares to researching. In any event, I hope these tips help you enjoy your vacation without breaking the bank!