Right now economic times are tough. Many people have lost their jobs or aren’t making as much or have bigger financial responsibilities than ever before. Because of this, a lot of people are forgoing holidays and vacations in order to save a little money. While vacations can be expensive, there are actually some really great ways to save money and still be able to enjoy a break from the daily grind. Here are just a few ways to save money on your next trip.

Accommodations

One area that eats up a lot of a vacation budget is accommodation. Hotels anywhere can be expensive, and when you add on tax and food costs, the end price can really skyrocket. Instead of staying at a typical hotel on your next trip, why not try looking into staying at a hostel. Most hostels cater to people under 30 years of age and are a great way to stay in expensive cities without shelling out a lot for a room. Another way to save money is to take a tent with you, especially if you are going to rural area that has campsites and parks. Nowadays you can get really big tents that can hold a big family comfortably.

Food

Another area where you will spend a lot of money is for food. The best way to save money is to head to the grocery store wherever you go and load up on things you can make yourself. If you do decide to eat out a couple times, go during happy hour to get half off prices on food and drinks. You might also look at the local paper for any coupons or deals taking place at local restaurants.

Package Deals

If you are flying to your next holiday, consider purchasing a package deal that includes the airfare, hotel and car rental. Websites like Orbitz and Expedia offer package deals and can pass on huge savings to you when you sign up for them. You’ll get to stay in much fancier places for a fraction of what it would cost if you booked each part individually. It’s also a great idea to sign up to these websites for alerts on upcoming deals. Oftentimes these sites will have really great discounted deals on last minute trips throughout the US as well as to countries abroad. If you are flexible, this is a really great way to travel and save money.

There are those who believe that the simple approach to dressing works equally well on holiday. Pack 10 T-shirts in a suitcase, throw in some swimwear and flip-flops and that’s about it. But then there are those who believe that you will have a better time on holiday if you feel right. Clearly “feeling right” differs from person to person and holiday destination to destination. That said, there are some guiding principles that can help to up your style ante as you escape the cold weather for a summer sojourn overseas. We’ll leave it to you to think laterally and adapt to suit.

- Have an airport/travel look that comprises of warmish layers and your heaviest holiday shoes. This is not the time to channel Angelina Jolie in a black silk mini dress as seen in a Japanese airport this week. You’ll be cold and grumpy and desperate to buy a bad cardigan from a second-rate duty-free shop in no time. Instead, this is the time to wear a rolled chino, a light knit, knockout sunglasses and a pair of leather sandals.

- Speaking of footwear, unthinking loyalty to thongs is a style copout. It takes minuscule extra effort to choose a pair of sandals to take away with you, yet they add a style dimension to even the most basic shorts-and-vest holiday look.

 Angelina Jolie arrives in Tokyo with her brood in tow, (from left) Shiloh, Pax, Maddox and Zahara.  Photo: Reuters -

Don’t have a holiday wardrobe, have a holiday style philosophy instead. One that means you wear your usual summer clothes but in a crafty holiday-ish way. Not only does this save cash and time spent in badly lit changing rooms, it is the fast track to looking more stylish. This means admitting that the summer dress you bought for a party can easily be your sightseeing dress. A blouse you normally wear with jeans will look good with shorts for an alfresco lunch. This isn’t wardrobe downgrading, this is wardrobe multitasking. And your holiday snaps will thank you for it. - Take into account your holiday pals and the kind of look they will be rocking at the check-in desk. In terms of how right you feel on holiday, it’s up there with reading an accurate weather report ahead of time. - No one of any style repute actually wears a kaftan or a sarong. Beach coverups are for Liz Hurley to design and then tell us about on the pages of an August issue of Tatler. Sarongs are for soap stars doing photo shoots. They are completely unnecessary, if you need to cover up on a beach, then just get dressed. Pull on your shorts, button up your silk blouse, shove on a sundress – whatever. But don’t fiddle about with a useless piece of floral-printed sheer fabric. - There is no need to buy a dedicated beach bag, unless it is along the lines of a Marc by Marc Jacobs bright canvas shopper: ie, something that you will want to shake the sand out of and use again. Failing that, use your Monday-to-Friday leather bag, provided it’s a decent size. It gives the impression that you are more nonchalant about beach style and is infinitely chicer. - Jewellery in the form of overly fancy earrings or a big, shiny bangle will add kick to your style quota but almost nothing to the weight of your luggage. - The secret of holiday hair. The keenest eyes will have already noted that the scruffy top-knot has silently become the hairstyle to have this summer. Its reach has extended out from the standard Hollywood pap shot of celebrity-plus-Starbucks-plus-scruffy-top-knot, to the parks of east London and beyond. Basically, it is a high bun with loose tendrils of hair pulled out to frame the face. It’s super easy to do so there is no need for a patronising explanation and it makes for the most perfect holiday hair. Great for the beach, great for a windy ferry crossing and great with a brilliant pair of sunglasses. - What does your luggage says about you? Too much luggage, even on the super-deluxe scale, is a bad thing. Consider the picture that Paris Hilton tweeted of her pre-World Cup packing. Genius and iconic yes, but testament to her superior holiday style, not at all. It doesn’t suggest that she has a huge holiday reading backlog to get through, it says she’s indecisive and not particularly confident in her holiday-styling ability. Ditto Coleen Rooney and the clutch of suitcase minders she recently had to employ after her most recent hols. Coleen’s cases also highlight another luggage truth: suitcases (barring Vuitton trunks and The Queen’s stamped Globe Trotters) are ugly. If you really want your luggage to say you are stylish, then you need an unbranded minimal leather holdall. It suggests that you are pretty loose with the packing, and thus well-travelled and effortlessly chic. Sadly not the most portable option.

IMOGEN FOX        Guardian News & Media 2010

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Lefkada Island, the fourth largest island in the Ionian Sea, is mostly famous for its long and wonderful beaches that attract millions of tourists every summer. Easily connected to the Greek mainland by a bridge, Lefkada has developed much tourism amenities over the last years, mainly due to its picturesque beaches.

Its long and sandy beaches with emerald, blue waters have made Lefkada Ionian popular all over the world. In particular, the beaches of Porto Katsiki, Kathisma and Egremni are considered among the best not only on the island but in the whole Mediterranean basin. They remain crowded all summer, but due to their size they allow some privacy, too.

Porto Katsiki beach is at a distance of 40 km from Lefkada town, close to Athani village. This white sandy beach is surrounded by huge steep cliffs. The beach is accessible only after climbing 80 steps down the cliff. Its crystal blue-green waters, ideal for swimming and snorkeling, and the rocky ambiance have made Porto Katsiki the most famous beach of Lefkada. In fact, Porto Katsiki was voted as the best and cleanest beach in Greece a few years ago.

Kathisma beach is found at a distance of 14 km from the island’s capital. It is situated close to Agios Nikitas village. The white colour of the sand is in stark contrast to the turquoise colour of the sea. Kathisma beach is well organized with sun beds, umbrellas and sports facilities, ideal for kite surfing.

Another beach worth mentioning is Egremni. This exotic coast is surrounded by huge steep cliffs and you climb down 250 steps to get there. The blue waters are warm and inviting. As Egremni is pretty remote, access by car is somehow difficult.

Apart from these beaches, there are many other coasts on Lefkada to amaze you. Most popular tourist resorts are Vasiliki and Agios Nikitas, where you will find many Lefkada hotels and all kind of modern tourist amenities. For sports, try Agios Ioannis beach, the best windsurfing spot on the island.

If you have your own means of transport, explore the whole island and find some nice coves to enjoy your swim in privacy, away from crowds and noise. There are plenty of such coves around Lefkada Greece, waiting for you to discover them.

View more information and pictures of Lefkada island and book your ideal Lefkada Hotel