By Orlando Callegari, Jr.

Summary: This is an article on how to save money when traveling. Included are personal experiences in vacationing.

Keywords: save money, traveling, vacation ideas, vacation rentals

So, like every other soul on the planet I wanted to get away from the daily grind this summer. And like every other soul on the planet, I wanted to do it at a minimal cost.

The first thing to get tossed out was the plane trip. No need to spend $1000 on an airplane ticket when I can find a place to go in my own backyard (well not literally). Europe? Australia? Not this year. It had to be someplace I could go sans passport. Right here in the U.S. of A.

I decided New York, New York. The art, the nightlife, the museums...the proximity! It all seemed right to me. The itinerary in my head was filling up faster than I could jot down ideas.

Next, I had to figure the "when". I checked it out and apparently not a lot of people go for vacation during the beginning of September. Kids are just going back to school and no one wants to miss that.

I had a destination and I had a time frame.

Then I looked at the hotels.

Wow, it’s been a while. I had no idea that hotels cost so much. Some of these nicer places can can cost upward of $500 per night. That was until I came here to MetroFlats. The places listed on their website can be as low as $135 a night. And they are beautiful. Groups especially. That’s a big hurdle and a load off of my mind. Hotel rooms in New York city for 6 people? Good luck finding something for less than $1000.

Now, I just have to figure which friends I’m taking with me.