Everyone needs to get away on holiday now and then, yet with the credit crunch it may seem out of reach for many this year. With a little planning and forethought, A holiday abroad does not have to be overly expensive. By Travelling on a budget you may be able to have the best holiday ever and the lowest cost imaginable. When planning your holiday, location matters. Some destinations are less expensive to get to, while others are less expensive while you are there. For nearly all countries, budget lodgings can be found with a little bit of research. India and Spain both rank as some of the least costly destinations. Much depends on the location in the respected countries. Majorca costs a lot less than most mainland destinations. When choosing your destination keep in mind costs such as dining, local transportation, and entertainment. It has long been thought that staying away from the crowds and finding a destination that is off the beaten path is less expensive, but this simply is not always true. For travel on a budget, often the best deals to be had are in well known and up and coming destinations. Often package deals are available that include everything from meals to entertainment. Because of the power of bulk purchasing, these companies can get steep discounts that are passed on to you. These packages are not usually available in areas that tourists usually do not go. Turkey is quickly becoming a top destination and more and more competitively priced packages are available now than they were a year ago. A holiday to Turkey is at least 20% less than a comparable trip to neighbouring Greece. When searching for lodging, youth hostels are not just for the young. Hostels across the world are now opening their doors to families and couples with rooms specifically set aside for them. Most hostels also include kitchen facilities, which can help lower costs as you will not need to dine out for every meal throughout the day. With more airlines adding large fees for extra baggage, laundry facilities on site can also mean a smaller wardrobe that needs to be packed. Family owned hotels are often less expensive than larger accommodations, and while sometimes lacking in amenities, often the atmosphere more than makes up for this. With the credit crunch hitting abroad as well as at home, customer service and value are being added in order to draw more travel, especially by the smaller hotels. Taking your holiday in the off season is one of the best ways to travel on a budget. In Turkey, lodgings alone can be up to 50% less in April and September than they are in the prime summer months. Many locations are already warm and sunny in spring and fall. For areas in the Eurozone, such as the Swiss resort of Zermatt, late season skiing can be much more affordable for the budget conscious traveler. For many resorts, marketing of off season holidays is low, so you will need to call and find the deals on your own. Airfare is also often lower in off peak months, which is an additional benefit of traveling before or after the summer months. Travelling during the credit crunch is not an impossibility. In fact, because of fears of low tourism this year, many destinations and travel companies are offering a whole new array of low cost packages and special deals for booking in advance. Begin by setting your budget, then find a promising destination or two. With minimal research and planning many low cost options can be uncovered.