For the best bargains, join the locals

Get the inside track
There are ways to get a head start on local prices before you even set foot in a town. In the United States, read the local newspaper online for free events. Get coupon books such as the Entertainment Book to load up on valuable two-for-one coupons. These can pay for themselves in just one day. You can often obtain passes and discounted tickets to local museums and other attractions through the local tourism office.

When going abroad, tap into some local expertise before you go. In many cases, the "six degrees of separation" phenomenon will suffice: Tell every friend and relative that you're going to Paris and you will usually turn up a friend of a friend who lives there. If that fails, use a hospitality exchange program. These programs are mainly geared to travelers looking for a place to stay, but they are also good ways to find locals willing to help with advice. Two of the free ones are Hospitality Club and Couchsurfing.

You may not know the ins and outs of every back alley after following this advice, but you'll be well ahead of the pack, with less money flowing out of your wallet or purse each day.

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Tim Leffel is author of the books “Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune” and “The World's Cheapest Destinations.” He also edits the award-winning narrative Web 'zine Perceptive Travel.

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