Stick with domestic travel

International flights are still costly, but the price of domestic flights has fallen on average 11 percent since last year, according to the travel website Hopper, thanks to lower fuel costs, increased capacity and more competition.

… or go abroad where your dollar goes further.

If you have your heart set on an international trip, choosing a destination with a favorable exchange rate lowers the total cost of your vacation. “In places like Turkey or Colombia or Peru, you can stay at four- and five-star hotels for $200 or less,” says Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy. The Federal Reserve posts updated exchange rates at FederalReserve.gov/releases/h10/current/.

Avoid hotel fees.

According to ResortFeeChecker.com, so-called resort fees have risen to an average of more than $30 per night. That can push up the cost of a weeklong vacation by a couple hundred dollars. Call in advance to ask about fees. Or use your points to book at a hotel chain that waives fees.

Stop sitting on your points.

A study last year by LendingTree found that 7 in 10 credit card holders had unused cash-back rewards, points or miles. That’s a mistake. Such rewards typically become less valuable over time due to changes in the terms of the program.

Bundle through an airline.

Booking your hotel or rental car along with your airfare through a website like AAVacations.com or DeltaVacations.com can yield significant savings.

Expand travel dates to the ‘shoulder.’

Traveling a few weeks before or after peak tourist season can mean fewer crowds—and lower costs. An analysis by Kayak found travelers saved up to 27 percent flying to Europe in the so-called shoulder-season months of March, April, October and November.