Even though the global economy has shaken the travel industry in the last couple of years, many signs signal that there is a recovery trend. People are laying down the fear of uncertainty, and are trying to plan their upcoming vacations and chill-out from the exhausting year.

The recovered economy means that many are ready to spend on summer vacation again. But, that doesn't mean that now people are splashing all their savings on a week of joy and relaxation. More than ever, everybody is trying to save on a great deal. The best value for the money is always the key criteria for a deal.

In this article, we will try to give you some useful tips for planning your great summer vacation, thus not splashing huge on it.

Skip the middleman. Reaching the travel agencies is a classic approach for finding a place to rent a property for your vacation. Leaving aside all the advantages of this approach, if you want to find a nice deal, you got to skip the middleman and cut its margin in the value chain. Agencies are taking their margins for matching you as a traveler with the vacation property owners. There are plenty of online portals that will help you find your ideal destination, or wanted place at an affordable price. You can find homes, condominiums, villas, cabins, bed and breakfasts, all-inclusive resorts by reviewing the property costs and rental agreement quickly and easily prior to the booking.

Explore hidden gems. Sumner vacations in destinations such as Barbados, Fiji, and Hawaii etc. tend to cost a lot. Non-celebrities who are looking to avoid those crowds and get better deals should consider places often overlooked by most, such as Southern and Central Europe, Australia, Oceania, Africa etc. Places like Greece, Croatia, and Bulgaria are awesome for a classic summer vacation in a wonderful resort near the beach. Places like Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia are great for a late summer vacation for good prices. And cities like Nice, Barcelona, Venice, Cannes are fantastic for an early fall vacation and shopping.

Plan early but wait on deals. If you are planning a honeymoon trip, waiting is a risky strategy. Otherwise, booking the lowest-price room or vehicle and then upgrading on the spot can lead to better deals. Also, If you're expecting for a payout from your credit card issuer in the form of cash back, gift cards, or airline miles, that payout can be used to fund your summer vacation.

Group with friends. Gathering with your friends for the summer vacation can bring you extra fun and extra cost savings. Besides the wonderful time with your beloved ones, you can look for a vacation rental property from the owners for rent, like a villa, cabin, apartment or a hotel and share the costs. You will have the all privacy and convenience that a property would bring, and will save agreeing terms with the owner itself and bypass the agencies' fees.

Bring "everything". Packing your own stuff, like food, clothes and accessories is a job for the ladies, I guess. Nevertheless, note that there always will be something that is missing. But the most important thing is to pack the right attitude. Let the "what if" and live the adventure. If this is a vacation to get away and relax, then focus on activities and thoughts that will be relaxing. If your goal is to reconnect with family and build memories together, that can be done regardless of circumstances. If your goal is to sight-see and take in some special attractions or shows, then plan ahead and make the reservations needed and make sure you are all set for the challenges.