[lrjohnson]

As others, yes and no. I try for very cheap flights. I go for lower priced lodging-but I don't do generic motels overseas...I have had incredible B&B's for $17 a night in Belgium, including breakfast, and we loved out room (it was four people in a two room suite including a bathroom). I like renting apartments to actually have a kitchen when I can, and I can do hostels sometimes, though I prefer unshared bathrooms. So I like cheap, but interesting.

I don't try to eat cheap on purpose....but I don't eat out all three meals by any means - grocery shopping in other countries is a blast. My best Bosnian meal was at this hole in the wall burek shop-maybe eighty cents for a snack/light lunch hunk of pastry with incredible meat stuffing. I like smaller more local places. But then I will treat myself-St. Johns in London cost me $70 and that's with no alcohol (but incredible duck and the best sorbet ever.)

I don't really souvenir shop-I'm not a shopper at anytime. I always buy a pair of undies in a country I visit-it started with the crazy Chinese annd Gypsy run market in Budapest. The Bosnian undies were 75 cents. I did buy a lot of christmas gifts; the $2.25 gorgeous copper hand colored earrings went over really well at work today!

I aim for cheaper places so I can spend without worrying about it. Oaxaca was incredible, same with Krakow, Budapest....I think I'll do China soon.

Once i'm on vacation, I tend to live pretty modestly as usual but I don't deny myself anything-I don't want any regrets about something I missed eating, doing, or seeing due to cost. We rented a car to see the Plitvice Lkaes...worth every penny.