Share your budget travel tips with us!

If you're like me, travel is your oxygen. You want it, you need it and life without it leaves you floundering (and grumpy). Trouble, is, travel can be expensive. Taking time off work combined with flights, hotels and food (not to mention sightseeing) can put your bank account into palpitations.

how do I save money??But travel doesn't have to be expensive - and we've got proof.

 If you've got tips on how to make travel more affordable, we want to hear from you. GoGirlfriend is a community-based travel blog and we welcome submissions from everyone. Whether you're a budget-baller or a first-class-only kinda traveler, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our Writer's Guidelines and learn how you can share your travel advice, stories and adventures!

From travel dreams to reality - travel more for less

ways to save money for a dream vacationTo whet your appetite and inspire you to write a post with your own tips, we've collected a few stories from GoGirlfriend and beyond. Enjoy the travel dreaming and start planning your own post to share.

The hidden costs of cruising - Cruise lines serenade potential cruisers with the "all-inclusive" promise but bounce into the disco the first night aboard ship and you know it's all a ruse. Sure, most of the big ticket expenses are prepaid: meals and snacks, accommodation, most onboard entertainment and activities. But incidentals can add up to more than the price you paid for the cruise in the first place.

Booking cheaper online airfare - Everyone hears of these outrageous flight deals and offers of discounted flights, but truly they are fleeting and very scarce in selection. Still, you want to know you are getting a great price. Here are a few tips from GoGirlfriend to give you the confidence that you have a great deal.

Photo courtesy of Skimbaco LifestyleMoney saving tips for travel - Many people say money is the biggest obstacle for not traveling more, however most people could easily save money for dream vacations if truly wanted. What could you give up for a dream vacation? Buying lunch of coffee out every day is inexpensive, but it really adds up and bringing your own from home can save you a few hundred each month. Saving $5 daily for one year saves you a total of $1,825.

Top 10 budget city destinations in Europe - One of the main concerns when pricing up an overseas trip can be the cost of getting there. By combining a cheap fare with a cheap destination you can make the most of your limited budget and enjoy some of Europe's best locations.

How to Snag That Room Upgrade and More: Top Tips From a Hotel Expert - People all over the internet love to talk about landing free upgrades and special hotel deals, but sometimes it seems less like a science than witchcraft. Freddie Floyd, who goes by "The Consummate Concierge" on his blog, shared his insider secrets to scoring deals at hotels-from finding secret, unpublished room rates to nabbing a free upgrade and complimentary swag.

Inspired and ready to share you budget travel tips with GoGirlfriend? We'd love to hear them! Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook - we'd love to hear your ideas!