At the heart of every good vacation is knowing you're getting what you've paid for. Somehow sipping a piña colada on a lounge chair while your kids frolic in the pool feels that much more relaxing--and sweeter--knowing you've gotten a deal. For Leah Ingram of New Hope, Pennsylvania, a recent trip to Disney World was made more enjoyable knowing she and her family were doing everything they wanted, but within budget. How'd she do it? By shopping around for bargains, flying into Tampa, Florida rather than Orlando, Florida, and staying off Disney property (part of the time with friends). All told, she spent $1,160 for a four-day trip for her family of four. "We were willing to be flexible, and I think that helped," she says. For example, she used Priceline.com to find a hotel room. Her original bid was $50 a night in the Lake Buena Vista area (where Disney is located). When that didn't work, she raised it to $75 and widened her net, this time including Orlando proper. She found a deal at the Sheraton World on International Drive, where it turned out Priceline and Discover were doing a promotion and would knock the nightly rate to $50 if you applied online for a credit card.

Whether you want to admit it or not, money is a big part of your vacation experience. Feeling like you're being nickled and dimed to death puts a dent in your wallet and your fun. There's nothing worse than waking up in an expensive resort room feeling like you'd rather be home--a scenario that happened to me and my family on a recent trip to Florida's east coast.

Simple planning and forethought are all that's needed for a good experience. My Florida mistake was that I hadn't done my homework. Ingram did. And you can, too. (For tips on savvy spending while on your vacation, click here.)

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change.