I’m calling shenanigans on this whole notion of a staycation. Sure, money may be tight, but your company gives you vacation days for a reason and if you’re in school, they don’t call it summer break for nothing. A summer vacation should be in the Constitution.

Travel is good for the soul and there is no better time to do it than in the summer. The weather is great, it’s easier to coordinate a trip with your friends and it’s just feels good to be outside.

Here’s a few tips on ways to save a few dollars on your summer vacation:

1. Hostels - Don’t turn up your nose, hostels are quickly becoming a lot more than just a dorm-style place to lay your head. As we noted in our list of the top 10 hostels in Europe, many hostels now offer flat screen TVs, pools and other amenities usually reserved for higher-priced accommodations.

2. Free Stopovers – Did you know that on certain international flights, you may be able to get a free stopover instead of a standard connection? Spend a day or two exploring a city along the route to your destination without having to shell out for an extra airline ticket.

3. Campgrounds – In addition to hostels, many travelers are checking out new luxury campgrounds. In Florence, the Plus Camping Michelangelo has the same level of accommodations as many hostels, but since you can get your own luxury tent that is lockable, you get a little more privacy than a standard hostel.

We Warned You

4. Free Breakfast – If your hotel or hostel offers a free breakfast, even a continental one, make sure to grab a few extras to take along as snacks. A few rolls or biscuits with some jam can tide you over so you can save your money for full meals, rather than snacks.

5. Outdoor Activities – It’s summer; hang out outside. Most cities have amazing – and free – parks (like Phoenix Park in Dublin) that have plenty of space for you to toss a Frisbee, start a makeshift five-a-side game or just relax with a good book.

6. Rent a Bike – Skip the bus and rent a bike. Not only it is better for the environment, you’ll be able to travel on your own schedule. Plus, bikes are pretty common across Europe, so you won’t stick out like a sore thumb riding your bike in the city.

7. Go Domestic – Maybe your budget can’t handle a trip to Bangkok or Tokyo, but have you checked out Chicago or Boston lately? There are a lot of great things to do right in the good ol’ US of A that won’t break the bank.

8. Go Shopping – At your destination, check out the local grocery store and pick-up a few key ingredients for meals for the day. Most hostels have full kitchens – or at least a microwave – so you can keep your budget in check by cooking a few of your own meals. Plus, visiting a local grocery can often be an adventure in itself.

9. Visit Friends – It may not be as exotic as Nadi or the French Riviera, but if you have a friend in another city in the U.S. you can visit for a few days you’ll save some serious coin on accommodations and food. Plus, you’ll already know you’ll have someone to do stuff with.

10. Vegas - We don’t endorse gambling, but if you need to raise some funds as a last resort, taking a trip to Vegas offers that opportunity and is a pretty cheap vacation destination in itself if you lose all of your money. With luxury hotels on The Strip offering great deals right now, it might be the right time to make your way to Sin City. Just don’t steal Mike Tyson’s tiger.

Photo Credit: claudiogennari on Flickr

What’s up readers?

So you want to take a killer vacation this summer, but you’re a little short on the dough-re-mi, if you know what I’m saying.  You’ve scraped together some money from that part-time job, selling some of your worldly possessions on eBay and even doing a few things you aren’t too proud of to get just enough to hit the trail this summer.

You Could Be Walking This in Costa Rica

So where should you go? Where will your dollar stretch further than our friend Mr. Armstrong?

We’ve surveyed our travel experts and came up with 10 destinations to stretch your dollar the furthest this summer. Now it’s your turn.

STA Travel (courtesy of American Airlines and Albee Adventures) is giving away an adventure trip for two to Costa Rica.

What do you have to do to win?

1. Read the top 10 recommendations from STA Travel below.

2. Suggest your cheap destination for summer travel in the comment section below.

On Friday, April 10, we will select one comment with a cheap destination suggestion at random and at  5 p.m. CDT, we will announce the winner of the trip on the blog. Make sure to use a valid e-mail address when you comment as this is how we will contact you if you’ve won.

After the winner is announced, we will add the 20 best suggestions to the list below.

To get the juices flowing, here are ten of the cheapest summer travel destinations as recommend by STA Travel experts:

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina – Often called the Paris of the South, Buenos Aires offer similar beauty, but with less of a hit on your wallet. We’re talking about amazing wine for $2 and multicourse lunches for under $5.

2. Atlanta, Georgia – You’re staying domestic, so that cuts a little off of the airfare and you can stay cheap too, but combining the staples of breakfast and lunch in one meal is a real cash saver. Atlanta is home to the original Gladys Knight and Ron Winans’ Chicken & Waffles and you can find the delicacy in other parts of the city for less than $9.

Awesome View in Guatemala

3. Costa Rica - Considered an eco-oasis, Costa Rica is a mecca for those looking for adventure and eco-friendly travel. Besides the cheap and eco-friendly accommodations, Costa Rica’s public transport is dirt cheep, so you can ditch the rental car.

4. Miami, Florida – Miami is a cultural melting pot with inhabitants from all over the globe. One of the things they brought besides amazing food (can you tell we like food at STA?) is the concept of hostels. Miami is one of the few cities in the U.S. with a wide selection of hostels, starting at $19 a night.

5. Guatemala – When all of your friends are planning their trips to Jamaica or Acapulco, bring a new destination to the table – Guatemala. Ever since their economy started to pick-up in the late 1990s, Guatemala has become more modern and still flies under the radar of many travelers. Lucky for you, it is still an undiscovered destination and you can get a hotel for just $30.

6. Las Vegas, Nevada – Vegas, Baby, Vegas! Not only can you potentially make a little money on vacation, you can score tons of cheap meals and drinks. Many casinos offer complimentary drinks and I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous cheap buffets on The Strip.

7. Denver, Colorado - Free Beer. Is there anything else we need to say? Head to Denver and take the MillerCoors Brewery tour and get some free beer samples.

8. New Orleans, Louisiana - The Big Easy can be easy on your wallet, too. Besides the free people watching on Bourbon Street, you can get beer for only a buck.

9. Cancun, Mexico – I know what you’re thinking – How can some of the most beautiful beaches in the world be cheap? Right now, the U.S. Dollar is equal to about 13.55 Mexican Pesos, so you can partake in tequila shots for less than a dollar and score an all-inclusive resort for much less than you thought.

10. Cleveland, Ohio - Not traditionally thought of as an ideal destination for summer travel, the addition of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame has made this place a, “must visit.” Plus, the city is full of cultural neighborhoods with cheap food of every origin from Polish to Irish and Italian.

Now it’s your turn. Add to our list and on Friday, we will announce the winner of the free trip to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Photo Credit: baxterclaws on Flickr

Guatemala Photo Credit: AlphaTangoBravo on Flickr

Fine Print:

Two (2) 7 Night Costa Rica Land Only Packages. Winner can choose form one of three set 7 night itineraries: Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, or Arenal & Tamarindo.  Award includes 7 nights lodging and shuttle transportation.  Passenger is responsible for meals, additional activities and any other fees or expenses.  Travel must be completed by 31 Dec 2009.  Blackouts may apply  26 -31 Dec 2009 .   All other terms and conditions apply.  This award has no cash value. (ERV $1600)