I was fortunate enough to vacation there with my family in July and by all measures, I came away impressed by the striking beauty and friendliness of the community.   I experienced perfect weather and a picturesque backdrop that came right out of a movie set.  From the hot steam billowing from the natural springs to the melting mountain snow making up the water of the San Juan River, there wasn’t enough time in the day to see everything.

While I was there, I hiked up Flat Top Mountain, with a peak of over 11,000 feet, with my son.  We got to fish and take pictures of all kinds of wild animals.  I also had time to think about world events, from the state of the economy, to Obama’s approval rating, to my life in general.   There was something about the beauty of the area and the lack of cell towers that made communication archaic and time more meaningless.  Either way, it was an enjoyable vacation that boosted my spirits and recharged my batteries and made me excited about the challenges life had to offer.

Since the New Year began a few weeks ago there has been a welcome addition to my pay stub. It’s always been there, but it’s been a few months since it had anything more than a zero next to it. I’m talking about my vacation day balance.

I took my last vacation in May — a vacation which I used to move across town, doing myself no favors in the relaxation department — and having weathered the busy holiday shopping season I find my thoughts turning to my next vacation with increasing regularity.

So, with a fresh ledger of vacation days at my disposal, I’ve begun exploring my options for a relaxing getaway sometime in the next few months. The world is my proverbial oyster and I’ve allowed my mind to float away on dreams of European getaways or Caribbean cruises.

Every time I drift off into one of those flights of fancy, however, I glance at my paycheck, then shift my gaze to my pile of monthly bills and my dreams start to dissipate ever so slightly as reality sets in. These are tough economic times and dropping a paycheck on an exotic local isn’t exactly practical.

There are some great vacation ideas and travel tips that I’ve found to help save some cash while still enjoying my time off. Here are a few of the factors and options I’m considering.

Once you’ve found a price that you find agreeable, call the hotel or airline directly, tell them the price that you are being offered and ask them if they can beat it. Sometimes they will and sometimes they won’t but by doing some research online and spending some time you’ll be able to undercut the market effectively.I’ve also found that package deals, while they can be great, are generally not quite as cheap as you’ll find if you spend the time to try to push the airlines and hotels lower and book separately.

There are some great packages at some of the nicer hotels for in-town getaways. One major hotel has a four-day package that includes room, spa, one round of golf per day and one meal per day for around $150 per night. I am strongly considering going this route since paying a little more for a room is more than made up for by spending no money on travel.

When planning your next vacation keep these tips in mind. Maybe a gloomy economic climate won’t make you have to give up completely on your fantasy trip.