Along the way, she's figured out all sorts of ways to save money.
Her first tip: make sure you know what's included in the price you're quoted.
She explains, "You shouldn't ever be sidelined or boondoggled by a low price. You have to evaluate what the price means in terms of what you're getting. If that price doesn't include the things that you basically need, you're going to end up paying more for them on the other side."
If you find what looks like a great deal online, check to see if it includes taxes, transfers, tips or meals.
And speaking of meals, Goldman says you should always look for hotels that include breakfast.
She says, "You end up enjoying a huge extra value. You can save 10%, 15%, 20% of your budget for food on your vacation by having that breakfast. If you have a family of four, and you go out to a restaurant, and just have a simple breakfast, you can end up paying 40-50 bucks."
Goldman also suggests looking for packages that bundle airfares, tours and hotels and more. It's not surprising advice, since that's what her company, Friendly Planet Travel, specializes in.
But the bottom line is that packages save the traveler money, as the organizers work out lots of deals for their groups that individuals can't.
"If you can buy services that have been packaged, you end up saving yourself all the markups along the way," Goldman says. "You can always book these things yourself, but if you're going to need more than that hotel, or more than that car, try to find a package. And if you can find a package, that answers your needs, you will save money, because there's one markup, on that package, instead of one markup on each of the individual services.
Her final bit of practical advice is simple. Don't leave your house hungry. Whether you're taking a road trip or heading to the airport, you'll spend a lot more money on quick bites at convenience stores, fast-food restaurants or the airport -- than you would eating a healthy, fulfulling meal at your own house.
To learn more about the packages offered by Friendly Planet Travel, click here.
