In states where the average cost is puffed up by high big-city rates, staying in suburban areas can help. Staying far away and commuting to the city center can waste much of your precious vacation time and tire you out unnecessarily. Be diligent about looking for hotel discounts. In the cities, have your travel agency find hotels where it can arrange discounted rates, either through hotel brokers or a preferred-rate program. Ask about senior discounts, but don't assume that the senior deal is the best you'll get.
Brokers can often do better.
Meals, of course, are a personal sort of expense. You can easily travel through the United States paying a lot less than the AAA figures would indicate. On the other hand, sampling your destination areas' special cuisine is one of the important reasons for traveling and you won't want to skimp on meals everywhere you go. Don't shy away from those low-cost areas because you think they have nothing to offer a visitor. Arkansas, for example, is one of the nation's best-kept vacation secrets.