Even though the economy is bad, we still need a little vacation now and then. I have wondered if you can stay on a tight budget and still get away on a short trip. It seems that there are great travel deals to be found at many of the well-known travel sites if I spend a little time in research.

Basically, in addition to finding the best price for airfare, car rental and hotel, it is important that you to use a travel website that has a reputation for providing a trouble-free vacation.  Then I was thinking about where to go where it’s easy to find good prices on air travel or where I can drive my car. Southern California certainly fits that description.

You’ll find a bunch of information and advice related to Southern California at the SoCal Vacation Guru website.  It presently places most of its attention on Los Angeles and Orange County, with a modest but growing emphasis on San Diego County and San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. For local insight and wisdom about Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, beaches, shopping, dining and other activities, the SoCal Vacation Guru is a great source.

The SoCal theme parks include Disneyland (with Disney’s California Adventure), Knott’s, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld and Legoland. If you love theme parks, it would be tempting to try and fit all seven into a very busy, and perhaps relatively expensive, vacation trip. If your budget allows in this slow economy, you can probably find some great hotel deals, with many hotel operators and other vacation businesses really looking for your patronage.

You might also get better deals now for tickets to theme parks, museums and other activities. The price of gasoline has increased and fluctuated a lot, but for many people in the U.S. a driving trip to Southern California could save money compared with flying to other vacation destinations.