I recently took a trip to Washington D.C. and was able to see a lot of sites in just a few days and for a reasonable price. With a little research and preparation, there are always ways to make travel easier and prices cheaper. Here are a few tips I learned that might help you on your next adventure.

1. Use the Metro.

Not only is Metro travel reasonably priced, but it is also fast (as long as it isn’t broken down) and easy (as long as you can read a metro map.) Most metros run frequently, arriving every 10 minutes or so and can travel many miles in just a few short minutes. Using underground transportation is also easier than trying to maneuver around big city traffic on one-way streets, especially when you are unfamiliar with the layout of the city. Plus, you have to pay a small fee to ride, but it saves you from having to pay for parking each time.

2. Plan your route to visit sites nearby.

If you plan it right, you can knock out an entire to do list in just a few days, by going to see all the sites you want that are in the same area. For example, while in D.C. I was able to see nearly 10 monuments in a single afternoon on foot because they were all in close proximity to each other. It is time efficient, rather than attempting to visit sites on opposites ends of the city.

3. Be prepared for all weather conditions.

Those of us from Ohio know all too well how we can experience all four seasons within the span of four hours, however, other cities, especially those near water, can have pop-up storms and a cloudy cool breeze one day and a hot, sunny day the next. It is best to be prepared for hot, chilly and rainy weather to be comfortable.

4. Travel light.

If you intend to carry a bag or purse, make it small and only bring the necessities. Because it is the nation's capital, you will have to have your bag searched before entering EVERYTHING as well as walk through metals detectors. The smaller and less a person has to dig through in your bag, the faster the process goes.

5. Do not eat in museum cafes.

To save money, do not eat in museum cafes. It is convenient but very pricey. Eating at the Smithsonian in D.C. costs $10 for a single sandwich. While restaurants may not be as frequent in the city, your best bet, if you are not picky, is a fast food chain. While city prices at McDonald’s, for example, are more expensive than in small towns, it is still cheaper than a cafeteria inside a museum. Food stands on the corner of the road are also a cheaper, faster option.

6. Buy tickets online ahead of time.

Always be sure to check online for places that require tickets. Sometimes you can avoid a line by purchasing online and sometimes you can even get tickets cheaper online. Sometimes the only way you can guarantee a spot is by purchasing tickets online ahead of time. For example, we bought our tickets online for Ford's Theatre to guarantee our spot because they sold out quickly.

7. Stay in a hotel outside of the city.

To really save some dollars, stay outside of the city you are visiting. The closer you get to the city, the more expensive the hotel cost. Your best bet is to stay right outside the city, near a metro station or perhaps in walking distance, so you don’t have the hefty hotel price, but still have an easy, cheap path to your destination. Arlington, VA is always a good place to stay when visiting D.C.