As many of you know, I'm a bit of an obsessive travel planner. Part of it is just who I am, and part of it is because planning is how I get the most enjoyment from my trips. I might only have a few days in a destination, but I can have several months of enjoying it. I love planning in advance, reading about a city's unique history, enjoying novels set there, and then have more fun playing with photos when we return. 

With my list-y tendencies in full swing, I've already started looking at accommodations for our round the world trip that's scheduled to start in Novemeber. It's a short trip -under a month - and I want to make sure we enjoy every day of it. And, frankly, I want to get great value!

We've already accomplished that on our flights, as we cashed in our points and strategically staggered flights to minimize taxes and airport fees. And now I want to get the best possible value from inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, hotels and more. And the more I look into this, the more I realize that there is more to accommodations than just the sticker price.

I focus a lot on value travel and that often translates into budget travel. But my intention is really to focus on getting the best possible value for money, and sometimes that translates into well placed splurges. These are a few examples of when I spent much more than my average budget, but it was worth every penny.

As 2013 gets into full swing, and we start looking forward to new trips - both big and small – I've been taking some time to reflect on what worked well for us when it came to travel finances in 2012. 

Of course, not everything worked so well! So, in fairness, I’m also looking at what we could have done better. But let’s start out on a happy note!

The road to Hana, in East Maui, is frequently described as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. We joined this familiar tourist trail when we visited Maui in 2012 and were not disappointed. While it's common for guidebooks to suggest the best stops, scenic vistas, and waterfalls along the way, they leave out many other practical tips. My suggestions for the Hana Highway will therefore not focus on which kilometer markers to stop at on route but rather on how you can have a more economical, relaxed, value packed day.