It doesn't matter if you travel by air, sea, or highway, one thing's for sure...

"It was more expensive than in previous years," traveler, Bruce Campbell says.

In fact 2008 was considered by some travel agents like Lynn Fuller to be of the most expensive years ever to to pack your bags, that could explain why places that rely on tourism have taken a noticeable nose dive in business.

"Coming back on the plane, there were a lot of empty seats so they haven't got the formula quite worked out," Campbell says.

But now travel experts say 2009's formula is set to to make it one of the cheapest years ever for folks to travel.

"A lot of the travel companies are pretty concerned about the economy too. If people can afford to go and have time to go, this is a great time to snatch up some of those bargains," Fuller says.

That's not only for vacations to exotic getaways that involve airfare.

"They'll have some really good specials from time to time. I mean I've seen fares for nine dollars," Fuller says.

She adds that prices are even expected to be driven down this summer at some Michigan getaways like Mackinac Island.

And while money is still really tight for most like Campbell.

"Well I guess there is uncertainty because you don't really know what's going to happen," Campbell says.

He admits that after hearing the news of cheap travel , he could be back in the friendly skies sooner than he had thought.