Vacationing on a Budget

Looking for some money-saving ideas for your next vacation?
There’s nothing wrong with vacationing on a budget.
We all can’t travel like the rich and famous.

One of the most common excuses is, “I don’t have the money to take a vacation.” There are many tricks and strategies for traveling on a budget. Here is some basic advice for those who are feeling an urge to get away.

Plan Ahead. Do the Research. Decide where you want to go in advance. Seek out the specials or discounts. Look for things to do or see nearby, so that you can make good use of your time. Spread out the maps, put together an itinerary you love, and make it happen. At the end of the trip, you’ll feel like you’ve actually accomplished something.

Be Flexible. It’s okay to approach your vacation with a specific destination in mind, but realize that you may miss out on some big savings. Better to consider 4 or 5 places in the world that capture your imagination, and explore the possibilities for all of them. Plan your vacation for the off-season. You can usually get better deals on lots of things, such as plane tickets, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more.

Hotels are typically more expensive the closer you get to a major attraction. With a little planning, you can find a good balance between price and distance.

If you are flying, try to plan your trip for when tickets are traditionally cheapest. May through September is usually the best (Thanksgiving through Christmas is most expensive). Try to avoid flying on Friday afternoon, as this is often the busiest time of the week for airlines.

When traveling by car, you can save fuel by renting a smaller car. Packing light, reducing your speed, and maintaining proper tire air pressure will also cut the gas costs. Make sure that your car is ready for the trip. Good tires, oil change, tune-up, etc. It’s a lot cheaper and more convenient to deal with these things before you go than on the road somewhere.

Check out the local transportation system of buses, trains, or trolleys. These can be considerably cheaper than using taxis.

Plan activities that don’t require a lot of money. Hiking and swimming are good ones. Ever consider buying or renting an RV? You travel at your own pace. Cooking and bathrooms are always close by. You can meet a lot of other friendly RVers who will usually be glad to point out the best places to go. Backpacking or camping is a great money-saving idea. There are lots of campgrounds around. They are cheap and you may end up with an experience that outshines anything you can get at a fancy hotel.

Local museums and historical sites are often very reasonably priced, as well as being quite educational and fun. The big theme parks have their appeal, but you can really go through the cash at those places. Plan picnics. These can be excellent money-saving opportunities, as well as a chance to really relax and enjoy the local area.