Everyone can use a vacation once in a while, but allowing for the extra expense on a tight budget can be difficult. The good news is, you can get away from it all without spending your life’s savings to do so. With a little forethought and creativity, you can take that vacation this year.
1. Vacation Locally
Who says you have to go out of state, or even out of the country to enjoy a vacation? Every state has its own landmarks and notable places to visit, so why not explore your own backyard? No need to wait for company to visit to get out and see what your local area has to offer. The best part about this type of vacation is, you can usually do it much cheaper and return home to sleep.
2. Consider Regional Airports
Flying out of a smaller, lesser-known airport can save you tons of money. Sure, you might have to go out of your way to get there, but the money you save is well worth it.
3. Rent an Apartment instead of a Hotel Room
If you’re traveling as a family, renting an apartment or home for the time you’re visiting is usually more economical than staying in a hotel. Doing so gives you a chance to experience the area as a local, too. You can find apartment and home rentals easily online – Craigslist is a good place to start.
4. Road Trip
It’s worth the extra time to figure out if driving to your destination is actually cheaper than flying. It goes without saying, you can probably get from Point A to Point B with a family of four much cheaper than it would be to fly said family, so when a road trip is in order, your next order of business should be mapping an itinerary. Include in your itinerary all the places you plan to visit, but also include the cheapest gas stations along your route, so you know you’re always getting the best deal on fuel. A penny saved, is a penny earned, right?
5. Dining Out
Eating on a vacation is typically pretty costly. Unless you rent an apartment or home, you usually don’t have the means to cook your own meals, which means eating out for each meal. Rather than eating your big meal at supper time, which restaurants charge more for, make your main meal lunch. Lunch menu items are usually less expensive, so you’ll save money.
6. Share the Costs
Vacations are always more fun with family and friends, so invite them along and split the cost of gas, lodging and food. You’ll have a blast and everyone gets a vacation for half the cost.
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