Don't let the words inexpensive vacations scare you into thinking that you will end up with a messy hotel room and a rental car wreck either. You can save money on your vacations and still travel "like the rich and famous". Above all, regardless of where you go or what you do, just getting away from the hustle and bustle of every day life is relaxing in itself.
But if it's really time for you to getaway for some well deserved R&R, this article will give you some ideas and tips for planning inexpensive vacations.
• Gas
Gas is one crucial factor to consider when planning inexpensive vacations. To save money on gas you can take a car on vacation instead of a truck or van. If you have a camp trailer, you should weigh the options of camping versus motels. You will need to check the cost of your lodging versus gas to see if it would be cheaper to drive your truck or van and pull your trailer than it would to drive the car and have the motel expense.
• Lodging
If you are looking for inexpensive vacations, then another factor worth considering is your vacation accommodations. Check the rates on several different motels and hotels. You should also check online as they sometimes have better rates online than they do when you call. If the price seems a little high ask if they have an event or something going on. That could be the reason for the higher price. If that's the case, you might consider a different time when the price would be a little cheaper. You might also check a few different dates. Try not to schedule your vacation time during holiday weekends as the price will usually be higher.
Dining out at restaurants is expensive, so if your planning to have an inexpensive vacation, you need to decide now how to stretch your food budget. You should consider bringing your own food supplies or stopping at a grocery store when you get to your destination. Some motels offer free continental breakfasts for guests. If you have the continental breakfast and sandwiches for lunch, you would save quite a bit of money on meals. Also, purchase snack items such as crackers and peanuts at the store rather than buying them at the gas station or gift shop.
• Attractions
When you go on vacation it's always fun to go to the tourist attractions while you are there. Just because you are planning inexpensive vacations doesn't mean you can't go to these attractions. Check online and with motel employees when you arrive to see what you can do for free. Not all the attractions will have a fee. You might also receive a book that has coupons in it for free passes to certain places. Check those out in the motel lobby or in your room. You might ask someone if they have guides to the attractions. Those sometimes contain coupons as well.
So if funds are low or you don't want to spend a lot of money, don't scratch your vacation just yet. You can still go on vacation. Consider places closer to home and bring food with you instead of going out to eat for every meal. Planning inexpensive vacations can actually be a lot of fun, since you need to find create ways to do more for less. You will be surprised to discover that there are plenty of things to do without spending any money at all.
Darlyn Burkle, offers resources to show women how to survive a depression and thrive through the financial crisis. The 52-week Money Saving Toolkit helps women save and earn extra money. It covers practical money saving tips for saving on food, utilities, mortgage, gasoline, entertainment, college education, travel, gift-giving, and more.
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