How To Have Vacation Fun On A Budget
How to have an inexpensive and enjoyable vacation
Having a memorable vacation doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. If you’re willing to make some concessions along the way, these budget friendly vacation tips will keep you happy.
Know Your Vacation Budget
The first step in a successful vacation is not where to go, but how much money will you allot yourself to spend. Know who is going to be vacationing-you, you and your spouse, or the whole family. Multiply your budget for one by the number in your party. It is better to allocate each child twelve years old and older as ‘adult’. Those under age 12 can be counted at half the cost…but, far better you over calculate for the unplanned surprises, than under guess your expenses.
Decide on a destination. For vacations that exceeds your vacation allowance, forego the immediate vacation and take one later in the year after saving. Remember, the fun is often in the journey, not the destination.
Determine Your Vacation Destination
Know what you want to do. Some people don’t care where they go-they just want to visit someplace new. Other families don’t want any fuss; they just want to get to a place that meets their criteria for relaxed family fun, with plenty of activities for the kids.
Hobbies or activities of interest, like skiing or wine tasting, may be a third factor to consider. Or, perhaps there is a particular exhibit or event that you wish to attend and you’ll be travelling to that location to participate in it, such as a special art exhibit in another city or state.
Plan ahead to beat the crowd
Travel and Transportation Bargains
Once you have decided on your vacation plans, explore your options for the best deals. If it requires air fare know which dates and times are the cheapest, such as early morning or the ‘red eye’ flight. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often cheaper because most business people need to fly out on Monday. Likewise, know which airlines will charge hidden or additional costs, such as baggage fees and, all things being equal, go with the airlines who offer those freebies.
When planning a trip, do your own research online and through reliable recommendations. Triple A Road Service offers free trip planning services for the cost of an annual road service membership. However, don’t join for the convenience of one service. Many of the travel agent services are available at your finger tips via online searches. All it costs is time and perseverance maneuvering the websites.
When considering whether to fly, drive, or use other transportation, such as a travel bus or train, weigh everything out carefully: the amount of time you have; the cost of gas for your trip, should you drive, vs. the need for a rental car, should you fly.
Finding Cheap Motels
When you’re vacationing away from home you will need to plan a place to rest your head at night. The cheapest accommodations could be a borrowed cottage or a swapped home in another location. There are endless possibilities depending on your budget and how much you intend to spend on where you sleep vs. what you do. Here are a few other sleep accommodations: a tent and sleeping bag; a log cabin or teepee in a state park; a hostel; a Super 6 or 8 motel room; a reasonably priced room in a hotel chain; or a bed and breakfast inn. Bargain hunters who become savvy to off season dates win in two ways: discounts and crowds.
How to save money while dining out
Budgeting for meals may take some strategy in the overall planning of your vacation. If you will spend time at a motel/hotel chain, rent a suite with a kitchenette, or at least a room with a microwave and refrigerator.
Save money eating out by planning to catch a continental breakfast at your hotel; then eat your largest meal midday when the prices are cheaper; followed by a simpler, lighter supper. Investigate local ‘early bird specials’. Utilize discounts appropriate for age groups: senior specials or children’s menu prices.
Bargains for vacation activities
Before starting out on your venture, purchase discounts for theme parks through your place of employment or a local travel agent. Know what items you can bring with you, such as your own ski gear for a ski trip, which will save you the cost of rental equipment. Educate yourself about cost saving special days and times that a particular place of entertainment may have, such as midday half off specials. A well planned vacation can incorporate fun and savings.
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Comments
What a wonderful article, I need a vacation.
Glad to hear you're feeling better and that your co-workers jumped in so effectively. I think psych nurses definitely have the toughest, highest risk jobs, then comes, ER and homecare.
You're right, I don't miss the hectic, stress filled days of nursing, but at this point it's nice to look back and know that I spent 36 years of my life helping others. During my career, there were times I was the main provider for my family so I'm also grateful for the income, and now pensions, that I earned from nursing, but it's a hard way to make a living, and I think it's even harder now than it was years ago. God bless you for the work you do.
This is great hub. Well done. I learn much from you. Thanks for writing this. We need to control our budget while vocation. Vote up. Have a good day!
Love and peace,
Thanks for the good advise here, I'm always trying to think of a cost saving way that us adult kids can vacation with our parents now. Great ideas here!! A.B.
Sorry to hear you were assaulted. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, especially for psychological recovery. Unfortunately, assault is a hazard in our profession that most people don't realize.
You probably could turn your experience into a hub as long as the patient isn't identifiable.
Also, are the policies in your facility conducive to worker safety?
Great hub. Staying within budget when planning family vacations keeps it fun for Mom and Dad as well as the kids. Nothing spoils a vacation faster than a parent worried about having to pay a large credit card bill when they get home.
I loved what you wrote about encouraging kids to be part of the planning and to also have them give up some of their own daily luxuries for future vacation fun. It's a great way to teach values and long term financial planning skills.
Congratulations on finishing hub #50, and hub #17 in the 30 day challenge. That's an awesome achievement given your work schedule.
Very well researched and written, Denise. Today now more than ever it pays to be on a budget. You have pointed out how to do so, in simple terms. Thanks for sharing.
Hello my friend Denise, how many days do you have to go. I remember doing this and I was so sick of it about 3/4 of the way through. This is a great hub, thanks for your advise and great ideas. rate up love & peace darski
A vacation is what my family really needs yet when we consider our budget, we are shied off and just settle for a movie marathon at home. I think we should save more and use these tips you have provided in case we ever get the chance to get away.
Vacationing with a family can be very expensive and you offer some great tips to keep costs down. Very useful and well written hub, Denise!
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