Mar 2009
24
The sour economy doesn’t have to spell the end to your family’s summer vacation plans. You can plan to travel on a budget and still have a great time.
Consider Free Outings
While you’re probably aware of “freebie” entertainment in your own town, take advantage of it in places you want to travel as well. When you find a city you’d like to see, check the local newspaper’s events calendar and the tourist bureau. Especially during the summer months, you can find scores of free art, music, and sports activities in most cities. Don’t forget state parks, either. They offer scenic trails, picnic areas, and even swimming for free...
Take Your Own Food
Especially when you’re traveling, take your own food with you. It’s easy enough to pack a cooler of pre-made sandwiches or even just meats and cheeses to munch on. Mix this with individually-packaged snacks and bottles of juice or water, and you’ll save significantly on food. To save even more, buy large packages of snacks and scoop them into sandwich bags to grab while you’re driving.
Once you arrive, you can save on food, too. Take advantage of free breakfast at your hotel, even if you’re not normally a breakfast person. Eating something when you get up will keep you from needing to buy a big lunch later. You can picnic at a local scenic area so that you can enjoy the view without spending much on food.
Spend “Lazy Days”
Regardless of where you go, it’s possible to spend a lot of money. Even if you go to the beach, there are water parks and tube slides and other ways to spend money. A trip to the mountains can include money spent on panning for gold, hiring a tour guide, and paying to learn the local craft. Instead of spending on these extras everyday, take a few days of your vacation just to enjoy the sites where you are. Head out the beach and make a day of it. Walk along the mountain stream with a pair of binoculars. Just because you go on vacation doesn’t mean you need to become a free-spending tourist.
Find Hidden Gems
Perhaps you’re only looking at places you’ve heard of when you plan your vacation. When you have money to burn, that’s okay, but when you’re trying to be frugal, consider lesser-known locales. You often get a more authentic experience and spend less money.
Think about what you like to do and then do searches online for that activity and the name of a nearby state. You may find towns and small cities you didn’t know about that offer activities that will make your vacation memorable. College towns usually are fun places to visit cultural events and take part in sporting activities. They also usually have cheap alcohol and funky dives to experience.
Vacationing on a budget does limit your options, but creativity is the key. Doing your research ahead of time and planning out the days of your trip will help you to stick to your budget.
©2009