Keep Your Vacation Budget
Under Control

Need some help stretching your vacation budget? You’re planning a well deserved vacation but there just doesn’t seem to be enough money. Well, you are not alone.

Even saving all year long may not be enough. It’s time to look for ways to make your vacation budget cooperate with your need to get away and relax.

Investigate everything your destination has to offer. Pick out the more affordable things to do. Then make a plan that allows you to efficiently go to each place without a lot of extra running around. This saves gas money and also reduces the stress that comes with trying to cram as much as you can into each day.

Make your vacation budget work harder by planning your trip for the off season. The time of year for this will vary depending on your destination. Typically almost everything will be cheaper. airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, cruises are some of the bigger ticket items you can save on.

Having good friends or relatives who live near your vacation destination can help your vacation budget. Ask them if you can stay with them. You can save the cost of a hotel as well as a cheaper food bill. Just be sure to at least pay your share of the groceries and other expenses. You don’t want to be considered a freeloader.

Airfare can be a big part of your vacation budget. Typically the prices are cheapest Feb thru May and September thru December (except the week before Thanksgiving and the two week period before Christmas). So try to plan your trip for travel at these times.

Another tip to save money flying is avoid Friday afternoons. Since this is the busiest time of the week, the airlines can charge the highest prices.

You can save some money while traveling by packing food for the road. Eating at restaurants can really eat into your vacation budget.

When you do eat out, look for out of the way restaurants that don’t cater to tourists. These are the places that the locals eat. They are typically family owned and serve better food at cheaper prices than the touristy places. Talk to the locals. They will likely be glad to share their inside knowledge with you.

When picking a hotel, look for one that is not next to a major attraction. They charge higher prices. If you are willing to go a little distance away you can save some money. Of course going too far will offset the money saving by being a hassle to get there.

There is more to a hotel than just the ratings. Very often a hotel with a 3 star rating will have amenities that the 4 star hotel doesn’t. And at considerably less cost.

Renting an RV is a unique way to go and can be a good way to save money. You can cook your meals and no hotel bill. There’s always a bathroom nearby. Your travel plans can be very flexible. Plus, you can tap into the very friendly and thriving RV community for lots of great advise on where to go and what to see.

If you are driving, check out the car before you leave. Problems that crop up on the road are much cheaper and easier to deal with before you leave. Get a tune-up, check the tire tread and pressure, change the oil.

If you are renting a car, get smaller one if practical. They are cheaper and use less gas, especially if you pack light and reduce your speed.

Another way to help the vacation budget is to look for an alternative to taxis. A bus, train, or trolley can be a lot cheaper than a taxi. Check out what’s available before you leave.

Camping is fun and cheap. There are a lot of campgrounds to choose from and this can be a much more rewarding experience for a family than staying in a hotel.

Look for inexpensive activities such as hiking and swimming. Museums and historical sites good for low budgets. Don’t focus on major attractions like theme parks, as they can be quite expensive.

Picnics are a great family activity. Do it at a historical park where you can combine fun with some education. This also helps make for a more relaxed vacation.

Buying souvenirs can eat up the vacation budget. They are usually way overpriced. Decide ahead of time how much you are willing to spend on souvenirs so you don’t get caught up with impulse buying.

I hope that you find some of these vacation money saving ideas helpful. By make a plan and sticking to it, you can have a great vacation without emptying the bank account.