Summer is right around the corner, and with the current state of the U.S. economy, there is no shame in finding money saving ideas for your next vacation. After all, cutting the cost of one aspect of your vacation allows you to spend more on another (or even save up for a second vacation!).
Carpool
While this is the standard idea practiced by families on vacation since cars were first invented, many groups of friends, especially those in college, do not organize optimal car pools when planning a road trip. Ask around and see if anyone else you know is traveling in that direction. Try to fill your vehicles to the maximal passenger occupancy; this may require packing the trunk tighter. Not only does this save gas, this usually makes the trip safer as you have more people able to rotate into the driving seat.
Prepare Your Meals
Especially while on the road, this is the healthiest and cheapest option. Of course you might want to treat yourself to a nice high-end meal wherever you travel, but stopping at a McDonald’s every few hours during a trip is not the best way to treat your body or your wallet. If you do end up staying at a Hotel, take complete advantage of their complimentary breakfast. Take some bagels for the road!
Go Camping
Not only do you save money by preparing your own meals on camping trips, the lodging for most camping trips is exponentially cheaper than a hotel in a city (especially if it’s free!). Not to mention, you get plenty of fresh air and sun. There’s something heartily rewarding and even spiritual about enjoying the free pleasures of nature while someone else is in a crowded casino losing all their money or watching television in an expensive hotel.
Travel Somewhere Inexpensive
Whether traveling in the U.S. or abroad, try to find a place that suits your budget. Remember that hotels further from the center of downtown are often much cheaper. Also, keep in mind that hostels are extremely affordable. If you’d like to travel out of the country without paying a fortune, Forbes recommends several Latin-American countries such as Brazil and Columbia or Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic, Russia, or Poland. Even traveling to the United Kingdom is much more affordable than previous years.
Staycation
Why go through the hassle of long periods of driving in the middle of nowhere or going through airport security when you can find plenty of fun things to do around your own hometown? Take a week off and treat it like a vacation, except you’re in your home city. Go to theme parks, go to a beach or lake if there’s one close, or just spend sometime at nearby parks. Whatever attractions your hometown has, take advantage of it now that you have the time and peace of mind to do so. You’ll be surprised how cheap a vacation spent at home can be!
As you can see, there are plenty of money saving ideas and ways to cut the cost of your next vacation. With amount of money you saved with these tips, you will be well on your way to taking another vacation soon!
Alvina Lopez is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alvina.lopez @gmail.com.
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