How to Play It Smart When Planning Your Summer Vacation
Thursday, June 13, 2019, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
As summer gets closer, so does the possibility of a summer vacation. If you are planning on spending a getaway in the sun to recharge and relax, you might consider starting your planning now — especially if you’re on a budget.
Playing it smart when planning your summer vacation can help lower your travel costs whether your budget is really strict or a little more flexible.
For example, driving is a lot cheaper than flying in many cases. If you do fly, bringing only a carry-on can help eliminate costs and risk.
You can also plan on getting creative with your meals so you’re not spending a fortune on food each day.
By staying in the city or another popular location, you can spend a lot of time walking instead of driving.
Finally, choosing your accommodations wisely can do wonders for your budget.
Image Source: Pexels
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Drive, Don’t Fly
Picking your destination wisely is one of the best ways to help keep your summer vacation more affordable. Not only can you pick places that are more affordable to travel to or even locations that are in their off-season, but you can also choose a place that you can drive to.
Flying is incredibly fast and easy, and a lot of people can find some stellar flight deals — but driving is often the cheaper choice. Plus, driving allows you to keep transportation once you arrive, so you don’t have to rely on Ubers or taxis.
In addition to that, you can turn your vacation into one with multiple stops along the way! A road trip can be a whole adventure.
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Avoid Checking Bags
If you do decide to fly, try to bring only carry-on bags instead of checked bags in order to save money and avoid the risk of losing your possessions. There are tourism and travel laws that protect you if you have lost luggage, but those issues are often not sorted out right away.
In order to avoid those issues altogether, avoid checking any luggage. Having a lost bag can mean having to buy new belongings, which isn’t very budget friendly.
In addition to that, many airlines charge you for checking bags anyway. For those reasons, it’s safer to carry on your bags and avoid checking altogether.
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Get Creative With Meals
Dining out three times a day for meals can get really expensive, really quickly. This is why avoiding eating out is often a popular tip to help you vacation on a budget. Pack snacks or purchase some at a store once you reach your destination.
Buying groceries is easy, cheap, and can make a great option to have a picnic somewhere. Plan to buy groceries a couple of times during your trip. Breakfast is often the cheaper meal to eat at a restaurant, so save money by eating out for breakfast and eating in for dinner.
Eat local street food or visit a farmer’s market. If your lodging offers any meals for free, take advantage of them!
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Stay in the City
Usually you hear the opposite in terms of budget-friendly accomodations, but if you find a good deal on a hotel or lodging option by booking early, you can save a lot of money by staying in the same location you plan on spending most of your time in during your vacation.
Having your lodging, entertainment, food, and shopping nearby limits your need to pay for transportation. By walking to each destination, you’re saving money multiple times a day. The cost of this savings might not equal the cost you’d experience by choosing a lodging location out of the city, but you’ll have to do the math to be sure you’re making the most budget-friendly choice.
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Choose Accommodations Wisely
Lodging is often a pretty expensive part of travel, so it’s important to choose your accommodations wisely. Some things to consider in terms of your lodging choices include complimentary breakfast options, complimentary transportation amenities, and finding lodging with a kitchen, which can save you a lot of money.
Whether you’re staying in a hotel, hostel, AirBnb, or a resort, make sure you’re shopping around and reading reviews. Cheap locations are great as long as they are sanitary and safe, so do your homework before jumping on the cheapest option.
Playing it smart when planning your summer vacation doesn’t mean you can’t plan the vacation of your dreams; it just means you have to be deliberate in some of your travel choices. By saving money when you travel, you can turn your trip from an expensive vacation into a relaxing getaway that won’t break the bank.
As you’re planning your summer vacation, play it smart by choosing to drive instead of fly, getting creative with your meals, avoiding checking your bags if you do fly, staying in the city to avoid transportation costs, and choosing your lodgings wisely. This way, you can have the summer vacation you want without ruining your travel budget.
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