Best Travel For Less
Work, family, school break and the general chaos of life can induce a strong craving for escape. The mere thought of several days away is true bliss until reality hits – how are you going to pay for it?
Vacationing on a budget is possible. Your family can still see the sites and have fun without draining your bank account. All it takes is a bit of planning and a little know-how to find the hottest deals. My name is Barb, and I will be your tour guide through my top five tips for saving money on summer travel.
Travel Tip 1: Hotel rates may be cheaper on weeknights than weekends.
You can often save a few dollars by limiting your Friday or Saturday night hotel stays, as those nights are traditionally more expensive. Consider checking in on a Sunday and departing on a Friday if your schedule allows. Also, keep in mind that areas that cater to business travellers often have lower rates on the weekend. Remember, it never hurts to call the hotel directly and ask if they are offering any special deals. The worst they can do is say no, right?
Travel Tip 2: Stay off-site.
When visiting a big tourist area such as Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, opt to stay off-island in nearby Bluffton. It is about ten miles from the public beaches at Hilton Head and offers great hotels that are less expensive. This strategy works for other vacation destinations, too.
Travel Tip 3: Take advantage of rewards cards.
Many hotels offer reward points for staying at their properties. After a specific amount accumulates, you can apply the points to a free stay. If your annual family vacation is the only time you spend in hotels throughout the year, unfortunately this probably won’t work for you.
Our family also takes advantage of the Cashback program through Discover. At vacation time, I cash it in on gift cards and certificates that save on hotels, rental cars and more. Discover isn’t the only credit card company offering bonus and rewards programs. If you’re not signed up for rewards, do so immediately so you can use them on your next vacation.
Travel Tip 4: Free is good.
If you don’t have to pay for entrance tickets into attractions or events you can really stretch your vacation dollars. Look for free days at city museums, zoos and attractions. Begin by visiting the city’s website or simply Google “free things to do in ______.” Many national and state parks have free admission days as well. For a complete list of parks, visit nps.gov.
While free is best, big discounts are good, too. The city of Chicago offers a CityPASS. that can be purchased online before your vacation and will save you as much as 50% off entrance fees into must-see attractions. Many other major US cities have a similar offer as well.
Travel Tip 5: Eating on the cheap doesn’t mean skipping meals.
It can cost a family of four as much as $30 just to eat breakfast in an inexpensive restaurant, so try and select a hotel that offers a hot breakfast included with the room price. If you can’t get a hotel that serves free breakfast, pack your own. Fruit, granola bars and other portable foods make for a quick meal that can keep everyone fueled until lunchtime. Remember back in Tip #2 when we talked about rewards cards? Some credit card companies offer restaurant gift cards as part of their reward program. Sweet!
Planning a vacation on a budget does take a bit more time and creativity, but I’ve found that in the end it’s all worth it. My family gets to have a great escape and I come home relaxed and not stressed over vacation bills. Our next trip is to a major theme park. With my planning strategies, I know I will save enough money to be able to bring home a few fun souvenirs, You can never have too many souvenirs, right?
Thank you, Barb, for sharing your best money saving travel tips with the Mamapedia community.
