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Summer isn’t the only time of year to vacation! Follow these tips for planning a vacation on a budget and you can make it work no matter what time of year you want to relax!
If you are looking for more ways to save money on vacation or at home then you will want to check out these tips:
Road Trip Tips to Save You Money on Vacation
Free Things to do in San Diego
7 Fun and Free Outdoor Activities for Kids
Search the local deal sites
Almost every large city in the US has deal sites like Groupon and Living Social. Take advantage of those deals! You will find deals on almost everything you need to live it up on your vacation.
You can find deals on high-end dinning or if you are more of a adventurous “hole in the wall” type diner those are usually on the sites as well. If you are visiting a tourist town there is sure to be deals on all sorts of tours. Segways, walking food tours, bike tours, kayak tours, scuba diving tours. Looking up the local deal sites is a must if you are planning a vacation on a budget!
All inclusive resort or cruise
Have you ever stayed at an all-inclusive resort before? The initial price might seem a little higher but you need to way in all the costs that you would normally be spending on food. Resorts are always having specials so make sure to ask before you make the reservation!
Once you consider those costs, a resort or cruise that is all-inclusive really does become quite budget friendly, especially if you have a large family. A lot of these packages include other opportunities included like day camps for the kids and entertainment for the adults.
Don’t eat out at every meal
Make a quick stop at the local grocery store on your way. Buy essentials like milk, bread, pb&j, maybe some bagels and cream cheese, plus a few snacks that are easy to grab and take with you on the go.
These insulated bags are great especially when you are traveling and need to keep your food or groceries at a certain temperature. Not only are they way cheap but they fold down to fit in our luggage easily! I like to use these bags for any shopping trip where I know there will be more than one stop. Don’t want those fresh groceries going stale!
Buying a few quick and easy essentials will keep your families stomachs full without you having to spend a lot of time planning your next meal. Lunches are usually the meal that we make ourselves when we are on vacation. They are easy to pack in these insulated lunch bags (also easy to pack in luggage) and take with us when we are out and about.
Here are some great recipes that are easy to make and pack up no matter where you are on vacation, Best Picnic Food Recipes.
Use vacation rental websites for lodging
My mother-in-law is the one who turned me onto vacation rental websites and I am hooked! I really don’t think I can see myself planning our next vacation without them! The one I have used the most is vrbo.com.
On these websites individuals (not companies or businesses) post their privately owned vacation homes. A majority of these people have a vacation home for their private use but put it up for weekly rentals when they are not using it themselves. Making it the perfect opportunity for you to find amazing deals on really awesome rental locations!
Not only are the deals going to be amazing but you are going to have a lot more space then if you were to reserve a hotel room. Every time we have used it we have rented a small condo. Which means we had a complete kitchen, full and sometimes multiple bathrooms and beautiful living areas. A perfectly comfortable home away from home to retire to after a fun filled day on vacation!
Schedule your vacation on the off season
You might have heard about this one but before you book your dates look into the tourist season of your destination. The times of year will vary depending on your desired location but a generally low travel time is right after summer ends and everyone is back in school. Another off season time is the time in-between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It might even be a little easier to get time off work since you won’t be pulling for the same time slot as everyone else.
Make sure to checkout these other articles for even more tips on how to live frugal and fabulous even when you are on vacation!
Road Trip Tips to Save You Money on Vacation
Free Things to do in San Diego
7 Fun and Free Outdoor Activities for Kids
What do you think?
What are some of your tips for planning a vacation on a budget? Let me know in the comments below. Lets chat!
Aishwarya S
July 1, 2015 at 10:49 pmGood advice and tips. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Meagan Sullivan
July 1, 2015 at 11:11 pmOh the off season scheduling is a MUST!
Brittany Cooper
July 2, 2015 at 2:16 pmIt kinda works out perfect for our family because the hubby can take off time a lot easier when it is the off season! Thanks for stopping by Meagan!
Charlene Asay
July 2, 2015 at 6:56 amGreat post for this time of year. Thanks for sharing
Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife
July 2, 2015 at 7:56 amThese are fabulous tips! I especially am a fan of finding vacation rental homes with full kitchens to save $$ instead of eating out for every meal – great tip! We also try to plan our ground transportation to and from places ahead of time to save money; we were saddled with large taxi fares and train costs in the past because we didn’t plan ahead! 🙂
Brittany Cooper
July 2, 2015 at 2:14 pmGreat point Marlynn! I have never taken a taxi before but to plan your ground transport before hand is so important! You can usually find deals on the local deal websites like Groupon for things like that!
Valerie Hansen
July 2, 2015 at 8:41 amThis is such fab info! Wish I had seen it before my trip to Hawaii two weeks ago! I went during peak season, did not do all inclusive, so the cost was a bit high. Not too bad though, but I am sure I could’ve saved more! Ive never heard of vrbo I will have to check it ou! Thanks for sharing this!
Brittany Cooper
July 2, 2015 at 2:13 pmYes! You need to check out VRBO! My mother in law told me about it and now that is our number 1 for looking at places to rent when on vacation! Lucky! You got to go to Hawaii!
Sandra Hudson
September 2, 2015 at 5:11 amI would also suggest that you use a travel agent. There is a big misconception that travel agents are expensive, but I do not charge any fees for my clients. I research to find the best deal for all of my clients that fit their needs and budget. I get paid commission for sending clients to Disney World, Cruise, Resorts, etc. I would love to help anyone wanting to plan an upcoming vacation. ?