subject: A Money-saving Vacation [print this page] Who said a vacation has to force you into debt? Everyone loves to take a vacation, keeping these rules in mind you can have an awesome time on your vacation, at an affordable cost.
Budget
Decide on a comfortable budget, that will get you a vacation at a lower price. Make sure you have the money. There is nothing worse, than still paying your debts for a vacation you took last year. If you do not know, what the price of your ideal cheap vacation deal is, you will have difficulty in narrowing down your search.
Advance Planning
Plan your vacation early, this way your flight, hotel and other expenses will be much cheaper. Do your research about the place, and what it has to offer beforehand, so that you are not left holding an empty wallet. If you have family or friends who live in a cool place, take the time and visit them, by informing them in advance. You will see a new place and also have free accommodation to stay.
Off season
You will get great discounts, if you decide to take your vacation in the off season. Take full advantage of the off-season offers. The crowds would have disappeared and you can have a relaxing holiday by yourself. Booking well ahead, and the off season can get you nice discounts on airfare as well. Go directly to online sites, and check out their offers. If you check the deals often enough, you will see a pattern and find the best flights to take during a particular season.
Cheaper Countries
Why go to the run of the mill, usual vacation spots such as Hong Kong, Hawaii, The Caribbean Islands? You can instead go to places like Macau, Peru, Thailand etc, you will get the same sites, food and history at cheaper prices. If you are going to Europe, try visiting places like Greece and Portugal, they are not as expensive as France or Britain. These places will make your vacation unforgettable. This way you can afford to shop and buy cheap souvenirs as well.
Pack Smart
Don't carry things that you can buy at your destination, like an extra bottle of water. This way you pay less for baggage. And, make sure that your suitcase doesnt weigh more than 50 lbs, most airlines now charge an extra fee if its heavier than that. Even if you are staying at the same hotel for weeks, packing light can save you a huge headache. Carry only your essentials, like your iPod, book, comfortable shoes etc. Some people carry so much that they are even tempted to ship the things back home. When you pack light, you have more space to bring back goodies that you shopped for during your vacation.
Guidebook
You will be paying $20 - $30 for a good guidebook. But, by the end you will be saving a lot of money because of this purchase. They often publish cheap places to eat, sleep, local customs, and major tourist attractions. This will help you decide which place you want to visit and which place to skip. They also give you the inside scoop on the best days to visit museums, galleries etc. Or tell you how to find seldom-visited free events.
Food
Airports can charge quite a big bundle when it comes to food. Which is why you should pack your own food when you travel. Take food like an apple, crackers, candy bars or a simple sandwich. Don't forget to take your own water bottle, you can fill it up at a water fountain wherever you go.
Don't Not Splurge
We go to a vacation to relax, have fun and enjoy, sometimes that takes money. Don't work so hard at saving money and cost cutting, that you forget to have fun on your vacation. If it has been your lifelong dream to ride an elephant, go bungee jumping, fly in an air balloon or swim with the dolphins, just do it! Stop worrying so much about the cost. There are a number of once in a lifetime experiences, where it is totally OK to splurge.
