Saving Money Tips for Vacations

By brooke, March 1, 2011, Personal Finance, Travel

My husband and I love to travel (who doesn’t?). The thrill of going somewhere new…the excitement of trying new foods, seeing the way others live, we enjoy it all. All of it that is, except for paying for the trip (it’d be so much easier if we won the lottery). So in honor of Spring Break (coming soon), the pinnacle of travel season, here are some tips on how to save money on your next vacation.

Pack meals on daily outings. Whether you’re traveling by yourself, with friends or with family, buying breakfast, lunch and dinner (and snacks) at restaurants or concession stands can get very expensive and can quickly deplete your budget. So, instead of eating every meal out, try finding a grocery or small food mart to pick up items for breakfast and lunch. Also, check to see if your hotel/lodging has BBQ pits you can use. This will save money and extra calories (although calories don’t count on vacation, right?).
Check for coupons. Before heading out on any excursions, check with your hotel, visitor’s center or even the local newspaper for any coupons or deals. Many times those places have deals with many tourist attractions that can really save you some money.
Make it a road trip. So gas isn’t the cheapest, but driving is far less expensive than airfare these days. You can make it fun for the whole family by making planned stops along the way to your destination.
Remember to pack all common tourist items. Have you ever looked at the price tag for sunblock at the hotel gift shop? It’s almost two or three times the original price! While it may be easier to buy when you get there, more times than not, you will overpay on items like disposable cameras, sunblock, etc. So, save money and be sure to pack all necessary tourist items.

Resources:
www.ehow.com
hubpages.com

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