Traveling on a Budget

With the price of gas and airfare going up, traveling has become a luxury expense many of us have had to eliminate. I remember when you used to be able to just pack up the car and drive for hours until you get to a place that peaked your interest and stay there overnight. Now, with gas having almost doubled over the last 5 or so years even getting to work can be frustrating.

But there always comes that time when you just want to get away. Get away from work, get away from school, family, friends, and even children. My brain is always running at 100 miles per hour and thinking of new places to visit and see and explore so I have come up with a couple of things that will help you stay out of the hotel restuarant, washing dishes, to pay for the extravagant meal you just ate.

1. Make a realistic budget - it is better to over-budget than under-budget and now you are stranded on some island and can't leave. Make the budget from beginning to end. In your budget, you should include items like food & drink, lodging, transportation, any special items needed for the trip (i.e. skis for a ski trip), and any activites you wish to do. The easiest way to do this is to do some research and find out, on average, how much things cost.

2. From that budget, eliminate things you really don't need -  do you really need to buy that third swimsuit you want to wear on a 4 day cruise? Do you really need to have a private guided tour of the museum when you can get the same experience with more people for no cost at all? Is it really worth it to spend an extra $200 per night just to be on the concierge floor of your hotel? You ge the picture.

3. Think "All-Inclusive" - if you know you are on a budget, planning a vacation that includes a stay at an all-inclusive resort may be your best option. Usually, the all-inclusive amenities include all food and drink, sometimes even including alcohol for the grown-ups, taxes and gratuities and any hotel activities, such as sports, fitness studios, and even snorkeling and kayaking. Although the initial cost may be high, in the end, you will end up paying less because you do not have to whip out the credit card for every little thing.

4. Off-season or weekdays - it is always cheaper to travel during the destinations off-season time. This does not only apply for hotels but sometimes also for activities around town and even restaurants. During the week, there are also a lot of savings to be found. Often times resorts will even offer an incentive for staying during a weekday.

These are just a few major things to consider when traveling and wanting to save a little bit of money. Something Sean and I often do is a staycation. We have a vacation club membership at the Walt Disney World Resort so when we need some time away without burning through our wallets, we book a 2 or even 3 night stay there. It gives us the same benefits of being on vacation without the worry of not having enough money to cover everything.