Vacations are one of the best ways to rejuvenate and replenish your spirits. Proactively planned and thoroughly researched vacations can give you a “time-of-your-life” experience while saving you a ton of money. Here are the five easy ways you can have fun-filled and relaxing vacations without breaking your wallet.
- Consider staycations – a local vacation, often times known as staycation, has become a popular concept in last few years because of recession. It simply means discovering the fun-filled activities in your local area. A nearby water park or amusement park, local museums, natural parks, picnicking are just the few examples of how to have fun locally. Visit Goby to browse the local activities of your interest – It’s a search engine for creating your own adventure.
- Grab the Entertainment Book of the city that you plan to visit. You may find the Entertainment book of your destination travel city from your local Barnes and Noble store or just browse Amazon for it. The Entertainment Book covers most of the major metropolis in U.S and Canada. Each major metropolis has an Entertainment Book dedicated to it. These Entertainment books have several money-saving coupons of local businesses, restaurants, and adventures. On average, an Entertainment books saves you about $175 on your total trip expenses.
- Don’t forget to use your membership benefits when you travel. CAA/AAA membership, Alumni membership, and employer membership are some of the most common membership organizations that result in vacation savings.
- You don’t have to invest in timeshare to be able to take advantage of its benefits. Consider borrowing timeshare of your friends or family. Most of the timeshare companies offer a lot more vacation time than its owners can use. Instead of letting it go to waste, your friends or family would be happy to let you use it. Borrowing a timeshare would certainly save you big bucks on your vacation.
- Browse websites like Cities On The Cheap for the city that you are planning to visit. “Cities on the cheap” sites include several cost-effective family entertainment options like concerts, art performances, and movie coupons.
If planned carefully, you can save significantly on your vacation. A typical family spends about $1500 to $2000 on summer vacation every year. Frugal vacations are not by any means taking away the fun from your vacation.
About the Author:
Amy C. is enjoys exploring cost-effective and fun-filled options to create a great lifestyle. She is a tabletop fountain artist as well as a full-time student. Amy invites you to browse her most recently launched collection of solar fountains for patio and garden enthusiasts to save money on energy-costs.
Here’s my tip –
Look for deals on hotel sites like hotels.com several weeks, and even months before your vacation and book the best one. Keep looking every week or two, and if you find a better deal, cancel the first and re-book.
I did it on our last trip and got amazing deals for the duration of our month long holiday in various locations.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Would You Try Human Milk Dairy Products? =-.
This won’t apply to everyone, but US Armed Forces veterans, retirees, reservist and civilians can benefit from the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Its one of the best kept secrets! Weekly vacations at beautiful spots around the world available for $329/week
Staycations are a good idea, but rarely work – I always feel like I need to be doing something around the house!
.-= Jason @ Redeeming Riches´s last blog ..10 Money-Saving Tips to Stash $10,000 – Tip #10 =-.
When I go to a vacation – travel into different places, I always see to it that I have browse the Internet to make a research on things like hotel rates, taxis, and hot spots. Hotel reservation is always an important thing that should made before going to your destination.
.-= Vic – MoneyRelease´s last blog ..How to Refinance an Existing Mortgage =-.
My suggestion: choose a job that you really love. You will enjoy every single moment at work and you will not be anxiously wanting a vacation. You can still go in vacation, but you will be able to make better decisions because you are fresh and new every single day. How do you know that you are enjoying your work? When you like Fridays and Mondays in the same extent!
All the best,
Boris
.-= Boris´s last blog ..Your mission, should you decide to accept it… =-.
I love the entertainment book.
Great timing because I got an email the other day that said they were 50% off now.
So 50% off a book of 50% off coupons is not bad at all! (haha say that five times fast!)
.-= youngandthrifty´s last blog ..youngandthrifty Net Worth Update: March 2010 =-.
One thing many people shun is the use of hostels…. However these day’s you can get a clean family room in a hostel (no sharing) for pretty damn cheap…. If you are going to be spending most of your days out and about then a hostel is pretty much the same as staying at a more expensive hotel.
Nice article
.-= Forest´s last blog ..Now Insanity – Continuing The Workout At Home Trend =-.
I am a very frugal vacation-er. i spend quite a long time checking out my destination before i go. i even find out the best and cheapest places to eat, the cost of entrance fees and whether or not there are any special offers available in the area.
call me pedantic but it really does make sure I have a great time without breaking the bank.
One way to get a frugal getaway to a sunny destination is to book your vacation time (say two weeks if possible) and check out Air Canada Vacations website and click on Last Minute Deals. You’d be surprised how ludicrously stupid some of these deals can be!
I did a search the other night and they are offering a 1-week stay in St. Lucia, all expenses paid including flight for around $900. 4 stars too!
Just a thought..nice post.
.-= The Rat´s last blog ..100th Post From The Rat =-.
Great ideas. My favorite is the staycation. The one where you just stay at home and do nothing.
I’m also thinking about taking a break for some days….I think I went on a trip in march this year and since then I am working continuously….I hope this year end I’ll get discount on the Hotel rates…also I am eyeing on the Christmas for good shopping deals…:)
Very useful article, being frugal/practical is not bad it saves a lot.There are lots of company for airfare,hotel or restaurant that offer
discount.You just need to canvass what suits to your budget.
Camping is a great way to save money and have holiday at the same time, but only if you and your family are up to it, e.g. pitching a tent, etc. It also provides time to bond and take in the beauty of nature. Plus kids love cooking things on a portable Bunsen cooker.
Well thanks for the 5 ways i will bear them in mind !