Travel Budget: How to Save Money on Vacation

By K.C. Jean Kellam

With tax checks in the mail and another stimulus check being sent out by the government in late May/early June, many Americans are dreaming of their next family vacation, and most are doing so on a pretty tight budget.

A little research ahead of time and some wise planning can turn any two-star trip into a four-star vacation with ease. A few tips to keep in mind when planning that trip are:

1. Keep your eyes open for the good deals. Websites that offer hotels at discount rates, such as Priceline.com and CheapTickets.com, give you the power to compare hotels, flights, and car rentals around the world, and often offer discounts for last minute trip planning. Priceline.com also offers the unique ability to name your own price on a hotel. For example, if a large hotel had cancellations or did not sell as many rooms as they needed to make budget, they may offer four- and five-star rooms at dramatically reduced rates just to fill them. Checking these sites as well as the local news stations, can lead to savings of hundreds in your pocket or to spend.

2. Off Season. The thought fishing off of the North Carolina shore in the summer is always a beautiful thing. However, just weeks after peak season, usually summer months, rates can drop by 50% or more on weekly rentals. The weather is just as beautiful and the beaches empty. Most local stores are still open, though slow, and many other destinations beside North Carolina also offer this opportunity if you do not mind vacationing a little later in the summer. Do keep an eye on storm predictions as some states and islands experience severe weather during off season months and should be avoided.

3. Plan ahead. Either with a travel agent or by yourself, planning ahead and taking into consideration all of these expenses involved will help you budget your money better and give you more time to look for good deals.

4. Go bigger. The price may seem a bit higher for suites that include kitchens, but the savings will be enormous if you are going to be staying more than a weekend. Being able to bring your own groceries could literally save hundreds, leaving tons of spending money to put to better use. Hotels and resorts that offer weekly rentals with suites are also cheaper to find through the Internet and off season as well.

5. Make it a traveling circus. Renting a home, even off season, for the week can drain any travel budget. By getting other family members or friends to chip in and take the trip with you, not only will you save on cash but you will also have a party traveling with you ready to have fun, too.

6. Make it fun. If it is a vacation you are after, then a vacation you must find. Whether in your own town or across the globe, any amount of money would be wasted if everyone did not have the time of their lives. Keep money in mind, but happiness too, and really review your spending priorities ahead of time. Have everyone going on the trip involved in the decision making process and part of the spending budget. Then everyone can see where the savings come from, like eating in instead of eating out, and where they could spend the extra money, such as scuba lessons or jet ski rentals.

By making it a family decision to budget the vacation, everyone can make the most of their money and learn the value of deciding how to spend it. Using available resources, such as the Internet, has made vacationing more affordable by far. Being able to plan ahead will ensure not only a wonderful trip, but also a relaxing return without sweating about how much was spent.

03/06/08  By K.C. Jean Kellam