Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Rest and recuperation are essential to health – physically, relationally, and spiritually. Plan a vacation to escape the winter blahs.
These tips can help you afford it, so you can enjoy your getaway guilt-free!
1. Plan in advance – As far out as possible. Decide where and when you want to go. Calculate how much money you need and start saving today.
2. Research your destination – Check online for deals, discounts, coupons, and free activities. Search daily deal sites, and find out if a local radio or television station partners with businesses to offer local special deals. You can find special deals for everything from activities to sightseeing tickets to restaurants.
Don't forget to check for deals while en route to your destination.
3. Bring your coupons – Pack coupons for grocery items. It's cheaper to buy items at the store than to eat out every meal. This works especially well for breakfast. Don't forget restaurant coupons.
4. Pack meals and snacks – Use a box or cooler to pack snacks and sustainable breakfast items.
5. Share meals – When you eat out, share a meal. Being hungry (and tired) can override better judgment and result in ordering too much food. Remember, you can always order more if someone is still hungry.
6. Shop your accommodations – Find the best deal you can. Call hotels directly and ask for the lowest price. Try to pick a hotel that doesn't charge additional fees for amenities such as breakfast, parking, and wifi. Take the time to work sites like Priceline.com and Hotwire.com. With some diligence, you can usually narrow down which hotel you're likely to get, making the process much less risky.
If vacationing for a few nights or more, consider condos or home vacation rentals. Often the per-night total is lower, the space is larger, and most have a kitchen to cook meals instead of eating out.Try vrbo.com or asking a friend who owns a timeshare.
7. Research free transportation – Some accommodations offer free tram or shuttle service to/from attractions or the airport. You have to abide by their schedule, but it saves big in parking fees and gas.
8. Research traffic patterns – If you drive yourself, use the web to map out routes and learn local traffic. Knowing an alternate route (or a better time to be in transit) can save gas and a lot of time.
9. Make a packing list – And check it twice. It will show you ahead of time things you need ““ allowing time to look for a great deal on that must-have item. Plus, you might realize you are packing too much when you review the list.
10. Look for bundled vacations – You can save by purchasing hotel, attraction tickets, and transportation together. But do your research first ““ bundling is not always the cheapest.
11. Travel with friends or family – And share costs. It makes a nice vacation more affordable and a lot more fun.
12. Buy ahead and/or join loyalty clubs online – Sometimes purchasing tickets or joining a loyalty club online will yield savings you'd otherwise miss. It could be everything from free parking with buying tickets online to a free kid's meal coupon. Don't leave home before checking the websites of everyplace you plan to go.
Get more great tips and ideas from this post,“How to survive a road trip with kids.”
