Budget Travel: 5 Steps to Creating a Budget Friendly Vacation

Traveling during a down economy isn’t easy. It’s a big commitment, and there isn’t a lot of certainty. This has caused many families to postpone or cancel their vacation plans altogether. Many of these families aren’t aware of the ins and outs of budget travel, and that’s unfortunate. If these families realized that they can make travel more affordable, then maybe they’d be able to take more time off.That’s what I wanted to go over in this article. If you’re interested in saving money on a vacation, then follow these simple budget travel steps.
Find the right destination – If you haven’t picked a destination, then pay special attention to cheap destinations. You don’t have to plan the trip of a lifetime to get a good experience. Try looking for something close to home that many people don’t think about. Get creative!
Pay attention to transportation – Calculate the cost of traveling to your destination. A flight, for example, can cost a family thousands whereas a car ride would cost less. Granted, you’ll also have to balance that against the potential frustration of a long car ride. But, if it can save you a few hundred dollars, it might be worth it.
Select the right hotel – Look around the Internet for different hotel deals and see where you can find the lowest rates possible. You hear a lot of horror stories about cheap hotels, but I really don’t have any. Even the cheap hotels I’ve stayed in have been satisfactory. But pay attention to the reviews anyway, since most price comparison websites show them. If you can find a cheap hotel that people have been satisfied with in the past, then it might be the diamond in the rough you’re looking for.
Make a Light, and Cheap Schedule – Some of the most enjoyable vacations are the ones where you don’t do much. When you’re traveling on a budget, the last thing you want to do is cram your vacation full of activities. Schedule some fun stuff, but don’t overdo it. Not only will you be exhausted, you’ll also spend more money. Think of free time in both senses of the word (the do what you want sense and the doesn’t cost you anything sense)
Plan your meals ahead of time – Think of a college student living in an apartment. How do they save money on food? Do they eat out all the time or do they go to the store and make their own meals? Obviously, they do the second one, and you can do the same thing during your vacation. This may sound like nonsense, but a family of four can actually save $150-$200 just by planning their meals.

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