by Jesse M.
Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy a vacation without worrying about your finances? Many people are under the impression that vacations have to cost a lot of money, but this simply isn’t true. By following these easy tips, you will not only save a bundle on your trip, but you may also be able to go on vacation more often!
Buy Tickets in Advance
If you plan to fly or take a charter bus to your destination, you could save a significant amount of money by purchasing the tickets a couple of months in advance. Beware, however, that such tickets are usually non-refundable. If there are any changes to your plans in the mean time, you’re out of luck.
Eat Breakfast at the Hotel
These days, most hotels offer continental breakfasts that are delicious and provide a wide variety of common breakfast foods. Chances are good that there will be something for everyone. By eating meals provided by the hotel, you could save hundreds of dollars over the course of your trip.
Free Lunch
If you don’t want to spend money on restaurant lunches, it’s a good idea to grab some extras from the hotel’s continental breakfast. Boxes of cereal, granola bars, bread, pastries and even peanut butter and jelly can be stashed away for later use.
Rental Cars
If you plan to rent a vehicle, choose the smallest and most efficient model available. These cars are cheaper to rent and tend to get better gas mileage.
Public Transportation
Depending on where you’re vacationing, you can save a ton of cash on cabs and rental cars by taking local public transportation. Places such as New York, Chicago, Denver and St. Louis have excellent public transportation that go directly to many of those cities’ main attractions.
Don’t Bring the Cards
Leaving your debit and credit cards at home can help you resist the temptation to spend large amounts of money. Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that people who purchase things with cash are less likely to overspend because they’re able to see their money dwindle. When paying with credit or debit, it’s easy to ignore a shrinking balance.
Money Rationing
If you’re planning to bring the kids, they are almost certainly going to want some spending money. The best thing to do is give them a set amount of cash and tell them that once they’ve spent it all, they won’t get any more.
Share a Room
If you’re planning a family vacation, your first impulse may be to have the kids shack up in a separate room. Depending on the hotel and the length of your stay, however, this could cost you hundreds of dollars more. Unless you’re looking forward to a romantic time with your significant other, it may be worth it to opt for a single two-bed hotel room.
Thanks for the good tips. The only one I would question is the one about free lunch. I consider it unethical to purposely take extras from the breakfast bar to use later…