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Last updated on October 22nd, 2024 at 08:53 pm
Vacations aren’t just fun and relaxing, they’re actually vital for our mental wellbeing. Unfortunately, vacations can also be a huge financial drain.
After you’ve factored in the cost of your flight, accommodations, meals, perhaps a rental car, and anything you do while you’re there, it can be easy to give up on taking a vacation altogether. In fact, statistics show that’s often the case–Americans have left over 765 million vacation days unused!
But, you don’t have to let your precious vacation days go to waste! Forget the expensive resorts and overpriced packaged tours. Here’s how you can have a five-star vacation on a one-star budget.
Go With a Group
If you’ve been putting off a much-needed vacation because you don’t think you can afford the cost of a luxury hotel room in the city of your dreams, you might just need to change your approach.
Traveling with a group of friends or family members can help cut down on expenses. You can split the cost of a vacation rental home, share the cost of gas or a rental car, and split other expenses.
Skip the Flight, and Take Your Car
If you’re traveling within the U.S., you may not need a flight. Consider taking a road trip instead, and save 50% or more on the cost of getting to your destination.
Road trips are a fun way to reconnect with family and friends, and you’ll have tons of sightseeing opportunities along the way that you would have missed if you’d chosen to fly.
Consider a Home Exchange or House Sit
Have you ever thought about a home exchange? Register your own home on a home exchange site, and you can stay at someone else’s home for free–in exchange for allowing visitors to your town to use your house.
Or, sign up with a pet or house sitting site. Then, search for a house or pet sitting opportunity anywhere in the world. You’ll get free accomodation in exchange for your services.
This is a great way to live like the locals while you’re on vacation and skip the pricey resorts and hotels. Another bonus–you can cook and eat your meals “at home” to save on dining out.
Be Flexible and/or Book at the Last Minute
If you’re flexible with your travel plans, you could save big money. Cruises, airlines, and hotels sometimes offer huge discounts for last minute options.
For example, cruise lines often put out amazing deals about a month before sailing. You might not have the flexibility to choose your room, and your choices for travel will be limited, but you’re likely to save 70% or more by booking at the last minute.
And, if you’re not set on a specific destination and can be flexible with your travel dates, here are some creative ways to get terrific flight deals too!
Go for a Shorter Amount of Time
Spending two or three weeks somewhere versus a week is going to greatly affect your total cost. Restaurant meals, excursions, and accommodations add up quickly. To save some money, consider shortening the length of your trip to help put a few more dollars back in your pocket. You can then put the money you would have spent toward a future trip, or spend it to enhance your current one.
The bottom line? You don’t have to be rich to take a nice vacation–in fact you can travel on almost any budget with a little creativity.
What are some of your some of your tips for vacationing on a budget? Share them in the comment section below.
Also read:
4 Top Tips for Saving Money on a Cruise
Flight Hack: How to Use the 24-Hour Rule to Save Big
How to Save Now for Your Summer Vacation: 5 Tips
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