Whether you choose a vacation, a daycation or a staycation, the current economy calls for people to come up with creative ways to take a break without breaking the bank.
Here are five easy ways to have a holiday on a budget.
1. Stay Close to Home
When many of us think of summer vacations, plane rides and faraway destinations often come to mind. Most people simply like to get away. If you live in New York, maybe Hawaii or Florida is an ideal summer vacation destination.
A family from Florida may opt for the Caribbean or New York City. After all, the point is to get away and get to experience something new. However, with gas hovering at $4 or more a gallon and budgets tighter than ever, you should think about having fun or relaxing closer to home.
Plan a new activity each day and have a series of daylong vacations.
For example, visit a state park with a natural pool and hiking trails on day one, travel to a nearby museum for day two, visit a semi-local amusement park on day three, and so forth.
Indiana is 270 miles long and 140 miles wide, and about seven hours top to bottom. You can cover half the state in three hours or less, so its possible to travel from one end of the state to the other with stops for a day or two for two tanks or less of gas. Here are some examples:
When the price of gas discourages you from taking a vacation, consider going by train or by bus and using public transportation in your urban destination.
2. Let Everyone Help Choose Activities.
If you plan a series of daylong vacations for the week, start close to home. Your family can sleep in their own beds each night. As you get farther away from home, book a hotel.
Spending at least two nights away from home can make it feel more like those faraway vacation destinations. Remember, you are operating with limited financial resources. Planning activities you can afford is more important.
However, you can reduce boredom by letting your children help plan. For example, your teenager can plan day two of your vacation, your 10-year-old can help plan day three, and so forth. Be open to new ideas. Try something new. And parents, participate, dont just sit and watch.
After all, a vacation is as much about the experience as it is the destination. Youd be surprised how a weekend or a week away just 100 miles from home in a new town or campground can feel like youre a thousand miles away.
3. Give Camping a Try.
If you dont want to stay close to home, you are likely to book your airline reservations and a hotel room. Compare prices to find the best deals. However, you should never pay more than $100 a night for a hotel room. This just gets too costly, especially if you are on a budget.
A good and cheaper alternative is to camp. All across the country, you will find campground parks and state parks with camping accommodations. Camping rates vary greatly, but most charge no more than $25 a night.
Indiana has some of the best and most varied state parks in the country, from Fort Harrison in Indianapolis with a championship golf course, to Brown County where you can camp in rustic cabins, to Indiana Dunes, the states only national park.
Basic camping gear can be purchased at any discount or big-box store and no campsite is too far from civilization. "The key to budget travel is to plan onward. When it occurs to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved holidays and/or going to see new destinations we have never been before, the fact of cost and budgeting is generally in the back of our minds. Preparation and expending our travel budget correctly is a priority for most families. Reducing spending and fees, while still delighting your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed achievement and fiscal obligation. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thought regarding economizing money while touring is simple: Even if your personal funds is extremely tight, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, whether on a budget or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel costs!..". Children lose their boredom quickly when exploring the wonders of the natural world.
4. Plan Ahead.
This cannot be emphasized enough. If you dont want to stay close to home, wisely choose your travel dates. Since you are planning a summer vacation, you will find increased rates, but look at the little things. It is cheaper to vacation at the beginning or end of the summer. The middle is the most expensive. You will find higher hotel rates and fewer available rooms when there is a popular concert, sporting event or convention in town. The Internet, auto clubs and travel agencies can help find the best deals in travel and the best times to take that trip.
5. But Embrace Serendipity.
Once you've crafted your carefully planned itinerary, don't be afraid to detour from it. Your best travel stories always come from serendipitous connections the artist you meet through a chance encounter, the festival you hear about along the way.
Remember that your vacation doesn't have to be expensive to be a special time away from the daily routine of things. With some checking around to obtain the necessary information, and a little planning, you can afford a trip away from home anytime.
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