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Tips for Saving Money On Vacation

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Do you cringe at the cost of travel? Here are some helpful tips for saving money on vacation expenses.

Tips for Saving Money on Vacation including how to save on hotels, how to save money on travel, and how to save money on vacation meals.
Everyone wants and needs a vacation. One thing that keeps most people from planning one is money and with it being so late in the season already, if it wasn’t planned months ago, you worry you may have missed out on getting a good bargain already.

Fear not, traveler! In this post, I will discuss how to save on a vacation- general tips as well as getting a good bargain on nearly every detail!

Sit back and start planning your next get-away with these tips for saving money on vacation!

Tips for Saving Money on Vacation

Tips for saving money on vacation

Tips for Saving Money on Travel:

Of course it is always best to shop early for plane tickets or car rentals, but you don’t have to give up on travel all-together if you are getting it late. Many airports work with small carriers like Alliegent Air to get you to destinations 1 way at a very low price, even late in the season.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to be flexible in your dates and travel time. The travel discount sites like Travelocity,  Expedia, and Orbitz  offer killer deals if you are flexible with layovers. They also offer last minute deals.

For car rentals. Always look up discounts or deals online. You may not get the dream car for the trip, but they are eager to rent out the cars they may still have and may offer a great deal.

Think about where you are going. Is it pretty nice there, even in the cooler months? Why not plan a vacation during off-peak times like the month of October or February – April?

Tips for Saving on Vacation Accommodations:

The best advice here I can give is do some digging. Don’t be afraid to stay in non-traditional places. Bed and breakfasts are often a great deal because they are home-like and include a meal or two. Often, they are looking to fill the non-peak nights and have great deals.

Also, try not to plan your vacation over a holiday weekend like Independence Day or Labor Day. Hotels jack their prices up for this time. Try to travel on weekdays for the best deals. You can find out more about how to find deals on hotel rooms here.

How to Save on Vacation Entertainment:

Do your research! Don’t allow yourself t get caught in the tourist trap. Many things on travel sites for areas are paid ads. Don’t think these are the only attractions in the area. Do what the locals love doing. Many of them might be off the beaten path and free. To find out what they are, look in the paper (online) for the area you are planning to visit or even talk to locals on message or forum boards. You can also looks for frugal, fun activities in these articles written by locals about how to enjoy their city on a budget.

Check if there are any discount magazines for the area. You might be able to find that there is a tourist magazine that offers free stuff to do such as wine tasting, carousel rides and even free meals for tourists.

Do you belong to an organization that will enable you to receive a discount? Many attractions offer discounts to the military and AAA members. You may be able to purchase discount tickets through your work or credit union.

Daily Deal Sites Can Help You Save on Travel:

The daily deal sites often include deals on travel. You can also subscribe to email notifications about deals in cities you are planning on traveling to. Daily deals sites where you can find travel deals:

Tips to Save Money on Vacation Meals:

Make sure you skip on eating out for every meal. This is one of the biggest money wasters on vacation.  Picnic in the park for meals like lunch. Stay in hotels that offer continental breakfast bars. Stay in hotels that have a mini-fridge and microwave and make some easy meals in your hotel room.

Another way to avoid spending so much on food? Stop at the grocery store for snacks when you get there. It is so tempting to buy expensive snacks on the road or in tourist districts. If you have some snacks that are shelf stable, you will be able to just say no.

Finally, don’t feel like every meal needs to be an experience. In other words. It is perfectly fine to not eat out at expensive places and go to fast food places and the like. In fact, you might find you will save a ton if you are just paying for one pricier meal every day such as dinner.

Is a vacation not in your budget this year? Then use the tips in this article to plan a staycation in your hometown.

More Vacation Articles you may find helpful:

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.