Are you in the process of planning a summer vacation? If so, are you on a budget? If you are, planning the vacation of your dreams may seem like an impossible task. Even with limited financial resources, you can still have a great time. Don’t plan a second rate vacation. Plan the vacation of your dreams. You just need to limit or reduce your expenses. There are many ways to do so, but a great place to get started is with your hotel. Continue reading on for a few tips on choosing a great hotel for your summer vacation when on a budget.
Look for hotels out of the way. Hotels located right in the middle of poplar vacation destinations automatically cost more. Consider going just five or ten miles out of the way. If you have a car rental, it won’t seem like such a big deal. The good part? You may save $50 a more a night. Another good example is with beach vacations. Do you want to travel to Virginia Beach or another popular beach destination? If so, look at hotels located inland. Yes, you might not get a beach view from your balcony, but you are likely to save at least $25 a night!
Price compare hotels to find the best deals. As previously stated, look for hotels out of the way because you are likely to find better deals. However, you never know. Hotels are known for offering special deals and discounts on occasion. See if you can find one. Online travel websites, like Priceline.com or Orbtiz.com, make it easier to compare hotels. In as little as two minutes, you can easily compare the cost of 20 hotels or more!
Speaking of online travel websites, examine vacation packages. Many packages can be customized, but most include the cost of a hotel, car rental, and airline tickets. One question many tourists ask is “am I really getting a good deal with vacation packages?” In most cases, yes, but it is easy to check. When getting a quote from an online travel website, they provide you with the names of the airline, hotel, and car rental company. Visit each website individually and request a free quote. Compare the two. If a vacation package gives you the best deal, opt for it.
Don’t forget about the little people. Hotels come in all different formats. Most tourists automatically think of the well-known and larger brands, such as Hilton, Holiday Inn, and Hampton Suites. These are nice, but there are locally owned and operated hotels, motels, and inns. Examine and price compare these. It won’t hurt to look. They need to draw attention to themselves somehow and most opt for affordable rates. Unfortunately, these smaller establishments are not always included in the search results for online travel websites. To check, perform a standard internet search with your destination and the phrases “hotels,” “motels,” or “inns.”
Opt for a hotel with an onsite restaurant. Onsite restaurants are designed for convenience, but many offer special deals for guests. For example, you may get a free or half-priced breakfast. For extra savings, you save money by staying onsite. You don’t have to waste gas with your car rental or pay for public transportation. Just walk from your room down to the onsite restaurant and enjoy a nice meal.
If you aren’t on a strict budget, aim for getting the best value for your money, as opposed to the lowest rate. If you do have money to spend, consider using it. When comparing price, also consider quality. What amenities are provided to guests? It is usually worth it to pay a few dollars more a night for access to a swimming pool, laundry room, fitness center, or childcare service. Once again, if you are on a tight budget, it is best to opt for the lowest price. However, if you have a little bit of wiggle room, get the best value for your money.
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Thursday, May 7, 2009
5 Tips for Planning an Affordable Family Vacation
Are you ready to start planning your family’s summer vacation? In the past, this was an exciting time. However, the economy now has many Americans in a financial bind. If you are one of those Americans, planning your family vacation may no longer be as fun. In fact, it is something you may dread. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. Although you are on a budget, there are many ways that you can plan a cheap, yet fun family vacation this summer. How?
1 – Stay Close to Home
When many of us think of summer vacations, plane rides and faraway destinations often come to mind. People like to getaway. A family from New York is likely to opt for Hawaii or Florida as their summer vacation destination. A family from Florida may opt for the Caribbean or New York City. These vacations are nice. After all, you get away and get to experience something new. Nevertheless, if you are on a budget this year, you should think 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.
2 – Let Your Children Help Choose Activities
Staying close to home is one of the best ways to save money on a summer vacation. 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. Unfortunately, with this arrangement many parents feel like they are shortchanging their children, especially if they were used to the above mentioned 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 teenage daughter can plan day two of your vacation, your ten-year-old son can help plan day three, and so forth.
3 – Give Camping a Try
If you don’t want to stay close to home, you are likely to book your airline reservations and a hotel room. Price compare 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!
4 – Wisely Choose Your Travel Dates
If you don’t 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.
5 – Don’t Wait for Last Minute Travel Deals
When it comes to finding travel deals and discounts, many mistakenly believe you should wait until the last minute. Yes, many hotels, airlines, and car rental companies offer last minute travel deals and discounts, but they are usually less common during the summer. The summer is a peak travel seasons and they rarely have problems filling planes and hotel rooms. For most, it is too risky to wait. If you are one of those individuals, plan your trip in advance, but always be on the lookout for moneysaving deals and discounts. Luckily, hotels, airlines, and car rental companies offer them all year round, not just at the last minute.
1 – Stay Close to Home
When many of us think of summer vacations, plane rides and faraway destinations often come to mind. People like to getaway. A family from New York is likely to opt for Hawaii or Florida as their summer vacation destination. A family from Florida may opt for the Caribbean or New York City. These vacations are nice. After all, you get away and get to experience something new. Nevertheless, if you are on a budget this year, you should think 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.
2 – Let Your Children Help Choose Activities
Staying close to home is one of the best ways to save money on a summer vacation. 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. Unfortunately, with this arrangement many parents feel like they are shortchanging their children, especially if they were used to the above mentioned 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 teenage daughter can plan day two of your vacation, your ten-year-old son can help plan day three, and so forth.
3 – Give Camping a Try
If you don’t want to stay close to home, you are likely to book your airline reservations and a hotel room. Price compare 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!
4 – Wisely Choose Your Travel Dates
If you don’t 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.
5 – Don’t Wait for Last Minute Travel Deals
When it comes to finding travel deals and discounts, many mistakenly believe you should wait until the last minute. Yes, many hotels, airlines, and car rental companies offer last minute travel deals and discounts, but they are usually less common during the summer. The summer is a peak travel seasons and they rarely have problems filling planes and hotel rooms. For most, it is too risky to wait. If you are one of those individuals, plan your trip in advance, but always be on the lookout for moneysaving deals and discounts. Luckily, hotels, airlines, and car rental companies offer them all year round, not just at the last minute.
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