How to Stretch Your Travel Dollar

Even if you are on a budget, traveling is possible. Vacationing when your funds are limited can be a challenge, but there still many locations that you can visit. You do not have to sacrifice quality while on your vacation. Here are some tips to stretch your travel dollar:

Tip #1: Schedule your vacation during the off-season.

When is the off-season? That depends on your destination. For a ski resort, you can get a cheaper price if you travel there during the summer, while a beach house in New Jersey is usually cheaper during the winter months. Even tropical locations have off-seasons, which usually occur during rainy times of the year. When you travel during the off-season, you may have to deal with less than perfect weather, but that does not affect indoor activities like visiting museums and going to the spa, and you may end up saving hundreds of dollars.

Tip #2: Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Even if you do not have flexibility with your month of travel, making it possible to travel during the off-season, try to have a little flexibility with your specific dates. Flights are always more expensive on weekends, because that is when most people want to travel. If you can switch your dates, you can save $50 to $100 on most tickets – and sometimes even more, depending on the airline.

Tip #3: Skip the car rental and purchase a bus pass.

In many cities and even on islands, there are very reliable public transportation systems, and most hotels are on bus routes. Some hotels even provide complementary buses to the most popular locations or are within walking distance to sites you may want to see. When planning your vacation, do a little research to avoid a rental car if possible. At the very least, pay a car service to take you from the airport to your hotel instead of renting a car for an entire week or two, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

Tip #4: Take advantage of age discounts.

Did you know that in many locations, kids get in free? Some airlines even provide children with free flights! There are many options available to save your family money, and you can find restaurants – especially buffets – that are extremely inexpensive and in some cases, free for children. Along with children, senior citizens can get discounts in many travel areas. Restaurants are not the only places that give seniors a price break.

Tip #5: Travel as a group.

If you are travelling with a large group, you can get group discounts on everything from hotel rooms to amusement park tickets to flights. If you organize a trip through a travel agency, you might even be able to travel for free or at a very low price. If you put in the time to plan everything, you can find a great price for your next vacation.

Tip #6: Participate in a home trading program.

Do you live in a place that is a desirable vacation spot or have a second vacation home? If you are willing to let other travelers stay in you home, they may let you stay in theirs. Trade your cabin in the mountains for a beach house or your New York City penthouse for an island property in the Caribbean. Even if you do not live in a popular location, you may be surprised at the amount of people interested in trading homes for a week.

Tip #7: Plan a “stay-cation”.

Who says you have to go somewhere to enjoy vacation time? Take some time off from work and enjoy local attractions. You do not have to travel or pay for a hotel, so you can save a lot of money. You can still enjoy near-by museums and restaurants that you would typically write off as too pricey and relaxing time at beaches or spas near your home. To make it seem special, hire a house cleaning service for the week so you will not have to worry about cleaning your home. If you are really on a budget, you can even forgo expensive activities and instead rent some movies, borrow some books from the library, or enjoy a dip in the local pool.

The point is that you do not have to spend a fortune to have a great vacation. With just a few hundred dollars, you can really enjoy some time off. The key is planning. Make sure you know exactly where every dollar is going and resist the urge to splurge on expensive meals, souvenirs, and other things you do not need. Just because you are on a budget does not mean that you and your family cannot enjoy traveling together, you just have to get a little creative so you can stretch your dollars.