A Shorter Getaway Can Save You Money and Still Be Awesome, and These Tips Will Save You Tons of Money On Your Next Trip!
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These Tips Will Save You Tons of Money On Your Next Trip
Can't take too much time off? Well then weekend getaways are your best bet. Services such as Groupon and Living Social can get you where you want to go for much cheaper than you would traditionally pay.
Groupon has great deals in their "Last-Minute Travel" section, where you can find big discounts on resorts and hotels in fun places. Get to the beach, the city, or the countryside for less. If you go to LivingSocial you can find sales on hotels in the most romantic spots for the weekend.
Once you know where you want to go, stop by your favorite travel website to get the best tips on what to do and where to eat at your chosen vacay spot.
Many Locations Offer Free Activities for Visitors
Take advantages of sites such as Tripadvisor to find free activities in the city you're visiting. Chances are you will find a plethora of free self-guided walking tours perfect for sightseeing. Investigate the art and history museums and park websites for free or discounted admissions tickets.
Many locations have parks perfect for picnics or boat rides, and some offer beautiful hikes and nature watching free of charge. Google "free events" and see what's offered during your stay. Some cities, such as Austin, are popular for their free and local live music events.
Bring Inexpensive Supplies, But Also Buy Local
It can really help you to save money by bringing a supply of hygienic products from home, saving money en route to your destination. Before leaving home, check out money saving sites like MySavings.com, where you’ll find a ton of coupons for hand sanitizer, lotion, travel sized toothbrushes, travel safe sized hair care products, toothpaste, etc.
You can also find great coupons and free samples for convenient travel goodies like snacks—think granola bars, candy bars, and more!
Once you’ve got the basics covered, one very cool thing to do while traveling is to investigate the local farmer's markets and stores. You can score inexpensive food, snacks and drinks all while strolling through awesome chic streets, checking out the local vibes.
Take the opportunity to stock up on food and drinks to carry while traveling so you don't get stuck with higher prices at the more "touristy" locations you might visit later on. Food carts and local food stalls offer a local experience while keeping you within your food budget.
Buy Bulk City Activity Cards Ahead of Time
If you're visiting a popular location such as London, you can go online and buy their city pass, which allows you entrance to dozens of cool city sights, including museums, city tour buses and parks all for one low price.
Sometimes the city bus system is included on the passes, making getting around much cheaper than using taxis and more manageable than trying to navigate on your own. The passes often come with discounts to local restaurants as well.
Rent An Apartment or A Hotel Room With A Kitchen
Food expenses can often run up a travel budget like crazy. When researching where to stay on your travels pick a hotel room with adequate kitchen facilities or rent an apartment or house.
When shopping at the local farmer's market as mentioned above, pick up that night's dinner and breakfast, that way when you're exhausted after a full day of sightseeing you can go back to the comfort of your accommodations and whip up an easy and inexpensive meal to end your day.
The Time of Year You Travel Is Critical
Visiting a popular location during the off season can save you a ton of money. Hotels are often sometimes half-price or on sale. Plane tickets are much cheaper and attractions feature great deals.
For example, Niagara Falls is packed during the summer but much less so during the winter. The Falls is beautiful in its snowy, icicle-laden state and crowds are at a minimum.
Sign Up For Cheap Flight and Travel Alerts
Signing up for e-mail newsletter from free services such as Scott's Cheap Flights, Matt's Flights, AirFare Watchdog.com and TravelPirates can save you hundreds of dollars on plane tickets.
You'll receive e-mails whenever these services discover highly discounted tickets, even including a link in the message so you can go directly to the deals. Services such as the popular Travelzoo and Groupon Getaways feature the best airfare and hotel deals to prime locations.
Airlines often have full vacation packages to make planning your next trip easier and cheaper.
Take advantage of the tips above to make your next vacation more frugal. And don’t forget to have a plan and stick to your budget when traveling. A little forethought goes a long way in keeping spending to a minimum.
Utilize points and miles to save a few bucks, and take advantage of big sale events during the year (such as Black Friday) to get the cheapest deals. Pack light so you don't have to pay extra money to check a bag, and book a hotel room that includes breakfast.
And then enjoy!
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