4 Tips for Budget Travel

By Vince Armstrong

Traveling on a budget can be frustrating. Plane tickets can cost hundreds of dollars, plus all of the luggage and other fees. Driving takes time and may involve expensive parking passes. Then there are issues with food, lodging, and simply being able to take time off of work. However, traveling does not necessarily have to be expensive. With these 4 simple tips, it can be possible for anyone to have a chance to travel.

The most important step to traveling is setting your budget. This budget dictates what you can and cannot do. There is little point in looking at a world cruise if you are working with a $400 budget for 2 people. The least expensive choices for a tight budget are day trips. Find somewhere interesting that is about 1 to 3 hours away from home and go there for the day. See the local sights, eat one meal out, and take some memorable pictures. If your budget is a little higher, consider a weekend trip. Now it may be worth driving 6 to 8 hours each way and camping or staying at a hotel. Going anywhere further away may require plane tickets and car rentals. So keep that in mind when planning a trip on a budget.

Now that you have decided on the budget, it is time to plan. How much time do you have to go? What are the sites in your area that you would love to see? Consider going to tourism websites to request maps or look for trip packages. Also consider going somewhere right before or after the peak season. Many times hotels will offer large discounts when they are unable to sell all of their rooms. A night in a Grand Canyon hotel may cost $200 or more at the end of summer. But go a month or two later and that price may be $50 or $100 cheaper per night! Traveling during off peak times is an excellent way to make your vacation time and dollars stretch as far as possible.

Whenever possible, avoid restaurants. Restaurants are organizations that stay in business by marking up the cost of food. Even though fast food may appear cheap, buying easy to store foods from grocery stores will always be cheaper. A loaf of bread, a little cheese, some meat, a small jar of mayonnaise, and some peanut butter may be all you need for breakfast and lunch. A small cooler will enable you to keep lunch meats and cheese cold, which enables you to eat breakfast and lunch on the road instead of stopping. That will mean you can either save money on your trip or have a little extra money to find a nicer restaurant for dinner.

Going to expensive resort towns and staying in 5 star hotels may be a nice way to treat oneself after a long week of work. But it is not economical when you are on a budget. Look for fun, low-cost activities. These can be local getaways, or you can be patient and wait for a sale on plane tickets. You can even wait and pool money with friends for a group discount. Like anything else, it is usually wise to shop a little before picking your vacation destination.

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