Although much of the world is still getting bombarded by snow storms, Spring Break is right around the corner. With March only a couple of weeks away you may want to start thinking about how you’re going to escape from your winter wonderland and enjoy the beautiful fresh air and warm sun. However, if you’re stressing over your budget the idea of a Spring Break may seem hopeless. There are ways you can get around some of the main financial aspects of taking a Spring Break vacation though. With a little thinking outside of the box and a whole lot of strategic planning you should be able to schedule your Spring Break getaway without stressing over the huge price tag.
1. Choose the Right Hotel
There’s a lot that can be said about the right hotel! If you choose correctly you can end up saving a whole lot of money throughout your trip. For starters, when you call to make a reservation you should ask if the room has a microwave and mini-fridge, or even if there is access to such items in the customers’ lounge. These two simple items will help you save more money than you can imagine on a trip. With these items in your room you can strategically buy groceries so you don’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on eating out. Groceries for a few days shouldn’t cost you a lot especially if you keep your expenditures on the cheap side. Even buying TV dinners will cut the cost of your meal needs substantially; however, picking up cold cuts and other sandwich supplies may cut your budget down so much more. A great hotel choice will also offer a continental breakfast, or snacks throughout the day. This is also a big budget saver. Finally, check and see if there’s a pool, workout room or other facilities that will keep you happy and busy during your stay. The more time you spend in the hotel the less money you may spend on the vacation.
2. Last Minute Specials
It’s always smart to try to get your Spring Break booked well in advance, but a lot of us don’t have this option. Between juggling finances and securing time off work, it’s a little hard to know if we can hop on a flight months in advance. There is still a way for all of us late planners to save though. Last minute deals can be found just about anywhere online. The first place you should check for these deals is on your airline tickets. Typically, you can be put on a wait list to see if a seat is available to you on some booked flights. This may mean you’ll have to be packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice, but it will be worth the savings. Other airlines may squeeze you in on red eye flights, depending on their policies. You can also look for these savings on hotels. Many businesses will lower the price of a night’s stay if they can’t fill the rooms. Of course, this may mean jumping between hotels, but the savings should be worth it. Finally, you should look for these savings for activities in the area. Sometimes people will cancel which will leave an open, and discounted, slot just for you!
3. Look For Discounts
One of the keys to saving big on your vacation is to actually look for discounts anywhere and everywhere. It may seem a little tasking at first, but after the first day of asking every venue about discounts you’ll be a seasoned pro by the end of the vacation. A lot of businesses will offer more discounts than you imagine, especially during tourist season, so if you have anything that may be considered discount worthy make sure to ask. One of the most popular discounts, especially during Spring Break, is student discounts. Make sure you have your student I. D. with you at all times though as you’ll probably have to flash it a few times. Other popular discounts would include military discounts, senior discounts and some may even be given for insurance companies.
4. Plan for a Cheaper Destination
If you’re planning to catch a flight to one of the top Spring Break locations then you may want to put a halt on those plans while you’re trying to save your budget. Instead of hitting the hot spots try to check out a less popular area during Spring Break. There’s plenty of sunny places to choose from, so do some research to find some place that suits your needs. Usually when you fly to a less popular destination the prices aren’t as expensive because they’re not as in demand. You can also get a room for less than you would in the peak areas. Of course, one of the best things about places that aren’t as traveled to is there will be less people, which means shorter lines, more space on the beach and generally less time waiting to have fun and more time actually having it. Between the reduced price of airline, hotel and transportation prices you should save a whole lot more than you’d expect. Of course, when you add on the savings of food and entertainment, you may start to wonder why you didn’t think to Spring Break like this before.
5. Camp Out
Spring Break is one of the prime times to enjoy a little camp out. It’s not too hot to make the trip unbearable and in most places the air will still be crisp and refreshing. The best thing is, you can camp a lot of places for little to nothing. If you’re not going far then you may base your vacation around your camp out. You’ll be able to spend more time with Mother Nature and won’t be tempted to go shopping and spend lots of money. Of course, even if you’re traveling for Spring Break you might want to skip out on the hotel and pitch a tent on the beach. Many beaches won’t allow you to do this without a permit, so make sure you know the rules before you plan anything out. However, many beaches have designated camping areas, so with any luck you can plan your Spring Break around one of these locations. Although you won’t have the warm bed you may have in a hotel room, you will be able to fall asleep to the beautiful sound of crashing waves every night and that’s a comfort that money doesn’t have to pay for.
6. Skip the Restaurants
Eating out often ends up being a huge part of the vacationing process. There’s a lot of delicious foods out there to try and who doesn’t love having a nice dinner with friends when you’re away from home? Of course, the price of eating out doesn’t always flatter the budget we’re working with, especially if we already stretched things out to afford the price of a hotel and airline. If you don’t have a lot of money to spare on your trip then don’t eat out 3 times a day. Instead, find a local grocery store, preferably outside of the tourist area, and stock up on foods that are easy to eat throughout the day. This will allow you to enjoy more of the vacation without stressing out over your budget. This may even help you feel more energized throughout the day as you’ll have less heavy or unhealthy foods in your system so you can enjoy the time you have out a lot more. There’s even foods you can buy to protect you from the sun! If you do feel the need to eat out, or there’s something special in the area you just have to try then keep it to a minimum. One or two restaurants throughout the duration of the trip may be the best way to save on money while still getting more out of the experience.
7. Staycation
There’s no law saying Spring Break has to be spent elsewhere, which is why a Staycation might be right up your alley. There is a whole lot we miss when we’re caught up with work and trying to stay in tune with our personal life, so it may be rewarding just to get out and see what’s brewing in your own neck of the woods. Try out a new restaurant you’ve been meaning to check out. Enjoy spending some time on a new hiking or biking trail. Or, you may even want to simply go out to the movies. Whatever you choose to do, try to look at it with fresh eyes and absorb the relaxation time so you can feel renewed when the staycation is over. If you want to save even more money then try to look for some free events. There may be live music in the park, a new art exhibit or something entirely unexpected. These freebies will help keep you busy throughout the holiday without forcing you to spend anything, which means you can return to the hustle and bustle without worrying about the amount of money you spent.
8. Public Transit
If you have to travel far to get to tourist attractions during your vacation then taxis or driving yourself may not be the best of options. Taxis will add up your spending very quickly and you may not be able to budget accordingly due to varying taxi fares. Driving yourself also means spending more money on gas, but the biggest expenditures of all will have to be for parking which could cost you more than $20 a day! The best thing you can do is stick with public transit whenever possible. Typically you can get a daily travel pass for a few dollars which will allow you to get around town for next to nothing throughout the day. You may also want to consider renting public bikes to add fun to the traveling aspect of your vacation.
9. Groupon
Social media inspired coupon sites are a great way to save money on entertainment and dining while you’re on vacation. Before you head out try to keep an eye on the latest deals for the area you plan to travel to. This will allow you to plan your trip around cheap entertainment so you’re less tempted to spend money where you shouldn’t. Groupons are perfect for families on vacation, but are also great for friends that plan to travel and stay together throughout the trip. Typically the more people you can get in on the deal the less you’ll have to pay per person, which is great for tight budgets. You may also be able to get into some of the top restaurants in the area using this method!
10. Budget
Before you set foot out of your front door make sure you have a game plan for the trip. Budget out a figure so you know what you have to spend throughout the trip. Try to have the airline and hotel paid for before you leave and then pull out cash for the rest of the spending you plan on doing. While you’re on vacation only pay for things using cash. It will help you stick to the budget and not go overboard with frivolous expenditures. If it helps, keep money for food and other items in separate envelopes so you don’t stray. You may end up coming home with money to spare.
Spring Break is a much needed time for relaxation and sunshine, so don’t skip out on the fun because your finances are too tight. These ten tips will help you have the time of your life, without the price tag so you can feel refreshed until your next vacation.
