Today it is more important then ever to squeeze all of the savings and value that you can out of your vacations. Inside this article I am going to teach you a few of the strategies I use to do just that. No matter what your vacation plans look like, whether your planning a family trip, a trek around the world, or a relaxing couple of days on the beach with you and your sweetheart, the thoughts of cost and budgeting are always looming in the back of your mind.
Everyone loves to travel and vacation. No matter how recessionary the economy may become that one truth will always remain steady. Travel is not just a fun thing we all enjoy, it is a necessary element to our health and wellbeing. It is an opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and recoup from the barrage of daily stress that beats us down throughout the rest of the year.
However, today, more than ever it is important that we spend our vacation dollars wisely, and look for value and money saving strategies and shortcuts wherever we can find them. We must look for ways to stretch our vacation dollars further today than we ever have in the past. Helping you discover and implement such money saving strategies into your vacation plans is exactly what this article is about.
Many people assume that when the economy gets tight and they are forced to start pinching pennies, that they will have to do away with the family vacation plans altogether. That is not necessarily the case, and would actually be a bad idea. As I already mentioned, travel is not just a luxury, it is a necessity for living a healthy, well balanced life, physically, emotionally and mentally.
The Little Things Count Big
It is important to keep in mind, when sketching out your travel plans, that even the small things can add up to big savings on your overall travel budget.
Things like, all those extra hotel amenities, cab-fares, hospitality tips, meals at restaurants, car rentals, gas for your own vehicle if on a road trip, tickets for special attractions or events, beach-and-pool-side drinks (if not at an all-inclusive resort or cruise) and more, adds up fast on and can get out of control before you know it!
With a little bit of fore thought and extra planning there are lots of ways that you can reduce these added expenses and save yourself a bundle. In the paragraphs below I am going to lay out a few strategies that you can implement to add some big savings to your vacations bottom line.
Plan Your Vacation Like You Plan Other Important Areas Of Your Life
It is important when preparing for you vacation that you create a precise plan of action… I don’t mean just this year’s vacation either, you should be planning your vacations out for several years to come. What destinations do you most desire to visit in the next several years? What are some of your dream adventures and secret ambitions that you would like to accomplish before you get too old?
In reality, travel and vacation plans should be treated like any other planned financial decision in life. Whether we’re talking about mortgage payments, car payments, tuition, health care, insurance or any other life-expense. Travel and vacation is justified and ‘sold’, as just another important item on the list to think about and budget for, and that is how you should treat it as well.
Knowing Your Destination Before You Go
You should arm yourself with a well-rounded collection of knowledge regarding your target destination. Knowledge empowers us to make better decisions and take better actions in life. The more knowledgeable you can become about your destination before you get there the smoother your vacation will be and the more money you are likely to save.
You should be able to gather all of the information that you need to sufficiently research your vacation destination simply by doing a Google search online, or by writing to or calling the local tourism board or chamber office at your destination of choice.
The more you know about your vacation destination, the less likely you are to be taken advantage of, exploited or extorted by excessive prices and/or misrepresentation.
Save Some Green by Traveling Green
Another great way to save mony on your vacation is to ditch the motor-powered transportation once you get to your destination and use some foot power or pedal power instead. A little foot-powered transportation can be a good investment in your health, fitness and wellbeing as well as a memorable adventure that you will remember for years to come. If your destination does not allow for very easy navigation on foot or bicycle, you should consider using some form of public transportation within the area. This can be a great way to save some money and allows you the opportunity to mingle with the locals and make some new aquaintences.
Pack Light And Save Big
One major mistake that is unfortunately made far too often by travelers is way overdoing it while packing. Not only is this inconvenient when it comes to lugging all that extra baggage around, but you could also incur some significant extra charges from airlines and other travel and hospitality services. You have to deal with having to ship personal belongings home, leaving some items at the airport, packing and unpacking bags, removing items and more! All these actions are responsive and costly options. Pack and travel light. Think minimalism when packing. Pick items that will suit and serve you well, multi-purpose, functional, mix and match well, are durable and easy-care. Essentials rather than outfit and accessory, fashion and color-coded planning dictating the bulging suitcase.
A Great Call When It Comes To Saving Money
Pre-paid phone cards are a great idea for gifts for travelers. They are a good alternative to making long distance phone calls from your hotel-room, cabin or any-place else on location where you find yourself vacationing. Many people think that the advent of cell phones has remedied this problem. But keep in mind that some places you are visiting might have limited or no cell coverage, and/or you might be in an area that is considered to be roaming for your carrier, which could end up costing you a bundle on your next phone bill. This is another reason why carrying a few calling cards along with you is a good idea.
Membership Has It’s Privileges
One of the best ways to save possibly thousands of dollars on all of your vacations is to utilize the bonuses and incentives of a Vacation Membership Club. Vacation membership clubs operate in much the same fashion as wholesale clubs like Costco and Sams Club. You pay a small fee to be a part of the club, but the savings, value and benefits that your membership makes available to you far outweigh the small cost to join the program. There are several options on the market when it comes to shopping for a good vacation club membership, but I have researched them all and have found that the best one with the highest quality vacation benefits, and the lowest cost of membership is a company called Resorts 360. The Resorts 360 Vacation Club provides its members with discounts of up to 80% at over 4000 Resort destinations around the world, as well as discounts on hotels, cruises and more. Resorts 360 also offers one of the most low-cost and easily affordable to everyone membership in the industry. At less than $200 to get started, and potential savings of $1,200 or more on your very first vacation, joining this type of vacation club is a no-brainer.
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