4 Ways to Plan a Big Vacation on a Small Budget

What's your ideal vacation? Relaxing at the beach? A trip to NYC or San Francisco? Unwinding in the mountains? If you’ve been spending too much time indoors, and having a case of cabin fever, you’re probably looking forward to getting out and enjoying more time away from home. Many families like to plan weekend road trips, which are good options for those who may not want to fly and want to save money. And while the cost of a vacation can add up quickly, there also are plenty of ways to enjoy your vacation and stay within your budget.

1. Check out your hometown like a tourist
   Most of us take our hometown for granted, but when you look at your town like a tourist, you may find lots of great places to visit and fun activities to enjoy. Look for festivals and free or inexpensive concerts. Visit museums on free admission days. Check out events in local parks like nature walks and night hikes. If there’s a minor league baseball team in your town, grab a few tickets to a game. Check Groupon for local discounts or see if your grocery store offers coupons for reduced admission to local zoos and aquariums.

2. Make your vacation a group affair
   One of the big-ticket items for a vacation is lodging. After comparing the costs of hotels vs. home rentals, you may want to consider vacationing with friends or family and renting a house or condo. This can help cut the cost of expenses. Consider a rental with a kitchen, which gives you the opportunity to make some of your meals or pack lunches for excursions. This can help lower food costs. Americans spend about $34 per day on food when vacationing inside or outside the U.S., so preparing two meals yourself could save around $20 per day.¹

3. Try an all-inclusive vacation
   Even if you’ve found a cheap place to vacation, other costs can add up quickly. Meals and snacks, renting a bike or kayak or seeing a show or a movie could add up to hundreds of dollars or more. If you choose an all-inclusive vacation, the cost of airfare, lodging, food and drinks, and entertainment are usually included in the price. Cruises and package deals (airfare, accommodations and a rental car) can offer another option for keeping costs under control. Websites that specialize in providing information about all-inclusive and cruise vacations can be used to compare prices and help you vacation on a budget.

4. Find simple ways to save
   Look for these opportunities to avoid paying full price for your trip expenses:

   • Redeem reward points for use toward your trip if you’re enrolled in a credit card or hotel rewards program.
   • Take advantage of discounts on attractions, hotels, restaurants and rental cars that might be offered by auto clubs, banks, credit unions, credit card companies and employers.
   • Buy sunscreen, shampoo and pain reliever at home and bring them with you on your trip.
   • Look for discounts on sites like Coupons.com and Groupon.com.
   • Bring or make your own food.
   • Take advantage of hotel freebies. Look for a place that offers free parking, complimentary breakfast, coupons for a free drink or two at a local bar and/or free shuttle rides to local attractions. These little perks can add up to big savings on your trip. Here's 50 other freebies you can score on your next stay.

What are the cheapest countries to fly to?

Traveling internationally doesn't have to be expensive. Another way to save money is to find cheap places to vacation where you'll get more travel for your dollar. Taking a trip to countries where the U.S dollar exchange rate is favorable can be even less expensive than domestic traveling. (Be sure to check the most up-to-date guidelines and restrictions on international travel, so you can factor any associated time and expenses into your plans.)

Consider these cheap places to travel if you're planning a vacation on a budget²:

• Mexico
• Spain
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Greece
• Ecuador

What are some of the top inexpensive family vacations?

When you’re vacationing on a budget, the key is finding cheap places to vacation with your family that give you more bang for your buck. For the best family vacations on a budget, consider these inexpensive travel options:

• Small, local amusement parks and fairgrounds
• Local beaches
• Camping or “glamping”
• Driving to nearby landmarks, historical locations and museums
• Exploring national parks

What is great about these options is that you can do a lot of them on the same trip! Map out a scenic road trip using a site like Roadtrippers.com and simply enter your starting point, destination and activities you'd like to do along the way. And don't forget to check for deals on sites like Travelzoo and Groupon Getaways, which offer savings on family-friendly activities in cities across the country.

Leaving it all behind can be exciting. If you're looking to maximize your time and savings during your vacation, here are a few more tips: