Many of us think of vacations as an expensive escape, but you can vacation for less and still have a really good time. You can stay at the nice hotels, eat delicious cuisine, see many different sites, and enjoy your vacation while saving hundreds and thousands of dollars. Vacations don’t have to be expensive anymore, so here are five tips to help you save money on your next vacation.
Vacation during off-peak seasons
First, you can save money by scheduling your vacation during an off-peak season. However, you don’t have to sweat in Mexico during the mid-summer or freeze in Alaska during the harsh winters. You can find a time when the weather is nice, which helps to avoid the crowds. One of the best times to go is during the transitions of April to Early May or mid-September. The rates are much lower during these times and the weather is just as nice.
Stay in hotels in non-tourist areas
You don’t have to sleep in a gritty and dirty hotel room to save a few dollars. You can find the best deals by not staying in tourist-infested areas. If you are staying near a beach, look for hotels that are a few blocks further away. You will be surprised how nice the hotels are and how much money you will save.
You can also look for hotels that are closer to public transportation such as buses or train stations. This way, you can always take the bus or train to visit the areas of interest and no longer have to worry about spending money on renting a car.
Look for tasty cuisine by asking the locals
When selecting places to eat, you should avoid the tourist areas. Not only are the tourist restaurants too expensive, the cuisine served there is below average and is usually not authentic. Instead, ask the locals for the best and cheap restaurants, so they can point you in the right direction. Usually, the restaurants that the locals dine at provide tasty meals and are much cheaper. Who would know the best places to eat than the people that live there? However, if you are too shy, you should look for restaurants with cars parked around it and lots of people inside. This is a good indication that these restaurants generate good business.
Find free and low-cost activities
Before you go on your trip, you should research through the internet to find cheap and free activities to enjoy during your stay. Many places around the world and in the United States have fun free and low-cost entertainment such as concerts, museums, outdoor movies, and shows. It only takes a few minutes of research.
Use Priceline.com or Expedia
You can plan your trip and save money at the same time. Priceline and Expedia have partnered with all of the major airlines, cruise ships, hotels, and car rentals, and thus, passes the savings along to you. As an added bonus, Online Store Coupon has Priceline and Expedia coupons, so you can save even more money on top of the already discounted vacations.