Search Results for: blog planning your frugal summer travel

Stretching Your Vacation Dollar

I’m glad we did the bulk of our summer traveling at the beginning of the season because with the price of gas hovering dangerously close to $4 per gallon, the only adventure we can afford now is a campout in the backyard. Exorbitant gas prices are not the only money trap associated with family travel. Hotel room sticker shock is another common problem frugal families face when planning a getaway. Fortunately, there are ways you can stretch your vacation dollar when booking a hotel room: Timing is Key: Hotel rates fluctuate according to availability. For example, if a property is … Continue reading →

Budget-Friendly Summer Escapes in New York

Traveling to New York doesn’t have to be a budget buster. Families looking to explore the “Empire State” this summer have a host of wallet-friendly attractions to choose from. Whether you plan to stick closer to the heart of the Big Apple or you prefer to trek up north, the following fun destinations will bring a smile to your frugal face: CONEY ISLAND The legendary amusement park remains an inexpensive attraction for families from all walks of life. The Brooklyn-based theme park is served by several subway lines and is located right on the beach and boardwalk. Adding to Coney … Continue reading →

Summer Travel Deals

With the summer upon us, it’s time to look for some great travel deals. Gas prices keep going up and down, but they don’t go too far down. Since many of us are taking “staycations”, or not going too far from home, here are some ideas. It pays to join hotel loyalty programs. The biggest economy chains offering great discount programs are Choice Hotels (Quality Inns, Comfort Inns, Econo Lodges, and other hotels), Holiday Inn, and Best Western. You’ll also find some discount programs at Country Inns & Suites, Wyndham Hotels (Knights Inn, Ramada, Days Inn). Marriot also has a … Continue reading →

Preparing your home for vacation

As time draws near for going on an vacation, I am beginning to compile in my mind all of the things I need to before I leave. This is a good opportunity to share these things with you. 1: Use a note book or journal: The first thing you need to do is get and find a notebook or journal to use for your vacation and vacation planning. I like to use a bright colored folder with a clasp on it so nothing falls out. In it I put a notepad and this is where I begin to compile important … Continue reading →

Planning a Frugal Resort Vacation pt 2

Summer is here and it is time to get away as a family. If you are like most families, you took a staycation s last year. This year, you may be more inclined to actually go somewhere special. A resort vacation will probably fit the bill. With that said, going to a resort for vacation does not mean throwing all rules on frugality out of the window. Instead, you should be even more frugal than normal in order to get the best vacation for the least money. In part 1 covered the early stages of planning such as determining your … Continue reading →

Planning a Resort Vacation pt 1

Summer is here and it is time to get away as a family. If you are like most families, you took a staycation s last year. This year, you may be more inclined to actually go somewhere special. A resort vacation will probably fit the bill. With that said, going to a resort for vacation does not mean throwing all rules on frugality out of the window. Instead, you should be even more frugal than normal in order to get the best vacation for the least money. Here are some things you should do when planning a frugal vacation: Decide … Continue reading →

Frugal Picnic Night

One of the favorite activities that my kids like to do as a family is also economical. Recently, I’ve made it even more frugal. Here is what we did last night and how we had a fun time for pennies. When the weather warms up, my kids are always clamoring for the park. One fun way to enjoy the park and get out of a warm house is to visit the park around dinner time. We eat dinner on one of the picnic benches, and then after dinner is done, mom and dad pack up while the kids play on … Continue reading →

How to Save on Summer Tickets

After I published my posts on How to Save Money at the Circus, a couple of people sent me messages asking if I had any tips for saving money on tickets at other summer attractions, such as amusement parks and summer concerts. Well, there is practically nothing that couldn’t benefit from a clever application of frugal strategies. When you are looking to purchase tickets for a big commercial event or location, such as an amusement park, renaissance faire, the zoo, summer music concert or even the movie theater, you’ll want to explore all sorts of ways to purchase tickets. Most … Continue reading →

Save Money on Travel

Even in a budget-conscious economy, you can still travel and enjoy a family vacation. While “staycations” are a big trend right now (staying home for vacation instead of traveling), they may not be your thing. And in fact, with some proper planning, you may be able to save more than the people who load their staycation with expensive activities. Here are some tips on how you can save money on travel. Off Season Travel to your destination in the off season. This is the number one way to save some serious money on your travel. Off season travel can cut … Continue reading →

Save Money on Summer Camp

Summer Camp? Didn’t we just make it to spring? while it is true that the calendar still says March, summer camp season is in full spring, well as it relates to registration, that is. Summer camps are now taking registration for their programs. If you want to be able to provide summer camp for your child but not pay a lot, then read the following post. I’ll share some ways to get the most for your money and cut your summer camp expenses while still providing a great experience for your child. Look into early registration. The earlier the spots … Continue reading →