Saving on Summer Vacations

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

11 Jun 2007 08:00 AM

"Summer's here and the livin' is easy..." Want to enjoy a great vacation without spending a lot? Here are some frugal tips for saving big on your family outings.

Try Camping

Camping is great family fun, and is pretty inexpensive, too. Camping site fees are so much cheaper than a hotel room, and it really brings everyone together. You can decided on your own level of roughing it, from campsites with showers and bathrooms to those that are more rustic. You don't need a lot of equipment to start with--just borrow what you can at first. Then later, you can look out for equipment at end-of-season sales, craigslist, yard sales, etc.

Vacation at Home

I bet there are a lot of great area attractions near your home that you've always wanted to see but never got around to visiting. Take advantage of living in your area to experience all that it has to offer. You'll save on hotel rooms, food, transportation and other travel expenses. Having a vacation at home can be a lot of fun, but you will need some rules first to make sure it doesn't turn into time to work around the house or get bored. Look for a future article this month about vacationing at home.

Go Off Season

I'm sure you know that you can save when you vacation off-season, but did you know that the difference of a week can save you hundreds? We aren't too far away from the Jersey shore. If we wanted to rent a house, we could save 50 percent by renting something the week after Labor Day instead of the week before. The sun is still shining, the ocean is still warm and the boardwalk is still hopping. But the price is much nicer; all for a few days. Disney is famous for offering great deals in the off season.

Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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jonesx6 (1606) 12 Jun 2007 08:46 AM

Going off season is such a money saver. We usually go to the Outer Banks, NC every year in September. Going in September can save you thousands of dollars, no joke. You also get a chance to get a nicer house b/c a lot of people don't vacation in September. It's also less crowded!! Laura

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 13 Jun 2007 11:39 AM

Isn't it funny. I think the weather is really great in Spetember. I think a lot of people don't go because of school being in session. So homeschooler have a great advantage there!