Search Results for: blog ways to save on vacation lodging

Tips for a Budget-Friendly Family Vacation

When the thought of taking your family out to dinner makes you cringe because of the expense, it is hard to contemplate taking everyone along for an actual vacation. Even though money concerns may make it seem as though you will never get away, you do have options, a number of them in fact. Here are some ways that you can stretch your vacation budget. 1. Look for the budget airline hubs Although airfare prices seem to be rising, there are a number of airline hubs that tend to have the cheapest airfare tickets. Some places are just less expensive … Continue reading →

Vacation Budgeting

Can you afford to get in one more family trip during the upcoming Labor Day weekend? According to AAA, 33 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home during the holiday weekend, despite the fact gas prices are hovering near the $4 mark. Clearly, budgeting for gas is a huge factor for families looking to hit the road on a final summer fling, but it isn’t the only financial element to consider. Crunching numbers can provide a major reality check when it comes to vacation planning. However, by doing the math before you leave home, you can … Continue reading →

Save on Vacation Stays

Many travelers believe the best way to save on vacation accommodations is to bid online for the cheapest price. Turns out there are a slew of ways you can book a vacation stay without worrying about someone else’s low-ball price proposal. Farmstay: You’ve heard of housestays, where you can crash in someone’s spare bedroom during your travels, but what about farmstays? This alternative to expensive hotel rooms is one of the cheapest lodging options out there right now. Don’t let the name fool you; prior farm experience is not needed to take advantage of the affordable accommodations. In other words, … Continue reading →

Vacations That Pay

I once took a vacation to Northern California, and ended up in a roach-infested hotel room with a leaky faucet. Due to an unexpected flight delay, I couldn’t switch rooms because the property was booked solid (despite the pest problem) and I was the last guest to check in that night (technically it was two in the morning). The rest of the trip pretty much mirrored my dismal lodging experience and I vowed that I would never return to the tiny town… even if I were paid to do so. Most people don’t get handed pre-paid vacations these days; however, … Continue reading →

Save on Trips to the Sunshine State

Thanks to HGTV’s newest show “My Yard Goes Disney,” my 6-year-old has started a whining campaign to get us to visit the House of Mouse this summer. Unfortunately, unless we win a spot on HGTV’s other smash hit “House Hunters on Vacation,” I highly doubt that will be shaking our tail feathers with Donald and crew before the start of the new school year. I know this because, like many parents, I want to make all my child’s dreams come true, so I crunched the numbers to see if we could afford to roam Disney’s Animal Kingdom, stay at Disney’s … Continue reading →

Vacation in an Animation-Themed Suite

Way back in December I posted about a one-of-a-kind exhibition Disney debuted at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The show celebrated the fairy tale nature of Disney’s movies, revealing behind-the-scenes glimpses of animation work and studies on the relationship between Disney animated films and their source material. Unfortunately, only New Orleans hosted the show. But almost as if to make up for it, Disney World’s building a new resort hotel which carries on the theme and spirit from the “Dreams Come True” exhibition. Breaking ground this summer, and expected to open in 2012, is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. … Continue reading →

Vacation Prices are Up: How to Save

Did you know that it will cost you almost 14 percent more to fly this year? Air travel, car travel and many other vacation expenses will cost you a lot more today versus last year. I’ll explain why there have been such large increases and how you can still save despite the inflation. Bankrate recently took a look at the consumer price index and also pulled out a few numbers of their own to compare the actual costs of common summer favorites, such as travel. They report that airfare is 13.8 percent due to airlines grounding planes instead of trying … Continue reading →

Ways to Save on Summer Road Trips

How much are you planning to spend on your family’s summer vacation? A recent survey found that the average American family (consisting of two adults and two children) plans to spend between $1,000 and $3,000 on upcoming summer trips. That’s a lot of money in my book. If you are keeping a close eye on your budget, but still want to treat the kids to a memorable summer road trip, then consider the following tips to stretch your vacation dollars: Stay in State: I’m not suggesting driving to the edge of town and pitching a tent to save some dough, … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Summer Getaways

You know the travel industry is hurting when you can find roundtrip non-stop flights from Chicago to Honolulu for around $500. I paid more than double that amount for my ticket last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. Bottom line: If you haven’t been able to score a sun-sational deal on a summer getaway, then you simply haven’t been looking—at all. Perhaps, you can’t afford to take an extended break from work. If that’s the case, then consider soaking up the summer sun during a long weekend away. So what if you can’t take two … Continue reading →

Ways to Stretch Your Travel Dollar

When it comes to saving money on travel expenses the key is flexibility. It also doesn’t hurt to be well informed and fast. With the economy still in the dumpster travel companies are offering more last-minute deals than ever before (hence your need to be flexible). Meanwhile, many airlines have now turned to micro-blogging sites, such as Twitter, to advertise hugely discounted fares, which usually get snatched up within seconds of being posted (hence the need to be fast). If you have yet to book your family’s annual summer jaunt, then you are in luck. There are plenty of ways … Continue reading →