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Insights on money, career and trading

3 Tips for a Frugal Vacation

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Daniel at 9:02 pm

You might assume that in order to on a vacation, you have to have a lot of disposable income or a large stash of money saved up. But you can actually find a lot of ways to have a great vacation experience without spending a ton of money.

Especially if you’re used to living a frugal lifestyle, ideas should be no problem for you, and your situation should not keep you from being able to have an enjoyable time away from home.

Here are three tips for having a frugal yet entirely memorable vacation.

Realize That Most Prices are Negotiable

When you’re doing your research for the trip, you might be under the false impression that the prices you see online are the only possible amounts you can pay. But according to Brian Martucci, a contributor to Money Crashers, many places like hotels or resorts and car rental can actually give you a lower price if you book directly with them.

When you use a third-party website to book your accommodations and other travel arrangements, you’re also paying that website as part of your total cost. But if you call the hotel or resort or rental company directly, they will often quote you a cheaper price and even negotiate with you.

So before you take the rate you get from the middle man, see what you can do to find a better offer and negotiate the price down a bit.

Cut Down Your Food Costs

While you’re traveling, you’ll likely spend more money on food than you normally do. A great way to save on food costs is to make your own food whenever you can.

But when this isn’t possible or warranted, Erin Huffstetler, a contributor to The Balance Everyday, advises finding places that are cheap yet still delicious to eat, and search out coupons. Especially in popular tourist areas, you can often find a lot of coupons for places to eat, which can make eating out on the town much more affordable for you.

Plan Splurges Carefully

Even if you’re trying to save some money on your trip, there are probably a few things that you’re going to want to splurge on. The trick about saving money in this case is planning your splurges with care.

Kimberly Palmer, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, suggests you pick one or two things that you want to do despite their higher price tag, such as a nice dinner or some kind of activity or excursion, and do some research to see if there’s any way to get a cheaper rate. Even if there isn’t, by limiting the things you’re willing to splurge on, you can still save a lot of money.

To enjoy a great vacation without spending a lot of money, the tips mentioned should help you achieve that goal.

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Insights on money, career and trading