There are plenty of great ways to save money when you’re on vacation, whether you’re looking to head somewhere hot and sunny, or looking maybe to make your way to the mountains for some time skiing or snowboarding. If you’re planning to book your upcoming holiday soon, and are wondering what the best ways are to ensure you have a great time but aren’t strapped for cash, here are a few money saving tips.
1. Book in Advance
Booking your trip in advance will not only save you money on your flights and accommodation, but it will also ensure that you don’t miss out on rooms or flights for the dates that fit into your vacation days from work and/or school. It is possible to get great deals on holidays by purchasing them last minute, but you rarely get the destination and dates you want.
2. Consider an All Inclusive Holiday
Especially for larger groups or families, booking an all inclusive holiday will help you maintain your budget by cutting down on excess spending throughout your trip. With all-inclusive, all of your accommodation and food are paid for in advance, the only thing you really need to pay extra for are activities you decide to do off the resort, or special luxuries such as massages and spa treatments.
3. Make a Daily Spending Budget
No matter what type of holiday you choose to book the best way to regulate your spending it is to make a daily budget. This should include everything from buying small snacks if you’re out in town, to going out for a special meal at a local restaurant as opposed to eating at the resort.
4. Don’t Buy Gifts
Okay, perhaps if you absolutely have to you can get a few gifts for your kids or some family members, but don’t start buying little trinkets for all of your friends and family. These types of gifts are usually nothing more than a waste of money, and they tend to end up forgotten and abandoned a few years (or weeks) down the line.
5. Don’t Forget Insurance
It might feel like an unlikely thing, but accidents do happen on vacation, and they can leave you flipping the bill for anything from a fender-bender to a medical emergency. So make sure that you’re covered before heading-off on your trip.
Holidays should be a time to relax and unwind, and with good planning money worries will be off your mind the whole time.
Images by Thomas Tolkien and Matthias Ripp used under the Creative Commons license.
Wise to know about insurance you buy – read the fine print! Often it will not cover things like accidents from events you may do during excursions such as parasailing or if you’ve had any alcohol!
Great article! Thanks for the tips 🙂
True about insurance its better to be covered in an emergency. I would rather have the peace of mind then a go fund me page to get me home! On souvenirs my requests are inexpensive. Sand from the beach just toss in an old meds bottle ,maybe a nice shell and I am happy! Soon I will own my personal beach! other than that those coconut shell thingys need to stay where they found them.
Thanks for the great tips
Good reminders. I loved going with my extended family. Simplified so many things and no one had to cook! 🙂
Great article! Thanks for all the tips 🙂 I always find vacation planning SO stressful! This will help!
We are huge all inclusive fans. It takes a lot of the guess work out for budgeting for meals.
great tips, especially the daily spending budget!
Great post…Insurance is something that is so important when traveling.
great idea about making a daily budget! great tips they will come in handy whenever hubby and I decide to get away
I love all inclusive resorts! So much easier when you have kids and way less stressful for mom and dad!
I love staying in all inclusive resorts, It helps me keep my budget on track
I follow all those except I do bring people shirts and a few larger items
I agree that an all inclusive vacation is best.
Thanks for the tips! I would prefer all inclusive ?
These are all great tips for someone just starting to travel!
Great tips!!
I like your make a daily spending budget. That’s really smart, and you can save a bit if there’s something really special you want to do.
This is a perfect article for those who travel! Thanks for the tips
Those are all great tips! I really want to go on vacation now! 😉
I so agree with the don’t buy gifts. More than 1/2 the time if I receive one I think, “Now what the heck am I going to do with this”?
Great tips and the insurance is so important
Great tips and thanks for sharing! The insurance part is a must.
All great tips. Insurance is so important when planning a trip. Thanks for sharing.
I am overdue for a vacation! I think the all-inclusives are a great way to have tons of options and stay on budget. Plus most of the planning is already done, you simply have to choose what to do once you get to your destination!
Awesome tips. Someday I hope.
I agree with your post. I LOVE all inclusive holidays because it’s easier and cheaper!!! Also, I hear you about not buying trinkets for people. I see so many of these holiday trinkets at thrift stores. 🙂
Very informative…thank you for the tips.
Great tips! Thank you!
These are some fabulous tips, to be truthful I’ve never really thought of insurance.
I took one all inclusive trip and it was amazing! All the cash we needed to have was to tip
I prefer all inclusive. I worry less about where to eat, and all the extra expenses.
Good tips, and I’m proud to say I do follow these tips when planning a vacation.
Great tips and tricks , thanks for sharing , i have never been on a vacay before , so all this will help when we do go away !
Booking in advance can save you a ton of money.
All inclusive is such a good idea, especially if you’re off to tropical destinations where cocktails are a big temptation, and expense.
Those are great tips! Travel Insurance is such a MUST, I’ve heard so many bad experiences… always a good idea also to plan spending money budget as well. I only book all inclusive, which helps big time!
Its important to know exactly what is included in the “all-inclusive” price – sometimes things you assume are “free” are actually charged for (certain drinks/bottled waters in some resorts). Still my first choice for a vacation!
Great article. Hoping to plan a family vacation this winter.
I love all-inclusive vacations. They make life so much easier when you are travelling.
Thanks for the article on all-inclusive vacations. I would love to take my family on one!
The next trip I take with the family will definitely be an all inclusive one, although I don’t think it will be anytime soon
Great tips Tenille especially about buying travel insurance. Its so critical and often forgotten when we travel!
Those are some great tips, even though being sick I dont see any plans in the near future to travel I did learn some new things, so thank you 🙂
Great tips!! I always tell my mom not to worry about bringing us a whole bunch of stuff home.. =)
love the tips really Good reminders. Thank you
“Don’t buy gifts.” I like this one. It took me telling my parents this several times over the last 8 years since they took their first vacation as just the two of them (and they’ve been on a lot in the last 8 years) but in September they went to Mexico and game home without gifts for everyone!
The daily budget is a good one to remember too because it’s easy to overlook extra spending when preparing for an all-inclusive vacation.
one of these years Im going to take a vacation
Great tips! My daughter has done a few all inclusive vacations and loves them