With the economy on the downward slide it may be time to think about how to still enjoy a vacation without the high costs. You may have to do without five star resorts, room service and tropical islands but it is possible to still have a fun vacation without breaking the bank. It is possible to travel in the United States for less than you might think if you plan ahead. There are lots of options all over the country for a low cost vacation.
The USA offers a stunning variety of landscapes, national parks, beaches and famous landmarks. These national parks afford families the opportunity to witness some of the earth's most spectacular scenery. These places are often entered at a nominal cost per vehicle, usually in the $20 to $30 range. The majority of national parks have well priced camping facilities and offer a range of facilities such as washrooms, laundry and supply stores. One great way to see the land for cheap is to bring self-contained accommodation, such as tents, RVs, and campers. RV facilities are available at most national parks for a slightly higher charge; these sites afford the basic hook-ups for travel trailers and motor homes.
Camping can also save money in other ways; rather than dining out each night at a restaurant you can cook your own meals. Cook over the fire or cook in your RV; campfires are all part of the experience so keep your budget down by cooking a bit of food over the flames. Holiday accommodations, including hotel rooms, camp sites and more can be found year round in many national parks.
National parks, such as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park afford guests with the opportunity to witness some of nature's most gorgeous scenery at no cost. Once you pay to enter the Grand Canyon, you can see the views, hike into the canyon, and see the various features and animals for free. The only costs involved are extra activities, camping, food, and gas. Extra activities include things like boating, renting canoes, fishing, renting ATVs, and horseback riding. Those things, for the most part, come at little cost; the only expensive things on the list are ATVs and renting boats. You and your entire family will amazed by the picturesque, rustic settings and the adventure of seeing some of nature's finest. A camping trip to a national park is one budget vacation that will be remembered forever!
Vacationing is never that inexpensive, however, there are things that can be done to keep costs down. Camping and motor homes are two ways in which travelers save on accommodations. Barbecues and sandwich/ drink coolers are two ideas to save money on food costs while traveling. Keep the activities simple by doing things like fishing, hiking, canoeing, and sight-seeing, which will keep costs down.
When considering when, where, how, for how long and what type of vacation, trip or holiday venture to undertake, we all get caught up in the anticipation, excitement and exhilaration. Sometimes we let the more important financial side of things slip a little. After all, for most of us, taking a vacation may only happen once a year, for some, even more infrequently. We tend to indulge and forget about our pocket book a little.
There are many ways to save money, avoid unnecessary cost, ensure you take care of details end up a smart and perceptive traveler. Budget travel planning is easier that you might think Here are a few handy travel tips for making your travel dollar go further!
?Cushion your budget - When considering a trip or planning budget travel, it is important to plan for the unexpected and consider the financial side of things early on. This ensures affordability, liquidity and having the resources to enjoy it to the fullest! Plan for the worst-case financial scenario and prepare for things to cost a little more than you expected. Allow up to 20% increase in cost to be on the safe side of things.
?Emergency money: Carrying some spare cash somewhere can also be a lifesaver. The rule of thumb seems to be around $50-$100 in small bills. This can be used for incidentals, ground-transportation like cab fare and/or your return home, tips and more.
?Set your priorities: Set some spending priorities and criteria in advance, like eating at a special restaurant or attending a concert, even if this means sacrificing a bit on lodgings or visa versa, depending on what is more important to you.
?Keep an eye on your credit cards: It is extremely easy these days to have access to your financial resources through ATM's and credit cards. Just remember that it is just as easy to overspend because of it being so readily available. A little discipline will go a long way to protect your financial interest and help you stick to your travel budget.
?Maximize gas mileage and efficiency: If you're planning a road trip, make sure that your car has been serviced at least a week before your trip. A well-maintained vehicle will go a long way to ensure carefree driving. If your budget allows, you may consider renting a vehicle to save wear and tear on your own. Small economy cars are better on gas and are much more comfortable than they used to be. Minivans and sport utility vehicles are practical only if you have to transport a large family with a lot of equipment or luggage.
?Gas fill-ups: For filling up your car en route, avoid pushing to the limit until the gas runs out. Gas will obviously be more expensive when filling up in remote locations. If you miscalculated and the light on the dashboard indicates that you are really in need, opt for filling just half a tank until you reach the next more densely or major populated destination, where gas might be a little cheaper.
?Pack-a-snack: Bring your own refreshments and snacks. Gas station prices on drinks and snack food are high. Avoid these during a pit stop, if you are counting your travel dollars. A cooler packed with lots of cool drinks, water and ice and/or a thermos of coffee or hot water for tea, some fruit, granola bars, or a sandwich, goes a long way to still the hunger and save you money by avoiding all high priced stops en route.
?Travel necessities: It is advisable to travel with basic necessities, like a cell phone and a first aid kit, since both can prove to be essential in emergencies. Most people have cell phones at their disposal, but in the event that you are not one of them, a prepaid cell phone may be the answer for your trip. The peace of mind it offers is worth the small investment. Cell phones can also save on hefty surcharges and higher long distance rates that hotels and resorts often charge.
Budget travel requires close attention to all things financial before and during your trip. Planning a trip or vacation can be a little time consuming but following these travel tips will hopefully save you a lot of headaches as well as some unnecessary interest charges on your credit card balances later! You will thank yourself for your fiscal restraint and spending discipline, upfront planning, foresight and forward thinking!
Both Rich Greenwood & Kelley Falgout are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rich Greenwood has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Fitness and Travel and Leisure. Article on budget travel by Richard Greenwood of the Click 4 Group and MakeMyStay. The companies help people save money with pr. Rich Greenwood's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
Kelley Falgout has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Disneyland Vacation and Orlando Vacation. Kelley Falgout is a theme park enthusiast and publisher of ">www.FamilyThemeParkVacations.com, a vacation planning. Kelley Falgout's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.