Vacationing on a Budget

Hooray For Vacay

Have you every looked through the pages of Pinterest or seen your friend's photos of their tropical vacations on Facebook and thought to yourself, "Wow I wish I could go on a vacation like that". 

Well let me tell you, you can! With today's technology its easier than ever! Using apps such as Hopper, and Money's interactive travel map can help you to see prices of different travel expenses for all of your favorite locations. 

Here is the travel map that is part of Money's website!

Money:

Money is an interactive website that can help you see the prices of travel expenses such as food, transportation, and hotels in the areas you are looking at. Websites like these are good because it is often people get to a destination and realize that food is two to three times more expensive than it is in their hometown, and they are stuck eating fast food and not able to taste the cuisine of their destination. Money’s interactive map can also help you to compare prices of destinations with ease. When you are researching particular destinations you often end up with a million different tabs open and a whole lot of confusion. When all the information is curated into one location it is easier to see a comparison of all the travel expenses related to the destinations that you have chosen. I always recommend this website when people ask me on travel tips. This website gives you a good starting point for seeing which areas you can visit without breaking the bank. 

Hopper: 

Hopper is the second app that I recommend the most. This is a newer one but it cuts out a lot of time searching the internet for the best deals on flights. When using Hopper you chose the destination you are most interested in, then it tells you time of the cheapest flights for the destination you are looking for. When I first saw this app I thought it would tell me a random month and date when the flight was the cheapest, and even though that is an option, you can narrow the search selection down to a particular time period you are traveling. The app even goes a step further by allowing you to book your flight straight from the app. This app truly takes the stress out of booking flights and saves you a ton of money in the process, making it a must need if you are planning some future travel. 

Don’t Forget About Domestic Vacations:

When people often think about going on vacation they think about traveling to a tropical destination in another country, and not staying in the Unites States. The truth is sometimes domestic travel is just as nice and relaxing as international travel without the hassle of leaving the country, and here’s a secret it’s often a lot cheaper! Domestic travel is great for those who need a shorter trip, or do not have a large international travel budget.We are very lucky for the fact that the US is very diverse in it’s climates, and we have a little bit of each one during the whole year. If you are looking for a beach location you might want to consider some of the most beautiful US beaches in Florida, California, and even Alabama. If you are more into snowboarding and skiing you might be interested into looking for something a little colder, check out Alaska, Chicago, or Maine. Taking a domestic vacation can also help you save on expenses such as passport fees, and save you time on an airplane. There is nothing but a valid ID needed to travel within the United States so you can experience everything from the beaches of Galveston, Texas all the way to the forests that make up the Yosemite without a passport. 

Plan ahead: 

When planning your vacation, no matter where the destination is, make sure to plan ahead. When you plan your vacation ahead of time you give yourself time to save money as well as research prices for different expenses. Although spare of the moments trips may sound fun, studies have shown that  planning a vacation 11 months in advance is the best time, because you have time to change arrangements, as well as allow apps such as Hopper that was mentioned above, to get you the best deals on flights. Planning ahead also gives you a cushion if something were to happen and you need to change your arrangements. Hotels are more accommodation when you need to change your reservations months in advance, then when you call two days before you’re expected.

Here is a video to get you inspired for whatever vacation you choose!