10 Affordable Travel Tips to Stay Within Your Vacation Budget

It seems like every time I log into Facebook or Instagram, I’m hit with a barrage of pictures from friends traveling the world. Whether they’re backpacking across Europe, sightseeing in Asia, or exploring South American jungles, it’s hard for me not to get a little travel envy. With two kids and a mortgage, though, dropping everything to jet set around the world just isn’t in the cards – or in our budget.

However, if your finances can’t bear the weight of an extravagant trip right now, finding ways to travel affordably may not be as tough as it seems. It just requires careful planning, savvy solutions, and thinking beyond typical vacation options. With a little forethought, you could be the one posting enviable pictures from your next adventure.

Creative Ways to Afford Travel

1. Define Your Priorities

Before you start leafing through brochures or browsing online, you first have to define your travel priorities. If you’re not willing to accept anything but a top-shelf experience, you’re probably going to have to save up before you splurge. On the other hand, if your main priorities are to experience a different culture, learn more about history, or even just take a few days to relax, you can likely accomplish such goals on the cheap.

Start out by defining your vacation priorities. Common ones include:

Experiencing a different culture
   
Relaxing
   
Trying new foods
   
Visiting a specific location, such as a beach or a historic site
   
Learning something new

Once you define exactly what you want out of your travels, you can focus on how to best achieve it. If you’re looking for an amazing cultural experience, staying in hostels and shopping at markets might not only be cheaper, but could be a better way to immerse yourself in a culture. Defining what you want out of the experience can align your expectations.

2. Set a Travel Budget

Booking travel without any set budget in mind can be dangerous. It’s hard to avoid getting tempted by cheap fares, online hotel reviews, and various attractions – but you could end up overspending without realizing it. By looking over your current personal budget and taking your savings, fixed expenses, and variable costs into consideration, you can see where you have a little wiggle room (if any) for a vacation.

The average American family spends $1,200 on travel, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Many travel sites now allow you to set your budget and restrict costly search results from appearing. A tool such as the KAYAK Explore module asks you to input your location and what you’d like to pay, and then shows you destinations that fit the bill.

3. Travel During the Off-Season

If you’ve got a flexible schedule, you can save a ton simply by traveling during the off-season. And, as an added bonus, you can benefit from less crowded attractions and have a less stressful overall experience. Tourist seasons vary by destination, but generally speaking, traveling during the summer months or during holiday breaks means paying more for airfare, gas, and accommodations.

In general, some of the best times to travel are early in the year and early autumn. Tropical destinations, on the other hand, can be more crowded during January and February, when vacationers are looking for respite from the cold. Kid-friendly places are usually busier when school’s out. And while winter may seem like an ideal time to travel, watch out for holiday-related price spikes around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

4. Look for Hotel Alternatives

You can slash costs significantly simply by exploring non-traditional accommodations. What’s more, some off-the-beaten-path hotel alternatives might actually help you save money on vacation expenses.

You can avoid paying high hotel costs by looking into the following accommodations:

Hostels. When traveling abroad, hostels offer inexpensive lodging (and occasionally meals) to travelers. You may have to share a room and bathroom with other travelers, but you get your own bed, and you just may make some new traveling friends while you’re there. Because hostels require you to share space, they work best if you’re flying solo or traveling as a couple instead of as a family. A typical European hostel costs anywhere from $20 to $40 per night.

Vacation Rentals. Homeowners often rent out their vacation homes to travelers when it’s not in use – you can snag deep discounts on condos, townhomes, and even hotel properties. Websites such as VRBO and Airbnb are great places to start. Often outfitted with a kitchen, backyard, and other amenities, a vacation rental may actually be a better fit for a family trip, especially if you can save money by cooking your own food. Recently, I rented a condo in a resort property from a homeowner for $40 less per night than I would have paid if I had booked through the resort.
   
Stay With Friends. If you’re lucky enough to have friends and family at a travel destination, call in a favor. It’s a great way to cut your hotel costs, and they can probably give you tips on things to do while you’re in town.
   
Couch Surf. Couch surfing boils down to staying at someone’s house instead of a pricey hotel. Courchsurfing brings together travelers and homeowners willing to offer a guest room, bed, or couch to frugal travelers. It can be unpredictable, but if you’re really in a bind, it’s one way to cut pricey hotels out of your travel budget altogether. It works best if you’re traveling alone or with one other person.

5. Plan Shorter Trips

Whether you’re traveling for relaxation or exploration, you don’t need to jet off for weeks at a time to get the experience you want. Shorter travel blocks offer the same benefits as longer vacations, and they can cost much less.

Plenty of shorter trips can help you recharge, explore different areas, and experience something new – even if it’s within your home state. Traveling to your state capital, visiting a nearby state park or campground, or going to a museum or local theme park can all be done on the cheap. Some attractions and hotels also offer resident deals if you can prove that you live in-state. As an added bonus, planning shorter, closer-to-home trips means you can drive instead of fly, saving the money you would have spent on airfare.

Read Full Article Here: 10 Affordable Travel Tips to Stay Within Your Vacation Budget