Tips on Planning a Fun and Budget-Friendly Trip

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If you missed your vacation last year due to the pandemic, you may be chomping at the bit to get on the road. However, budgets may be tight. To enjoy a great vacation without busting out the credit cards, the ideas below may work best for you.

Make Time For Rest

Set a schedule that includes a siesta or an afternoon rest. This will give you several benefits. First of all, it makes getting out to see the sights in the morning a necessity, so you can be out when the traffic is lighter and the air is a bit cooler. Additionally, this means that your big meal out for the day is lunch instead of dinner. If you are traveling with children, lunch menus have more choices at lower cost for your little ones. Additionally, adults can enjoy something special without breaking the budget. Do invest in good food for your dinner and by all means get a bottle of wine if you like, but being home in the afternoon makes it easier to stay home for dinner, which will save your restaurant dollars.

Finally, it means that folks get some downtime and dedicated rest on vacation. It is very easy to overbook your clan and go home more tired than when you got on the road. If some of your family does not want to rest, make sure they have quiet gear they can use to entertain themselves while the adults rest.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Go camping with your family or friends this summer! Borrow what you need or hit yard sales and moving sales to build your stock of camping gear. Invest in a Toyota 4Runner roof top tent, load your cooler and head into the great outdoors. Once you have your gear and know the rules of leaving no trace, family camping can be free in national forests or on BLM land. Consider getting out there in the middle of the week. If you can set out your tent on Tuesday or Wednesday, you can get a great site that you can enjoy through the following Monday without having to face competition for a camping space on Friday.

Rent a House Instead of a Hotel Room

If you can rent a house instead of a hotel room, you can use the facilities for your convenience while guarding your budget. For example, an AirBNB with a pool also comes with a kitchen and laundry facilities. Bring in food that your family loves, including those sometimes treats, and give the cook a break by loading your cooler with sandwich fixings, cereal and other easy meals. In a house, you will have room to spread out. Sibling rivalries can settle down when nobody is worried about their territory. Treat children to their own swim gear, get a snorkel and some water wings, and let everyone play until they're tired out.

Stay Local

Check out local venues for fun activities you don't have time for during the rest of the year. Use your home as the center of a wheel and see what's available one or two hours from your own bed. Pack a picnic lunch and visit a local park. If your children are too young to camp this year, practice. Go ahead and put up a pop-up tent in the living room so your little ones can get used to the sensation of sleeping under such a canopy. Get out the flashlights and go exploring in your own yard after dark, or drive outside the city and look at the stars as a family.

Conclusion

Travel doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, being on a budget can force creativity and add to the fun. Scale back on eating out until it's a special treat. Schedule a daily nap for the grown-ups. Put relaxation at the top of your list.