Summertime is almost upon us and most of us are thinking about vacation. Unfortunately, there are some of us who are thinking that vacation will be a casualty of the economy. It doesn’t have to be!
With these simple tips, you and your family can still enjoy a relaxing vacation.
Change your state of mind: Or, change the way you think about your state. Every state in the US has attractions, a lot of them are free or low-cost. Driving a family of four is much cheaper than flying. With gas prices back down to about the $2.00 mark, driving is more affordable than last year. Contact your state’s tourism department and ask for their free guides. They will be happy to send them to you. If you are close to a neighboring state, call them and get their’s, too. Most states have their tourism department online. There are Motel 6 and Super 8 Motels all over the nation where you can get an inexpensive hotel room – hey, all you need is a place to sleep, right? Some of these even have pools for younger children. An alternative is to pick a series of day trips and sleep in your own bed to save hotel costs.
Be one with the outdoors: Camping is a good way to get away from it all. If you don’t have a camper or a tent, you can rent an RV or camping supplies and find a spot. National parks and state parks are good places to go and they are not very expensive. You can also find resort campgrounds that offer a bit more to do for the kids, though they are usually higher than parks. Build a campfire, tell spooky stories and make s’mores. The kids will love it and it is an excellent way to spend time as a family.
Procrastinate: If the little birdies have flown the nest and it is just the two of you, you can get some great deals by waiting until the last minute. It appears that cruise lines are not filling their ships, so they are offering great deals on cruises. The great thing about this is that they are all-inclusive. You get travel, meals and room for the same price. You can choose a port that is within driving range, or, if you have to fly, be flexible. Airfare is usually the lowest when you can travel on Tuesday or Wednesday. It is even lower if you travel off peak times and get the less desirable flights. For example, I looked up a flight from Tulsa to Orlando. If I’m willing to fly out at 6am and maybe hit 3 stops instead of 2, I can save over $200 each way. Like my wife says, “I can sleep on the plane.” Also, look at alternate airports if there are any close by to leave from and fly into.
I will post more tips on this blog, so keep in touch.
Survival in the modern world 