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Vacation Planning on a Budget. It’s still possible.

Contributing Author February 23, 2022


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Taking a vacation is important for improved overall health. For starters, it can reduce your stress levels, which is good for your mental health. Research also shows that it can reduce your risks of developing cardiovascular diseases and depression while increasing productivity. It’s no wonder that approximately 71% of Americans plan to travel in 2022. Do you desire to take a needed vacation, but you have limited resources? Here’s how to have your dream getaway on a budget. 

a person handing money to a woman
Making at least a rough budget can keep costs in check when travelling.


Create a practical budget 

It’s not unusual to want to experience everything your vacation has to offer. However, this may not be the way to go if you’re working with limited funds. Therefore, it makes sense to create a budget to determine how much you can comfortably allocate to your vacation. Moreover, it saves your finances by preventing impulse spending or overspending on your trip. Fortunately, creating a travel budget isn’t complicated with the right steps. You can begin by evaluating your finances to determine what you can work with without feeling uncomfortable. As a tip, start saving towards your trip months before the D-day for the best results. 

Here are a few of Jake’s favorite tools for trip planning on a budget:

Flights: Google Flights. The ultimate Swiss Army knife of airfare search engines.
Hotel: We almost always book directly with the hotel’s website. (Marriott.com, IHG.com, etc)
Car Rentals: Type in your info and have Autoslash.com email you a discounted rate.

You also want to factor in substantial travel expenses like accommodation and transportation to help you book the suitable ones in advance. Consequently, include costs that occur during your getaway, like entertainment, food, gas, souvenirs, etc. Hidden costs like service tips, airport and hotel parking fees can also add up, so include them in your budget. It’s also prudent to prepare for unexpected costs, so keep this in mind. 


Have fun choosing your favorite destinations

The next thing is to select your choice destinations for your dream vacation. Although it may seem overwhelming, you can have fun researching various places domestically or worldwide. To get started, factor in your budget before choosing one because it wouldn’t be advisable to visit an overly expensive location when your budget doesn’t support it. You also want to define your priorities to make the decision process easier. For instance, if you desire a beach vacation, you can easily research affordable domestic or international locations. Moreover, destinations can be more expensive during some seasons, so you can opt for the off-seasons to get the total package for less. Likewise, consider places that link to other places without considerable costs. 

A fun way to start your search is to use the Google Flights destination explorer to help you find the perfect destination that falls into your budget.

a van parked on a beach
Keep it close to home and save some travel bucks.


Consider shorter trips 

While people may opt for longer vacations, shorter vacations also offer many benefits. Psychologists agree that the effectiveness of a vacation is not in its length but in how it’s spent. A 2018 research revealed that career people who took mini-trips experienced increased wellbeing and reduced stress levels. Moreover, you can explore different areas and get newer experiences without straining your finances. It’s important to determine what kind of trip you wish to have, whether it’s a road trip, weekend getaway, etc. This will help you choose the most suitable destinations. For instance, fun alternatives such as Lancaster tours can be a great option for a weekend getaway, so keep this in mind. You also want to research the best times to visit your destinations for the best experiences. 

Share your travel planning and budgeting tools & techniques in the comments or @modhop on twitter and instagram.



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Contributing Author

General travel tips and advice on destinations, hotels and flights.

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