Five Steps to a Budget-friendly Vacation
Plannng for the Summer Ahead
04.03.06

It's that time of year when many folks are beginning to make travel plans. Within these plans lies the one major problem associated with any major undertaking: How much is it going to cost and how can I afford it?

Below you will find five ways to get the vacation you want and afford it at the same time.

1. Decide on the type of vacation you want. For many, the choices are limited to the all-inclusive or the European style vacation package. The differences are subtle but can have huge effect on your budget plans. For instance, the all-inclusive vacation usually means exactly that. Airline tickets, hotels, airport transfers, car rentals and often some side excursion types of outings may be included for one package price. The European style vacation usually includes the transportation and the hotels but leaves the sightseeing or lack of it to you. A third type, the family vacation still involves reservations for hotels or camping sites, tickets to theme parks or other events, and generally some advance planning with some fixed costs that can be pre-determined.

2. Either way, use a reputable travel service that has been recommended to you or that you are familiar with. While some agencies may seem more expensive, they tend to be a better bargain when you begin to calculate the time and effort you might spend otherwise researching your vacation. Agencies will want your repeat business and may just outperform other internet based offers. Depending on the amount of money you have to spend, an agent can better answer questions about dining arrangements, access to medical facilities, destinations for children, and what is generally worth visiting in the area.

3. Be aware of what kind of traveler you are. If you would like to spend all your time by the pool with a drink and a book, you can better understand what the real costs of your vacation will be. If you want to do a lot of entertaining side trips, an agent can help uncover many of the costs that might come as a surprise and can often nickel and dime your travel budget.

4. Determine the Costs and Save Already Iąve mentioned the word budget three times so it is a good time to discuss the nitty-gritty of paying for this vacation. Once you determine the price, divide that number by weeks and decide whether you can put aside enough to cover the cost. A $2,000 budget for a trip during the first week of August can cost you only a $125 a week if you begin saving now. Sounds like a lot until you break it down to $18 a day. In many instances, a husband and wife, working outside the home might spend far more on just lunch. Sure, you might need to practice a little austerity during that period, but it is far easier to brown bag it for several months than it would be to pay off those bills for years following.

5. Use a windfall to help pay for it or get you started. For those that received a tax return, putting all of it or a portion of it towards your vacation will make you that much closer to relaxation. Use any sort of bonus money, any money saved through coupon-ing or special bargains and put it away for your holiday. Another way to save without actually feeling like you are saving is automatically having money removed from one account and placed into another.