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How to Save Money on Vacation - Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

Updated on November 23, 2014

Time to Hit the Road!

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Travel Tips for a Road Trip

It’s summertime and you’re getting the vacation bug! It’s time to leave town and do some traveling. Taking a family—or even a personal—holiday doesn’t have to break the bank or wipe out your savings. Before you take off on that vacation, whether it is for a week or just a weekend, consider several different ways that you can save. If you’re taking a road trip, there are several ways to cut back on expenses.

Save on the Cost of Meals while Traveling

A big expense in traveling, especially with a family, is the cost of meals. Try limiting eating out in restaurants to one meal per day. Pack in the car a cooler of sodas and water, and a bag of snacks such as granola bars and packaged peanut butter crackers. If your cooler is big enough, you could even pack sandwiches for at least one of your meals. If you’re going to be gone from home for a considerable amount of time, it would be worth your while—and your pocketbook’s—to stock up on snacks once again before making the trip back home. Whatever hotel you’re staying at, be sure to check to see if they have a free continental breakfast where you and the kids can fill up on cereal and pastries each morning.

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Save on Car Expenses; Consider a Rental

If you are taking a long trip and driving your own car, think again. There are some great online deals for car rentals through such companies as Avis, Budget, and PaylessCar. You can choose from a compact car to an SUV depending on how much room you will need. Think about how many miles you will be putting on your car. Figure in the wear and tear of the trip on your car, as well as how much keeping gas in it will cost. With that, compare it to the cost of a car rental and what all is included.

My siblings and I once took a road trip to Las Vegas, which was about a 24 hour trip straight through. While driving in the middle of the night, a coyote or some poor creature ran across the road, blowing out one of the headlights. The insurance we had purchased for the rental car we were driving (which amounted to very little) covered the damage and left us with no deductible to pay as we would have had to on a personal insurance policy. You might find that leaving your car safely at home is the better—and perhaps cheaper—deal.

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Save Significantly on Hotels

One of the biggest expenses in travel is the cost of lodging. While it’s nice to stay in a luxurious hotel, the cost can be daunting. Do you like the luxury of Hilton’s hotels? Online pricing can save you up to 40% off. Some online deals allow kids to stay free. Priceline shows you hotels in all the major U.S. cities for under $50 per night. This includes well-known cities such as Orlando, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and San Diego, California. With Trip Mama, you can search through hundreds of hotels all over the world with up to 65% savings. Use Hotel Coupon Codes to plan your lodging in advance of your trip.

Use Online Coupons to Save on Your Next Vacation

With some planning ahead, you can save money on your vacation on three of the biggest expenses you will have: food, travel, and lodging. Check out the available deals before you leave the house by shopping online and taking advantage of some deep discounts. By using Travel Codes and Deals, you can save a bundle on transportation and lodging, wherever your road trip takes you.

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