Retirement Life Topics
Vacation Savings

Tips for Seniors and Families to Travel Cheap 

An Article by Chris Cross

It's time to start thinking vacation savings. According to AAA, high gasoline prices will most likely cancel out many vacation plans, or at the very least modify our plans. If this trend continues, not only will our plans change, but it may affect many jobs related to the travel industry. Hotel tax revenues from Hotels and Restaurants will also diminish the government coffers in almost every city in America.

Gas prices will soon hit the $4.00 mark, and in fact have already done so in some cities. Wallstreet experts like Jim Kramer expect them to hit the $5.00 per gallon very soon, and higher still.

But don't cancel your vacation just yet. We Americans consider vacations sacred and we are loath to give them up. So, is there a way we can find vacation savings so we can enjoy traveling instead of losing our shirtts? Yes, but...

Instead of booking a high-end hotel room, you may choose instead a less expensive room in a motel that offers a free continental breakfast. Saving  $9 (fast food meal) to $12 in a sitdown restaurant plus a tip is one way. That's a cool savings of  $63 to $84+ for seven days alone, $168 for the normal two week vacation. Take a sack lunch that you make in your room before leaving for the day and save even more.

Drive 60 miles per hour and get better gas mileage on tires that are inflated to the correct capacity. No jack-rabbit starts or aggressive driving either. (Turning off your air conditioner will not get you better gas mileage, that's a myth)

These vacation savings tips alone could mean the difference in getting out of dodge or sitting in the back yard with our toes in a rubber play-pool sipping on lemonade. ...continues on next column
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MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF
Traveling by bus is not only a relaxing way to go, you will arrive at your destination with a few more coins in your pocket, especially if you are traveling alone. Filling the tank for one person to go several hundred miles could be more expensive than taking a comfortable motor coach. It isn't for everyone. I happen to like stopping when I want and taking little side-trips. But for many, this is a great option. They don't want to deal  with congested highways and irate drivers.
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LIVE LIKE THE LOCALS and SAVE MONEY TOO!
Here's another idea for vacation savings. This is an innovative idea that has been getting a lot of attention over the past several years. It's called house swapping. The easy explanation is: If you own a home in or near a vacation destination you can swap your house for someone else's house for your vacation.
 
This concept has been growing for quite awhile now and there are people across the country, and Internationally, that have homes they are willing to trade for a week or two for the chance to stay in your house. For instance, if you live in Florida and want to visit Italy, chances are there is someone in Italy you can exchange your house with for a pre-determined amount of time.  If you live in New York and want to vacation in California....there are companies that have listings of houses in California that are available to exchange with you.  It's a great way to really get the full experience of living in another state or country for a couple of weeks because you aren't off somewhere in a hotel. You're right in the neighborhood of the locals. You will get the true experience of living in a totally different enviornment. And it's cheaper than an extended stay at a hotel. Everyone wins.
 
If you own a home in an area someone might want to visit.  Find a company that offers these house swaps and get great vacation savings.

BikingMoabWe also recommend Moab, Utah outside Arches National Park. The gorgeous red rocks and firey sunsets you'll enjoy while listening to Bocelli or ----- is an experience you'll not soon forget. There's also great off-roading, rock hounding, hiking, biking, river-rafting, Anasazi petroglyphs, dinosaur bones and tracks (last time we were there you could still schedule a dig), curio shopping and more. We usually stay at the Virginian Motel because it has lower prices and some rooms come with a kitchen which saves a lot of money (so ask for one)...again good for you bad for the restaurant.

 If you have a favorite vacation spot please let us know... Tell us about it in an article or fill out the guestbook below. To submit an article please email it to: submissions@retire-lifestyle.com

 

Share Travel or Vacation Expenses...
One of the fastest growing vacation spots (and second home investment markets, with homes/cabins ranging from the mid $100k  to over $1M for waterfront cabins) is Island Park, ID where you can rent a cabin that sleeps 13 for about $200/night. Waterfront cabins rent for $350- $450 a night. All have a 3 night minimum but sharing the cost of the rental and making some of your own meals makes this vacation destination very affordable, especially when you consider all there is to do.BalconyView Island Park is near Yellowstone, one of the most majestic of all the U.S. National Parks. It's also surrounded by mountains, meadows, lakes and rivers where hiking, fishing, canoeing, kiyaking, boating, golf, horseback riding, rodeos in the summer (and one of the most recognized snowmobile trail areas in the country in the winter) and wonderful day-trips (Virginia City, Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Jackson Hole WY and more)are enjoyed. If you like an activity-filled vacation, or just want to enjoy the beautiful scenery this is for you. Talk about vacation savings, this one really hits the mark!