BUDGET VACATIONS YOUR FAMILY WILL

LOVE

You can have a great vacation without breaking the family bank. With the

proper planning, anything is possible!

Budget

Draw up a budget before your trip.

Ask yourself, “How much can I spend on this vacation?”

Include costs for transportation, lodging, and food, as well as activities and souvenirs.

Transportation

Sometimes, flying can be cheaper than driving.

Do the math to compare modes of transportation to determine which method of travel is least expensive.

Consider that you can explore more when you’re in the car.

Calculate the Cost/Mile to Drive

1. Know how many miles per gallon your vehicle gets.

2. Find out how much a gallon of gas costs in your area.

3. Divide the cost per gallon (#2) by your miles per gallon (#1).

4. Use the result to determine the cost of your trip, based on the miles you’ll be driving. Multiply #3 by your total estimated trip miles.

Lodging: Factors to ConsiderDo You Really Need to Stay in a Fancy Hotel?

You’re probably not going on vacation to lie around in your room. After all, you can lie around at home.

The majority of the time you’re in a hotel will be spent sleeping. Once you turn off the lights, you can’t tell how nice the room is.

Other options for your money may be a lot more fun.

Instead of a high-end hotel, consider:

Cabins. They come in all shapes and sizes and many have basic electricity.

Tents. With a good mattress, decent weather, and shower access, $15 nightly may be all you’ll spend at a campground. Campers. If you have a vehicle with a trailer hitch, rent a camper.House-sitting. You can stay in someone’s home at your destination and enjoy free accommodations.Bed and breakfast inns. Breakfast is free and if you share a bathroom down the hall, you’ll really save.

More Options for Lodging

College housing. During summer months, check out university-

housing.com for availability of dorm rooms at your destination.

Rent a house or apartment. You’ll save on lodging and food.

Rent a room. Staying in someone’s home in a spare room preserves your

budget.

Stay with relatives. Consider staying half the time with family and

half on your own.

Inexpensive Food OptionsBuy food at the store

to make your own meals. Have a cooler

on hand for deli meats and cheeses.

While camping, cook over the campfire or on the cook

stove.

Have fruit or cereal for breakfast. Then eat lunch

out while exploring. Return to room or camp for dinner.

Stay in a hotel offering a free

breakfast.

Bring your own drinks, then order

water with your meals when eating out.

Take a Staycation! Stay Home

• Local and nearby attractions.

• Eat at fancy restaurants or get a massage.

• There’s no place like it!

• Accommodations• Meals• Transportation

Save more

money!

Sleep in your own bed.

Take daytrip

s.

Spend on

things you

normally don’t.

Locales like the beach, mountains, city, lake, or simply road-tripping can be wonderful, budget-friendly vacations.

Budget Destination Locations

The Beach

It costs little to spend a day at the beach.

The beach pleases everyone. You can walk, swim, sleep, read a book, or play in sand.

Other interesting things are near the beach, like shops, museums, and art.

Do You Live Close to a Great Beach?Consider these locales:

Destin, Florida

It has great bird-watching areas.

There’s plenty of golf, tennis, and fishing.

You can listen to live music while dining at one of the open-air cafes along the beach and docks.

Decent hotels in the area can cost less than $100 nightly and include free breakfast.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod’s extensive seashore is located within driving distance of the entire Northeast.

Bay side: excellent seashells and uncrowded beaches

Ocean side: enjoy surfing

Provincetown area: shops, museums, and active nightlife

Camp in the summer: sunny days, cool nights, and few bugs.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

The famous Haystack Rock, which is featured in several movies, is just off the coast in the shallow waters.

The Emerald Forest is great for a day hike and claims the huge, 300-year-old Sitka spruce trees. From the forest’s edge, you can see the Pacific Ocean.

Local villages, beaches, and bluffs are perfect for exploring.

Many hotel rooms are priced less than $100 a night.

The Mountains

You may prefer the quiet and majesty of the mountains.

If you love cool air and day hikes, a trip to the mountains might be a good choice.

Some mountain towns have many shops, great restaurants, and other interesting tourist attractions.

Are You a Day’s Drive from the Mountains? Check out these destinations.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

If you want to be in the mountains but have plenty of tourist attractions, this is the place for you: Great fishing: hundreds of miles of trout streams Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in Smokey Mountain

National Park at 6,643 feet, is nearby. Numerous trails for hiking or mountain biking Renowned for its shopping: If you can’t buy it here, you

probably can’t buy it anywhere. Dollywood is only 10 miles away if you’re into amusement

parks. Variety of lodging options to fit any budget

Estes Park, Colorado

Home to Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking, rock climbing, and white water rafting at their best.

It’s also a great place for viewing wildlife. It’s well-known for the many bighorn sheep that roam the area.

It’s one of the most scenic places in the United States.

A multitude of lodging opportunities, from camping and cabins to deluxe home rentals

Mammoth Lakes, California

Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and a short drive from Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes offers a wide variety of outdoor and scenic activities:

Fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lining, horseback riding, and more

The largest unrestored ghost town in the US is also nearby in Bodie State Historical Park.

Accommodations are available from camping to vacation rentals that cost over $2,500 per night.

The City

Many large cities have out-of-the-way, inexpensive inns.

If you’re willing to buy food to prepare in your room, you can cut some costs to spend a bit more on lodging.

Some attractions have free days.

Big cities offer some low-cost lodging and entertainment. Do your homework ahead of time to find low-cost options.

Big Cities to Consider to Save $$

Michigan City, Indiana & Chicago, IllinoisMichigan City has great beaches on the lake and a casino. Chicago is just a short drive away.

Michigan City was recently named as the least expensive city in the United States.

Chicago: Famous museums of art, science, and natural history. Architectural tours, including a tour from a boat that travels

down the river through downtown. Great restaurants, sports teams, shopping, and outdoor

activities

Atlanta, Georgia

Home to Coca-Cola and the spectacular Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta is a great destination. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens covers more than 30 acres and

includes a 40-foot high suspension bridge walk that gives the experience of walking in the treetops.

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is fun for those of any age. There’s rarely a week that goes by without a festival of some

sort. The CNN studio tour is another popular attraction. Atlanta also has a wide-variety of lodging options of many

price points. Camping is available in many nearby locations, but keep the climate in mind.

Las Vegas, NevadaSurprisingly, there are many family-oriented activities:

Inexpensive buffets Shows suitable for children, including magic shows, circuses,

and acrobatic groups. There are also roller coasters, arcades, and more.

Mandalay Bay has a great outdoor beach and wave pool. You don’t even have to be a guest, but you’ll have to pay for access.

Excellent opportunities for outdoor activities, especially hiking. Hoover Dam is nearby, too.

Lodging to fit any budget

The Lake

Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake in Oregon is the deepest lake in the United States, 1,943 feet deep! The water is very cold and famous for its blue color.

Hiking, fishing, and bicycling are popular activities. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing makes a winter-time vacation fun.

Tour boats cruise the lake several times per day. It’s best to be in shape just to get on the boat! It’s 700 feet down to the dock and 700 feet back up to the rim.

Nearby, you can find horseback riding, river rafting, and several museums. Camping, cabins, and hotel rooms are available. Camping is limited to the summer and early fall.

Going to a lake provides casual, outdoor fun.

Lake Champlain, New York

This huge lake has been pivotal in the American Revolution, the French and Indian Wars, and the War of 1812. Several forts are available for tours, the most notable being Fort Ticonderoga.

The lake is famous for its fishing, particularly northern pike. Boating and swimming are popular activities.

All accommodations are available, from camping to fancy.

Table Rock Lake, Missouri

If you like the outdoors and country music, you’re set for a budget-friendly vacation.

Hosts the annual, 3-week Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival The area is also famous for its catfish. Scuba diving, hiking,

biking, and kayaking are also popular. The area is loaded with options for live entertainment. The Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure are also big hits. Go-karting and water parks are also available.

Road-Tripping

Combining multiple locations makes a great driving vacation, particularly if you live near a beach, a big city, and the mountains.

After a few days walking your legs off in a big city, head for a quiet, restful cabin by a lake for a few days.

Keep the amount you drive under control to ensure you have a nice vacation and save money on gas, too.

More Budget Vacation TipsP

lan

Ah

ead

. The more you look, the more likely you’ll find a great deal.

Vacati

on

Off

-S

eason

.Most locales have certain times of the year when prices are low.

Focu

s o

n B

ein

g

Tog

eth

er.That’s

what it’s really all about, going someplace new and experiencing it together.

A great vacation needn’t be

expensive. Start planning a

budget vacation today and make memories your

family will cherish forever!