Taking a Vacation on a Budget

With the summer season coming to an end we are seeing people going back to work, school, and just life in general. With this time of year comes a slowdown in travel. That also means that airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies are clamoring for every piece of business they can find this time of year. Competing for customers is great news for all of you because it means savings are everywhere right now. We spend most of our lives working in the doldrums and wasting away at the office 40+ hours each week, and usually about 50 weeks out of the year. That means when you are able to take a vacation you should take full advantage. That being said, money is an issue for many people, so vacationing on a budget is a must.

Last minute bookings are the best way to score the cheapest deals. There are companies out there that thrive on selling hotel rooms on the day or night of a stay. The hotel knows they are about to miss out on 100% of lost revenue on that room, so why not heavily discount it and receive some money for it? This works better if you aren’t obsessively compulsive about following a set schedule each step of the way. If you are unable to find a suitable hotel that evening in one city then simply drive to the next one and try again.

Airfare is best booked a few months in advance as they often overbook the flights, so last minute deals aren’t as rampant here as they are with hotels. However, you can check out site like Skip Lag which show you the best way to take one-way flights and connectors to get your destination in the most cost effective way possible. Sure it might be an extra stop or two, but what you pay for in convenience you make up for in monetary savings. Also, check your credit card rewards. You may be accumulating miles on several different air carriers already and not have even realized it. This is the time you want to start cashing them in, especially this time of year when the air miles can stretch a lot further than usual.

If you are simply looking for the cheapest and easiest ways to book the whole vacation, all-inclusive or not, then check out the Groupon Coupons page for Apple Vacations which always has great deals for you and the family!