As we trade cold and snow for the nicer temperatures of Spring, it’s time to start planning your summer vacation which is why I wanted to talk about ways to save money on Beach Vacations. Beach vacations are among my family’s favorites, and I’ve learned there are ways to enjoy the beach without going home broke. Give these saving tips a try for your next beach vacation!
9 Ways to Save Money on Beach Vacations:
1.Book now, and be flexible.
Beach rentals book up quickly, so do your research now and get your lodging reserved. If you can be flexible with your dates, do – holiday weeks are much more expensive than earlier or later summer weeks. Look at pricing for several different weeks you’re considering and see where you’ll save the most money.
2. Skip the hotel.
Hotels in beach towns are really expensive! You’ll get much more bang for your buck (and a kitchen – more on that in a minute) with a vacation rental. Check out com to find the right one for you.
3. Plan ahead.
Now that you know where you’re staying, look on Groupon or Local Flavor to see what offers they have for attractions and restaurants. You’ll even see reviews before you go, so you know you won’t be spending your money on mediocre food.
4. Travel with friends.
If you travel with another family, you will be able to split the cost of the rental, as well as some of the food expenses. An added bonus is that your kids will probably need less entertaining since they’ll have friends to keep them occupied!
5. Eat most of your meals in.
Of all the ways to save money on beach vacations this will save you the most. With a rental condo or house, you have the great benefit of a kitchen. Plan to make most of your meals rather than eating out. Pack a lunch to take to the beach each day; the food at the snack shack is not cheap! This is when your crock pot comes in handy. I bring my crock pot and cook in it. That way we enjoy dinner after a hot day at the beach. You will find a ton of easy crock pot recipes here.
6. When you do eat out, go early.
A lot of resort-town restaurants have early-bird specials or happy hours with decent food. You’ll save quite a bit of money by eating early, and you’ll beat the rush (which is always great with hungry kids who can’t wait).
7. Buy supplies before you go.
We’ve all been there – you realize you forgot the sunscreen, you walk into the convenience store, and it’s $10. You have to buy it, so you do – and the savings maven in you dies a little. Buy supplies you need, like sunscreen, Band-Aids, bottled water, hand sanitizer wipes, and beach toys, before you ever leave home.
8. Take a trip to the visitor’s bureau.
While you may just want to veg out at the beach for your entire vacation, it’s still a good idea to pop over to the visitor’s bureau to see what free or inexpensive activities there are if you want something a little different. They also may have coupons to different places nearby. It’s nice to have options and it is one of the easiest ways to save money on beach vacations.
9. Set a budget and stick with it.
There will be meals you’ll eat out and souvenirs you want to buy, so before you go, decide what that budget will be. Then make sure you don’t overspend! It is literally that simple.
Planning ahead will help you not worry about how much you’re spending on your beach vacation so that, instead, you can just be enjoying the time away and getting some much-needed (and deserved!) relaxation. Hopefully after these easy tips on ways to save money on Beach vacations you can afford your vacation and still have a ton of fun.
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