Frugal Winter Vacations

• Find something free. If you have family, friends or co-workers who have a second home or vacation place, ask if they would consider allowing you to borrow it – or pay a discounted rate - for a weekend getaway.

• Go with friends. You can cut your lodging expenses in half if you have good family friends with whom you could vacation. And you might be able to afford something bigger than you could on just your family’s budget.

• Check into possible discounts and services. If you are a member of a professional organization or association like AAA, AARP or even a credit union, you may be able to get discounts on your vacation transportation or lodging, as well as get some help in planning your trip.

• Scout out the internet. If you have some flexibility about when you can go, and are open to some different destinations, you can take advantage of some great bargains online. Check out sites like Travelocity.com, Cheaptickets.com, and Expedia.com.

• Ask for the lowest price possible. Motels and hotels have a lot of flexibility in pricing. Think about it – when a room goes empty for a night they’re making no money. They may be willing to lower the rate to make something instead of nothing. When calling motels and hotels for availability and rates, instead of letting them know your preferred dates, start by asking the lowest possible price they could give you for a room. Then ask what additional discounts they give that you may qualify for.

• Be spontaneous. If you’re willing to take a risk, consider waiting until 3 - 6 days prior to your trip to find a rental place or hotel room. The closer you are to your arrival date the more hotels, motels and rental agents may be willing to discount their rates.

• Discover your state parks. State parks are often hidden gems. They are very family friendly and often have clean, decent motel-style lodging; affordable food, and outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. Click here to visit the National Park Service website.

• Contact the Chamber of Commerce. Call or go online to request a visitors packet from the Chamber of Commerce in the town or city where you are planning to vacation. They provide information on sites, events and attractions, as well as often including coupons!

• Take your own food. One of the most expensive (and often overlooked expense!) aspects of vacationing is eating out. Plan ahead and take some of your own food if possible. If you’re staying in a hotel ask if they have a mini-refrigerator, or if you can rent one for a small additional fee. The savings you realize by keeping milk, juice and deli meat on hand can pay for the fee. Bring some healthy snack food, cereal and bread and you can make most of your meals for much less than you would pay by going out.

• Tune up before you take off. If you’re driving think about taking your car into a garage to get your oil changed, tires checked and an overall tune-up. Not only will it give you peace of mind, it can save you from the unexpected expense (and hassle) of potential car difficulty while on the road.While You’re There…

• Get tips from locals. If you are vacationing somewhere for the first time, ask your concierge, hosts or locals you meet for tips on good, inexpensive restaurants and local attractions.

• Eat at off-hours. Take advantage of early bird hours at local restaurants and “kids eat free” nights.

• Trim souvenir spending. Consider putting a dollar limit on how much your family can spend for souvenirs. Instead of shopping for trinkets at tourist hot spots, check out discount stores in the area which carry some of the same items. And pictures of your family enjoying the trip will be the best souvenir of all.

• Pick up a local paper or use the public library. The local paper will have information on upcoming events in the area that your family can enjoy, often for much less than the price of a tourist attraction. And if you don’t have internet access where you’re staying, use the online services at a nearby public library to get information about events, maps and more.After You Get Home…

• Look for photo developing discounts. Some supermarkets offer discounts on certain days to develop film. Or, instead of going to a stand-alone photo center think about using less-expensive services at large warehouse store (like BJ’s or Sam’s Club).

• Consider going back to the same place. If you enjoyed the accommodations where you stayed this trip, call up the owners and ask if they would consider giving you a discount if you reserve the same house or unit next year.

• Start saving for next year! Look over how much you spent on this vacation and come up with a financial goal for next year’s trip. Then divide that number by 12 and you have a number for how much money you need to save each month to hit your target.

By taking a little bit of time and using some creativity your family can enjoy a fun and frugal winter vacation this year!

Katie is a writer and speaker who loves encouraging women to explore and embrace God’s gracious truth for their lives. She and her husband Tim have ministered together to high school students through the ministry of YoungLife and now care for orphans in third world countries through the ministry of ORPHANetwork. She, Tim and their two young children live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.