Wanna Take a Romantic Summer Vacation? Here's How (When You're on a Budget)
The long days and warm nights (plus the extra off days you’ve accumulated) this summer season are beckoning you to take a vacation with your sweetie. Problem is, money is tight and so you’re not really sure how you can pull a trip off without causing some bills to suffer in the process.
Boy, have we got some great news for you! If you take our advice, you’ll be able to have a really nice and romantic summer vacation without breaking your budget or bypassing a bill. (Just make sure to do all of these things as soon as possible!)
1. Call about deals
Conducting business online makes things so much more convenient. The problem is when it comes to doing things like finding flights, hotels and even rental car deals, you’re not always going to get the best ones on websites. Once you find what you’re looking for, it’s well worth the time and effort to call the company directly. They may have last-minute or 24-48 hour specials that you wouldn’t find out about any other way.
2. Check out places close by
When you’re planning a trip, you have to think about what your overall objective is. If it’s to go someplace exotic, then this tip won’t get you very far. But if you don’t really care where you go so long as you can get a change of scenery and some much needed quality time together, don’t underestimate the romance that may be in the next city or town. Look for hotels, bed and breakfasts and if there are any festivals or special events close by. Then you can just hop in your car and go (which can save you on travel expenses alone).
3. Fly at inconvenient times
If where you want to go requires flying, there are two things to think about. First, try and not wait until the last minute before booking your tickets. More times than not, the costs are going to be a lot higher if wait less than two weeks before. Secondly, be open to flying at inconvenient times of the day like really early in the morning or taking a red eye. Sometimes flying at 5am or midnight can knock off a couple of hundred dollars (for both tickets) easily. You also might want to look into going to certain places during their off season. A travel agent can assist you with finding locations that charge less because they don’t have as many tourists during different times of the year.
4. Consider house swapping
And what about where you’re going to stay? If you’re planning to be gone more than a few days, hotel prices can get to be kinda steep. An alternative is to check into house swapping. This means that yes, you must be willing to let someone stay in your home too. But considering you won’t have to pay a dime, it’s well worth considering. (Go to your favorite search engine and put “house swap sites” in the search field.)
5. Go with another couple
Another thing to think about is going with another couple or a group of couples. Companies are known for offering group discounts that can equal up to as much as 15-20 percent. By day, you and your friends can have a great time hanging out together. But since you’re “paired off”, by night, no one will have a problem breaking off to do your own thing.
6. Don't stay too long
Quality vs. quantity. This is something else to think about. Remember that the longer you stay, the higher your expenses will be. So, be realistic about what you really can afford. Spending three awesome days somewhere and then coming home to a staycation is pretty inviting. You can check out the sites for a part of your vacation and then stay in for some cuddling and relaxing, free of charge. (Sounds good to us!)
