Who says a little vacation has to break the bank?? Everyone likes to get away for a long weekend, but so many people miss out on travel because they think it costs thousands of dollars!

I want to start off by saying that money is money and I get that. I will not discount that some people are not fiscally able to take a vacation even if it is budget friendly. However, I want to share some insight because a mini-vacation to one of these destinations may be more affordable than you thought!

Without further ado, here is a mini-guide for planning your next mini-vacation!

Pick a location

It doesn’t have to be an extravagant trip to a far away destination. You can lower the cost of a normally pricey vacation with the right know-how! I find that an extended weekend trip is best when it is close to your home base. That way you don’t spend half the time driving or at the airport waiting for your flight.

Your own backyard is a fun place to start! I have lived in Central Ohio my entire life and there are still things I have not seen! 

Travel during the off-season

Do your research wherever you’re traveling to find out when the peak season is. It will not be the same everywhere. Obviously, more people will try to go to the beach during the summer months or the mountains during the fall.

Avoiding the crowd and going during the off-season will shave off a lot from the price tag! Plus, less people means more options and less wait time.

Use travel sites to book your stay

Expedia, Travelocity, Trip Advisor, Booking.com, just to name a few. Taking a few minutes to compare prices on all the different travel sites can save you so much money. Not to mention, you can bundle your flights, rental cars, hotel stays, even cruises! Their purpose is to save you money, so take advantage of all the different travel sites! 

Look out for deals too! If you want to go on a last-minute trip but are not sure where to, check out the last-minute deals travel sites try to book! It is already so much cheaper to book through travel sites, but additional discounted rates make it all so much better!

Pack your own meals

Save your money for experiences! I love packing things for a little picnic on the beach, in the park or even in the place you’re staying. It is something fun to do with your friends while saving a ton of money in the process!

If you are staying at a hotel or B&B that offers free breakfast, then take it! If you have a free breakfast and a cheap lunch, then splurge a little on dinner if it is within your budget!

Use cash or a debit card to keep track of expenses

Carrying a debit card or cash helps you keep track of your daily and overall budget! Give yourself a daily spending limit and only use that.  This especially goes for cash. 

The only downside to it is that it can be a bit dangerous carrying hundreds of dollars in cash on you at all times in a new environment. Having said that, a few good practices are to avoid bringing all of your cash with you at once and putting it in different places on your body.

Just do a day trip

If you are worried about the expenses of lodging, then just take a day-trip! These are not as far as weekend trips, but they can be just as fun! Pick a town a couple hours away from you and go explore for the day!

Being in Central Ohio makes it easy to see what my home state has to offer because everything is only a couple hours away! I have found some of the best farmers markets, parks, hiking trails and more all around Ohio! You would be surprised at all the interesting things you can find in places not too far from you. 

You deserve a little trip every now and then! Especially one that doesn’t break the bank! 😉