1. HomeAway
I love this site for vacation rentals. When we vacationed in Myrtle Beach last year, we stayed at a cute condo that was PERFECT for our needs. It was across the street from the beach, it had a balcony, kitchen, washer & dryer, and a small pool. We stayed a week for under $600. This was the week of Labor Day also, which helps the cost. Try to book travel when it is the off-season. The cost will most likely be lower.
Did you know? Florida’s off-season is summer
2. Airbnb
I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, so I have to be honest. We haven’t used Airbnb yet. However, we are planning a trip to Charlotte in the next couple months and we will be using Airbnb without a doubt. I’ve heard so many great things. Also, if you’re willing to stay somewhere that has a private room/living space while the owners are still there, it can be significantly cheaper than a private home/condo to stay at. Not to mention, you get to mingle with the locals and learn about the places to go to truly experience the city.
3. Friends/Family
You may not be as fortunate as me (and that’s okay! the first two options in this post will be just as great) to have family or friends living in other cities to go visit, but this is one of my favorite ways to travels. It kills two birds with one stone; visit family and vacation. Since I was 14, I have tried to visit my brother in Florida at least once a year. I never tire of Florida. We drove across the state to Tampa one time so that I could visit a friend and I stayed with her family for a few days. In April, I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle in California for about a week. I have friends in Colorado whom I would love to visit next year. It’s all about who you know ;). In exchange for staying with family and friends, I like to cook dinner at least once or take them out to eat.
4. Groupon/Livingsocial
I know, I said no hotels. However, you can find some really good deals on Groupon and Livingsocial. Last year, we stayed a night in Niagara Falls for about $100 and got plenty of extras including wine trail tasting passes. Yum! We nearly died in a snowstorm on the way home, but that’s besides the point. I often times think that deals are way out of my price range and I wouldn’t consider using a hotel deal for more than one night usually. However, this is something to consider and check out.
5. Camping
I have to inevitably mention this, because..well…I love camping!! If you like camping or are willing to give a try, it can be one of the most affordable vacations around. We love going to festivals and you can’t turn down 80 bucks for a weekend that includes camping and music. We also like to camp near Kinzua which is practically free. We’ve only been to one campground which was in Erie called Sara’s Campground. We camped on the beach and it was affordable. Other than that, I can’t say much about campgrounds. So, if you can’t afford a week-long beach getaway, but you get antsy being in one place for too long like I do, take an overnight or weekend trip to go camping.
What are your tips for booking a place to stay? Where are favorite places to vacation?
January 2, 2017
[…] I did a ridiculous amount of traveling and had so many adventures. Give me money and time, and I shall not stop moving. Brian said to me one day, “You can’t sit still and stay in one place for very long, can you?” I’m far from wealthy, but I do find frugal ways to travel. […]