Winter Weekend Getaways On A Limited Budget
There are many ways to escape the winter doldrums and getaway without breaking the bank. You don’t have to take an expensive ski trip. Or even visit a tropical island paradise to receive the intended benefits. These benefits include getting away for some rest so you can return revitalized and ready to face winter again. Here are some tips and creative ideas for planning your winter weekend getaways on a limited budget. These will leave you refreshed without breaking the bank.
Stay close to home
Sometimes all you need is a slight change of scenery or a break from the routine to feel refreshed and revitalized. Is there a cute bed and breakfast the next town over that you’ve meant to try? A nearby local attraction? If you are driving instead of flying, you’ll have more money in your budget for lodging and dinner. If you can, reserve a room with a fireplace or spa since there are little that beats staring into a crackling fire with a glass of wine or relaxing in a bubbling hot tub. Find a bed and breakfast offering specials near you at bnbfinder.com.
Avoid popular destinations
Save yourself some time: Don’t even bother thinking about Maui or Cancun. Winter is also peak season for ski destinations such as Aspen, Park City, and Jackson Hole. If you want to hit the slopes or bask on sun-drenched beaches at the most popular resorts this time of year, you’ll be paying top dollar. If your goal is a ski getaway, why not try out a resort that’s close to home? Or if your heart wants a tropical beach, try out one of the up-and-coming areas where prices are still low. Chances are, you’ll have just as much fun. In addition to saving money, you’ll escape the crowds.
Visit a national park.
National parks are one of America’s most treasured resources. The U.S.’s 400 national parks draw 275 million visitors annually. Summer is the peak season in most of them. A visit during winter would let you enjoy nature without crowds of tourists. If you’ve already been to the national parks in your area, try taking a road trip to one in the next state over. There’s a reason these areas have been preserved-they contains some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the country. Many parks don’t charge admission, and those that do will usually offer three-day passes. You can often find beautiful accommodations within the park’s boundaries. But better deals can usually be found at motels in surrounding towns.
Do your Internet research.
The Internet is your best friend for finding the best travel deals. Make it a point to bookmark budget travel pages and sign up for their email alerts. Receiving great deal alerts can fill your inbox, but you can always set up a particular folder for travel planning. Alerts can save you hours of online research; if you’re lucky, one will pop into your inbox at the right time. Many travel websites, including Budget Travel, the Travel Channel, and Kiplinger, have compiled lists of the best sites for finding good travel deals. New websites are popping up all the time to help find the best deals on airfare, car rentals, hotels, bus and train travel, and even all-inclusive packages. It’s just a matter of deciding which ones are your favorites.
Use your air miles
If you’ve been saving up frequent-flier miles through an airline rewards program, now might be the time to use them. Often, these programs have expiration dates, so you may lose them if you don’t use them. And with airfare for your getaway taken care of, that only leaves food and lodging to worry about.
Take advantage of coupons.
Tons of fantastic travel deals are found through online coupon sites such as Groupon, LivingSocial, and Travelzoo. And besides saving you money, they can take you on an adventure. Many merchants who are offering deals through these sites are just getting established or are up-and-coming. They may not have a premier location or a big advertising budget, but since they’re seeking new business, they’ll most certainly appreciate it when you show up. Signing up for multiple online-coupon sites can easily overwhelm your email inbox. Luckily, several aggregators, including Slick Deals, can compile deals from online coupon sites and send you a daily report.
Use Airbnb
Although the hotel industry is not a fan of Airbnb, travelers certainly are. Not only can you save substantially on lodging, but you can stay in a place with all the comforts of home, including kitchens, where you can save even more by cooking your meals. The site offers 1.5 million listings in 34,000 cities and 190 countries, so there are likely available accommodations in your chosen vacation destination. Reviews of hosts provide a measure of security. Choose wisely; however: Airbnb properties range from rooms in someone’s home to short-term luxurious vacation rentals. The plus: most are in desirable neighborhoods and contain all the comforts of home.
Take couch surfing to a new level.
You can’t get much cheaper than free! Operating on the same principles as Airbnb, Couch surfing.com lets you send out queries to people who might be interested in hosting you in their homes for free. Popular among Millennials looking to travel and meet new friends, Couchsurfing lets you experience a locale on a local level. Often your hosts will not only put you up for the night and feed you in the morning but also take you sightseeing and introduce you to their friends. If you’re part of this network, you’ll reciprocate by hosting travelers in your home sometime, too.
Try house-swapping
Know some friends in another city who may want to escape for a little while, too? Arrange for a house swap. With accommodations taken care of, all you’ll need to worry about is the cost of travel. If you’re flying, you should be able to find a good deal by using one of the plentiful cheap airfare finders. If you don’t have friends interested in switching abodes, you can look for places on sites such as Home Exchange.com and Love Home Swap.
These are some great ideas for your winter weekend getaways, even on a limited budget. Whatever you do, make it a fun vacation. Set a budget and reward yourself for sticking to it by planning your next getaway when you return! If you like this post, check out our other posts on our MoneySmart Tips blog.
