FRUGAL SUMMER TRAVEL TIPS

The Frugal Yankee won't go into why our economy is sucking so much wind. All we need to know is regular folks are paying the price for poor leadership and wanton greed. As summer gets closer, many of us are being forced to reconsider our budgets. One budget item popping up for belt tightening is our vacations. Plane travel is a major drag, gas prices are through the roof and every cost seems to be skyrocketing. How can anyone afford some much needed R and R?

One way is to get frugal.

New England is a great place to do that. We recently talked with Mel Allen from Yankee Magazine. He had some great ideas about vacationing in our beloved region this summer. You can hear his podcast FRUGAL SUMMER VACATIONS. Beyond Mel's savvy suggestions, there are some tips anyone, from anywhere can use to maximize this summer's fun and minimize the impact on our wallets. Below are a few, and we have more on our web site FRUGAL YANKEE DOT COM.

SKIP THE HOTEL
If you've ever traveled, you know how acommodations crimp your budget.  Even if you're a savvy and you use the internet, hotels are expensive. So think outside the box. Here are a few alternatives:

Stay with Friends
Remember when we used to crash at our buddy's apartments back in our school dazes er, I mean days? Call up so old friends and stay with them. Remember Ben Franklin's words of caution, though. Guests, like fish, stink after three days.

Time Share
See if a condo or time share unit is available near where you want to go. Redweek.com, Tradingplaces.com and Craigslist are places to start your search. Local realtors are another source for information. Think about it, if the time share is used primarily for ski weekends, then summer rentals should be affordable and near mountains.

Home Exchanges
If you saw the Cameron Diaz/Kate Winslet film last December called Holiday, you know what home exchanges are. Using an exchange service or the internet, two people simply swap their houses for a brief period of time. There are some downsides, but a lot of upside. You can find out more at HomeExchange.com or Homelink.org.

Camping & Campgrounds
If you're traveling around the country, think about campgrounds. Campgrounds have changed a lot in the past few years and you could be surprised at how accommodating they can be. It isn't just a plot of land with six stones in a circle for boiling a cup of coffee.Today many of them have upgraded facilities, beautiful spaces and more. They are quite affordable, fun and adventurous. Start your search with the state you'll be visiting. Most have up to date listings. Just Google "campgrounds" and then the state.

CAR RENTING TIP
    Here is a little trick I found out by accident many moons ago. Rent an economy car and then arrive later than most to pick it up. You'd be surprised at how few economy cars rental companies have. So when you arrive, they may be out and you'll be automatically upgraded to a bigger vehicle. I won't fill you in how I got fired when I first learned of this other to than to say my boss was a wack job and I was hung over.

RESTAURANT SAVINGS
    If you are planning on experiencing gastronomical delights at some nifty, pricy restaurants, don't go to dinner. Go to lunch. Lunches are traditionally half the price of the dinners. Yeah, the portions maybe a bit smaller, but you're still sampling their wares at a budget price so you can hit more restaurants without destroying your budget.

There are many more ways you can save on your summer vacation. YOu can find our more at our web site FRUGAL YANKEE DOT COM. Remember, the bad economy should not hinder you and your family, just be curious and savvy. Do your research, plan and then kick back. It's what the Frugal Yankee always says, "Enjoy Life, Spend Less."

From traditional tips to savvy perspectives, the Frugal Yankee knows how to enjoy life and spend less. Find out more by going to FrugalYankee.com.