The economy has us all rethinking our summer plans. That includes our vacation. Many of us are considering staying home during vacation but there are ways to still be able to go on vacation while spending much less money. These are my original tips. It will take some planning but you can have a frugal vacation. I gathered information from various places to compile this list and I do hope it helps you have a wonderful vacation.
1. Volunteer Work Pays Off - Free Night or 50% Off night In Motel
Volunteer 8 hours in one month and you are elgiable for a free night at a motel or 50% off a nights stay.
2. Purchase health and beauty aids at home using coupons and sales.
I own a group called CVS RiteAid and more. The purpose of this group is to help you not only get items for free but often you can make money when you purchase an item. This is a great way to get those items you may need for your vacation like shampoo, conditioneer, tooth paste etc.
Here are a few posts that will help you accomplish that goal.
CVS Deals For July 19th - 25th
CVS Deals - Week of July 26 - Aug 1
CVS Deals For Week Of July 27 - August 1st
3. Join clubs for the motels, restaurants, gas stations that you visit.
Many motels offer a free night stay after you stay so many nights. I am a member of three motel rewards groups.
Holiday Inn express offers free breakfast with each night stay. They also have a rewards program. It is called Priority Club.
Most major restaurants have clubs that you can join online to get coupons for FREE food. These are worth joining.
Gas stations have joined the rewards band wagon. We have one gas station that give you so much off your gas purchase for making purchases inside the store. Just for using your rewards card you get one cent off your purchase. You can save thse discounts and use them for FREe gas or you can use them as you go.
4. Eat In the Motel
Instead of eating out every meal on your vacation try shopping at a grocery store for food you can prepare in the microwave that comes in your motel room. Eat Fresh fruit and veggies. Many grocery stores have discount cards. Access them even if you think you will never use them again. They will save you money on just one shopping event.
Make sure you register for the rewards card before you make your purchase so you can use it on your first purchase.
5. List of some rewards clubs that you may be interested in. You can sign up for many of them online:
Staples Reward Card (just never know when you will need a camera or laptop battery.)
Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn express Rewards Program
6. Sign up for all the free samples of products that you can.
Often you can get free washing powder or fabric softener that is just the right size for one load of clothes. Motels have laundry mats in them now.
You can get free sample sizes of hand lotions, baby lotions, shampoo and other great stuff. These samples sell for anywhere from a dollar to three dollars in the travel size section of the store.
7. Listed is just a small list of some companies that offer samples on a regular basis:
8. Purchase a "Next Exit" book.
# 1 American Interstate Highway Travel Exit Guide
This guide has every exit and what is available at that exit. For example: restaurants, gas stations, motels and such are all listed for each exit on all interstates.
They are giving away a FREE editon of "Next Exit". Each month they give away a FREE copy of the Next EXIT® to one lucky winner!
Winners are selected by random drawing on the first day of the following month and notified by e-mail.
9. Purchase your drinks at home
You can get a cooler and save money by taking your drinks with you including water. Freeze the water to use as ice and then stock the cooler full of sodas, juices etc. On the road they are very expensive. If you do have to have something to drink while traveling consider stopping at a grocery store.
10. Access Free State Parks and other free sites.
There are many other ways to have a great vacation while still going cheap. These are just a few suggestions. Enjoy your summer.
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also, Triple A gives discount to different parks and movie theaters.. It's good to check out.
Good luck in the contest.
Thanks!
It is good to see you. Don't forget to register for the free Next Exit book contest.
Did you register for the Free Next Edit book contest?
That is a wonderful idea. If we all share our ideas, we can all have a wonderful summer. Thanks for sharing yours
smores too.
I love getting the free samples, because they are the perfect size for travel bags. We try to eat in as much as possible, and since our vacations are usually to visit family, we avoid hotel costs completely. I try to stock up on snacks and things before hand, so that we have them for the long road trip and don't have to buy them at gas stations.
This year we've decided we're just doing local stuff. We've been to the zoo a couple times, and invested in the family pass. It's good at the zoo in Bismarck, too, so I think we might do that one weekend, since I've heard so many good things about it. We'll have to find someone to take care of the dogs for that, though.
Mostly we're sticking to day trips, where we don't have to do anything with the dogs. Trips to the park, zoo, museum, etc. The state fair is 30 minutes away and starts on Friday, and I think Elliott and I will be going at least 4 times, and my husband will probably go 3-4 times, too.
It is great and you can enter to win a free copy.
next week we are taking the grand son to a triple a game, and maybe a water park fora day,, within 15 miles from here,,
Most of the motels we stay in don't have either a frig or a microwave...LOL. We use to do a lot of camping, but the prices at the campgrounds have gone up so much, that it is sometimes cheaper to just stay at a motel.
Try the motel rewards programs. Many of the cheaper motels have coupons that you get stamped with each visit. Stay 5 nights and you get a free night.
Check them out online.
It is still cheaper to stay at State Park campgrounds. They are safer too.
And last summer, we found out that some places charge you more if you have more than 2 kids....
At the Holly river State Park, they have a group site that you can have the tents you want. I think it was like $15.00 a night.
Here is what our state parks say (from their web site).
Minimum Stay: A two-night minimum is required for weekend reservations, and a three-night minimum is required for Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day weekends.
■27 Tent, Trailer, RV Campsites ($23-$35 depending on the days)
■8 Platform Tent Sites ($24)
Once you buy it, you will have to continue making payments, and if you want to dispose of it, you won't be able to give it away!