This is a guest post.
Planning a holiday is, more than anything, exciting. If you’ve got finances on the brain, however, it can also be a bit daunting. Here are some tips on how to plan the best budget holidays for next year so you can be sure your trip is filled with fun but doesn’t break the bank.
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Travel in the Off Season
If you’ve got a flexible schedule then why not consider holidaying during off-peak times. Leave the madness of the school holidays to other people and plan yours for the off season. The money you’ll save may even allow you to travel a bit further. The off season for many resorts in the Caribbean, for example, includes October and November so a trip there next Fall could be one of the cheap holidays in 2014 you’re looking for.
Road Trip
Traveling to your destination via car can certainly save you some cash and who knows, you might come even across a few unexpected attractions and have some added adventures. The NCAA Men’s Final Four is at the AT&T Stadium in Texas next year so why not plan a road trip there. If you get a group of friends or family to go with you, you can share the cost of fuel and room together at cheap motels and hostels. If you’ve got the gear already, why not also consider camping along the way. The cost of camping is generally quite low and many campsites include shower facilities so you can leave feeling fresh and clean for the next part of the drive.
Choose Self-Catering
Choosing self-catering accommodation will also help keep your holiday spending to a minimum. When booking a holiday apartment, do some research and find out how far the nearest supermarket is. Try to book your accommodation within walking distance of the market, keeping in mind you may be carrying heavy bags, to save even more money. If you have a large group you may want to rent an entire house or cabin for the week or two. Yellowstone National Park and the Florida coast are both popular destinations for families and large groups to holiday.
Book Early or Late
Planning your holiday well in advance or else waiting to book until the last minute are both ways of saving money. The two may seem contradictory but the reality is, planning well in advance will allow you to choose flights for the day you want as well as get into popular resorts that may fill up very quickly due to their competitive prices. On the other hand, if you have the flexibility in your schedule to wait until a week, two weeks or a month before you wish to travel, you can find great last-minute deals.
As you can see, a holiday doesn’t have to break the bank. A well-planned trip can ensure you get the holiday you want for the price you want.
