Money Saving Tips – Vacation

Having just gotten back from Santa Fe, I thought I'd share some tips with you on how to save a bit of $$ while traveling. I may not be an expert, and we definitely splurged here and there, but I've found lots ways to keep vacations from breaking the bank. I promise you can have just as good of a time, and end up with some green left in your pocket!

Booking

• Travel during the shoulder season or off season. This varies by place (off season may be the winter for Martha's Vineyard, but not so for Breckenridge!) You can find great discounts from places wanting to fill their rooms while the demand is low. This is how we scored a sweet deal at the resort we stayed at in Santa Fe.
• Book as a package. Using Orbitz, Travelocity, Priceline, Hotwire, or any other travel site to book a package deal (flight + hotel + car) can save you so much. From my experience, it's pretty much like getting a car rental for free (or one free night in a hotel if you're not renting a car.)
• Examine flexibility around your dates. I don't know any great rules of thumb for cheapest travel days, so I like to pick a day and then look at flights around it to see if anything stands out. (I know on Orbitz you can pick your travel dates as well as 1 day before and after to get a matrix of prices. Love!)

Eating

• Don't eat every meal in a restaurant. Even if you don't have a kitchenette in your room, you can make a mighty fine breakfast from staples from the grocery store: granola bars, fruit, muffins, etc. You can even heat water for instant oatmeal with a coffee maker!
• Take advantage of hotel offerings. Maybe it's just me, but free breakfast seems to come along less and less these days. If your hotel offers it, be sure to go! Even if you're having breakfast elsewhere that day, snag a banana or a box of cereal for snacks later. Also, check if your hotel has a happy hour. We've been treated to a free glass of wine or a beer before heading out for the night just by timing our exit right!

• Make coffee in your room. Katie and I both drink coffee in the morning. Most hotel rooms are outfitted with a coffee maker, and supplies are restocked by housekeeping. Drinking your morning pick-me-up in the room instead of the coffee shop can save you a bunch!
• Do NOT eat from the minibar. Minibars are the biggest rip-off ever, am I right?! Instead, stop by a local grocery store and stock up on snacks and drinks to make your own minibar at a fraction of the price.
• Get deals at the grocery store like a local. If you have a grocery club card from home see if it's usable elsewhere. I found out my card was good at any Dillons store (more than 9 different chains.) And if you don't have one that will work, sign up for one! They're usually free and good to use right away with hardly any paperwork required.
• Stretch 1 meal into 2. Restaurant meals are usually quite large. Try splitting an entree or taking leftovers back to the room for lunch the next day or a midnight snack. We packed up our leftover pizza and some fruit for a nice little picnic while in Santa Fe.

• Consider something other than dinner.  If your vacation plans include a "must try" restaurant (mine usually do!), consider going for a meal other than dinner, which is typically priciest. Lunch menus are usually less expensive, or you may be able to get drink & appetizer deals during happy hour. And definitely consider a Sunday brunch. I find these once-a-week meals are oftentimes a great way to try regional specialties with a twist!
• Plan ahead. Visiting somewhere new oftentimes means trying local specialties (poutine in Quebec, beignets in New Orleans, Ben and Jerry's ice cream in Vermont, etc.) Days usually revolve around mealtimes, so think about what you plan to do that day. If a visit to a specialty food shop is on the docket, consider a smaller lunch or just a late breakfast. By the time you split a Chicago hot dog or a slice of New York pizza, you may be full!

Exercising

• Check out your hotel's fitness center/pool. Ask about hours of operation and amenities (Are towels provided? Is there a water fountain?) I find it easier to get my butt to the gym at a hotel than while I'm at home because I don't have to drive there. Plus, some hotel gyms are nicer than mine! In Santa Fe I got to enjoy a beautiful sunset over the mountains while I was running on the treadmill.

• See if there is a branch of your gym nearby. I belong to a nationwide chain (24 Hour Fitness) and have an unlimited membership, so I'd be able to go to any location at no charge. Kate belongs to a local Crossfit gym, but they usually have a policy that you can drop in on a workout at another location if you're traveling (but call first to be sure.) She has done this in both Santa Fe and Santa Monica.
• Look into a weekly pass. Many gyms give out free 1 or 2 week passes to non-members. (However, sometimes you need to come as a guest of a current member.) Other gyms may actually sell a short term membership. Depending on what you're looking to do and how long you'll be there, it may be worth it.
• Incorporate your workout into other activities. Skiing, swimming, hiking, even shopping can give you your sweat session for the day!

Doing

• Check out what there is to see in your area. A scenic drive has oftentimes provided hours of entertainment for just the price of gas on our vacations. Whether it be tackling the twisty Trail Ridge Road in Colorado, navigating through the peaks and valleys of the Santa Fe National Forest, or cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway, there is so much to see!

• Look for local specials. Check out the "going out" section of the local newspaper. You're much more likely to find something interesting/free happening here than in a travel book.
• Search for free admission days. Many museums offer days/times that are free to the public or pay-what-you-can. Here are lists of free museum admission in New York and free museum admission in Los Angeles. While we were in Santa Fe, Kate discovered that the Georgia O'Keeffe museum was free to the public on the first Friday of the month from 5pm to 7pm. Score!
• See if any of your current zoo/aquarium/museum memberships work elsewhere. There are more than 150 reciprocal zoos/aquariums across the country. Some offer 1/2 price entry for members and others are free! If you are a member of the NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum) Program, you have member benefits at nearly 500 museums nationwide, as well as some in Canada and Mexico!
• Go for a tour of a local business/brewery. Because it's a relatively inexpensive way to promote a business, tours are typically quite cheap, if not free. Plus there are usually samples involved! I've found that for the price of a pint, you can usually get at least that while also getting to see the behind the scenes of a local brewery. We've been to some in Boston, Santa Fe, and even Omaha!

Well, I hope I've shared some viable ways for you to save some cash while on vacation! If you have any other money saving travel tips, please share!!