How to Travel Frugally
Summer is coming and you know what that means: vacations and travel headaches. And with the price of gas steadily rising you can be sure that airfares and road trips will be more expensive this year than last year. That is always a bummer.
What makes vacation travel even more tedious is that every year there are more people on the road or in the air. That is because there are more people every year. And even though millions of American families are earning less money per household than they were ten years ago, we still like to get out at least once per year and have some fun.
Here are my suggestions for how you can travel, have fun, and still live the frugal lifestyle. We want to enjoy our frugal vacations, not suffer through them.
Option 1: Go Completely Rustic
Maybe the camping lifestyle is your cup of tea. If so, there are many state and national parks where you and the family can go camping. You might rent an RV or you might buy some inexpensive camping gear. You’ll need a tent, a camping kitchen, air mattresses or sleeping bags, a shower tent, some tools, an extra tarp for rainy weather, and food and water. Of course there is a lot more camping gear you could buy.
Now, before you start adding up the costs and asking yourself, “Is this really frugal?” remember that camping is something you can do several times a year and year after year. If you buy durable equipment and take care of it you’ll find that is money well spent. And there are some really nice 8-12 person tents you can buy with multiple rooms, built-in storage, LED lighting, and even patio areas.
Read the reviews that camping enthusiasts share on Amazon for the various tents.
The RV route is a little more expensive but it does allow you to live with more comfort and convenience on your extended camping trips. You can rent RVs or buy a used one. It’s a good idea to browse a forum for RV enthusiasts to learn about what to expect and what is required when living in these recreational vehicles.
Option 2: Visit a Friend or Relative
If you have friends and family near one of the big tourist destinations you’ve always wanted to visit, why not ask if they have space to put you up for a few nights to a week? You’ll catch up on old times, your families will get to know each other, and you’ll save on room or RV rent, camping gear costs, etc. Of course, you should agree in advance to help out with expenses. You don’t want to put anyone out by asking for their complete hospitality.
If someone has enough room in their home to take in your family for a few nights the kids will usually love the experience of an extended sleep over. The adults, if there are enough rooms, should be comfortable enough get along with a little extra crowding.
I’m not a fan of sleeping on anyone’s couch, even if it’s a sleeper couch, but in a pinch that can save you some money.
Option 3: Compare Travel Costs
Your travel costs you both time and money. If you want to vacation within a thousand miles of your home, it may be more cost-effective to drive there. Assuming you take only highways, you should be able to make about 500 miles per day with a family in a vehicle while staying overnight in a hotel. I don’t recommend cheap “budget motels”. You can check out Vacazilla for ideas on how to save money at the better hotels when you are traveling.
Flying is sometimes faster but rarely cheaper. When you fly to your vacation spot you have to think about whether you are renting a car, how much your accommodations cost, and how much time you’ll spend traveling as you fly. A 2-leg trip to your destination can take all day depending on how long your layover lasts. Also, you are taking two chances at losing luggage.
When you drive a thousand miles or longer you do have the opportunity to stop and visit a lot of interesting museums, parks, memorials, and theme parks. The road trip can be more fun than just packing the kids into the car and driving all day. Remember that time is a travel cost. What will you be doing with your time?
Option 4: Stay Home and Make Day Trips
If you live near a major metropolitan area then you live within 2-4 hours’ drive of a lot of interesting attractions, including theme parks, museums, memorials, etc. There is no need to pack your luggage or buy plane tickets. You don’t need hotel rooms or camping gear. Just pack the kids into the car and spend the day outside your normal haunts.
A 1-week or 2-week vacation at home can be just as much fun, or more fun, as a trip around the world. You can save a lot of money, too.
As long as you are being frugal with your expenses you should feel like you have a lot of options for enjoying time away from work and the daily habits of home.
