I would like to start out by saying this series of articles will be a specific number long. However, since I am a girl with a LOT of experience travelling on a shoestring in a wide variety of ways, I have a lot of information to give you, so who knows how many articles we will be looking at. If you have a specific travel need or question email me: Leslie@leslievaleska.com. I will be sure to answer all questions right here!

There is a show tune that begins, “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start…” so that is where we will begin our “lessons” on travelling for less. First things first. You need to pick a destination. If you know where you will be travelling (to visit a relative, to a specific area, to a job location) you could skip this article. Yet what I know is that if you do, when it comes time to plan a holiday and you do not have a specific destination in mind, you will be wishing you had! So stick with it. It’s short and sweet and can help you have an outstanding low cost vacation.

The first thing you want to remember is that it is not so much the destination as what you do while you are there. With that in mind here are a few questions to ask yourself and your spouse…and perhaps your family as well.

What is our goal for the vacation? Do we want to have a lot of planned activities? Are we looking for some true rest and relaxation? Do we have any special needs? Do we have anything specific we would like to accomplish? (It is ok to double the purpose of a trip for business, school field trip, or family visiting with a holiday!) 

What are the destinations that are on our top 5 picks of places to visit?

What is our length of stay?

 Are we able to be flexible with dates in order to get the best rates on lodging?

Is there a distance restriction? (Trust me you can have just as much fun, if not more, at a nearby location, as one far away!)

What is our budget? (Yes, you have to consider this when choosing a destination, BUT we won’t work out the specifics just yet.)

Answering questions such as this will help you wade through a lot of issues that will help you in picking a vacation spot. Now, if you are planning a BIG vacation such as a road trip across Route 66, another country, or a popular destination such as Disney you will definitely need to plan ahead, especially for finances. Also, consider travelling to a location during a non-peak time if at all possible. The difference in cost is typically dramatic! For example, we looked at taking a cruise during Thanksgiving week. The cost was around $7800 for a family of 6. However, if we chose dates the week before or cruised  the week after New Year’s the cost dropped to $3200. That is a difference of $4600! (Just an FYI with cruising and trains you may need to consider flying to the launch location). Even at $3200 that would put us in the frame of mind to save for a while so as to be able to pay with cash.

Now, you want to keep your cost as low as possible, however there are also a few things to consider when planning your destination. If you only take one vacation per year or one every couple of years, you may be willing to spend a bit more on the vacation. With the same thought process you may have a dream of visiting a specific place and want to weigh that as well. Consider you’re the family members that will be travelling. Take into account their personalities and how you all work together. Choose a location that suits everyone’s personality on some level for the most relaxing vacation. For example, in our family I get high stress when we go camping and I have to do all the work while everyone else rests and enjoys themselves. For this reason we usually plan to have a meal that dad cooks or a meal out (depending on where we will be). We also would never camp anywhere that does not have a bath house. Could we survive without it? Yes. But it would make for a cranky mom which would cause my family anxiety as well. I have one son who really does not enjoy being out in nature. Hikes are not on the top of his list of things to do for fun. So we make certain that whatever destination we choose, there is something close by that he will enjoy as well. Have a late night owl in the family? You certainly wouldn’t want to choose a vacation spot that requires quiet by 10 pm.

Once you pick your holiday retreat location, you can begin hammering out how to do it for less! Remember, you will be looking for how to cut the costs of your vacation. Saving money on a vacation once you pick your destination is a great way to make your family holiday as much fun as it can be, but you can also consider your total budget when choosing. Pick 1-3 places that are within your dollar amount. Even if one is a little bit over your budget, but you really would like to travel there, don’t count that location out because you may find ways to save money in an amount that will fit within your budget!

Next we will talk about travelling to your destination of choice. So until next time, start dreaming of vacations!