Try no to spend so much on vacation

[WorldsBestMom]

I just realized that it is hard trying not to spend more than you need to while on vacation. You might budget, but something always come up that you want to do or would like to get.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by WorldsBestMom

I just realized that it is hard trying not to spend more than you need to while on vacation. You might budget, but something always come up that you want to do or would like to get.

I think this type of senario comes from micro-budgeting. With vacations you need to build some wiggle room in for those spontanious events or purchases. This is how we budget for trips: (we're planning a camping/road trip for next month!)

Gas - I figured out the milage and then added $50 (an extra tank) to be safe, and in case we want to explore somewhere that isn't planned.

Accomodations - pretty straight forward, but I still budget a little extra for those hidden charges etc.

Activities - we plan some of our activities but I also add an extra $50/$100 depending on the length of the trip for spontanious "lets do that" type of situations.

Food - we try to go super frugal on the food by packing a cooler, bringing kitchen tools (crock pot etc.) and only eating out some of the dinners. That way if we're out and about and some treat or snack comes up, it's totally within budget.

spending - If I'm going somewhere where I know I will want to shop, I budget for it, but even if not I budget some spending money just in case.

[PPK]

Everything just mentioned above is excellent and I started keeping meticulous books about a year ago. Now we are able to look back and see exactly how much we paid for gas, hotels, campgrounds, groceries, etc. It's always tough though, we have an RV that usually needs something done every year and if it breaks down on the road, well, factor in x nights at a hotel while awaiting repairs.

These things you just account for, guesstimate, and always round up generously! But I highly recommend noting it in detail with monthy expenses in a ledger (tracking spending is one of the best things I've ever done; it clarifies everything-highly recommended!)

[zebra15]

I am very generous when traveling. I prebook online for the hotel, rental car, airline, things like that (if needed). But for activities, food, gas, I give generous amounts.

I also seek out coupons, if its a larger city I may get a local entertianment book, using 1-2 coupons and the book pays for itself, i also use the internet for coupons, I stay at hotels that offer free breakfast etc...

[LaughingHyena]

Check out local what's on website for the area you are going, we've found quite a few free events that we wouldn't otherwise have known about.

Also look for the locations of parks/playgrounds. Again free entertainment for the kids but not something that is always easy to find once you are there.

We look out for usual items when we are on holiday, but we save them till Christmas

[redvlagrl]

We just came back from our first budgetted holiday. I had paid for the hotels online. We were away for 6 nights and took out $500 from the bank before we left.

In order to save money, we ate breakfasts (apart from one day) in our hotel room - often yummy croissants we bought the day before (we were in Montreal). While we were in Ottawa we had a kitchen and brought cereal with us. We usually don't eat it, and it was a good idea except DD didn't like it.

We had a good lunch out and that was our main meal of the day. Dinner was very simple - bread, pate, salad, etc in the hotel room.

We travelled by metro and foot and bought passes for the whole time.

I also second the PP's suggestion and when we've been away to other places I've checked out the tourism website for that city. We've gotten 2 for 1 zoo and aquarium entrance in Sydney, for example (v. expensive otherwise) and discounts on other kid friendly things.

Also bear in mind that the big, expensive hotel buffet breakfasts usually feed kids under 6 for free, so it's not as expensive as it seems. We eat quite a lot at them and then we usually only need 1 light meal at around 4pm. We can buy/take food with us for DD. I imiagine if you had 2 or 3 kids that this would end up being cheaper than paying for everyone at a more modest place.

Ultimately, we just estimated that $500 should be enough and swore not to spend any more. We didn't buy anything apart from food (no souveniers or shopping), transport and art gallery entrance. Wehn we are travelling we like to walk lots and take in the neighbourhoods rather than do the major touristy stuff. It also helped (financially) that the touristy stuff we wanted to do on this last trip was closed (biodome).

[gbailey]

Call the tourist bureau for whatever place you are visiting. They'll send you a ton of goodies. Also, look for restaurants ahead of time and see if there are printable coupons you can take with you.

This is the first year we'll be taking a seriously budgeted vacation. I googled for coupon codes and found a great rate that included breakfast. We made sure to get a hotel room with a refrigerator and microwave so we canbuy our own snacks. I love the idea of the poster who said bring a cooler.

When you go to the hotel ask the front desk if they have coupons to offer. A lot of them do. You just have to ask and find places where kids can get for free with a paying adult.

[Amys1st]

A few times we have checked the tourist thing on their website and found out about free days, memberships etc. We have a membership to a local musuem that has a sister membership with several places like itself across the country and in Canada. We used it in San Diego and got in free to 3 places. We also used our arboretum membership at the same place and didnt have to pay to get into the garden places.

Once we were staying at a location for 5 days. I usually call the hotel/inn etc not on their 1800 number and find out different prices. Turns out, if we were AAA members, it would save $300 off our visit. So we joined it for $50. Otherwise booking it online on expedia etc didnt offer the same rate.