Traveling on a Tight Budget

You really want to go on that dream trip. Yet money is slightly tight. Okay, we're not going to lie, money is very tight. With the economy in the state that it is in this day and age, many people are not traveling as much as they want to. However, if you're like many people, you just want to get away from it all. Get away from from the mundane life that you lead and go to travel. But how do you do that when the money's rather tight?

There are many things that you can do to help you have a cheap vacation but also have a good time.So how do you travel on a tight budget?


I'll get to the most obvious point. That being that a trip does take planning.

Weeks, months, even up to a year in advance before you take a trip. There is a good reason, as taking a trip, especially when you have a decent sized family, does take a fair bit of money. That change that you just throw off to the side, is now going to be the most important thing you use when going on a trip.

Research where you want to go.

The Internet is a wonderful thing. Google is your best friend in finding out everything you need to do. A trip might seem like a good idea, but it can turn into a disaster when it turns to be a bit more expensive than you plan. So go online, and check out places that you might want to visit on your trip, hotels that you want to stay at, and restaurants that would be an affordable place to eat. Research will lead to there being no surprises. If a place looks interesting, look into it, to make sure it is also affordable.

Sometimes you should really drive, especially if it is not that far of a trip.

Granted, it would just be easy to fly on a plane but plane tickets can cost a bundle, especially if you have a family of four or five or even more. A nice road trip can set up the vacation on the right foot. In the end, doing the math between what it would cost to drive versus fly would be the deciding factor.

It is alright to spoil yourself a little bit, because hey you're on vacation.However, there is a difference between spoiling yourself just a little bit and completely overdoing it.

That hotel is nice and has great service. However, that hotel might not be as nice, but it is a comfortable place, with decent enough service, and it doesn't cost you a small fortune to stay in. It is very easy to fall into the trap of excess. The same goes with eating out as well and pretty much any place that you go.

Remember, a fun vacation does not mean an expensive one. 

A place like Chicago, New York, Paris, London, Tokyo or any other huge city in the world might seem like a thrill but those are some expensive places that eat through the pocket book. Just because a place is happening, does not mean that it would be a good idea. There are other places that might be less known, where you can have a good time. Plus a vacation is about doing something different and those places have been visited quite often.

Keep a tight budget and plan your vacation and with enough luck and some smart thinking, you should be able to go on the vacation of your dreams. If if you have a budget that is the stuff out of nightmares.