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5 Proven Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Vacation Without Much Money

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January 20, 2022

5 Proven Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Vacation Without Much Money

There are plenty of people who feel like they need a vacation early in 2022. The past couple of years seem to have exhausted everyone. There are so many individuals who report feeling fatigued and want a change of pace for a while. Going on vacation can be a suitable way to make that happen.

What can you do if you want to go on vacation, though, but you don't have very much money at your disposal? We'll go over some ideas in the following article.

Go to Less Expensive Places

One way you can take a vacation if you don't have a ton of money saved up is that you can go to a less expensive destination. There are all kinds of different ones you can look into that won't break the bank.

For instance, you might go to Branson, Missouri. Branson hotels don't cost all that much, and you should find some modestly priced activities there as well. You can enjoy family-friendly shows and fine dining in Branson that would cost you a lot more if you went somewhere like Las Vegas.

Maybe you want a trip to Vegas, but you know that's out of your price range. You can go someplace like Reno, Nevada, or Atlantic City, New Jersey, instead. They are similar to Vegas with their casinos and other attractions, but hotels or motels there are way cheaper, on average, than staying at accommodations on the Vegas strip.

Use Credit Card Points

You can also use some of those credit card points you've saved up to help pay for your flights to and from your vacation spot. You can use them to pay for hotel stays as well.

There are certain cards and credit card companies that will get you the most if you like traveling and staying in exotic places. You can often sign up for particular American Express or Visa cards that will give you a ton of points if you spend a specific amount within a calendar year.

Make sure you use your credit card points before they expire since some of them are only active for a certain amount of time. You might be able to take a very lavish vacation using almost exclusively points, and the memories should last a lifetime.

Use Discounts or Coupons

You might head to a vacation spot you've wanted to see for years, but once you get there, you realize you don't have a ton of money to spend. You spent most of your cash on flights and accommodations. What are you to do now?

You can talk to the concierge at your hotel and see if they have any suggestions regarding modestly-priced activities you and your family can enjoy. They might direct you to look at some of the brochures in the lobby that have coupons for two-for-one dinners, nature walks, family theme parks, etc.

If you're staying at someone's house or apartment through an Airbnb type of arrangement, you might talk to the owner about something inexpensive you can do around the city. If you're running very short on cash, you can get food at a grocery store rather than paying for meals at restaurants. You can walk around the city you're visiting instead of paying for rides.

Use Public Transportation

You can also frequently save money when you're on vacation by sticking to public transportation. If you're someone who uses Uber, taxis, or even limos to get around while you're vacationing, you can definitely shave quite a bit of money off your trip by using public transportation, assuming that's an option.

If you are in a major city, there should be trains or buses available that will take you anywhere you want to go. This method might take you a little longer to get to your destination, but it's a way to save cash while experiencing the same daily commute as the locals. In a sense, this is a more authentic way to enjoy the place you're visiting.

Don't Spend as Much on Souvenirs

Many individuals and families find that they can save money while on vacation if they don't load up on souvenirs like they usually would. Some people can't seem to go anywhere without taking time to spend shopping. The gift shop budget alone can empty your wallet if you're not careful.

There is nothing wrong with that. However, you can make just as many memories by taking lots of pictures as you would loading up your suitcase with trinkets and chachkas.

As long as you take your smartphone with you, you have a camera available. You can save those shots and look at them in the years to come, and you can post them on social media as well.

You can also cut corners in various ways if you're set on saving money but still having a nice vacation in 2022. You may have somewhere specific in mind that you'd like to visit, such as Cancun or London. You might sign up for mailing lists on travel sites like Travelocity or Expedia. They will let you know if the ticket price falls on any airline that goes to those places.

You can avoid consuming alcohol when you go out to eat while on vacation. Alcohol can add a lot of money to your restaurant bills, so staying away from it can reduce what you're spending to eat out.

If you're set on taking a vacation this year, you can probably make it happen. If you're still not able to make the money work for you with all of the options we mentioned, that's okay too. You can take a staycation if you can get the time off from work.

You can save money, anticipating that you'll take that vacation soon if you've set your mind to it. Delaying gratification for a while will only make the holiday all the more special whenever you can make it happen.

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Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. oXYGen Financial is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice.

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The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation.

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Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. oXYGen Financial is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice. https://Bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

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