7 Ways to save Money on Your Vacation This Year ...

1. Compare Rates

One of the best ways to save money on your vacation is to compare rates. Never book your hotel with the first place that you check into. Take your time and do some research. Most likely you will find a better deal than the one you found at first. If not, you can always go back to it. Make sure you compare rates for the best deals.

2. Book Ahead

A lot of hotels and activities offer early bird specials. You want to snap these up when you can. In addition to scoring some awesome savings, you also have that part of your vacation planning done. I always feel better once I know that I have my reservation made and our vacation pretty much mapped out for me. Then you can really start looking forward to it.

3. Take Advantage of Coupons and Codes

There are so many wonderful coupons and codes that you can take advantage of when you plan your vacation. A lot of them are online and are just free for the taking. You might have to do a bit of research to find them but they are out there. On our last vacation, my husband scored us some free passes to a nearby water park. You always want to get the most you can get for your money.

4. Be on the Lookout for Freebies

There are also usually a lot of freebies that you can take advantage of when you are on vacation. It pays to keep your eyes open for them. Maybe your hotel serves a free continental breakfast. Maybe you can get a free t-shirt if you spend a certain amount at a souvenir shop. The point is that you want to take advantage of all the freebies that are available to you.

5. Enjoy Free Activities in the Area

There are also usually a lot of free activities that you can take advantage of when you vacation. What those activities are depends on where you are. For example, if you vacation at the beach, the beach is usually a free activity. You can enjoy it to your heart’s content. If you are in a vacation spot for land lovers, try looking for some state parks nearby to enjoy. Admission is almost always free to them.

6. Stay with Family

This one can work and not work. It depends on you and who your family is. If you have family that you love and enjoy, why not stay with them? It can be a lot of fun and you can make a lot of great memories. I have wonderful childhood memories of visiting out of state family and making vacations out of those times.

7. Take Snacks and Beverages

One thing our family always does when we drive to our vacation destination is take along snacks and beverages. It has several advantages. First and foremost, it saves us from spending more money than necessary at rest stops and restaurants. A bottle of soda bought individually is a lot more than it is if you purchase a multipack before you leave home. It also saves us from having to take the time to stop for things like this.

These 7 steps can really help you to save money on your vacation. How do you save money on your vacation? I would love to learn from your secret tips and tricks!