Take a Frugal Vacation this Fall

I'm on vacation, so the following post is brought to you by Jason Swadley. Enjoy!

I consider it the most romantic time of year. The leaves begin slowly darkening to brown and red. The night air is brisk, the evenings longer. Autumn is a fantastic time to enjoy the world's beauty, and doing so needn't break the bank. Here are some tips for memorable and thrifty vacationing this fall.

Know thyself... and thine timeframe

Good vacations begin with good planning. It's important to decide early where to go, what to see, and how long to stay. Fall is a great time for travel - both at home and abroad, for weekends or several weeks - since you'll miss the summer tourist clog without losing the refreshing weather. Determine what trips are well-suited for the fall; I find that a weekend of camping or hiking are wonderful as the leaves begin to change. Know your interests and plan accordingly. If you'll be flying, use FareCompare to see what destinations are cheaper in the waning months of the year.

Use your resources

You've decided where to go. Now,how to get there? Where to stay?

Kayak.com is a great resource for finding the cheapest prices on flights and hotels. It's a no-fluff site that aggregate search results from other sites and presents the results in an intuitive format. For students and faculty, StudentUniverse.com is another site for finding rock-bottom prices on flights. I've used both in the past with impressive results.

Also, don't forget the old-fashioned travel aids. If you're unfamiliar with your destination, a good travel guide is indispensable. A trip to the bookstore can reveal the best books for your trip, but I've come to rely on Let's Go, Fodors, and Lonely Planet when I travel. The Let's Go series is designed for budget-minded travelers, so it's a wealthy repository of cheap eats and stays. Fodors excels in itineraries and location information, while the Lonely Planet guides give your destination an historical and social context. Take all 3 - you can buy them if you'd like, but most local libraries lend travel books for more days than your trip. To save space in your luggage, make copies of the useful pages and leave the books behind.

Establish a budget

You knew this was coming. Whether it's done before or after the itinerary is set, take a few moments and create a budget. Seasoned travelers know the temptation to splurge while away from home, and your vacation will me infinitely more enjoyable knowing you can afford the fun.

Even with a budget, though, you'll likely spend more than anticipated. Luggage gets lost, conversion rates change, and money gets lost or stolen. Plan for this and build it into your budget; just don't spend it unless required.

Beware of killer fees

Using money abroad is always a challenge. Although conversion rates are historically high, outrageous bank fees only exacerbate the problem. Make sure you're clear on what fees your bank charges. Your best rate of exchange is generally obtained through credit/debit card usage; not at an ATM. Some credit cards don't even charge exchange fees. A few phone calls to your bank can save a lot of cash.

Don't fall into the tourist trap

Souvenirs are junk. Most of them, anyway. The vast majority sit in our houses as altars to frivolous spending. Almost all never get a second thought after removal from the suitcase. Here are the questions I ask myself when considering a souvenir:

1. Does this uniquely represent the culture of my location?
2. Can I buy something similar at home?
3. Will this have a special sentimental value... or am I buying it because it's "on sale?"
4. Is this something useful? (or) Will this be useful for its recipient?

If the stuffed Loch Ness Monster beanie that you're holding doesn't meet those qualifications, put it back in the bin. And walk away.

Listen and learn

The best money-saving tricks I've learned while traveling came from other travelers. I write about my travel experiences on my blog, but there are endless travel resources. FlyerTalk is a great community centered on frugal travel - if there's a sale on airfare or hotel rooms, it's discussed (at length) here. SmarterTravel is another site with excellent articles for those with budgets on the brain.

Your most profitable resource is people. Ask friends and family about their favorite vacations; chances are, they'll almost plan your trip for you. Learning from their mistakes and triumphs will ensure a more memorable trip.

What are your suggestions for frugal travel during this time of year? Let us know in the comments!

Comments

[Buildandsucceed]

Post was a little long I think but good points nonetheless. Thanks!

It's so hard not to spend alot of money when going on vacations... Everything just adds up so fast :(