Traveling on a Budget

Traveling on a budget can some times be hard; when you're on a vacation you want to splurge, relax and not have a care in the world. But you also don't want to come home with a bill the size of a small mountain either. Here are some tips on how to travel on a budget.

Rent a home/condo

There are so many other options when it comes to a place to stay other then the major hotel chains. For our next trip to the Hawaiian Islands we plan to use HomeAway or some of the condos listed on Trip Adviser. We saw a deal just the other day for a studio condo in Maui; they had a July special for $50 a night! Yeah, its only enough space for two people but you cant deny how awesomely cheap that is!!!

Saver tip: Don't rent any sort of sporting equipment from your hotel, they are going to over charge you! Rent it from the local surf or ski shop.

Hawaiian Style Cafe...yum!

Eat where the locals eat

When we went on our last vacation (the Big Island aka Hawaii) we ate at this awesome local restaurant called Hawaiian Style Cafe. Their servings were big enough for 2 people to share and the prices were really reasonable. Research these places before you go and map them out, it will be worth it! Again, use a search site like Trip Adviser or Yelp to find local hang outs. These websites will also let you  know how expensive the venues are.

Saver tip: If you're traveling to Hawaii you can pick any fruit you find on the island. We were told anything you find you can eat. And we happened to find pineapple, guava, limes, and passion fruit and we ate them all! YUM!

fresh out of the ground

Pack some snacks

This can be a real wallet saver! When I studies abroad I packed the instant oatmeal packs, peanut butter, and granola bars for my stay. I still continue to pack some small snack items when I go. A) you never know when you might need them and B) some times that's all you need to get you going in the morning. A granola bar form your local grocery store vs. the $15 per head breakfast the hotel is offering...granola wins!

Plan your vacation during the off season

This can really help you get those great deals! Most airlines and hotels will have sales to destinations during the off season. So instead of traveling to Paris in spring try the winter, or instead of going to Hawaii in the summer try November - March, the weather is better and you might see more marine life since the humpbacks are there from December to March. 

Enjoy what the destination has to offer

When we went to Hawaii we were able to enjoy beaches and waterfalls for free! Look for state or national parks that can offer you some amazing sights for little or no charge. Do some research before you leave and you're bound to find something fun for free.

Saver tip: Check out Groupon and living social for local deals for your destination. We did this when went to Las Vegas and saved $50 a person for night club/party bus tour.

Kekaha Kai State Park --- FREE

Pololu Trail --- FREE