If you’re planning a spring break in March or April it’s always best to plan head. Enjoy a budget-friendly trip with a few helpful tips.
First, keep an open mind about destinations. Limiting yourself to one specific location can restrict your options for travel and saving money. When deciding how to get there, choose between flying and driving. Driving may save money, but it can limit your range and cut into vacation time. Flying gets you there faster but tends to be more expensive. When driving, you can rent a car or use your own. Renting is convenient, saving you from car maintenance and extra mileage, but it comes at a cost and may include mileage restrictions. Using your own car comes with mileage and potential maintenance expenses.
If flying, you can save money by using a site like Google Flights. Input your departure airport, an example, would be Chicago O’Hare, but any airport works. Another good place would be Appleton, and flexible travel dates to find the best deals. When I searched, I found round-trip tickets to Orlando for $240, to Dallas for $220 Denver for $230 on varying dates. Flight prices fluctuate based on availability, so a deal that you saw yesterday might not be there today. To save more, consider flying without a checked bag. Most airlines allow a small carry-on, like a backpack. Additionally, bring snacks to avoid overpriced food at the airport and on the plane, because you can bring snacks through TSA as long as they are sealed.
Next, consider where to stay. Avoid regular hotels, which can be costly; instead, look for rentals on platforms like eBay, where you may find good deals. Airbnb is another option, but having a car can be helpful, as most are located out of town. When looking, I found a condo in Orlando for $100 a night on eBay and options on Airbnb for around $400 for the stay. Another important thing to remember whenever you’re booking off of Airbnb or eBay or sites like these is that you could be getting scammed. A way to avoid this would be to call ahead if you are going to the resort, call the resort that your rental is at, and check that your reservation is there. If you are going to a house on Airbnb, a good way to check that it is there is by asking for more pictures of the house.
Once there, budget-friendly activities include hiking, visiting museums, beaches, or trying local restaurants. If your budget allows, consider amusement parks or guided tours. To save on meals, consider shopping at a grocery store during your trip instead of going out every night.
If you follow these tips, you should have the start of a great spring break vacation. By keeping an open mind on where you want to go, keeping an open mind on where you’re going to stay, and what you’re going to do, you can have a great time and save money.
