Sometimes you just need a break from the fast pace of life. Whether work has you down or you’re just wanting to spend some extra time with your family or partner, there are plenty of reasons why taking a short vacation might be just what the doctor ordered. That being said, a weekend is plenty of time to get in the right amount of recreation if you know how to plan and budget accordingly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re planning a weekend getaway.
Coming up with an itinerary should be the first task on any budgeters list when it comes to planning the perfect weekend vacation. For starters, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to travel or if you’d rather stay local for your vacation. It’s easy to use websites like Groupon to find local hotels with positive ratings that need to be filled on short notice. This makes it easy to have a staycation while still feeling like you have the upscale accommodations you would want from a traditional vacation.
If you are planning to travel, make sure that you are budgeting your time as well as your money for these accommodations. Even flying in an airplane may take you half a day depending on the location you are going to and when you need to get to the airport in order to make it through security. By the same token, account for traffic if you are driving to a nearby city or state. Depending on how you are transporting yourself to and from your vacation destination, it may be worth looking into applying for a small loan. There are several companies that offer installment loans with no credit check. Being able to cash flow your activities on vacation without seeing a low account balance in your banking app can do wonders when it comes to making your vacation less stressful. After all, if you don’t have a relaxing time on your weekend getaway, what’s the point?
It’s also worth noting what discount sites are useful for each area that you are going to. For example, if you’re a big fan of the arts and entertainment, it may be worth catching a live show while you’re in your destination. Seeing live entertainment, even Broadway shows, doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg and it won’t if you know to look out for local discount websites such as TodayTix. These sorts of websites allow you to stretch your dollars even farther when you are on a short vacation, which can allow you to make the most of your trip even in a short amount of time. Even for longer trips, a website like TodayTix can be a major boon for anyone trying to save a little money while on vacation.
Another category in your vacation budget that you will want to take close note of is eating out. Depending on how extravagantly you want to eat or how many meals you are fine making or packing yourself, the amount of money needed for your getaway can change drastically. Some people are happy just eating breakfast at the hotel every morning, while others have to check out the hottest new brunch spot wherever they go. No matter which option you plan on choosing, do yourself a favor and look at the restaurant’s menu ahead of time to get an idea about how much you’ll need to budget for each dining experience. This ensures that you are able to stick to your budget while traveling and still make the most of it.
