Who doesn’t need palm trees and ocean air? A break from work and sand between the toes?
Paradise doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars. If there is a will, there is a way! This post will show you how to save on Spring Break.
Every year I plan a spring break road trip from Michigan to Florida. My family of 5 and 2 dogs (now it’s 1 dog) spend the week with my retired parents on Florida’s west coast.
We can make the drive in about 22 hours (1300 miles with bathroom stops) of straight through driving. It’s the best time to go because the kids have a week off of school and we are suffering from the winter blues (cabin fever).
I usually get the kids out of school 1 or 2 days early to beat the spring break traffic.
Apparently, a lot of other people have the same idea of a road trip.
Having a big family, the costs can add up fast. This post will give you 6 tips to travel for less.
1. Save on Spring Break Lodging
The most cost effective is to stay with family or friends. Reach out to them and see if they are willing to have you stay as their house guest.
If you opt for a hotel stay, look for places that give hotel rewards, have a loyalty program, and offer free continental breakfast with free evening appetizers (really it’s dinner). Check if you qualify for any memberships or affiliation discounts such as AARP, AAA/CAA, senior, or government/military.
Book the Lodging:
To start your car search, I recommend using travel booking sites such as Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Hotels.com, Trivago.com, and Costco Travel.
If you like the outdoors, another alternative is to stay at a campground. You can pitch a tent, park an RV, or reserve a cabin.
Have you considered an AirBnB? I have not yet tried this service but have heard many great reviews.
Tips:
Always be friendly to your hotel staff, smile, give a tip. They might be able to provide additional perks or a better experience during your stay.
If you’re staying with family or friends, consider giving a thank you gift for their troubles.
2. Fly during the off season
How do you choose how to get there? Each option is about time and money. The one you value will dictate your choice.
Airline ticket prices double for the happy holidays.
From Michigan to Florida, a round trip flight is about $300 per person. Holiday pricing for the same round trip is about $700 per person. That is without luggage fees.
You’ll find the lowest pricing for flying during the off season and a mid-week departure.
Booking the flight:
To start your car search, again, I recommend using travel booking sites such as Expedia.com, Priceline.com, and Hotwire.com to find general pricing. Then go directly to the airline website to verify pricing and flights.
Keep in mind, pricing may be lower if you can book your flight by individual legs instead of round trip.
Flying Tips:
Board last to avoid waiting in lines. Don’t worry if there isn’t room in the overhead for your carry-on, the flight attendant will offer to check it as luggage (free of charge!)
3. Save with a Road Trip
You could take a Greyhound bus but the drive is slow. You could hop on a train, but there are multiple city stops. The cheapest way to travel is by your own car.
The only expenses should be fuel and food. If your car is too small for all passengers, the next best option is a car rental.
Surprisingly, the lowest cost when renting a vehicle is during the holidays.
We rent a spacious 7-passenger full size SUV with unlimited mileage and a second driver at no extra charge.
Be aware, rental companies can overbooked their cars. When this happens, I’ve been offered free car upgrades, additional price discounts, and no-charge fuel return.
Reserving a rental car:
To start your car search, again, I recommend using travel booking sites such as Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Hotwire.com, and Costco Travel to find general pricing. Then go directly to the rental car website to verify vehicles and pricing. Search online for discount codes and book through the rental car website.
Drive through or Overnight Stop?
I have done both driving through the night and stopping at a hotel. This depends on what time you start driving and how tired you will be.
We usually leave the house in the late afternoon so the kids can sleep through the night most of the way.
If driving through the night isn’t for you, consider staying overnight at hotel with a free continental breakfast. Before leaving, pack your pockets with snacks to keep in the car.
Tips:
There is less traffic on the roads and the semi-trucks park at the rest stops. But there are dangers of falling asleep while driving, drunk drivers, and animals crossing the road.
While driving, I recommend using an app called Waze. This app will give you driving directions, live traffic reports, and alerts about car accidents, road conditions, police, and hazards.
Don’t forget to pack snacks but no drinks. This will help to limit bathroom stops.
4. Take your Pets
Pet boarding:
Kennel costs are about $40 per night/per animal. Usually these facilities require animals to have proof of up-to-date shots. Also a face-to-face interview is required to assess behavior and temperament.
Depending on the length of your trip and how many pets, pet boarding could cost more than your entire trip.
Pet Sitter Services:
Pet sitter services run about $20-$25 per day/per pet. This option is a little cheaper than boarding. Some free (or almost free) options are to have a family member or friend pet sit or just bring the pet(s) with you.
5. What to pack?
Have you ever noticed that while on vacation, you don’t wear half of the clothes you brought? I wear the same clothes a few times before looking for laundry facilities.
When packing, try to think of the daily activities, pack the least as possible, travel lite, and be nimble. Vacation means you spend the day in your bathing suit, dress for dinner, and sleep in pajamas.
Packing to Fly:
Now that some airlines such as Frontier and Spirit charge for carry-ons. Try to wear your bulky garments and layer up, then pack the rest of your belongings into a backpack.
A backpack is considered a personal item that fits under the seat (in front of you) and must not exceed 18” x 14” dimensions.
You can also ship your luggage or Amazon Prime items to your lodging destination for your arrival, but you should first verify this with your hotel. There should be plenty of space with a backpack, a carry-on, and packing light to help you by-pass checked baggage.
Tips:
Use 1 piece of luggage for the entire family. Roll your clothes and vacuum press them in gallon size ziplocks. Leave your hair dryer at home and plan to tie your hair up or in braids.
6. Vacation Activities
Check the local papers and city announcements for free activities, concerts, or festivals. Try to avoid expensive trip excursions and pricey attractions.
Our low cost family activities are to visit an ice cream shop, stroll on the beach, check the views from the piers, collect seashells, and watch the sunset.
Tip:
For places to eat or visit, I use yelp.com to find great local restaurants and bars that offer unique experiences.
To sum it all up:
- Stay with Family or Friends ($0) vs. Hotels
- Drive your own Car ($0) vs. Rent a Car, Airplane
- Non-stop driving ($0) vs. Overnight hotels
- Bring the pets ($0) vs. Boarding, Pet Sitter
- Limited packing ($0) vs. Fuel costs, Checked baggage
- Local Activities ($0) vs. Excursions, Attractions
Before booking reservations:
Check for Hotel rewards, credit card cash back offers, Costco travel (with 2%cash back) prices, AAA discounts, and online coupon codes.
The time is now to plan your trip!
Get out of Dodge and go make some memories!
Just remember, you only need to get to your destination. If you truly need something, it can be bought when you get there.
What are your cost saving tips? What have you saved the most on?
