Tips To Help You Budget On Your Beach Vacation

If you have plans to take a vacation in an area that is well known for its beautiful beaches, you have quite a few things to consider. The costs of vacationing can run high, which is why many people set a budget and aim to stick within their budgets. This does not mean that you have to forego having a fun and exciting vacation. With some careful planning, you can have a dream beach vacation, and you may even return home with money leftover.

Booking Savings

You may be able to save on your lodging costs by booking several months or up to a year in advance. Vacation rentals and beach vacation resorts may offer discounts for advance bookings. It makes sense for property owners to offer these discounts to people who are booking in advance because it relieves the worry about whether or not they will have occupants in the future. 

You may also be able to save on your booking costs by choosing to vacation before or after peak season. The rates will likely be lower as a result of the area being less busy. 

Equipment Rental Savings 

If you book your vacation with a resort, you will have access to a variety of amenities on-site. Some vacationers like to venture off and explore areas outside of the resort. This means that you may find  that you need to rent beach equipment. Examples of items you can pack instead of renting are chairs and umbrellas. 

Keep in mind that some vendors require a deposit to ensure that their items are returned. Depending on the rental rates, a family of four could easily rack up a considerable bill just from renting equipment. This is why it makes sense to pack your own items, and you can use them again for future beach vacations.

Food and Beverage Savings

If your room at the resort has a kitchen area, use it to prepare meals instead of eating out. This is a great way to bond with your family, and you will likely save money by not going to a restaurant. 

When venturing to the beach, pack healthy picnic-appropriate foods in an iced lined cooler, and take them with you. This will aid in reducing the chances of you giving in to purchasing unhealthy, pricier food options from vendors on the beach.

Entertainment Savings

Explore free and low-cost entertainment opportunities. Some free activities may be offered onsite at the resort. For example, there may be a Happy Hour that includes free drinks or drink specials. There may also be free historical parks in the area. Inquire about whether the resort of interest has packages that have free or discounted passes to local attractions.

Staying Within Spending Budget

Avoid the temptation to splurge by only taking one major credit card with you. Preferably that will be the one you used to book your vacation. Some people choose to only take the amount of cash they have budgeted with them on their vacations. Others take a limited amount of cash, and they mainly use their credit or debit cards to avoid making impulse buys. Another tactic to stay within budget is to load the amount of spending money you have budgeted to a prepaid card. This ensures that you can not make a purchase that exceeds your budget.


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