You can go on vacation and not go into debt!
I consider myself a professional frugal traveler. I have used these 15 Ways to Ensure a Debt Free Vacation Without Sacrificing (My) Fun.
The 15 best ways to ensure a debt free vacation are the following:
1. Plan in advance. I plan my vacations at least a year in advance. That means that I knew in 2016 where I would travel in 2017. I have a plan to go to Dubai in 2020 so I will be setting aside money for that trip.
2. While I do not like using credit, I have used PayPal Credit https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/paypal-credit to pay for my plane tickets through Southwest Airlines https://www.southwest.com/. PayPal Credit allows you to charge your tickets and make interest free payments for six months. I have used this multiple times and have paid off my debt before the time period.
3. There are many websites that let you reserve rooms and cancel for free. I use this option because I generally can find cheaper hotels of higher quality before my trip is due. My favorite website is Booking.com. http://www.booking.com
4. If you can, travel with someone who is passionate about traveling and can split the costs of the hotel with you.
5. Set up a separate account specifically just to save for vacation.
6. Look on Groupon to determine if there are any activities you can purchase which are cheaper than you would normally pay. http://www.groupon.com
7. Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast. If you do decide you want to eat out a few days during your trip you aren’t obligated to have to pay for something every day you are there. Also, if it is reasonable, find a hotel that offers a refrigerator and stove so that you can cook to cut back and save.
8, Find a house sitting opportunity. Rather than pay for a hotel you would be staying in someone’s home for free maintaining their property. https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/house-sitting/
9. Start small. You do not have to have a grand and expensive vacation to have a nice vacation. If there is a beach a couple of hours from you you can find reasonable accommodations and that could be the vacation of your dreams.
10. Prior to the vacation, research all the Cheap Eats near where you are staying. You may be able to fill up fast and cheaply to not cut into your budget.
11. Do not overspend while on vacation. Set a REASONABLE budget for yourself where you can still buy but not go broke while on vacation.
12. Check your cell phone providers overseas charges should you be traveling overseas. Do not assume that you will not be charged for roaming. You do not want to return home with a high cell phone bill.
13. Pack snacks, gums, pain relievers, etc, to bring with you. Hotels tend to charge a premium for such items.
14. Bring some cash with you on your trip so you do not have to use an ATM and be charged fees.
15. Travel to specific places during off-season. Hotels are significantly cheaper during this time.
It is great to have time to travel and some forego vacations because of the costs. If you include these 15 ways to ensure a debt free vacation, you should be able to have an amazing vacation and not see a major impact to your wallet or pocketbook.