In tough times, you can still get away
With summer in full stride, my thoughts often turn to escape. It's halfway through the year, and even if it feels like time has flown by, the end of the year seems too far away.
That's why I often imagine the great places I could visit to get away from it all during this vacation season. I imagine myself playing in the surf of an exotic beach while sipping on an umbrella drink, or snapping photos an ancient European cathedral.
But when I drift into a flight of fancy, I glance at my paycheck, then at my pile of monthly bills — and my dreams start to fade as reality sets in. These are tough times, and dropping a paycheck on an exotic locale isn't exactly practical.
There are some vacation ideas and travel tips that I've found to help save money while still enjoying time off. Here are a few I'm considering.
First (prepare for a "well, duh" moment), the overall cost is a huge factor — so naturally, I'm looking to cut it. One way is to go to a hotel or airline's Web site, find the list price for what you want and then go to a comparison site to check prices. I find that Kayak.com and Travelocity are great resources at finding significantly lower prices.
Once you've found a good price, call the hotels or airlines directly, tell them the price you are being offered and ask if they can beat it. Sometimes they will and sometimes they won't, but by doing research online, you'll know what the market is offering.
I've also found that while some package deals are great, generally you can do better by researching your options and booking flights and hotels separately.
Another possibility is staying local. For me, half the benefit of a vacation is just getting away from home and relaxing. How far away from home doesn't matter as much to me.
There can be great packages at nice hotels for in-town getaways. One major hotel in my area has a four-day package that includes room, spa, one round of golf per day and one meal per day for about $150 per night. I am strongly considering this, because paying a little more for a room is more than made up for by spending no money on travel.
And, of course, there is the old standby: Las Vegas. No city in the country offers deals that are quite as good as Sin City, and a few days at the craps table (which is generally as long as my bankroll will hold out) provides enough excitement and entertainment for a memorable vacation.
Keep these tips in mind as you plan your next vacation. Maybe a gloomy economic climate won't force you to completely give up a fun trip.
WDylan Biles is a moderator and bargain-hunter for DealTaker.com, an online shopping Web site owned by Media General. E-mail dylan@dealtaker.com or follow him on Twitter @dylanbiles.
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