Tips for cutting costs on your next getaway.

Who doesn’t love a weekend trip? Quick getaways are often just what we need to recharge and relax. However, expenses can quickly add up, even on a short jaunt. Here are tips for saving up and cutting costs on your next weekend excursion.

Save up before you go

Imagine the feeling of lightness when returning from a weekend trip because you know the costs are already covered. You can make this feeling real by saving up before you go. To make this work, set aside a certain amount from each paycheck in a designated savings account. Then wait to travel until there’s enough saved to cover your trip.

Stick to your budget

One way to stick to a travel budget is to use a debit card for travel expenses. Because your spending is limited to the funds in your account you won’t overspend. You can still carry a credit card for emergencies.

Minimize transportation expenses

While driving to places close to home is a popular way to limit transportation costs, it’s not always the cheapest for a weekend trip.

Driving to a big city often means charges for parking. Nationally, the average is $44 a night. In Chicago, it’s $63 per night. Factor parking in with gas and it might be less expensive, not to mention less stressful, to take Amtrak.

Another way to minimize transportation expenses is with a weekend travel package. Great deals can be found especially when you travel in the off-season. All-inclusive trips often help travelers stay within budget too; just remember to set aside funds for tips for the folks like servers and housekeepers.

Avoid unexpected and unnecessary fees

Some hotels charge a fee for parking, even if you don’t park a car there. Many vacation homes tack on hefty cleaning fees. Checking a bag on a domestic flight? There’s probably a fee. A $40 fee here times two people, a $65 daily fee there and pretty soon your budget is busted!

Read the fine print before committing to any travel plans. If there’s a way to avoid a fee, like packing only a carry-on, you need to know ahead of time.

Third-party booking sites may also tack on service fees. See if booking directly with a hotel or airline will offer the same deal without added expense.

If renting a car, do you homework on insurance. In some cases, your personal auto coverage may include rental cars. A select number of credit card companies offer rental car coverage when you pay with that card. Buyers of travel insurance may also have coverage. If you already have insurance coverage, you can avoid paying for duplicate coverage with the car rental company

Time your weekend carefully

Holidays like Labor Day and Thanksgiving are popular times for weekend trips because so many people have extra time off. Peak holidays and travel seasons also mean higher travel prices. Choose a non-holiday date or a weekend just before or after peak season to stretch your travel dollars. For example. Mackinac Island is most popular in July and August but in spring, fall and winter you’re more likely to catch a deal.

Check out last-minute deals

Airlines don’t want empty seats and hotels don’t want empty rooms, so they offer discounts for last-minute bookings. If you can be flexible with your plans, are open to going places you hadn’t considered and can pack in a jiffy, check airline, hotel and travel booking sites for this weekend or next.

 

 

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