How To Vacation For Less This Summer

MarketWatch's Marshall Loeb Shares Some Tips On How To Escape Without Breaking The Bank

(MarketWatch)  Want to go on a vacation this summer but not sure you can afford it? Sure, gas and food prices are high, but it's still possible to get away. By concentrating on ways to save, you'll find yourself at the beach or in the mountains for less than you think.

From Erin Burt, a contributing editor at Kiplinger.com, here are five money-saving tips for planning a vacation this summer:

Vacation close to home.
The average domestic airfare reached $331 at the end of 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That's the highest pricing in six years. Yes, gas prices for your car are at record highs too. But if you choose a destination within short driving distance, you can save a lot of money -- especially if you're traveling with other people. Staying close to home could save you money on transportation and help spare you lodging expenses. Seek out day-trip possibilities and return home to the comfort of your own bed each night. Or play tourist in your home town. Grab a guide book for your city, bring your camera and go explore those sites that you never seem to have time for, even though they're practically in your backyard.

Seek inexpensive lodging.
Where you stay has a huge impact on your vacation budget. Use Kayak.com to search for the lowest hotel prices on the Web. Or consider these budget-friendly alternatives: hostels, college dorm rooms and campgrounds.

Hold down food costs.
You'll save a lot of money if you can cook your own meals (or, at least, most of them). That way, you can work your food costs into your regular weekly grocery budget. And the same goes for dining out. For example, if you usually eat out twice a week, save up those meals for when you're on vacation.

Choose destinations with cheap entertainment.
It doesn't matter what a good deal you get on transportation or lodging if you're going to blow your budget when you get there. For example, hotel rooms in Orlando, Fla., are incredibly cheap (we found about a dozen in the $30 to $40 range in June). But tickets to the attractions are incredibly pricey. Universal Studios: $70; Disney World: $71; Sea World: $68. Yikes. Stick to locations off the beaten path or that offer plenty of free or inexpensive things to do. Nearly all the main attractions are free in Washington, for example, including the Smithsonian museums, monuments and the Capitol building tour. And you can't beat Mother Nature. National parks, forests and state parks are close to home and provide miles of hiking trails, beautiful vistas, biking trails, fishing holes and rafting runs for nothing -- or next to nothing.

Time your trip right.
Because the kids are out of school, summer is considered peak season at most destinations, especially in the U.S. But traveling to winter havens can save you some cash. This is a prime time to relax at a ski resort or in parts of Florida. If you want to head out of the country, the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera are on sale this time of year. Plus, try to plan your visit on weekdays to avoid paying higher weekend lodging rates.

[sjc_1]

Most of the working adults can not afford any vacation at all. They do not even know what that is as they work two low paying jobs just to pay the bills. It is an illusion created by the media that everyone vacations in the summer. This is to make the failings of our economic system look like a personal failing. Everyone else is doing so well, what is wrong with you?

[ranger1948]

There is crime here and i hear about it on the news dfaily, but i walk the streets freely and have never seen any crime or been a victim. The local police are doing a great job especially about pedophiles and *** offenders on line with pornopgraphy. They are making a lot of arrestsd and i commend them. As a foreigner the last place you want to end up in is one of their jails but if you are an honest tourist you have nothing to worry about.

[ranger1948]

So if you want a great vacation i highly reccommend Thailand. It is well worth the money. Also i found a high class jewelry store in Bangkok where they treat you like royalty and i get great prices on jewelry called the Gemstone.

[ranger1948]

the monks take a vow of poverty and own only their meager clothing. They come to the shops every morning and the shop owners give them food for the day. I can''t help but hink if they were in the states they would probably starve to death. Here the people consider it an honor to give food to the monks. I find it very humbling and have great respect for the monks. I have seen very few Thai people get mad about anything, those that do are probably lower class people. I have found i can walk up to a Thia person and talk to any of them. IM will miss the country, the customs and the people when i leave here. I am looking forward to returning here as many times as i can. S

[ranger1948]

You can elephants in some areas to sight see. A lot of wlephant owners are out of work and brig their elephants into the housing areas and sell sugarcane so you can feed an elephant. It cost a lot to feed an elephant. I have one come by my house and when he seesme he doesn''t wait for his owner he walks right up t me because i always feed him. I love animals. I went to a monastety where the budhist teach to live in harmony with all animals, I had my picture raken sitting on a rock with two full grown bengal tigers. I also went to a village on the Laos/Thai border where they worship the king cobra. I was shown how i could hold a ten foot long king cobra without being bitten. He was totally docile and he wasn''t drugged as they had just done a show with him on the stage. (contimued)

[ranger1948]

rushman71. You only livce once. My favorite past time is traveling. I promised myself when i retired and th kids were on their own i would travel and i am doing just that. Yes because of the economy and gas and oil and food prices are going up it dowes cost more. But the experiences you can have are priceless. I moved to Thail;and over a year ago. The cost of living by American standards are great, althought the airline ticket roundtrip cost me $1550 for one person. The average wage in Thailand is 3 ro 11 dollars a day. Yes it is a poor country but the people are the friendliest i have seen anywhere and thwer is so much to see and do here. Visit old ruins, Phuket has the most beautiful beaches in the world. Watching how the people live can be a humbling experience. You can rent a one bedroom apartment for about $200 a month, have a maid for about $30, who will cook and clean fo you. Buses and tuuk tuuks are the cheapest way to travel but taxi''s are also very reasonable and are airconditioned. People do speak a lot of english here so getting around i haven''t found to be a problem. (continued)

[klingon69]

I am allowed 3 week long vacations per year,due to my tenure. I took the family camping for a week at our local lake. I was able to pay for 7days and 6 nights the same I would''ve had to pay for 1 day in a mid-quality motel.
Total cost of camp site $96, include water, electric and was about 50yds from the bathroom with Hot showers.

[rushman71]

What''s the point of a vacation? All the money you have set aside for the vacation is going to the gas pump!!!