If you think it’s financially smart, or noble, to forego the summer vacation this year because you’re too busy at work, or you don’t have enough give in your budget to pay for a break, you’ve got it all wrong. You need that vacation. Studies show that Americans are already a bit vacation-deprived compared to many other countries; the average 18 days of paid vacation we typically get is about half of what many Europeans are staked to. Yet according to an annual survey by travel site Expedia, most of us don’t even use up the days we’re given. Big mistake. Recharging is important.
For career and for relationships. Here are some budge-friendly ways to squeeze in a much needed summer vacation:
House swap. I bet you’ve got friends or family who may be feeling the same financial pinch as you, but would love a break from their routine. So how about putting a request out on Facebook if any of your friends within a few hours drive time is up for a swap?
Play tourist at home. If you live in or near a city this is a no-brainer: you no doubt have a long list in your head of all the "touristy" things you see visitors doing, but that you’ve never taken the time to check out. Carve out a few days to play tourist in your hometown.
Make Each Family Member the Activities Director for a Day. For families who want to stay close to home, make a stay-cation feel different by assigning each family member the responsibility to plan a day for all the other family members. Parents get to set the budget. This elevates the day out of the normal routine into something far more fun and different.
Tack some vacation time onto a business trip. If you have to head out of town on business, have your family meet up with you. Your travel and hotel accomodations are covered, bringing down the total out-of-pocket for a summer break for the entire family.
Park It. Visiting state and national parks is one of the most budget-friendly ways to have an amazing family vacation. Camping gear can get pricey; if you can’t borrow from friends, price out staying at one of the many budget-friendly hotels and lodges in or near parks. While many are booked full months in advance, cancellations are quite common. So give a call and try your luck for this summer. If it’s a no go, get a jump on next summer and book now.
Buddy Up. Vacation with a family with kids the same age as yours and you've got yourself some built in entertainment for all the kids. The adults can also trade kid-sitting duties, so each couple gets at least one adults-only night out while their friends watch the little urchins.
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